head to head
Ghost vs Substack
Self-hostable open source versus closed distribution network.
Side by side
| Feature | Ghost | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source publishing with built-in memberships and email. | Hosted newsletter platform with social network features. |
| Free tier | Self-hosted is free (your infra cost) | Free, 10% of paid subscriptions |
| Starts at | Ghost Pro from $9/mo | 10% revenue cut |
| Pricing model | self-hosted | subscriber-based |
| API | Yes | No |
| SMTP | Yes | No |
| SDKs | node | None |
| Templates | rich | basic |
| React Email | No | No |
| Webhooks | Yes | No |
| Inbound | No | No |
| Multi-tenant | No | No |
| Idempotency | No | No |
| Dedicated IP | No | No |
| Deliverability | Depends on the SMTP provider configured (often Mailgun for Pro). | Reasonable for content-driven newsletters. |
| DX score | 7/10 | 2/10 |
| Best for | Independent publishers who want to own their content and stack. | Writers who prioritize distribution over flexibility. |
Ghost
pros
- ›Full ownership in self-hosted mode
- ›Memberships and Stripe integration
- ›Beautiful default themes
cons
- ›Requires another SMTP provider for sending at volume
- ›Heavier than Buttondown for plain newsletters
Substack
pros
- ›Distribution via the Substack network
- ›No platform fees beyond revenue cut
cons
- ›No API, no automation, no custom domain on free
- ›Lock-in to platform