Ghost is a membership-focused, self-hosted blogging platform ideal for writers monetizing content, while Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder better suited for creatives and small businesses needing design flexibility and integrated ecommerce. Ghost offers superior content monetization tools; Squarespace provides easier setup and more design templates.
Ghost vs Squarespace — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Membership-first, open-source blogging platform optimized for content creators and paid newsletters.
All-in-one website builder with e-commerce and hosting for small businesses and creatives.
Hosting Model. Primary Use Case. Built-in Monetization. Design Templates. Setup Difficulty. Monthly Cost (Entry). SEO & Content Tools
Choose Ghost if you're a writer, journalist, or creator building a paid membership or subscription newsletter business—it has the best-in-class monetization tools and content analytics. Choose Squarespace if you're a designer, artist, or small business owner who needs a visually stunning, easy-to-build website with integrated ecommerce and wants to launch quickly without technical setup.
Ghost: Variable by creator | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Advanced (meta tags, sitemaps, structured data) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Full custom themes and CSS control | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Minimal, relies on external traffic | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Subscriptions, memberships, ads, sponsorships | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $18 (starter plan) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 0.5-1 hour | Squarespace: 1-2 hours (drag-and-drop)
Ghost: Built-in (native feature) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 2-3 limited options | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $9-$199/month or $0 self-hosted | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 30-60 minutes plus hosting | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Full creator ownership (self-hosted) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Newsletter, comments, member walls | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Complete; full white-label | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 2-5 days (processor dependent) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Unlimited (self-hosted limits by server) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Web-only; no native apps | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Not disclosed (smaller ecosystem) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $199/year (Ghost Pro) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 9/10 (full code access) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 30-60 minutes (with setup) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 400+ (through open-source ecosystem) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 100% (creator owns all) | Squarespace: N/A
Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
Ghost: Variable (unlimited potential) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 10/10 (full control) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $29 (Ghost Pro) / Free (self-hosted) | Squarespace: $12-33 (Creator/Business)
Ghost: No additional fees | Squarespace: 3-4% per transaction
Ghost: No built-in limit; integrates Stripe/PayPal | Squarespace: Unlimited (with per-transaction fees)
Ghost: 15-20 professional themes | Squarespace: 70+ professionally designed templates
Ghost: Native segmentation, automation, design builder | Squarespace: Requires integration (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.)
Ghost: Built-in tiers, gating, paywalls, analytics | Squarespace: Limited; requires apps or custom integration
Ghost: Basic XML sitemaps, structured data, redirects | Squarespace: Advanced on-page SEO, image optimization, blogging
Ghost: 14 days for Ghost(Pro) | Squarespace: 14 days free; no credit card required
Ghost: Scales to 1,000,000+ | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Self-hosted only | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $29 (unlimited) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Yes (full tier support) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Full-featured publishing platform | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Yes (full self-hosting available) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Yes (extensive public API) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $29 (Professional plan) | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: 0% on memberships | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Segmentation, A/B testing, automation workflows | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Unlimited custom tiers | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Full REST API with custom code access | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $348 (Professional) + hosting | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $29/month | Squarespace: $11/month
Ghost: 150+ via Zapier/API | Squarespace: N/A
Monthly Newsletter Subscriber Allowance (Free Tier)
Ghost: $29-$199/month | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: No, managed-only | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: Native, built-in feature | Squarespace: N/A
Ghost: $29 (Ghost Pro managed) | Squarespace: $12
Ghost: Yes (open-source) | Squarespace: No
Ghost: 15 premium themes | Squarespace: 100+ responsive templates
Ghost: Native memberships with paywalls | Squarespace: Limited (requires workarounds)
Ghost: Basic product pages; not primary focus | Squarespace: Full shopping cart, inventory, tax, shipping
Ghost: Built-in with automation and segmentation | Squarespace: Basic (Business plan $23+/month)
Ghost: Yes (Ghost Pro); No (self-hosted requires setup) | Squarespace: Yes (all plans included)
Ghost: 99.9% (Ghost Pro) | Squarespace: 99.9%
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $16/month (included)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited integrations
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: More attractive & polished aesthetics
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Extensive, section-based editor
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Advanced, highly customizable
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: SSL certificate, daily backups, security updates
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 2/10 (minimal)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Plan-dependent
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 50+ professional designs
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 4.5/5 (3,394 reviews)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Automatic (all templates mobile-optimized)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 3,394 reviews (Capterra)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Basic collections only
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Block animations, limited transitions
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Proprietary global CDN included
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Yes, with inventory and payments
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $15/month (Starter plan)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $33/month (Core plan)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 40% - template parameter-based
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 4.4/5 stars (3,394 reviews)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Basic content management; third-party integrations needed
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Yes, integrated with advanced product filters (April 2026)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: No native B2B support
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited integrations (primarily Squarespace native)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Basic API, limited headless support
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Basic coupon and discount tools
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: All paid plans included
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 14-day trial only
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $15 (Business plan starts here)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 1+ million stores
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 24/7 phone and chat support
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $180-276 (included)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Unlimited (Commerce plan)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited/Not published
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Basic (single-location, limited variants)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited; mainly Facebook and Instagram
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Full drag-and-drop with no coding needed
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $16/month (Personal)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 500+ built-in integrations
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Yes (all plans)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $23-529 first month
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $23-529 (all-inclusive)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: ~1,000 (performance degrades beyond)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 100+ pre-built templates
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 24/7 live chat, email, phone
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $2,784-6,348 (subscription + fees)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Phone, Chat, Email (24/7)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $23 (Business plan with e-commerce)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 2-4 (drag-and-drop template)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: ~200 pre-built apps
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Yes, managed hosting
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: $0 (included in plan)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 5 (template + drag-drop limits)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Instagram Shop only (1)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited API with restricted code
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 2-4 hours (drag-and-drop)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited/No direct API
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 500 free/month built-in
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 3% on third-party payments
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Premium, cohesive design system
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: ~200 integrated apps
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Included in all plans
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: 4 built-in (Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Square)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Limited CSS/JavaScript injection
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: No (14-day trial only)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Yes (unlimited bandwidth)
Ghost: N/A | Squarespace: Basic (scroll effects, transitions)
How to choose between Ghost and Squarespace
Ghost vs Squarespace — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Ghost vs Squarespace. Contains 206 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Ghost vs Squarespace — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Ghost vs Squarespace.
Can I monetize my content with memberships on both platforms?
Ghost has native, first-class membership and subscription features built into every plan, with Stripe integration for payment processing and detailed member analytics. Squarespace offers limited membership functionality primarily through third-party integrations or workarounds; it's designed more for ecommerce than content monetization. For paid newsletters or subscription publications, Ghost is significantly superior.
Which platform is easier to set up for a beginner?
Squarespace is much easier—it's fully managed, requires no coding, and you can launch a professional site in hours using drag-and-drop editors and templates. Ghost's managed (Pro) hosting is also beginner-friendly, but the self-hosted option requires technical knowledge (SSH, database management, server setup). For zero technical skills, Squarespace is the clear choice.
What are the total costs after the first year?
Ghost Pro costs $348/year ($29/month), plus any email/member features. Squarespace's Personal plan is $168/year ($14/month with annual billing), Business plan is $276/year ($23/month), and Commerce plan is $408/year ($34/month). Ghost self-hosted is free (except domain/hosting costs), but requires technical maintenance. For budget-conscious users, Squarespace Personal is cheapest; for serious creators, Ghost's investment in membership tools often generates ROI.
Can I sell products and services on these platforms?
Squarespace has robust ecommerce with shopping carts, inventory, tax/shipping calculators, and payment processors integrated. Ghost has basic product pages but isn't optimized for ecommerce—it's designed for content and memberships. If your primary goal is selling physical or digital products, Squarespace is far superior. For selling access to content (memberships), Ghost excels.
What happens if I want to leave either platform?
Ghost (self-hosted) offers full data portability—you own everything and can export all content. Ghost Pro allows content exports in standard formats. Squarespace allows content export but migrating complex sites to another platform requires manual work; design and functionality aren't fully portable. Ghost provides greater independence; Squarespace involves more lock-in, though less than many website builders.
How to Choose Between Ghost and Squarespace
Hosting Model: Ghost has Self-hosted or Ghost(Pro) managed, while Squarespace has Fully managed SaaS.
Primary Use Case: Ghost has Member-based publications & newsletters, while Squarespace has Portfolio, ecommerce & small business sites.
Built-in Monetization: Ghost has Native memberships, subscriptions, Stripe integration, while Squarespace has Ecommerce, ads, limited membership features.
Design Templates: Ghost has 12-15 professionally designed themes, while Squarespace has 100+ responsive, drag-and-drop templates.
Setup Difficulty: Ghost has Moderate (requires technical knowledge for self-hosting), while Squarespace has Easy (drag-and-drop, no coding required).
Monthly Cost (Entry): Ghost has $29 (Ghost Pro managed hosting), while Squarespace has $14 (Personal plan with ads).
SEO & Content Tools: Ghost has Advanced member analytics, email newsletters included, while Squarespace has Basic SEO, built-in email marketing (Business plan+).