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Ghost

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Strapi

Ghost vs Strapi

Ghost vs Strapi: which is right for your project? Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators. Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Strapi 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 Strapi for Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control.

Official docs: Ghost Documentation · Strapi Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureGhostStrapi
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

Strapi

Pros

  • Fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in
  • Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
  • Intuitive admin panel with customizable content modeling
  • Active open-source community with frequent updates

Cons

  • Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge and maintenance
  • Plugin ecosystem is growing but still smaller than established CMS
  • Large datasets can stress the default SQLite/PostgreSQL setup
  • Cloud hosting launched recently — less mature than competitors

Platform Details

DetailGhostStrapi
Language / Stack
Node.jsNode.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
Type
bloggingheadless cms
Pricing
Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize contentDeveloper teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control
Export Method
Built-in JSON export or Content APIREST API, GraphQL API, or database export

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 Strapi if…

  • You need developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless cms with full control
  • Your team is comfortable with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (cloud)
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Ghost and Strapi 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 Strapi is a headless cms built with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). 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 Strapi?
Strapi scores higher overall (24/30 vs 19/30) thanks to stronger ecosystem. However, Ghost remains the better choice for Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content.
Can I migrate from Ghost to Strapi?
Yes. Export your Ghost content via Built-in JSON export or Content API, then import it into Strapi. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Ghost and Strapi?
Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators, while Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. Key differences: performance (Ghost: 4/5, Strapi: 4/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed) vs Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)), and ecosystem size (Ghost: 2/5, Strapi: 3/5).
How much does Ghost cost compared to Strapi?
Ghost: Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed). Strapi: Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, Ghost or Strapi?
They're similarly approachable (both 4/5). Ghost uses Node.js, while Strapi uses Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). Your team's existing skills will determine which feels easier.
Which performs better, Ghost or Strapi?
Both score equally on performance (4/5). The real difference depends on your setup: Ghost uses Node.js, Strapi uses Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). Proper caching and CDN configuration matters more than the platform itself at this tier.

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