Ghost
Hugo
Ghost vs Hugo: which is right for your project? Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators. Hugo is fastest static site generator, written in go. We compare features, performance, and pricing.
Start MigrationHugo 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 Hugo for Documentation sites and blogs where build speed and simplicity matter most.
Official docs: Ghost Documentation · Hugo Documentation
| Feature | Ghost | Hugo |
|---|---|---|
Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Cost Value | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Scalability | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ecosystem | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Detail | Ghost | Hugo |
|---|---|---|
Language / Stack | Node.js | Go (Go templates) |
Type | blogging | ssg |
Pricing | Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed) | Free (open-source) |
Open Source | Yes | Yes |
Best For | Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content | Documentation sites and blogs where build speed and simplicity matter most |
Export Method | Built-in JSON export or Content API | N/A (destination framework) |
The right choice between Ghost and Hugo 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 Hugo is a ssg built with Go (Go templates). 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 offers a free Ghost → Hugo migration tool that preserves your URLs, metadata, and content structure.
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