Ghost
Open-source publishing platform for independent creators.
About Ghost
Ghost is an open-source headless CMS and newsletter platform built for independent creators and publishers, available as a managed Ghost Pro service or self-hosted on your own server via Node.js or Docker. It handles paid memberships and subscriptions directly, keeping 100% of revenue minus payment processor fees. Email newsletters are built in, with a Mailgun integration for high deliverability. The Handlebars-based theme system and JSON API make it flexible for custom publishing setups. Ghost Pro's pricing is based on member count, not a flat fee. It is the platform of choice for writers, podcasters, and content businesses who want a professional publishing stack without relying on Substack's platform terms.
Best for
Best for writers and creators who want to build a paid newsletter or membership site without platform revenue cuts.
Platforms
WebBrowserApi Headless
Use Cases
Solo IndieContent CreationSide Project
Traits
Self HostableGood ApiActive DevelopmentOpen Source
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