Ghost vs MailerLite
Side-by-side comparison of Ghost and MailerLite.
Open-source publishing platform built for serious creators
Affordable email marketing built for growing creators
What they are
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.
MailerLite
MailerLite is an email marketing platform covering newsletters, automations, landing pages, and sign-up forms. It suits indie creators, small newsletters, and course sellers who want a clean interface without paying enterprise prices. The free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers, and paid plans start around $9 per month. Deliverability is solid, though the template editor can feel limiting compared to more design-focused competitors.
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
if you need email marketing. It has a usable free tier to start with.
- +Generous free tier up to 500 subscribers with automation included
- +Clean, low-friction interface that non-technical creators can navigate quickly
- +Built-in landing page and sign-up form builder reduces need for extra tools
Which to choose
Ghost and MailerLite both cover 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 Ghost and MailerLite.
Pricing checked 3 Jun 2026.