Ghost vs Siteleaf: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Ghost and Siteleaf side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Ghost leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Ghost
Professional publishing platform
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Siteleaf
A friendly CMS for static sites, empowering content creators and developers alike.
Best for you if:
- • You want a tool that combines developer-friendly tools with an easy-to-use content editor for non-technical users
| At a Glance | Ghost | Siteleaf |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $18/mo, billed yearly Starter plan | Not published |
Category | CMS Blogging Platforms | CMS Writing & Content |
Rating | 3.9/5 Capterra 4.8 · SourceForge 2.4 · G2 4.5 264 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Ghost or Siteleaf?
Choose Ghost if
- You want a free tier before you commit
Choose Siteleaf if
- You want a tool that combines developer-friendly tools with an easy-to-use content editor for non-technical users
In-Depth Analysis
Ghost
Professional publishing platform
Ghost's pricing is quite generous, especially with the robust free self-hosted option.
Strengths
- Pro: Zero platform transaction fees on paid memberships, only standard Stripe fees apply
- Pro: Purpose-built for content monetization with native newsletters and subscriptions
- Pro: Open source and fully self-hostable with no vendor lock-in
- Pro: Clean, fast editor that stays out of the way for long-form writing
- Pro: Strong SEO defaults including structured data, canonical URLs, and sitemaps
Weaknesses
- Con: Managed Ghost(Pro) pricing scales with member count, which gets expensive at scale
- Con: Theme customization requires Handlebars knowledge, no drag-and-drop page builder
- Con: Plugin ecosystem is limited compared to WordPress
- Con: Self-hosting requires Node.js server management and manual updates
- Con: No built-in commenting system, requires third-party integration
Key features
Siteleaf
A friendly CMS for static sites, empowering content creators and developers alike.
Strengths
- Pro: Combines developer-friendly tools with an easy-to-use content editor for non-technical users.
- Pro: Strong GitHub integration provides version control, collaboration, and a 'time machine' for content.
- Pro: Supports various publishing destinations, offering flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in.
- Pro: Promotes fast, secure, and portable static websites.
- Pro: Offers a free tier for developers and open source projects.
Weaknesses
- Con: No built-in hosting, requiring users to manage their own hosting solution.
- Con: While Jekyll compatible, users might need some understanding of Jekyll for advanced customization.
- Con: Legacy v1 plans have limitations compared to v2 plans.
Key features
Plans and prices: Ghost vs Siteleaf
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost |
| ghost.org/pricing read Nov 8, 2026 |
| Siteleaf |
| siteleaf.com/plans read Oct 7, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Ghost pricing and Siteleaf pricing.
Key Takeaways
Ghost
- Has a free plan
Siteleaf
- Worth considering for CMS
What the data shows
On the data below, Ghost leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Ghost has a published user rating (3.9/5 from 264 reviews); Siteleaf has none we can show.
- Ghost starts at $18/mo, billed yearly; Siteleaf has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Ghost has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Ghost and Siteleaf compare in 2026?
On the data below, Ghost leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Ghost has a published user rating (3.9/5 from 264 reviews); Siteleaf has none we can show. Ghost starts at $18/mo, billed yearly; Siteleaf has no public paid plan price on file. Only Ghost has a free plan.
What are Ghost and Siteleaf used for?
Ghost: Professional publishing platform. Siteleaf: A friendly CMS for static sites, empowering content creators and developers alike.
What does Ghost cost vs Siteleaf?
Ghost's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $18/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Siteleaf has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Ghost and Siteleaf?
Ghost's main strength: zero platform transaction fees on paid memberships, only standard Stripe fees apply. Siteleaf's main strength: combines developer-friendly tools with an easy-to-use content editor for non-technical users.
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