Compare
Ghost vs Strapi
Strapi is an open-source headless CMS without native subscription or newsletter features.
Which to pick
Pick Ghost if you want…
- Integrated publishing, newsletters and subscriptions
- A free plan to start with
- Integrations with Zapier, n8n or Slack (on Ghost's list, not Strapi's)
Pick Strapi if you want…
- Customizable open-source headless CMS
- Self-hosted headless CMS
- Integrations with Node.js, JavaScript or TypeScript (on Strapi's list, not Ghost's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Ghost:Ghost is an open-source publishing platform with built-in newsletters and paid subscriptions for creators and businesses.
- Strapi:Strapi is an open-source, Node.js-based headless CMS that lets you model content and instantly expose REST or GraphQL APIs.
- Best for
- Ghost:Integrated publishing, newsletters and subscriptions
- Strapi:Customizable open-source headless CMS
- Who it’s for
- Ghost:Publishers, newsletter writers, and businesses that want to monetize content.
- Strapi:Developers and teams building content-driven web or mobile apps who need full control over code and hosting.
- Pricing
- Ghost:Freemium
- Strapi:Paid
- Plans
- Ghost:Starter $24 per month (billed yearly) · Publisher $29 per month (billed yearly) · Business $199 per month (billed yearly)
- Strapi:Starter $35 per project / month · Pro $90 per project / month · Business $450 per project / month
- Open source
- Ghost:Yes, 55,494 GitHub stars
- Strapi:Yes, 73,268 GitHub stars
- Works with
- Ghost:Zapier, n8n, Slack, Content API, Webhooks, Payment gateways
- Strapi:Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, Next.js, Vercel, REST, GraphQL
Ghost features
- Custom website & themes. Design and brand your site with built-in settings, a theme marketplace, or fully custom themes.
- Rich media editor. Create posts with galleries, videos, audio, product cards, accordions and more.
- Native email newsletters. Send unlimited newsletters, segment audiences and use custom templates directly from Ghost.
- Membership & payments. Offer free sign-ups, paid subscriptions, tips, discounts and tiered pricing without transaction fees.
- Analytics & insights. Track subscriber engagement, email performance and content popularity with native analytics.
- Integrations & API. Connect to 8,000+ services, Zapier, n8n, Slack, custom APIs and webhooks.
Strapi features
- Content Type Builder. Design content models, components and dynamic zones with a no-code UI that generates typed APIs.
- Full-stack Customization. Write custom controllers, services, middleware and admin panel extensions using JavaScript/TypeScript.
- Deploy Anywhere. Self-host on any infrastructure or use Strapi Cloud with managed Postgres, CDN and email.
- Enterprise Governance. SOC 2, GDPR compliance, audit logs, review workflows, SSO and SLA support.
- Marketplace Plugins. Add reviewed plugins and integrations or create your own to extend functionality.
- Scalable Architecture. Supports unlimited database entries, multi-environment deployments and edge caching.
Ghost vs Strapi FAQ
Is Ghost or Strapi free?+
Ghost has a free plan; paid plans start at $24/month (Starter). Strapi is paid.
Is Ghost or Strapi open source?+
Yes, both are open source: Ghost (TryGhost/Ghost on GitHub, MIT license) and Strapi (strapi/strapi on GitHub).
Do Ghost and Strapi integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Ghost lists Zapier, n8n, Slack, Content API and 2 more; Strapi lists Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, Next.js and 3 more.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.