Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Dotclear VS Ghost

Compare Dotclear VS Ghost and see what are their differences

Dotclear logo Dotclear

Dotclear is an open source weblog and content management system.

Ghost logo Ghost

Ghost is a fully open source, adaptable platform for building and running a modern online publication. We power blogs, magazines and journalists from Zappos to Sky News.
  • Dotclear Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-12
  • Ghost Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-10

Ghost

Website
ghost.org
$ Details
paid Free Trial $36.0 / Monthly (100k views/month, 2 users)

Dotclear features and specs

  • Open Source
    Dotclear is an open-source platform, meaning it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This provides flexibility for users and developers to customize and extend the platform as needed.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Dotclear is known for its simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for non-technical users to manage their blogs without steep learning curves.
  • Multi-Language Support
    The platform supports multiple languages, allowing users from different linguistic backgrounds to use Dotclear in their native language.
  • Strong Blogging Features
    Specifically designed for blogging, Dotclear offers robust features like post scheduling, tag and category management, and an efficient media manager.
  • Extensible via Plugins
    Dotclear's functionality can be extended through a variety of plugins, enabling users to add new features and customize their blogs according to their needs.

Possible disadvantages of Dotclear

  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to larger platforms like WordPress, Dotclear has a smaller user community, which can limit the availability of community help and third-party resources.
  • Fewer Themes and Plugins
    Dotclear offers fewer pre-built themes and plugins compared to more popular content management systems, potentially limiting customization options for users.
  • Niche Platform
    Dotclear is less well-known and has a smaller market share compared to other CMS platforms, which could affect its long-term viability and the availability of updates.
  • Less Extensive Documentation
    The platform's documentation may not be as comprehensive or detailed as larger projects, possibly making it more challenging for new users or developers to find the information they need.

Ghost features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Ghost offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes content management straightforward, even for those without technical expertise.
  • Speed and Performance
    Ghost is built on modern technology like Node.js which makes it faster and more efficient compared to some traditional CMS platforms.
  • SEO Optimized
    Ghost comes built-in with SEO features like clean URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps which help in improving search engine rankings.
  • Customizable Themes
    Ghost supports a variety of themes that can be easily customized to fit the branding and functionality needs of a website.
  • Markdown Support
    Content creation in Ghost is made easy with Markdown support, allowing writers to focus on text rather than formatting.

Possible disadvantages of Ghost

  • Limited Plugin Ecosystem
    Compared to WordPress, Ghost has a more limited selection of plugins, which might restrict some functionalities users are looking for.
  • Higher Hosting Costs
    Ghost's official hosting is relatively expensive, making it less suitable for users on a tight budget.
  • Technical Knowledge Requirement
    While Ghost is user-friendly, setting it up on a custom server can require a higher level of technical knowledge compared to some other platforms.
  • Less Community Support
    The user community for Ghost is smaller compared to more established platforms like WordPress, which can make it harder to find support and resources.
  • Limited Ecommerce Capabilities
    Ghost is primarily a publishing platform and lacks the more advanced eCommerce functionalities that other CMS platforms might offer out of the box.

Analysis of Ghost

Overall verdict

  • Ghost is a highly regarded platform for serious bloggers and publishers who want a minimalistic yet powerful content management system. It is especially beneficial for those who prefer a distraction-free writing environment with the capability to scale and customize as their needs grow.

Why this product is good

  • Ghost is a popular open-source platform designed for professional bloggers and publishers. It is known for its clean design, speed, and ease of use. Ghost offers robust features for content creation, management, and distribution while focusing on providing an optimal writing experience. Additionally, Ghost is built on modern technology stacks and offers flexibility through themes and integrations. It also supports membership and subscription models, making it ideal for those looking to monetize their content.

Recommended for

  • Professional bloggers
  • Content creators looking for a minimalist interface
  • Publishers seeking to monetize their content
  • Developers looking for an open-source platform
  • Organizations that require a fast and reliable CMS
  • Writers who value a focused writing experience

Dotclear videos

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Ghost videos

Why I Moved My Blog From WordPress to Ghost

More videos:

  • Review - Ghost review - CMS for creators to build a membership

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Dotclear and Ghost)
CMS
3 3%
97% 97
Blogging
3 3%
97% 97
Blogging Platform
5 5%
95% 95
Social Networks
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Dotclear and Ghost

Dotclear Reviews

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Ghost Reviews

Comparing 9 WordPress alternatives & competitors in 2024
Ghost specializes in creating a monetized blogging platform. Based on their subscription status, readers can create user profiles, sign up for newsletters, and browse your entire blogging calendar. The platformโ€™s singular focus on blogging makes it great for individuals and small teams, but it lacks features like real-time collaboration that are necessary for larger companies.
Source: webflow.com
19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
Ghost is known for its simplicity and focus on content creation. It's a great option for writers and creators who want a clean and distraction-free environment to publish their work.
Source: www.pixpa.com
7 Best Buy Me a Coffee Alternatives
If you donโ€™t already have a website, Ghost may be an appealing option as a Patreon alternative. However, customizations are limited, and youโ€™ll need to choose a pre-built design from the theme library. There are a few themes available, but most are priced from around $80 to $150. The Ghost API also gives you a way to publish content you create on the platform to another...
Source: wpforms.com
Top 10 Web Content Management Systems
Ghost is here as one of the first entries that can be classified as a pure headless CMS. Ghost is not only one of the best headless CMS options, but it also does so while being focused primarily on the blogger community. So if you have or are thinking about starting a large blogging operation featuring many different presentation layers, then Ghost is definitely for you....
Source: cloudzy.com
25+ Medium Alternative Platforms for Publishing Articles
Ghost open-source blogging and the indirect medium alternative platform. Its interface makes blogging easy for users, but also offers SEO tools and other plugins that are built into the platform. This makes it simple for users to publish high-quality content without technical difficulties.
Source: forgefusion.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ghost seems to be a lot more popular than Dotclear. While we know about 194 links to Ghost, we've tracked only 1 mention of Dotclear. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Dotclear mentions (1)

  • WordPress Alternatives
    There's an obvious alternative that's missing here: Dotclear. I ended up using that for my own personal blog after years of self developed blog engines. I was going for WordPress initially but configuring it and creating a custom theme was a mess. I felt like I had to learn a whole new technology stack instead of being able to use my PHP, HTML, and CSS skills. In comparison, Dotclear was a breeze to work with and... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago

Ghost mentions (194)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Dotclear and Ghost, you can also consider the following products

Medium - Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Tumblr - A feature rich and free blog hosting platform offering professional and fully customizable templates, bookmarklets, photos, mobile apps, and social network integration.

TypePad - TypePad is the premier blogging service for professionals and small businesses.

Drupal - Drupal - the leading open-source CMS for ambitious digital experiences that reach your audience across multiple channels. Because we all have different needs, Drupal allows you to create a unique space in a world of cookie-cutter solutions.

Posthaven - Posthaven is the safe place for all your posts forever