Ghost
WordPress
Compare Ghost and WordPress for blogging. Find out which is faster, easier, and better for your needs.
Start MigrationGhost for simplicity, WordPress for flexibility. Choose Ghost if you're focused on publishing and want a fast, clean experience with built-in memberships. Choose WordPress if you need maximum flexibility, want cheap hosting, or need specific plugins.
Official docs: Ghost Documentation · WordPress REST API Docs
| Feature | Ghost | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Flexibility | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Built-in Memberships | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
Hosting Cost | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Newsletter | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Detail | Ghost | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
Language / Stack | Node.js | PHP |
Type | blogging | traditional cms |
Pricing | Free (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed) | Free (self-hosted) + hosting costs |
Open Source | Yes | Yes |
Best For | Professional writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize content | Content-heavy sites where non-technical editors need full control |
Export Method | Built-in JSON export or Content API | REST API or WP All Export plugin |
The right choice between Ghost and WordPress 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 WordPress is a traditional cms built with PHP. 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, WordPress's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.
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.
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In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration
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