Ghost vs Spreaker
Side-by-side comparison of Ghost and Spreaker.
Open-source publishing platform built for serious creators
Host, stream, and monetize your podcast in one place
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.
Spreaker
Spreaker is a podcast hosting and live-streaming platform used by independent creators and radio broadcasters to publish, distribute, and earn from audio content. It combines real-time broadcasting with on-demand hosting and connects episodes to major directories like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The integrated ad marketplace is a genuine draw for monetization, though the free tier is fairly limited in storage and upload hours.
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 monetization and podcast hosting. It has a usable free tier to start with.
- +Instant, automatic monetization sets it apart from most hosts
- +Ad marketplace lets creators monetize without finding sponsors independently
- +One-click distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major directories
Which to choose
Ghost and Spreaker both cover monetization, 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 Spreaker.
Pricing checked 3 Jun 2026.