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Ghost

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Webflow

Ghost vs Webflow

Ghost vs Webflow: which is right for your project? Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators. Webflow is visual web development platform with clean code output. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

It depends — Ghost and Webflow serve different use cases well. Choose Ghost for Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content. Choose Webflow for Designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code.

Official docs: Ghost Documentation · Webflow Developer Docs

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureGhostWebflow
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

Webflow

Pros

  • Generates clean, semantic HTML/CSS — no code bloat
  • Full CSS control with a visual interface (like coding without typing)
  • Built-in CMS with API access and structured content
  • Good performance with global CDN hosting included

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for non-designers (CSS concepts required)
  • CMS is limited to 10,000 items on the highest plan
  • No server-side logic — relies on third-party integrations
  • Per-site pricing adds up for agencies managing multiple clients

Platform Details

DetailGhostWebflow
Language / Stack
Node.jsVisual (generates HTML/CSS/JS)
Type
bloggingwebsite builder
Pricing
Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)Free / $14-39/month
Open Source
YesNo
Best For
Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize contentDesigners who want pixel-perfect control without writing code
Export Method
Built-in JSON export or Content APICMS API or HTML export (static code)

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 Webflow if…

  • You need designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code
  • Your team is comfortable with Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS)

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Ghost and Webflow 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 Webflow is a website builder built with Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Webflow's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, Ghost is open-source (Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)), while Webflow (Free / $14-39/month) carries ongoing license costs. 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 Webflow?
They're closely matched (19/30 vs 19/30). Ghost is best for Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content, while Webflow excels for Designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code. Your choice should depend on your team's skills and project requirements.
Can I migrate from Ghost to Webflow?
Yes. Export your Ghost content via Built-in JSON export or Content API, then import it into Webflow. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Ghost and Webflow?
Ghost is modern publishing platform built for professional content creators, while Webflow is visual web development platform with clean code output. Key differences: ease of use (Ghost: 4/5, Webflow: 3/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed) vs Free / $14-39/month), and ecosystem size (Ghost: 2/5, Webflow: 3/5).
How much does Ghost cost compared to Webflow?
Ghost: Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed). Webflow: Free / $14-39/month. Ghost is open-source and free to self-host, while Webflow is a paid platform.
Which is easier to learn, Ghost or Webflow?
Ghost is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 3/5). Beautiful, focused writing experience (Markdown + rich editor). Webflow Steep learning curve for non-designers (CSS concepts required).
Which performs better, Ghost or Webflow?
Both score equally on performance (4/5). The real difference depends on your setup: Ghost uses Node.js, Webflow uses Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS). Proper caching and CDN configuration matters more than the platform itself at this tier.

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