Ghost VS Total CMS

Compare Ghost VS Total CMS and see what are their differences

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

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Paid Free trial $195 / One-off (Standard)

Eddyter

Build and integrate a WYSIWYG editor in minutes. Eddyter offers fast setup, developer-friendly APIs, and seamless content editing for modern web apps today. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Ghost seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 197 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 197 vs 0
Blogging popularity: 99% vs 1%
alternatives listed: 240+ vs 15

Base details

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

	Ghost	Total CMS
Website	ghost.org	totalcms.co
Pricing	Open source Paid Free trial $36 / Monthly (100k views/month, 2 users) Official pricing	Paid Free trial $195 / One-off (Standard) Official pricing
Platforms	—	Web PHP
Company	Startup from the United Kingdom	Startup from the United States · 1 - 9 employees · 2015
Listed in	Blogging CMS Blogging Platform Website Builder +1	Website Design Website Builder CMS Self-Hosted CMS MCP Servers Blogging AI +4

About Ghost and Total CMS

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Ghost

Total CMS

No description of Ghost yet.

Total CMS is a flat-file content management system for web professionals who build sites for other people. Content is stored as plain JSON or Markdown files on your own server, with no database to install, configure, or migrate. Drop it on any PHP 8.2+ host, or install with Composer, and it runs....

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Ghost 5 features

Total CMS 16 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.

No database
Content is stored as JSON or Markdown files on your own server
Any PHP host
Runs on PHP 8.2+ shared hosting or a VPS; install by upload or Composer
Client-safe editing
Clients edit only the fields you choose, so the design stays as built
Custom schemas
Design your own content types and fields (Pro)
Built-in MCP server
AI tools read the site's real schemas and version-matched docs; Pro adds writes, OAuth and API keys
One-line SEO
Meta tags, Open Graph, canonical URLs and structured data from a single Twig call
Content versioning
Every save keeps the previous version, restorable at any time
Access groups
One permission system governing both people and AI agents
REST API
Same-origin on Standard; external access with API keys on Pro
Twig templating
130+ custom filters and functions
Site Builder
Create pages, routes and templates from the admin
Image processing
Resize, crop, convert and watermark images on the fly
Extensions
Add features with first- and third-party extensions
Automations
Run handlers on schedules, webhooks or content events (Pro)
Multilingual
Per-locale content with fallback; admin available in seven languages
One-time license
Priced per domain with two years of updates; no subscription

Analysis

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

Ghost

Total CMS

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

No analysis of Total CMS yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Ghost 2 videos + Add

Total CMS 0 videos + Add

Why I Moved My Blog From WordPress to Ghost

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

Total CMS

99% 99%

Blogging

1% 1%

0% 0%

Website Design

100% 100%

99% 99%

CMS

1% 1%

100% 100%

Blogging Platform

0% 0%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Ghost and Total CMS.

What makes your product unique?

Total CMS's answer:

It combines things that usually come separately: flat-file storage with no database, an admin built for handing sites to clients, and an MCP server built into every install. Because the MCP server runs inside the app, AI tools read the documentation for the exact version installed, not whatever was current when they were trained.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Total CMS's answer:

If you build sites for clients, Total CMS is designed around the handoff: you decide exactly what clients can edit, and the design stays as built. It runs on any PHP host without a database, it's a one-time license rather than a subscription, and support comes directly from the developer who builds it. If you need something free and open source, other flat-file CMSs will suit you better.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Total CMS's answer:

Web professionals who build sites for other people: freelancers, independent designers and small agencies. Also technical business owners who built their own site and need staff to update it safely, and developers who work with coding agents like Claude Code.

What's the story behind your product?

Total CMS's answer:

Total CMS started in 2015 as a way for web designers to make their sites editable by clients without a database. It grew to more than 4,500 licenses. In December 2025 it was rebuilt from scratch as Total CMS 3, a standalone PHP CMS that works with any front end. Version 3.5 added a built-in MCP server, Site Builder and extensions; 3.6 added one-line SEO and content versioning. It's built by Joe Workman under Aspect Services, LLC, founded in 2008.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Total CMS's answer:

PHP 8.2+, Slim 4, Twig 3, Symfony Console for the CLI, flat-file JSON and Markdown storage, Composer, HTMX, CodeMirror, and the Model Context Protocol with OAuth 2.1.

User comments

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

Reviews and articles

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

Ghost no reviews yet

Total CMS 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...

We have no reviews of Total CMS yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Ghost 197 mentions

Total CMS 0 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 / 6 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 / 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 / 10 months ago

Tracking Total CMS since Oct 2026.

Alternatives to Ghost and Total CMS

When comparing Ghost and Total CMS, 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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Statamic
Build better, easier to manage websites. Enjoy radical efficiency. It's everything you never knew you always wanted in a CMS.

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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 Total CMS:

Drupal vs Ghost Drupal vs Total CMS
Kirby
Kirby is a website for businesses to use to sort contacts and other information. The site is easy to use and features several details for businesses of all sizes.

Compare Kirby to Ghost or Total CMS:

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

Compare Blogger to Ghost or Total CMS:

Blogger vs Ghost Blogger vs Total CMS