Beehiiv vs Ghost
A head-to-head comparison for 2026 — pricing, features, and which is better for different use cases.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Beehiiv | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free–$99/mo | $9/mo (self-host free) |
| Free Plan | Yes (2,500 subs) | Self-host only |
| Paid Subs | Yes (Scale plan) | Yes (0% fee on self-host) |
| Custom Domain | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery | Recommendation network | SEO + organic |
| Best For | Growth-focused operators | Ownership-focused publishers |
Beehiiv — Overview
Beehiiv is the growth-focused newsletter platform built by former Morning Brew team members. Referral programs, recommendation network, built-in ad network, and the best analytics in the space. Free for up to 2,500 subscribers.
Ghost — Overview
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform with full website, newsletter, and membership support. Self-hostable for free or managed hosting from $9/mo. Custom themes, native SEO, and complete ownership of your content and audience.
Key Differences
Growth platform vs publishing platform. Beehiiv is optimized for newsletter growth with referral programs, an ad network, and recommendation features. Ghost is a full publishing platform with website, blog, and membership support. Beehiiv for newsletter-first businesses; Ghost for content-first businesses that want full ownership.
The Verdict
Choose Beehiiv for newsletter growth tools and monetization through ads. Choose Ghost for a full website + newsletter with complete ownership.