Ghost vs Shopify: Which Is Better in 2026?
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right website builders tool for your needs.
Our Pick: Shopify (by a slight margin)
Shopify edges out with a slightly higher rating (8.5 vs 8)
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | G Ghost | S Shopify(Winner) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $29/mo |
| Free Plan | ||
| Free Trial | ||
| Best For | solo | any |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Features | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Overview
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform focused on professional blogging and newsletters. Popular among writers, journalists, and publications.
Shopify is the leading e-commerce platform for building online stores. While primarily for e-commerce, also works for content sites with commerce integration.
Pricing Comparison
Better value: GhostGhost
Better ValueShopify
Features Comparison
Winner: Shopify| Feature | Ghost | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Drag Drop | Limited | |
| Ecommerce | ||
| Blogging | Basic | |
| Custom Code | ||
| Seo Features | ||
| Membership | Via apps | |
| Cms Features | Basic | |
| Animations | Limited | |
| Templates | 50+ | 100+ |
| Custom Domain |
0
features unique to Ghost
1
features unique to Shopify
Pros & Cons
Ghost
Pros
- Beautiful default themes
- Built-in memberships/subscriptions
- Newsletter features included
- Fast and lightweight
- Open source (self-host free)
Cons
- Primarily for publishing
- Limited page building
- Fewer themes than WordPress
- Technical for self-hosting
Shopify
Pros
- Best-in-class e-commerce
- Huge app ecosystem
- Easy to set up and use
- Excellent payment processing
- Scales with your business
Cons
- Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments
- Monthly cost adds up
- Themes can be expensive
- Blogging is basic
The Verdict: Shopify Edges Out
This was a close comparison, but Shopify edges out Ghost with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.5/10 versus 8/10. Both are solid choices, but Shopify offers a marginally better overall package.
Shopify's advantages include Best-in-class e-commerce and Huge app ecosystem, though Ghost counters with Beautiful default themes and Built-in memberships/subscriptions.
Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to Shopify, but don't count out Ghost if its specific strengths align better with your needs.
Choose Ghost if you...
- • Need professional bloggers
- • Need newsletter creators
- • Need publications and magazines
Choose Shopify if you...
- • Need online stores of all sizes
- • Need dropshipping businesses
- • Need brands selling products
Ready to Get Started?
Read our full reviews:
* We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit these tools through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or comparisons.