Ghost
Open-source publishing platform with built-in memberships and newsletters
Self-hosted is free. Ghost(Pro) managed hosting starts at $18/month.
open-source cms publishing newsletters memberships
About Ghost
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform built on Node.js by the non-profit Ghost Foundation. It combines a modern content editor with built-in membership management, paid subscriptions, email newsletters, and native analytics. Version 6.0 added ActivityPub federation for the Social Web. Self-hosting is free; managed Ghost(Pro) hosting starts at $18/month.
Highlights
- ✓ Built-in membership, subscription, and newsletter monetization
- ✓ ActivityPub federation for decentralized Social Web distribution
- ✓ Run by a non-profit — all revenue goes back into the product
Limitations
- ✗ Focused on publishing — not a general-purpose website builder
- ✗ Self-hosting requires Node.js server management
- ✗ Fewer themes and design flexibility than Squarespace
Detailed Comparisons
Last updated: 2026-03-01