Beehiiv is a newsletter platform optimized for growth and monetization with built-in referral systems and sponsorship tools, while Ghost is a modern publishing platform designed for independent creators prioritizing editorial control and membership features. Beehiiv focuses on subscriber acquisition; Ghost emphasizes content ownership and direct reader relationships.
Beehiiv vs Ghost — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Beehiiv if you're a growth-focused creator seeking rapid subscriber acquisition, monetization through sponsorships, and built-in viral mechanics—ideal for newsletters scaling from 0 to 100K+ subscribers. Choose Ghost if you prioritize long-term content ownership, direct member relationships, SEO discoverability, and want to build an independent publishing brand with full data control and minimal platform lock-in.
All-in-one newsletter platform with growth tools and monetization features built-in.
Open-source publishing platform with native memberships, paywalls, and self-hosting capabilities.
Structured comparison data for Beehiiv vs Ghost with 184 attributes.
Creator Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
Monthly Newsletter Subscriber Allowance (Free Tier)
Monthly Bandwidth Included (Starter Plan)
Beehiiv vs Ghost — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Beehiiv vs Ghost.
Can I migrate my newsletter from Beehiiv to Ghost?
Yes, but with limitations. You can export your subscriber list from Beehiiv, though email history and metadata may not fully transfer. Ghost requires manual import of subscribers and rebuilding of email templates. Data export capabilities are restricted compared to Ghost's full portability.
Which platform is better for earning money from newsletters?
Beehiiv offers faster monetization through its integrated sponsor marketplace (2000+ brands) and referral rewards, making it ideal for rapid revenue scaling. Ghost requires manual sponsorship deals but offers superior paywall and membership features for building sustainable recurring revenue directly from readers. Choice depends on whether you prefer quick sponsorships or long-term member relationships.
Does Ghost have a free tier like Beehiiv?
Ghost offers free self-hosted installation, but requires technical setup and server costs ($5-20/month). Beehiiv's free tier is more accessible with zero technical friction and unlimited subscribers. Ghost's managed Pro plan starts at $199/year, making it competitive but requiring initial setup knowledge.
Which platform is better for long-form blogging and SEO?
Ghost is significantly better. It creates a public, SEO-optimized blog archive, making content discoverable through Google search. Beehiiv treats content as email-first, with minimal SEO optimization. If organic traffic and searchability matter, Ghost wins decisively.
Can I use both Beehiiv and Ghost together?
Yes, many creators do. Beehiiv handles newsletter growth and sponsorship monetization, while Ghost hosts the blog and member paywall. Ghost can automatically send newsletters to subscribers, creating a complementary workflow. However, this requires managing two platforms and integration setup.