Flarum vs Ghost

Flarum and Ghost are both popular platforms for creating online communities and publishing content. Flarum is known for its modern and sleek design, while Ghost is praised for its simplicity and focus on blogging.

General information

Flarum
Ghost
Introduction :
Flarum is a modern, open-source forum platform that was launched in 2015. It has gained popularity for its sleek design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Flarum is known for its active community and regular updates, making it a top choice for those looking to create engaging online forums. Its focus on simplicity and performance sets it apart from other forum platforms on the market.
Introduction :
Ghost is a modern and open-source content management system that was launched in 2013. It is known for its sleek and minimalist design, making it popular among bloggers and publishers who prioritize aesthetics and simplicity. Ghost offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features for creating and managing content, making it a strong contender in the CMS market.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and customize
  • Fast and lightweight performance
  • Active community for support and plugins
  • Modern and responsive design
  • Secure and reliable platform
Advantages :
  • Clean and minimalist design for modern websites
  • Fast loading times for improved user experience
  • Built-in SEO tools for better search visibility
  • Markdown support for easy content creation
  • Active community for support and resources
Disadvantages :
  • Limited number of available plugins and extensions
  • Relatively smaller community support compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less flexibility in customization options
  • Limited themes and design options available
Disadvantages :
  • Limited plugin options
  • Less community support compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Customization options can be overwhelming
  • Higher cost for premium features
Website users : Thousands
Flarum is used by thousands of websites, making it a popular choice among online platforms for forum communities.
Website users : 0.1% of websites
Ghost is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, making it a niche choice for content management.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Flarum may require some technical knowledge, but with the right resources, users can navigate the platform effectively.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Ghost requires some technical knowledge, but the platform offers comprehensive documentation and support for users to navigate through the initial learning curve.
Year launched : 2015
Flarum was launched in 2015, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other established content management systems.
Year launched : 2013
Ghost was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to some of its competitors.
Official website : https://flarum.org/
Official website : https://ghost.org/


Commercial details

Flarum
Ghost
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Flarum is fully open source, written in PHP. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Ghost is partially open source, with the core platform being fully open source but certain features and services being proprietary.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Flarum offers a free, open-source option with basic features. However, additional features and support may require paid extensions or services.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Ghost offers a free, self-hosted option with limited features. Users can upgrade to a paid plan for more advanced functionality.
โšช Paid option : Unknown.
Flarum offers extensions and premium support services, but it is unclear if there is a paid option for the core platform.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Ghost offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and flexibility for their website.


Platform details

Flarum
Ghost
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options may be available through third-party vendors, but direct hosting by Flarum is unclear. Further research is needed.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Ghost offers a hosted option through its official website, providing users with a convenient and hassle-free way to set up and manage their Ghost site.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Flarum, allowing users to have full control over their hosting environment and data privacy.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Ghost can be self-hosted on various third-party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Flarum does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via API.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Ghost does not have native headless support but may offer headless features through its API. Further investigation is needed for clarity.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Flarum does not natively support static content generation but can potentially achieve this functionality via a popular plugin.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Ghost through the use of third-party plugins, offering flexibility for users who require this feature.


Key features

Flarum
Ghost
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Flarum offers basic content management capabilities but relies on plugins for more advanced features, making it suitable for content management with additional customization.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Ghost offers robust native content management features, making it a strong platform for managing content efficiently and effectively.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Flarum can be used for blogging with the help of third-party extensions, offering a customizable and feature-rich platform for content creation.
๐ŸŸข Blogging : Support natively.
Ghost offers a native and user-friendly platform specifically designed for blogging, with a focus on clean design and seamless content creation.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Flarum does not have native e-commerce capabilities. However, it can potentially be enhanced by third-party plugins for e-commerce functionality.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Ghost can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Snipcart or Shopify Buy Button, offering flexibility and customization options.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Flarum offers basic forum functionality but can be enhanced by popular third-party extensions for additional features and customization.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Ghost offers native support for community and forum features, making it a strong platform for building engaging online communities without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be supported through popular third-party extensions, enhancing Flarum's capabilities in this area.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Supports content subscriptions/paywalls through third-party integrations like Memberful or Patreon, enhancing functionality beyond native capabilities.


Other features

Flarum
Ghost
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality is not supported natively in Flarum but can be achieved through the use of third-party plugins/extensions.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility for managing multiple sites within the Ghost platform.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multi-language support in Flarum is primarily achieved through third-party extensions, offering flexibility and customization for different language requirements.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Ghost does not natively support multi-language functionality but can be enhanced by popular plugins for multi-language support.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Flarum does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.


When choosing between Flarum and Ghost, consider your specific needs - Flarum is great for community engagement and discussions, while Ghost excels in straightforward blogging. Ultimately, the right choice depends on the type of content you want to create and the level of interactivity you desire for your audience.