Ghost vs Kit (ConvertKit)
A head-to-head comparison for 2026 -- pricing, features, and which is better for different use cases.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Ghost | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9/mo (self-host free) | Free–$29/mo |
| Free Plan | Self-host only | Yes (1,000 subs) |
| Paid Subs | Yes (0% fee on self-host) | Yes |
| Custom Domain | Yes | Landing pages |
| Discovery | SEO + organic | Creator network |
| Best For | Ownership-focused publishers | Creators selling products |
Ghost -- Overview
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform with a full website, blog, newsletter, and membership system. You own everything -- the design, the data, the platform. 0% revenue share on all plans. Managed hosting from $9/month or self-host for free.
Ghost's strength is independence and SEO. Your publication is a full website that Google indexes. Custom themes allow complete design control. The membership system supports free and paid tiers with gated content.
Kit (ConvertKit) -- Overview
Kit (ConvertKit) is a creator marketing platform with visual automations, landing pages, digital product sales, and email sequences. The creator network enables cross-promotion. At $29/month (1,000 subscribers), Kit supports the full creator business workflow.
Kit doesn't provide a full website -- it provides landing pages and email. If you need a complete web presence, you'll pair Kit with a separate website. Kit's strength is the marketing automation and product sales infrastructure that Ghost doesn't match.
Key Differences
Publishing platform vs marketing platform. Ghost gives you a full website with SEO, blog, and membership. Kit gives you email marketing with automations, product sales, and landing pages. Ghost owns the reader experience. Kit owns the marketing funnel.
Ownership model differs. Ghost is open-source -- you can self-host, fork the code, or move to any hosting provider. Kit is a SaaS platform you subscribe to. For publishers who value independence and long-term control, Ghost's open-source nature is a genuine advantage.
Revenue tools differ. Ghost handles memberships with tiered access and gated content. Kit handles digital product sales (courses, ebooks, templates) with built-in checkout. Ghost for recurring memberships. Kit for one-time product sales alongside email.
The Verdict
Choose Ghost for a full publishing platform you own with SEO, custom design, and 0% membership fees. Best for independent publishers. Choose Kit for creator marketing with automations, product sales, and landing pages. Best for creators selling digital products alongside their newsletter.