Ghost vs Substack (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Substack grades higher than Ghost: 3.2 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Substack grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Ghost
Open source publishing with newsletters and paid memberships
Substack
Newsletter, podcast and video publishing with paid subscriptions
Which one is for you
Pick Ghost if
- Fits if you want your own site, a newsletter and paid memberships in one place
- Works for solo writers who want to avoid platform fees on payments
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you want paid subscriptions: they need Publisher at $29 a month
- Watch out: Starter and Publisher stop at 1,000 members, and you are asked to upgrade after that
- Watch out: Stripe's own fees still apply on payments
- Pricey if you want a team: 3 staff users on Publisher, 15 on Business at $199
- Skip it if you want a desktop or phone app, since only a browser admin is listed
Pick Substack if
- Fits if you want to start writing for free and let readers find you in the network
- Works for writers who plan to charge, as no monthly fee applies
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: Substack keeps 10% of paid-subscription revenue, on top of card fees
- Skip it if you want drip sequences or segmentation, which the pages read do not describe
- Not for you if you want a custom site or heavy design control
- Watch out: there are no paid plans, so features and limits are the same for every publication
- Skip it if you want a desktop app, as only web and phone apps are listed
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAGhostFair | 3.2GPASubstackVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$15 a month on yearly billing ($18 monthly) for 1,000 members is the middle of this category. Publisher, with paid subscriptions, is $29. | AFree to start with no tiers, and no cost until you charge subscribers. Then Substack keeps 10% of paid-subscription revenue, and card fees come out of your share too. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 14-day free trial. The listing does not say whether a card is needed, and there is no free plan. | AFree outright, with no paid plans or tiers listed and the same features for every publication. |
| Features | CNewsletters, memberships, a website and analytics. Starter has no paid subscriptions, custom themes or custom fields, and the pages read show no marketing automation. | CPaid subscriptions, newsletter, podcast and video, a reader network and subscriber chats. The pages read describe no drip sequences or list segmentation. |
| Ease of use | CA web admin with no rating on record. You pick a theme and set up a site as well as a newsletter. | BNo rating on record, but nothing to set up: sign up, write and publish. Apps are listed for iPhone and Android. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with Stripe, Zapier, Slack, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Discord and Plausible. | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with no desktop app and no integration list on the pages read. |
| Best for | publishers who want a site and newsletter in one | writers who want to start a paid newsletter free |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Ghost and Substack. How we grade
Price against what you get
Ghost starts at $15 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Substack has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Substack scores higher and starts $15 a month lower. Of the other email marketing and newsletter tools on the chart, 14 score higher than Ghost for less, and none scores higher than Substack for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
- Substack also covers community.
At a glance
| Ghost | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free |
| Starts at | $15 per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly) | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free to start, with no platform fees or tiers; Substack keeps 10% of paid-subscription revenue. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of Ghost(Pro) | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Ghost Foundation | Substack Inc. |
| Price read from | ghost.org | substack.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Ghost
- Paid subscriptions, custom themes and custom fields need the Publisher plan; Starter has none of them.
- Starter and Publisher cap out at 1,000 members, and the page says you are notified to upgrade as members grow.
- Ghost takes no transaction fee on payments, but Stripe's payment processor fees still apply.
- Only a browser-based admin is listed; no desktop or mobile apps appear on the pages read.
Substack
- Substack keeps 10% of paid-subscription revenue, and credit card processing fees come out of the writer's share as well.
- There are no paid plans or add-on tiers listed, so features and limits are the same for every publication.
- It is a publishing platform rather than a marketing-automation tool; the pages read do not describe drip sequences or list segmentation workflows.
Key features
Ghost
- Newsletters built in
- Posts can go out as email newsletters. The pricing page lists multiple newsletters, email templates and editable links after sending.
- Paid memberships
- Members sign up free or pay through Stripe. Publisher and above include paid subscriptions, tips, premium tiers and special offers.
- Own website and themes
- Every plan includes a website with a custom domain. Marketplace and custom themes start on the Publisher plan.
- Member analytics
- Shows who is signing up, who is paying and what members read, with advanced analytics on Publisher and higher.
- Open source software
- The foundation describes Ghost as open source, and its developer docs include a hosting guide for running it yourself.
Substack
- Paid subscriptions
- Writers choose which posts are free and which are for paid subscribers only, and Substack handles the sign-up and payment side.
- Newsletter, podcast and video
- A publication can carry written posts, podcasts and video shows, with live video available for creators who want it.
- Built-in reader network
- Substack publishes a reader app and a discovery network, and says more than half of new subscribers arrive through that network.
- Subscriber chats and community
- The app includes discussions and chats hosted by writers, so subscribers can talk with the writer and each other.
- Own your list
- Substack states that writers own their content and their subscriber list, and that the platform is free to leave.
Plans
Ghost
Starter$15
per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly)
1 staff user, a default theme with design settings, and email newsletters. Price rises with the member count.
Publisher$29
per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly
3 staff users, custom themes, paid subscriptions, advanced analytics and custom fields. Price rises with members.
Business$199
per month for up to 10,000 members, billed yearly
15 staff users, priority support, higher usage limits and early access to features.
CustomCustom
Unlimited members and staff users, a dedicated IP address and a 99.9% uptime SLA. Sold through sales.
Substack
Substack$0
Free to start with no tiers or contracts. Writers keep 90% of paid-subscription revenue, minus credit card fees.
Ways to pay less
Ghost
- Annual discount
Lower price when billed yearly
The Starter plan is $15 a month billed yearly against $18 billed monthly. Yearly and monthly billing toggle on the pricing page.
Substack
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Ghost or Substack?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Substack is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $15 a month for Ghost. Ghost starts at $15 per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly), and Substack is free.
Which has a free plan, Ghost or Substack?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Substack has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Ghost and Substack run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Substack lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.