ConvertKit vs Ghost
Side-by-side comparison of ConvertKit and Ghost.
Email marketing built for online creators and writers
Open-source publishing platform built for serious creators
What they are
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email marketing platform aimed at bloggers, podcasters, course creators, and independent writers who need to grow and monetize a subscriber list. It combines email broadcasts, automated sequences, landing pages, and a paid newsletter feature in one place. The interface is simpler than enterprise tools like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign, which makes onboarding fast but limits advanced design flexibility.
Ghost
Ghost is an independent publishing platform that combines a CMS, email newsletter tool, and membership system in one place. It is used by independent writers, journalists, and media companies who want to own their audience without relying on third-party platforms. The open-source core can be self-hosted for free, while Ghost Pro handles hosting at a monthly fee. The tradeoff is that it is more opinionated than WordPress and has a steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
if you need monetization and email marketing. It has a usable free tier to start with.
- +Free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers with core sending features
- +Visual automation builder is intuitive for non-technical users
- +Built-in paid newsletter and tip features via ConvertKit Commerce
if you need hosting and monetization. It has a usable free tier to start with.
- +No platform cut on membership revenue, unlike Substack
- +Built-in email newsletter delivery included on paid plans
- +Clean, distraction-free editor focused on writing
Which to choose
ConvertKit and Ghost both cover monetization, email marketing, so this is a real either-or for some teams. The right pick depends on which one's wider feature set and pricing fit how you work.
Read the full reviews for ConvertKit and Ghost.
Pricing checked 4 Jun 2026.