Ghost vs WordPress.com: Which Is Better in 2026?
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right website builders tool for your needs.
Our Pick: Ghost (by a slight margin)
Ghost edges out with a slightly higher rating (8 vs 7.5)
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | G Ghost(Winner) | W WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ||
| Free Trial | ||
| Best For | solo | any |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Features | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Value for Money | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Overview
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform focused on professional blogging and newsletters. Popular among writers, journalists, and publications.
WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress, offering managed hosting with the world's most popular CMS. Different from self-hosted WordPress.org.
Pricing Comparison
Better value: WordPress.comGhost
WordPress.com
Better ValueFeatures Comparison
| Feature | Ghost | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Drag Drop | Limited | |
| Ecommerce | Business+ plans | |
| Blogging | ||
| Custom Code | Business+ plans | |
| Seo Features | ||
| Membership | Paid plans | |
| Cms Features | ||
| Animations | Via plugins | |
| Templates | 50+ | Thousands |
| Custom Domain | Paid plans |
0
features unique to Ghost
0
features unique to WordPress.com
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
WordPress.com
Pros
- WordPress power, managed hosting
- Thousands of themes available
- Strong blogging features
- Plugin access on higher tiers
- Good SEO capabilities
Cons
- Confusing vs WordPress.org
- Plugins need Business plan
- Less flexible than self-hosted
- Can get expensive
The Verdict: Ghost Edges Out
This was a close comparison, but Ghost edges out WordPress.com with a slightly higher overall rating of 8/10 versus 7.5/10. Both are solid choices, but Ghost offers a marginally better overall package.
Ghost's advantages include Beautiful default themes and Built-in memberships/subscriptions, though WordPress.com counters with WordPress power, managed hosting and Thousands of themes available.
Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to Ghost, but don't count out WordPress.com if its specific strengths align better with your needs.
Choose Ghost if you...
- • Need professional bloggers
- • Need newsletter creators
- • Need publications and magazines
Choose WordPress.com if you...
- • Need bloggers and writers
- • Need those wanting wordpress without hosting hassle
- • Need content-heavy sites
Ready to Get Started?
Read our full reviews:
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