Ghost Pro vs Substack
A detailed comparison of Ghost Pro and Substack to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Substack
Platform for independent writers to publish and monetize newsletters.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Ghost Pro | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✗ No | ✓ Free (10% of paid subs) |
| Lowest Paid | $9/mo | Free (10% cut) |
| Enterprise | $199/mo | N/A |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ghost Pro | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Managed hosting | ✓ | — |
| Newsletter | ✓ | — |
| Memberships | ✓ | — |
| Payments | ✓ | — |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| SEO optimization | ✓ | — |
| Themes | ✓ | — |
| Custom domains | ✓ | ✓ |
| CDN | ✓ | — |
| Automatic backups | ✓ | — |
| Newsletter publishing | — | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | — | ✓ |
| Podcast hosting | — | ✓ |
| Community features | — | ✓ |
| Recommendations | — | ✓ |
| Notes | — | ✓ |
| Mobile app | — | ✓ |
| Archive | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.4 | ⭐ 4.3 |
Pros & Cons
Ghost Pro
Pros
- ✓ No maintenance needed
- ✓ Great for publishers
- ✓ Built-in newsletter
- ✓ Fast performance
Cons
- ✗ Ghost-only
- ✗ Limited customization
- ✗ No visual builder
- ✗ Learning curve
Substack
Pros
- ✓ Free to start
- ✓ Built-in monetization
- ✓ Growing network
- ✓ Simple to use
Cons
- ✗ 10% revenue cut
- ✗ Limited customization
- ✗ No advanced automation
- ✗ Lock-in concerns
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Ghost Pro if: You need professional publishers and writers. Ghost Pro excels with its no maintenance needed and great for publishers.
Choose Substack if: You need writers wanting to monetize a newsletter. Substack stands out with its free to start and built-in monetization.
Best free option: Substack offers a free tier (Free (10% of paid subs)).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghost Pro better than Substack?
It depends on your needs. Ghost Pro is better for professional publishers and writers, while Substack is better for writers wanting to monetize a newsletter. Both are excellent tools rated 4.4 and 4.3 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Ghost Pro or Substack?
Ghost Pro starts at $9/mo while Substack starts at Free (10% cut). Substack also has a free tier.
Can I switch from Ghost Pro to Substack?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Substack's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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