Compare

Ghost vs WordPress

Ghost focuses on publishing and newsletters with a simpler core, while WordPress offers full site building and plugins.

Short answer: Pick Ghost if you want integrated publishing, newsletters and subscriptions; pick WordPress if you want flexible block-based website creation. Ghost has a free plan, paid from $24/month; WordPress is free and open source.

Which to pick

Pick Ghost if you want…

  • Integrated publishing, newsletters and subscriptions
  • Integrations with Zapier, n8n or Slack (on Ghost's list, not WordPress')

Pick WordPress if you want…

  • Flexible block-based website creation
  • A free, open-source tool
  • Integrations with plugins or block editor (on WordPress' 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.
WordPress:WordPress is an open-source publishing platform for building websites, blogs, and apps with block-based editing.
Best for
Ghost:Integrated publishing, newsletters and subscriptions
WordPress:Flexible block-based website creation
Who it’s for
Ghost:Publishers, newsletter writers, and businesses that want to monetize content.
WordPress:Creators, small businesses, enterprises, and developers building web content
Pricing
Ghost:Freemium
WordPress:Open source
Starting price
Ghost:$24/month (Starter)
WordPress:Free
Free plan or trial
Ghost:Free trial
WordPress:Free to use
Plans
Ghost:Starter $24 per month (billed yearly) · Publisher $29 per month (billed yearly) · Business $199 per month (billed yearly)
WordPress:—
Open source
Ghost:Yes, 55,494 GitHub stars
WordPress:Yes, 21,520 GitHub stars
Works with
Ghost:Zapier, n8n, Slack, Content API, Webhooks, Payment gateways
WordPress:plugins, block editor

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.

WordPress features

  • Block Editor. Create and edit pages in real time using a visual block-based interface.
  • Theme Customization. Start from a blank canvas or choose a theme and customize without coding.
  • Extensible Plugins. Add stores, analytics, newsletters, and more via a vast plugin ecosystem.
  • Responsive Styling. Style blocks responsively across screen sizes without writing CSS.
  • Media Management. Streamlined media editor with tools for images, video, and rich text notes.
  • Community Resources. Access documentation, tutorials, and community events for support.

Ghost vs WordPress FAQ

What is the difference between Ghost and WordPress?+

Ghost focuses on publishing and newsletters with a simpler core, while WordPress offers full site building and plugins.

Should I use Ghost or WordPress?+

Pick Ghost if you want integrated publishing, newsletters and subscriptions or integrations with Zapier, n8n or Slack (on Ghost's list, not WordPress'). Pick WordPress if you want flexible block-based website creation, a free, open-source tool or integrations with plugins or block editor (on WordPress' list, not Ghost's).

Is Ghost or WordPress free?+

Ghost has a free plan; paid plans start at $24/month (Starter). WordPress is free and open source.

Which is cheaper, Ghost or WordPress?+

WordPress is free, so it costs less. Ghost starts at $24/month (Starter).

Is Ghost or WordPress open source?+

Yes, both are open source: Ghost (TryGhost/Ghost on GitHub, MIT license) and WordPress (WordPress/WordPress on GitHub).

Do Ghost and WordPress integrate with the same tools?+

Their integration lists don't overlap: Ghost lists Zapier, n8n, Slack, Content API and 2 more; WordPress lists plugins and block editor.

On DevHunt

Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.