All comparisons
Ghost vs WordPress (Self-Hosted + Plugins)
Side by side on the same benchmark criteria.
Up to 4 at once.
| Criteria | Ghost | WordPress (Self-Hosted + Plugins) |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted Score | 4.0/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Pricing | Managed Ghost(Pro) starts at $18/mo (Starter, billed yearly), $29/mo (Publisher) and $199/mo (Business), with a Custom tier quoted by sales. Software is free to self-host. | Free open-source software (GPL); typical ownership costs include 3rd-party hosting ($5-$500+/mo) and a domain ($10-$20/yr). |
| Platform Type | News CMS | CMS |
| Editorial workflow & newsroom collaboration | 2.8/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Performance & scale under traffic spikes | 4.2/5 | 3.8/5 |
| SEO & structured data | 4.0/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Content modelling & formats | 2.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Monetisation integration | 4.6/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Multi-channel & headless delivery | 3.8/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Integrations & extensibility | 3.5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| AI & automation | 1.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Security, uptime & compliance | 3.0/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Migration & implementation | 4.2/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Strengths | ✓ Open-source platform with advanced customization designed for publishers ✓ All-in-one platform with website building, publishing, email newsletters, and premium subscriptions | ✓ Easy to set up and configure ✓ User-friendly tools that require minimal tech knowledge |
| Limitations | ✗ Starter plan only offers one newsletter and lacks custom themes and integrations ✗ Business plan costs $199/month (billed yearly), which is expensive for smaller teams | ✗ Security vulnerabilities due to its popularity and open-source nature ✗ Need for regular updates and maintenance to ensure optimal performance |
Ghost
4.0
Rating
★ 4.0/5
Pricing
Managed Ghost(Pro) starts at $18/mo (Starter, billed yearly), $29/mo (Publisher) and $199/mo (Business), with a Custom tier quoted by sales. Software is free to self-host.
Platform
News CMS
Scores
Editorial workflow & newsroom collaboration
2.8
Performance & scale under traffic spikes
4.2
SEO & structured data
4.0
Content modelling & formats
2.8
Monetisation integration
4.6
Multi-channel & headless delivery
3.8
Integrations & extensibility
3.5
AI & automation
1.5
Security, uptime & compliance
3.0
Migration & implementation
4.2
Strengths
✓ Open-source platform with advanced customization designed for publishers
✓ All-in-one platform with website building, publishing, email newsletters, and premium subscriptions
Limitations
✗ Starter plan only offers one newsletter and lacks custom themes and integrations
✗ Business plan costs $199/month (billed yearly), which is expensive for smaller teams
WordPress (Self-Hosted + Plugins)
4.2
Rating
★ 4.2/5
Pricing
Free open-source software (GPL); typical ownership costs include 3rd-party hosting ($5-$500+/mo) and a domain ($10-$20/yr).
Platform
CMS
Scores
Editorial workflow & newsroom collaboration
4.6
Performance & scale under traffic spikes
3.8
SEO & structured data
4.7
Content modelling & formats
4.5
Monetisation integration
4.2
Multi-channel & headless delivery
4.4
Integrations & extensibility
4.8
AI & automation
4.0
Security, uptime & compliance
3.0
Migration & implementation
3.5
Strengths
✓ Easy to set up and configure
✓ User-friendly tools that require minimal tech knowledge
Limitations
✗ Security vulnerabilities due to its popularity and open-source nature
✗ Need for regular updates and maintenance to ensure optimal performance
