Updated 2026-03-01
Substack
Ghost

Substack vs Ghost

Newsletter Growth vs Independent Publishing

8
Features Compared
3
Key Differences
2
User Reviews
8
FAQs Answered
TL;DR

Substack (Free (10% on paid subscriptions)) completely free to start. Ghost ($85/month) open-source and self-hostable. Choose based on whether you need completely or open-source.

Key Differences

The main things that set these tools apart

Pricing
Ghost wins

Ghost is more affordable at $85 compared to Substack at Free (10% on paid subscriptions) for 10,000 subscribers. The price difference reflects their different feature sets and target audiences.

Automation

Both platforms offer comparable automation capabilities. Substack provides false while Ghost offers false.

Core Strength

Substack's key advantage is completely free to start. Ghost stands out with open-source and self-hostable. Your choice depends on which strength matters more to your business.

Pricing Comparison

At 10,000 subscribers

Substack
Free (10% on paid subscriptions)

Free to use. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue.

Visit Substack
Ghost
$85/month

Creator plan (self-hosting is free)

Visit Ghost
Best for SaaS
Sequenzy
$49/month

All features included, Stripe integration, unlimited emails

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Feature Comparison

8 features compared side-by-side

Feature
Substack
Ghost
Sequenzy
Email & Automation
Email automation
Visual workflow builder
A/B testing
Segmentation
Tier-based (free/paid)
Platform & Extras
CRM
Member management
SMS marketing
Analytics & reporting
Basic subscriber stats
Basic
API access

Pros & Cons

Honest strengths and weaknesses of each platform

Substack

Pros
  • Completely free to start
  • Built-in paid subscriptions
  • Community features (Notes)
  • No technical setup needed
  • Network effects from recommendations
Cons
  • Very limited customization
  • 10% revenue cut on paid
  • No automation
  • No segmentation
  • You don't own your platform

Ghost

Pros
  • Open-source and self-hostable
  • Full publishing platform
  • Paid memberships built-in
  • Modern design
  • You own your content and data
Cons
  • Requires some technical knowledge
  • Limited email features
  • No automation workflows
  • Basic email analytics
  • Smaller ecosystem

What Users Say

Real reviews from Substack and Ghost users

Substack Reviews

G2

“We switched to Substack for completely free to start. Built-in paid subscriptions. Worth the investment.”

Sarah K.2025-11-15

Ghost Reviews

Capterra

“Ghost delivers on open-source and self-hostable. Full publishing platform. Recommended for teams who need it.”

Amanda T.2025-10-22

Best For

When to choose each tool

Choose Substack if you...
  • Writers starting from zero
  • Journalists going independent
  • Anyone wanting paid subscriptions
  • Writers who want simplicity
Choose Ghost if you...
  • Technical writers and developers
  • Publications wanting independence
  • Bloggers who want owned platform
  • Media companies

When to Consider Sequenzy Instead

SaaS-Focused Features

Unlike Substack and Ghost, Sequenzy is built specifically for SaaS companies with native Stripe integration, subscription-based automation triggers, and unified transactional + marketing email.

Simpler Pricing

At $49/month for 10k contacts with unlimited emails, Sequenzy is more straightforward than both Substack and Ghost. No per-email limits, no feature gating.

Unified Email Stack

Sequenzy handles both transactional and marketing email in one platform, reducing complexity compared to using separate tools.

Try Sequenzy Free

Substack vs Ghost: Making the Right Choice

Choosing between Substack and Ghost comes down to your specific needs, budget, and technical requirements. Both platforms have clear strengths in their respective areas.

Who Should Choose Substack

Substack is the better fit if you need the specific capabilities it excels at. Its strengths make it ideal for teams that prioritize those features and are willing to invest in the platform.

Who Should Choose Ghost

Ghost makes more sense if your priorities align with its core strengths. Consider it when those specific capabilities matter more to your workflow and goals.

The Sequenzy Alternative

If you're a SaaS company, neither Substack nor Ghost may be the best fit. Sequenzy offers native Stripe integration, subscription-based automation triggers, and unified transactional + marketing email at $49/month for 10,000 contacts. It's purpose-built for software businesses that need to automate based on subscription events, trial status, and MRR changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions answered about Substack vs Ghost

Not sure which to pick?

If you're a SaaS founder who needs Stripe integration and unified email, try Sequenzy free. No credit card required.

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses email-volume-based pricing. You only pay for emails you send. Unlimited contacts on all plans — storing subscribers is always free.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 2.5k emails/month: Free (Free annually)
  • 15k emails/month: $19/month ($205/year annually)
  • 60k emails/month: $29/month ($313/year annually)
  • 120k emails/month: $49/month ($529/year annually)
  • 300k emails/month: $99/month ($1069/year annually)
  • 600k emails/month: $199/month ($2149/year annually)
  • 1.2M emails/month: $349/month ($3769/year annually)
  • Unlimited emails/month: Custom pricing (Custom annually)

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (2,500 emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (15k - 1.2M emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (Unlimited emails)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for emails you send — unlimited contacts on all plans
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com