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Ghost

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Payload CMS

Ghost vs Payload CMS

Ghost vs Payload CMS: which is right for your project? Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators. Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Payload CMS 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 Payload CMS for Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead.

Official docs: Ghost Documentation · Payload CMS Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Ghost	Payload CMS
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

Payload CMS

Pros

Lives inside your Next.js codebase — zero API latency
Config-as-code with full TypeScript type safety
Built-in auth, access control, and file uploads
No vendor lock-in — self-host on your own database

Cons

Tightly coupled to Next.js ecosystem
Newer platform with a smaller community and fewer plugins
Requires TypeScript/Node.js development skills
Admin UI is functional but less polished than Sanity or Contentful

Platform Details

Detail	Ghost	Payload CMS
Language / Stack	Node.js	TypeScript / Node.js
Type	blogging	headless cms
Pricing	Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)	Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available
Open Source	Yes	Yes
Best For	Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content	Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead
Export Method	Built-in JSON export or Content API	REST API, GraphQL, or direct database access

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 Payload CMS if…

You need next.js developers wanting a cms that lives in their codebase with zero api overhead
Your team is comfortable with TypeScript / Node.js
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / cloud plans available

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Ghost and Payload CMS 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 Payload CMS is a headless cms built with TypeScript / Node.js. 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 Payload CMS?

Payload CMS scores higher overall (23/30 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 Payload CMS?

Yes. Export your Ghost content via Built-in JSON export or Content API, then import it into Payload CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Ghost and Payload CMS?

Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators, while Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. Key differences: ease of use (Ghost: 4/5, Payload CMS: 3/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed) vs Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available), and scalability (Ghost: 3/5, Payload CMS: 4/5).

How much does Ghost cost compared to Payload CMS?

Ghost: Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed). Payload CMS: Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available. Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.

Which is easier to learn, Ghost or Payload CMS?

Ghost is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 3/5). Beautiful, focused writing experience (Markdown + rich editor). Payload CMS has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to TypeScript / Node.js.

Which performs better, Ghost or Payload CMS?

Payload CMS has the performance edge (5/5 vs 4/5). Payload CMS has strong performance characteristics. Ghost may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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