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Ghost

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Astro

Ghost vs Astro

Ghost vs Astro: which is right for your project? Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators. Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Astro wins overall, but Ghost is better for professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content. Choose Ghost for Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content. Choose Astro for Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript.

Official docs: Ghost Documentation · Astro Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureGhostAstro
Ease of Use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Ghost

Pros

  • Beautiful, focused writing experience (Markdown + rich editor)
  • Built-in membership and subscription payment system
  • Newsletter/email delivery built right into the platform
  • Fast Node.js architecture — much faster than WordPress

Cons

  • Limited to blogs and newsletters — not a general CMS
  • Small theme ecosystem compared to WordPress
  • Self-hosting requires Node.js server expertise
  • Managed hosting (Ghost Pro) is relatively expensive

Astro

Pros

  • Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture)
  • Use React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework in the same project
  • Content collections with type-safe Markdown/MDX
  • Purpose-built for content sites — blogs, docs, marketing pages

Cons

  • Not ideal for highly interactive apps (designed for content sites)
  • Smaller ecosystem than Next.js — fewer integrations available
  • SSR support is newer and less battle-tested
  • Island architecture requires thinking differently about interactivity

Platform Details

DetailGhostAstro
Language / Stack
Node.jsJavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
Type
bloggingframework
Pricing
Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)Free (open-source)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize contentContent-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript
Export Method
Built-in JSON export or Content APIN/A (destination framework)

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Ghost if…

  • You need professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content
  • Your team is comfortable with Node.js
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Choose Astro if…

  • You need content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal javascript
  • Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members
  • You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Ghost and Astro depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Ghost is a blogging built with Node.js, while Astro is a framework built with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. Both platforms require some technical comfort — consider which tech stack aligns better with your team's existing skills.

From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ghost better than Astro?
Astro scores higher overall (25/30 vs 19/30) thanks to better performance. However, Ghost remains the better choice for Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content.
Can I migrate from Ghost to Astro?
Yes. Export your Ghost content via Built-in JSON export or Content API, then convert it to Markdown or import into a headless CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Ghost and Astro?
Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators, while Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. Key differences: performance (Ghost: 4/5, Astro: 5/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed) vs Free (open-source)), and ecosystem size (Ghost: 2/5, Astro: 3/5).
How much does Ghost cost compared to Astro?
Ghost: Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed). Astro: Free (open-source). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, Ghost or Astro?
They're similarly approachable (both 4/5). Ghost uses Node.js, while Astro uses JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic). Your team's existing skills will determine which feels easier.
Which performs better, Ghost or Astro?
Astro has the performance edge (5/5 vs 4/5). As a framework, Astro pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. Ghost may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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