The Ghost Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Ghost in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Ghost
The Insider’s Guide
Open source publishing with newsletters and paid memberships
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email marketing and newsletter tools, read from Ghost’s own pages.
Made by Ghost Foundation · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Ghost’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Ghost’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 17 of the 57 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade
Ghost is a publishing platform for websites, email newsletters and paid memberships, made by a non-profit foundation that says its software is open source. The Ghost(Pro) hosted service runs from $15 a month billed yearly, with Stripe-based paid subscriptions and no transaction fee from Ghost on higher plans.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Ghost, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You pick a theme and set up a site as well as a newsletter.
- 1
Best for publishers who want a site and newsletter in one
Ghost is a publishing platform with newsletters, paid memberships and its own website, as managed hosting or open source.
- 2
Paid plans start at $15 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $15 per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly).
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial of Ghost(Pro)
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Newsletters built in
Posts can go out as email newsletters. The pricing page lists multiple newsletters, email templates and editable links after sending.
- 6
Paid memberships
Members sign up free or pay through Stripe. Publisher and above include paid subscriptions, tips, premium tiers and special offers.
- 7
Own website and themes
Every plan includes a website with a custom domain. Marketplace and custom themes start on the Publisher plan.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 17 of 57
That is against the other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Ghost you would be making newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Ghost at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $15 per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial of Ghost(Pro)
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Ghost Foundation, since 2013
- Category
- Email Marketing & Newsletters
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for publishers who want a site and newsletter in one
Ghost is a publishing platform with newsletters, paid memberships and its own website, as managed hosting or open source. Starter is $15 a month for up to 1,000 members, but paid subscriptions, custom themes and custom fields wait on Publisher at $29. It is a browser app only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 14-day free trial. The listing does not say whether a card is needed, and there is no free plan. |
| Features | C | Newsletters, memberships, a website and analytics. Starter has no paid subscriptions, custom themes or custom fields, and the pages read show no marketing automation. |
| Ease of use | C | A web admin with no rating on record. You pick a theme and set up a site as well as a newsletter. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with Stripe, Zapier, Slack, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Discord and Plausible. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Ghost is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Publishers who want a website, newsletter and paid memberships in one product
- Writers who want to avoid revenue-share fees on subscriptions
- Developers or teams comfortable self-hosting
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$15
A month to start
Ghost is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $15 per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly).
The listing does not say whether a card is needed, and there is no free plan.
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.
Custom
Custom
Unlimited members and staff users, a dedicated IP address and a 99.9% uptime SLA. Sold through sales.
Trying it first
14-day free trial of Ghost(Pro)
Read from ghost.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on ghost.org
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open source publishing with newsletters and paid memberships. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, email campaigns, paid newsletters.
Newsletters, memberships, a website and analytics.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Stripe
- Zapier
- Slack
- Mailchimp
- ActiveCampaign
- Google Analytics
- Discord
- Plausible
Ghost is made by Ghost Foundation, and has been around since 2013.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
17/57
Other email marketing and newsletter tools it is graded above
Ghost's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 17 of the 57 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 7 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $15 a month, against a middle price of $15 for the category: 23 of the 47 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 14 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Ghost’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 10 of 57
- CFree plan and trialAbove 11 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 57
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 57
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 7 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 50 email marketing and newsletter tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Ghost is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Ghost you would be making newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 31 of the 57 other email marketing and newsletter tools grade higher. It costs $180 a year. Ghost is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Paid newsletters: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox.
- It plugs into other products, Stripe, Zapier and Slack among them.
What this rests on. Ghost’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Substack, beehiiv, Buttondown, Kit and MailerLite
The 5 tools Ghost is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Substack
Free
Newsletter, podcast and video publishing with paid subscriptions.
- Substack has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Substack lists iOS and Android apps.
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
beehiiv
Free plan · from $49/mo
Newsletter platform with paid subscriptions, ads, website and podcast.
- beehiiv has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
- beehiiv also covers marketing automation and forms.
- 2.4GPA
Buttondown
Free plan · from $9/mo
Newsletter software priced by active subscribers, with add-ons.
- Buttondown has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
- Buttondown also covers marketing automation.
- 2.6GPA
Kit
Free plan · from $33/mo
Email marketing and paid newsletters for creators.
- Kit has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
- Kit also covers marketing automation and forms.
- 2.6GPA
MailerLite
Free plan · from $12/mo
Email newsletters, automations, sites and paid subscriptions.
- MailerLite has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MailerLite lists an iOS app.
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Ghost free?
No, Ghost is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial of Ghost(Pro).
How much does Ghost cost?
Ghost lists 4 plans. Starter: $15 per month for up to 1,000 members, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly).
What platforms does Ghost work on?
Ghost is available on Web.
Does Ghost offer any discounts?
Ghost publicly lists the following: Lower price when billed yearly.
Does Ghost have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Ghost is listed for Web.
Does Ghost have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Ghost is listed for Web.
Is Ghost open source?
Yes. Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
What does Ghost integrate with?
Ghost's listing names Stripe, Zapier, Slack, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, Discord and Plausible.
Who makes Ghost?
Ghost is made by Ghost Foundation. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Ghost?
The closest alternatives to Ghost in our directory are Substack, beehiiv, Buttondown, Kit and MailerLite.
How does Ghost compare with other email marketing and newsletter tools?
Ghost's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 17 of the 57 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, and level with 9.
Is Ghost good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Ghost C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $15 a month, against a middle price of $15 for the category: 23 of the 47 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Ghost?
To replace Ghost you would be making newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Ghost’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Ghost's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Ghost Foundation. Prices change, so check ghost.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Ghost, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ghost
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Ghost: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ghost
Know someone choosing between email marketing and newsletter tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ghost/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email marketing and newsletter tools after Ghost, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Marketing & Newsletters Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, compared
- Substack Insider's GuideNewsletter, podcast and video publishing with paid subscriptions3.2 GPA
- SendFox Insider's GuideEmail newsletters and list building for creators on a budget3.0 GPA
- Zoho Campaigns Insider's GuideEmail, SMS and WhatsApp campaigns that tie into Zoho's apps3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Ghost’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Ghost is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ghost Foundation. Prices and plans change: check ghost.org before you buy.