Ghost vs Substack
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
G
Ghost
The creator platform for independent publishers
4.2
Editorial RatingS
Substack
Start a newsletter. Build a community.
4.3
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.2
vs4.3
Starting Price
$9
vsFree
Pricing Model
paid
vsfree
Feature
Ghost
Substack
Newsletter sending
Membership tiers
Paid subscriptions
SEO tools
Full blogging CMS
Self-hostable
Newsletter publishing
Podcast hosting
Notes social feed
Discovery network
iOS/Android apps
Ghost Pros
- Open source — full ownership of your content
- Best SEO of any newsletter platform
- No revenue cut on paid subscriptions
- Self-hosting option for maximum control
- Professional blogging CMS built in
Ghost Cons
- More technical setup than Substack
- Design customization requires knowing Handlebars/CSS
- No built-in discovery network
- Member limits on lower plans
Substack Pros
- Zero upfront cost — pay only when you earn
- Large built-in discovery network
- Extremely simple setup
- Notes feed drives cross-promotion
- Podcast hosting included
Substack Cons
- 10% revenue cut becomes expensive at scale
- Limited design and customization options
- Less control over subscriber data
- Can't easily move off platform