Software Alternatives & Startups

Ghost VS Medium

Compare Ghost VS Medium and see what are their differences

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.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source Paid Free trial $36 / Monthly (100k views/month, 2 users)
Medium

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

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Medium seems to be a lot more popular than Ghost. While we know about 3165 links to Medium, we've tracked only 197 mentions of Ghost.

social mentions
197 vs 3,165
Blogging popularity
29% vs 71%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Ghost
Medium
Website ghost.org medium.com
Pricing
Open source Paid Free trial $36 / Monthly (100k views/month, 2 users) Official pricing
Open source
Company Startup from the United Kingdom Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Ghost 5 features
Medium 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Medium offers an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple for anyone to start writing and publishing content without any technical knowledge.
  • Built-in Audience
    The platform has a large and active user base, so new content has the potential to reach a wide audience quickly.
  • Publishing Tools
    Medium provides versatile publishing tools that support text, images, and various media formats, which helps in creating rich and engaging content.
  • SEO Benefits
    Articles posted on Medium tend to rank well in search engine results, thanks to the platform's high domain authority.
  • Community and Interaction
    Medium encourages reader engagement through comments, claps, and highlights, fostering a sense of community among writers and readers.

Possible disadvantages

  • Monetization
    While Medium has a Partner Program, it may not be as lucrative as other methods of monetization available on independent blogging platforms.
  • Control and Customization
    Medium offers limited customization options compared to dedicated blog platforms like WordPress, restricting how you can brand and personalize your blog.
  • Content Ownership
    By publishing on Medium, you agree to their terms and conditions, which may include giving up some control over how your content is used and distributed.
  • Paywall Issues
    Some articles are placed behind a paywall, which might limit the reach of your content if you want it to be freely accessible to everyone.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying solely on Medium means that any changes to the platform's policies or algorithms can directly impact your reach and engagement.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Ghost
Medium

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

Overall verdict

  • Medium can be considered a good platform for those who enjoy a wide array of content and appreciate quality writing on diverse subjects. However, the value of Medium depends on individual preferences and whether the topics and writing styles align with what the reader is looking for.

Why this product is good

  • Medium offers a diverse range of articles from both professional and amateur writers, providing readers with numerous perspectives on various topics. Its clean user interface and ease of use make it an appealing platform for both writers and readers. The platform also supports monetization for writers, allowing them to earn from their content.

Recommended for

    Medium is recommended for avid readers seeking a variety of topics ranging from personal development to technology. It's also ideal for writers looking to publish their work to a broad audience and potentially earn revenue through the platform's Partner Program.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Ghost 2 videos + Add
Medium 5 videos + Add

Why I Moved My Blog From WordPress to Ghost

More videos

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

Medium Review - with Tom Vasel

More videos

  • - Starting a blog on Medium.com? Watch this FIRST.
  • - The Medium Review
  • - The Medium - Before You Buy
  • - I recommend: The Medium (Review)

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Ghost
Medium
29% 29%
71% 71%
57% 57%
CMS
43% 43%
28% 28%
72% 72%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Ghost and Medium. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Ghost no reviews yet
Medium no reviews yet
  • Comparing 9 WordPress alternatives & competitors in 2024
    webflow.com · Dec 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 platform’s...

  • 19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
    www.pixpa.com · Oct 2024

    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.

  • 7 Best Buy Me a Coffee Alternatives
    wpforms.com · Mar 2024

    If you don’t already have a website, Ghost may be an appealing option as a Patreon alternative. However, customizations are limited, and you’ll need to choose a pre-built design from the theme library. There are a few...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Ghost 197 mentions
Medium 3165 mentions
  • At 19, founder raises $11M for Ghost, maker of a $3,499 computer for personal AI
    I'm curious...isn't the name `ghost` an infringement between ghost, the app / CMS alternative to WordPress? https://ghost.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 24 days ago
  • Local Journalism Is How Democracy Shows Up Close to Home
    Digital production has lowered the cost, and the Ghost platform in particular is a great value for small publishers, bundling together the blog, newsletter and subscriptions in one package, even now including ActivityPub federation. And... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Bye Bye Big Tech: How I Migrated to an Almost All-EU Stack (and Saved 500€/Year)
    Https://ghost.org — Open-source run by a non-profit headquartered in Singapore. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago

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  • Ask HN: What's missing for a true deterministic abstraction layer?
    ---- Keep it simple, split the difference and use vm/webassembly for testing/debugging, skip the implimentation & theory to get albsolute "determinism". ---------------------------- [1] :... - Source: Hacker News / about 7 hours ago
  • Show HN: Tresor – OIDC-based, role-scoped secrets for DuckDB
    - Secret access and administrative operations can be audited. We also separated the client from the server using `duckdb-secrets/1`, an open HTTP protocol. You can implement your own compatible secrets service. The DuckDB extension and... - Source: Hacker News / about 9 hours ago
  • noalloc: Tooling and libraries to enforce zero heap allocations in Golang
    Job pool, memory safety and lower development costs versus C++ tooling. "Why we chose Java for our High-Frequency Trading application" https://medium.com/@jadsarmo/why-we-chose-java-for-our-high-frequency-trading-application-600f7c04da94. - Source: Hacker News / 2 days ago

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Alternatives to Ghost and Medium

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

  • 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.

    Compare WordPress to Ghost or Medium:

  • 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.

    Compare Drupal to Ghost or Medium:

  • DEV.to

    Where software engineers connect, build their resumes, and grow.

    Compare DEV.to to Ghost or Medium:

  • Blogger

    Publish your passions, your way. Create a unique and beautiful blog. It’s easy and free.

    Compare Blogger to Ghost or Medium:

  • Tumblr

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

    Compare Tumblr to Ghost or Medium:

  • SquareSpace

    Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs, e-commerce, domains, hosting, analytics, 24/7 support - all included.

    Compare SquareSpace to Ghost or Medium: