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beehiiv vs Ghost
A detailed comparison to help you choose between beehiiv and Ghost.
| Feature | beehiiv | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Open Source |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Cost (Solo) | $0 | $0 |
| Target Audience | solopreneurs, creators | creators |
| Verified | Yes | No |
| Solo-Friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | No | Yes |
| Editorial Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Categories | Email Marketing, Marketing | Email Marketing, No-Code |
| Key Features | Newsletter editor, Growth tools (referral, recommendations), Monetization (ads, subscriptions), Custom domains, Analytics | Rich content editor, Built-in memberships and subscriptions, Native newsletter delivery, SEO-optimized by default, Custom themes |
| Free Tier Quality | excellent | excellent |
Pricing Breakdown
beehiiv
Launch (Free): 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends. Scale: $49/month (automation, A/B testing). Max: $99/month (advanced analytics). Enterprise: custom.
Ghost
Self-hosted: free (open source). Ghost(Pro) Starter: $9/month (500 members). Creator: $25/month (1,000 members). Team: $50/month. Business: $199/month.
Integration Overlap
Shared Integrations (3)
Only in beehiiv (5)
Only in Ghost (5)
Use Case Fit
beehiiv
- * Newsletter creation and publishing
- * Subscriber growth and referral programs
- * Newsletter monetization (ads, boosts)
- * Audience building and engagement
- * Newsletter business analytics
Ghost
- * Professional blog publishing
- * Paid newsletter business
- * Membership site creation
- * Content creator platform
- * Publication and media site
beehiiv
Pros
- + Built for newsletter businesses
- + Excellent growth tools
- + Ad network for monetization
- + Generous free tier (2,500 subscribers)
Cons
- - Newsletter-focused (not full email marketing)
- - Fewer automation features than ConvertKit
- - Newer platform
Ghost
Pros
- + Beautiful, focused writing experience
- + Built-in membership and payment collection
- + Native newsletter — no need for Mailchimp
- + Fast, SEO-optimized output
Cons
- - Limited plugin ecosystem vs WordPress
- - Self-hosting requires Node.js knowledge
- - Managed hosting starts at $9/month
- - Fewer themes and customization options
Editorial Verdict
Both tools are evenly matched on price. beehiiv excels at newsletter creation and publishing, while Ghost is stronger for professional blog publishing.
Sarah Chen
Editor-in-Chief