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
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.
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.
Structured comparison data for Ghost vs Squarespace with 206 attributes.
Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
Monthly Newsletter Subscriber Allowance (Free Tier)
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.