Software Alternatives & Startups

Ghost VS MODx

Compare Ghost VS MODx 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)
MODx

modx is a free, fast & flexible, ajax and seo content management system

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Ghost seems to be a lot more popular than MODx. While we know about 196 links to Ghost, we've tracked only 4 mentions of MODx.

social mentions
196 vs 4
Blogging popularity
92% vs 8%

Base details

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

Ghost
MODx
Website ghost.org modx.com
Pricing
Open source Paid Free trial $36 / Monthly (100k views/month, 2 users) Official pricing
Open source Official pricing
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
MODx 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.
  • Flexibility
    MODx offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing users to create both simple and complex websites without being restricted by predefined structures.
  • Scalability
    MODx is designed to handle anything from small personal websites to large, enterprise-level applications, making it a scalable solution.
  • Customizability
    It allows extensive customization through templates, snippets, and plugins, catering to specific needs and preferences.
  • Strong Community
    MODx boasts an active and supportive community, offering a wealth of resources, extensions, and forums for troubleshooting and advice.
  • Performance
    MODx is optimized for performance, often resulting in faster page load times compared to other content management systems.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    New users may find MODx's flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve compared to other more rigid CMS platforms.
  • Limited Pre-made Templates
    While highly customizable, MODx has fewer pre-made templates and themes available, which might require more upfront development work.
  • Documentation
    Although improving, some users have found the documentation to be less comprehensive, making it harder for beginners to get started.
  • Smaller Plugin Repository
    Compared to larger CMS platforms like WordPress, MODx has a smaller repository of plugins and extensions.
  • Developer-Oriented
    MODx is highly developer-oriented, which might be overwhelming for non-technical users looking for a simple, out-of-the-box solution.

Analysis

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

Ghost
MODx

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

  • MODx is a robust content management system that appeals to developers and users looking for flexibility and customization. However, its ecosystem might not be as large as some of the more popular CMS options like WordPress or Joomla.

Why this product is good

  • Community
    MODx has an active community providing support and extending its functionality through plugins.
  • Flexibility
    MODx offers a high degree of flexibility, making it suitable for custom-built sites.
  • Scalability
    It is scalable and can be used for anything from small personal blogs to large enterprise websites.
  • User friendly
    It has a user-friendly interface that is easy for both developers and content editors.

Recommended for

  • Developers who need a customizable platform.
  • Businesses looking for a reliable and scalable CMS.
  • Users with specific and complex website requirements.
  • Organizations that require a CMS with a focus on security and performance.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Ghost 2 videos + Add
MODx 3 videos + Add

Why I Moved My Blog From WordPress to Ghost

More videos

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

Yamaha MODX review: Everything you need to know

More videos

  • - Yamaha MODX Synthesizer REVIEW + Sound Demo & Sound Design Tutorial
  • - Yamaha MODX Synthesizers In-depth Overview

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
MODx
92% 92%
8% 8%
91% 91%
CMS
9% 9%
90% 90%
10% 10%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Ghost and MODx. 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
MODx 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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We have no reviews of MODx yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Ghost 196 mentions
MODx 4 mentions
  • 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 / 9 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 / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: Looking for Headless CMS Recommendation
    If you're hell-bent on headless, I can personally recommend 11ty (https://www.11ty.dev/) and hugo (https://gohugo.io/). That said, for non-technical admins, you probably want a user interface. For that, Ghost (https://ghost.org/) and... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago

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Alternatives to Ghost and MODx

When comparing Ghost and MODx, 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.

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  • Medium

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

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  • 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 MODx:

  • Joomla

    Joomla! is the mobile-ready and user-friendly way to build your website. Choose from thousands of features and designs. Joomla! is free and open source.

    Compare Joomla to Ghost or MODx:

  • Blogger

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

    Compare Blogger to Ghost or MODx:

  • ProcessWire

    ProcessWire is a PHP5-based open source CMS/CMF built to save you time and make development fun at any scale. It works the way you do.

    Compare ProcessWire to Ghost or MODx: