Masthead vs Ghost: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Masthead and Ghost comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Ghost wins this matchup. WordPress is our overall CMS pick. WordPress is our free CMS pick. Pick Masthead if you need CMS.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Masthead
The website defines its own CMS
Best for you if:
- • Masthead is best for websites where the person building the website isn't the person managing it
- • You want the website defines its own CMS
Ghost
Professional publishing platform
Best for you if:
- • You want zero platform transaction fees on paid memberships, only standard Stripe fees apply
- • You want purpose-built for content monetization with native newsletters and subscriptions
| At a Glance | Masthead | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | CMS | Blogging Platforms |
Rating | - | 3.9/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Masthead or Ghost?
Choose Masthead if
The website defines its own CMS
- Masthead is best for websites where the person building the website isn't the person managing it
- You want the website defines its own CMS
- Your work is CMS-shaped, not blogging platforms-shaped
Choose Ghost if
Professional publishing platform
- You want zero platform transaction fees on paid memberships, only standard Stripe fees apply
- You want purpose-built for content monetization with native newsletters and subscriptions
- Your work is blogging platforms-shaped, not CMS-shaped
| Feature | Masthead | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★3.9/5 264 reviews |
| Categories | CMSWebsite Builders | Blogging PlatformsCMS |
In-Depth Analysis
Masthead
The website defines its own CMS
At $5/month, Masthead is exceptionally affordable for a CMS with custom domain, automatic TLS, and collaborator support.
Key features
Ghost
Professional publishing platform
Ghost's pricing is quite generous, especially with the robust free self-hosted option.
Strengths
- +Zero platform transaction fees on paid memberships, only standard Stripe fees apply
- +Purpose-built for content monetization with native newsletters and subscriptions
- +Open source and fully self-hostable with no vendor lock-in
- +Clean, fast editor that stays out of the way for long-form writing
- +Strong SEO defaults including structured data, canonical URLs, and sitemaps
Weaknesses
- -Managed Ghost(Pro) pricing scales with member count, which gets expensive at scale
- -Theme customization requires Handlebars knowledge, no drag-and-drop page builder
- -Plugin ecosystem is limited compared to WordPress
- -Self-hosting requires Node.js server management and manual updates
- -No built-in commenting system, requires third-party integration
Key features
Pricing: Masthead vs Ghost
| Plan | Masthead | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 5 month Paid | Free Self-Hosted |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $18/mo (billed yearly) Starter |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $29/mo (billed yearly) Publisher |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $199/mo (billed yearly) Business |
| Tier 5 | N/A | Contact us Custom |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Masthead pricing and Ghost pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Masthead
Want the highest-rated option?
Ghost is rated 3.9/5. Masthead has no ratings yet.
Go with: Ghost
Value user reviews?
Masthead: no ratings yet. Ghost: 264 reviews (3.9/5).
Go with: Ghost
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Masthead is a CMS tool. Ghost is in blogging platforms. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Ghost is rated 3.9/5; Masthead has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Ghost
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Masthead
- Better fit for CMS
The Bottom Line
Ghost wins this matchup. WordPress is our overall CMS pick. WordPress is our free CMS pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masthead or Ghost better?
Ghost is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Masthead and Ghost used for?
Masthead: The website defines its own CMS. Ghost: Professional publishing platform.
What does Masthead cost vs Ghost?
Masthead is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Ghost is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.