Side by side
Ghost vs WordPress.com
Both stand on publishing and subscriptions software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial Web
Ghost brings publishing, newsletters, memberships, and editorial tools into one platform. It offers a trial but no permanent free plan, and publication revenue may still incur processor fees.
Visit Ghost
Free plan AndroidiPhone
WordPress.com offers hosted site publishing with mobile management, memberships, analytics, and unmetered bandwidth. The Free plan has 1 GB storage and displays ads, while paid plans add more storage and features.
Visit WordPress.comThe facts
| Ghost | WordPress.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Android, iPhone |
| Lowest paid plan | Starter: $18 a month | Personal: $2.75 a month |
| Plans published | 4 | 7 |
| Maker | Ghost | WordPress.com |
| Website | ghost.org | wordpress.com |
| On publishing and subscriptions software | #11 of 22 | #7 of 22 |
Ghost: what it does well
- Supports free and paid memberships
- Includes built-in email newsletters
- Offers custom domains and theme customization
- No Ghost platform fee on publication revenue
What to know first
- No permanent free plan
- Starter limits uploads to 5 MB
- Payment processor fees still apply
WordPress.com: what it does well
- All plans include unmetered bandwidth
- Paid annual plans include a custom domain for year one
- Supports scheduled posts and built-in memberships
- Security includes firewalls and DDoS protection
- Newsletters can start free with unlimited subscribers
What to know first
- Free sites display WordPress.com ads
- Free plan includes 1 GB storage
- Personal storage is 6 GB
- Commerce is $31.50 a month, billed every 12 months, excluding taxes
Alternatives to Ghost Alternatives to WordPress.com The whole list