Ghost vs WordPress

Ghost and WordPress are both popular content management systems used for creating and managing websites. While WordPress is a more established platform with a wide range of features and plugins, Ghost is known for its simplicity and focus on blogging and content creation.

General information

Ghost
WordPress
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 :
WordPress is a widely-used open-source content management system that was first released in 2003. It is known for its flexibility, ease of use, and extensive plugin library, making it a popular choice for bloggers, small businesses, and large enterprises alike. With a vast community of developers and users, WordPress continues to evolve and improve, offering a customizable platform for creating websites of all types and sizes.
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 :
  • Easy to use and customize
  • Large community for support
  • Wide range of plugins and themes
  • SEO-friendly features
  • Regular updates and security patches
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 :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Vulnerable to security breaches without updates
  • Limited customization options without coding knowledge
  • Can be resource-intensive, affecting site speed
  • Regular maintenance required for optimal performance
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 : 40%
WordPress powers approximately 40% of all websites on the internet, making it the most popular content management system globally.
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.
๐ŸŸข Difficulty : Easy.
WordPress offers a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, making it easy for beginners to get started with building a website.
Year launched : 2013
Ghost was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to some of its competitors.
Year launched : 2003
WordPress was launched in 2003, making it one of the oldest and most established content management systems available.
Official website : https://ghost.org/
Official website : https://wordpress.org/


Commercial details

Ghost
WordPress
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.
WordPress is fully open source, allowing users to freely modify and distribute the code to suit their needs.
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.
WordPress offers a free option with limited features. It is a self-hosted platform, allowing users to customize and extend functionality with plugins.
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.
WordPress offers a paid option for additional features, customization, and support, providing users with more flexibility and resources for their websites.


Platform details

Ghost
WordPress
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.
WordPress offers a hosted option through WordPress.com, providing a convenient solution for users who prefer a fully managed hosting service.
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.
WordPress offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose from a variety of 3rd party vendors for hosting their website.
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.
WordPress does not natively support headless systems but can be achieved through plugins or custom development using its REST 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.
WordPress does not natively support static content generation but can achieve this functionality perhaps via a popular plugin.


Key features

Ghost
WordPress
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.
WordPress offers native content management tools, making it a strong platform for managing various types of content efficiently.
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.
๐ŸŸข Blogging : Support natively.
WordPress is a top choice for blogging with native features like customizable themes, SEO tools, and easy content management, making it ideal 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.
WordPress can be enhanced by popular e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce, providing robust features for online stores.
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.
WordPress can be enhanced by popular forum plugins like bbPress or BuddyPress for robust community and forum functionality.
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.
WordPress does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by popular plugins like MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro.


Other features

Ghost
WordPress
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.
๐ŸŸข Multi-site : Support natively.
WordPress supports multi-site natively, allowing users to create and manage multiple websites from a single installation, making it a powerful feature for managing multiple sites.
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 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
WordPress does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced by popular plugins like WPML or Polylang for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.
๐ŸŸข XML Sitemaps : Support natively.
WordPress natively supports XML sitemaps, providing an easy way for search engines to crawl and index website content.


When choosing between Ghost and WordPress, consider your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize ease of use and a clean writing interface, Ghost may be the better option. However, if you require more customization options and a larger community support, WordPress might be the way to go. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your individual requirements and goals.