Ghost is the open-source publishing platform — beautiful websites, newsletters, and paid subscriptions with 0% fees. If it doesn't fit your pricing, workflow, or feature needs, here are 3 alternatives worth comparing — including options with a free plan.
Looking for the original? See the full Ghost listing.
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Free plan | Open source | vs Ghost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent writers and journalists going paid | Free | Zero-setup hosted publishing with built-in discovery — easier start, but a 10% cut of paid subscriptions. | |||
 beehiiv | Newsletter creators and independent journalists | Freemium · from $39/mo | Hosted newsletter platform with stronger growth mechanics (referrals, boosts, ads) and no servers to manage. | ||
| Creators selling courses, products, or paid content | Freemium · from $25/mo | Email-first creator platform with deeper automation, though without Ghost's full website and CMS. |
Zero-setup hosted publishing with built-in discovery — easier start, but a 10% cut of paid subscriptions.
Substack is the top-listed Ghost alternative on this page — zero-setup hosted publishing with built-in discovery — easier start, but a 10% cut of paid subscriptions. The right choice depends on your budget, workflow, and required integrations, so compare the table above before deciding.
Yes. Substack offers a free plan. Other listings may also include free tiers — check the Free plan column in the comparison table.
None of the alternatives listed here are open source at the moment. If self-hosting matters to you, check each tool's documentation for deployment options.
Each alternative solves a similar core task and is an active listing in the directory. The one-line difference next to each tool summarizes how it diverges from Ghost in pricing, focus, or capability.
