Publishing
Ghost vs Medium
Ghost vs Medium compared on pricing, audience, ownership, newsletters and monetization, so you can pick the right home for your writing in 2026.
- Ghost
- 4.8
- Medium
- 4.6
Ghost
Open-source publishing platform for newsletters and membership sites.
Best for: Owned newsletters and paid memberships
Ghost at a glance
- Starting price
- Free · $9/mo
- Lowest paid plan
- $9/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Categories
- Publishing
- Head-to-head record
- 1 win in 1 comparison
- Published pricing
- Open source free / Ghost(Pro) Starter $9 per month / Creator $25 per month
- Source: ghost.org pricing page
Pros and cons
Strengths
- ✓0% fees on paid memberships
- ✓Full control of design, domain and SEO
- ✓Built-in newsletters and paid tiers
- ✓Fast, modern editor
Weaknesses
- ✕You must bring your own audience
- ✕Self-hosting requires technical skill
- ✕Fewer discovery features
Based on public product information and user feedback, not hands-on lab testing.
Ghost compared
Every head-to-head where Ghost appears.
Ghost alternatives
Other publishing tools we cover, best rated first.
Medium
9.2/10Publishing platform with a built-in audience and Partner Program.
From Free · $5/mo1 comparison