Ghost vs Joomla

Ghost and Joomla are both popular content management systems used for creating and managing websites. While Ghost is known for its simplicity and focus on blogging, Joomla offers more flexibility and customization options for a wide range of website types.

General information

Ghost
Joomla
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.
Introduction :
Joomla is a widely-used open-source content management system that was launched in 2005. It is known for its flexibility, ease of use, and strong community support. Joomla is popular among users who need a robust platform for creating websites, blogs, and online applications. Its extensive range of templates and extensions make it a versatile choice for various types of websites.
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
Advantages :
  • User-friendly interface for easy content management
  • Extensive customization options with thousands of extensions
  • Strong community support for troubleshooting and updates
  • SEO-friendly features for better search engine visibility
  • Mobile responsiveness for optimal user experience
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
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less extensive plugin and theme library
  • Not as popular or widely supported
  • Requires more technical knowledge for customization
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.
Website users : 2.5%
Joomla powers approximately 2.5% of websites on the internet, making it a popular choice among content management systems.
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.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Joomla may require some technical knowledge and learning curve, but resources and community support are available for assistance.
Year launched : 2013
Ghost was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to some of its competitors.
Year launched : 2005
Joomla was launched in 2005, making it one of the older content management systems available for website development.
Official website : https://ghost.org/
Official website : https://www.joomla.org/


Commercial details

Ghost
Joomla
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 Open source : Fully.
Joomla is fully open source, allowing users to access and modify the codebase for complete customization and flexibility.
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.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
There is a free option for Joomla, but it may have limited features compared to paid versions. It is a self-hosted 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.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Joomla does offer a paid option for users who require additional features, support, or hosting services for their website.


Platform details

Ghost
Joomla
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 Hosted : Yes.
Joomla offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, providing users with the convenience of a managed hosting solution.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Ghost can be self-hosted on various third-party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Joomla offers a self-hosting option, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for greater control and customization.
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 Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Joomla does not have native headless capabilities but can support it through plugins or extensions that enable headless features via an API.
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.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Joomla through popular plugins, offering flexibility and customization for users who require this feature.


Key features

Ghost
Joomla
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Ghost offers robust native content management features, making it a strong platform for managing content efficiently and effectively.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Joomla offers robust native content management capabilities, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
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.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Joomla can be used for blogging with the help of popular third-party extensions like EasyBlog or K2, offering advanced features for bloggers.
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 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Joomla can be used for e-commerce with popular extensions like VirtueMart, but may require additional setup compared to platforms like Shopify.
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 Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Joomla offers forum functionality through popular extensions like Kunena, providing robust community features with customization options for a forum-centric website.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Supports content subscriptions/paywalls through third-party integrations like Memberful or Patreon, enhancing functionality beyond native capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be implemented through third-party extensions like Akeeba Subscriptions or OSE Membership.


Other features

Ghost
Joomla
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-site : Supported via plugin.
Joomla does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through popular third-party extensions like JMS Multi-Sites or MightySites.
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.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Joomla supports multi-language natively, allowing users to create multilingual websites without the need for additional plugins or extensions.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through various third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities and ensuring proper indexing of website content.


When choosing between Ghost and Joomla, consider your specific needs and technical expertise. If you prioritize a user-friendly blogging platform, Ghost may be the better choice. However, if you require a more versatile CMS with extensive customization capabilities, Joomla could be the ideal solution for your website.