Given the concerns about the WordPress/WPEngine crisis, website developers and business owners are keeping their eyes open for alternatives.
In this post, I’m presenting Ghost.org, a content management system (CMS), designed specifically for publishing, blogging, and content-driven websites.
How are Ghost.org customers protected?
As a non-profit, Ghost doesn’t aim to make money from selling its code. The platform is based on open source software. This means its source code is freely available for anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute.
Ghost terms itself as a “distributed non-profit foundation which gives away all of its intellectual property under a permissive MIT license”. This means Ghost’s code is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute, with minimal restrictions. This also lessens the possibility of disputes with other companies that use its code.
John Nolan, Ghost’s founder, has written a blog post (https://john.onolan.org/democratising-publishing/) assuring users that Ghost will not sink into a situation where only one person has significant control of an entire platform. The company is structured as an independent non-profit organization, with no owners, outside investors, no ulterior motivations, and no conflicts of interest.
Differences between Ghost and WordPress
One major plus about WordPress.org is that its code free to use. You can get started with just a domain name (, hosting and a free theme.
For WordPress, more functionality means adding different elements from different companies. For instance:
- Domain name registration ($9 and up for a .com)
- Hosting ($10/month and up). You may need to pay more for an SSL certificate.
- Theme (free from WordPress; Generate Press, $49 (US)/year and up
- Email marketing (free for Mailchimp or Kit.com, plans increase when your subscribers increase)
- SEO plugin (e.g., Yoast free; Yoast premium ($99/year)
While most of these additional platforms are free or low cost, having so many elements means having the technical know how to integrate multiple platforms with your website.
As an all in one system, Ghost has an advantage. With Ghost you can:
- Create email newsletters
- Charge users a paid subscription
- Run a membership
- Publish a blog or publication
- SEO compatible
- Use your own domain on your website
Ghost will also provide themes, an SSL certificate, and will also host your website. In terms of cost, its starter plan $9 a month. See more about Ghost’s pricing here.
Should you choose Ghost?
In making a choice between both platforms, consider, for your needs, which platform is easy to use, fits into your budget, and aligns with the goals of your website.
If your primary focus is on clean, distraction-free content creation and publishing, Ghost may be the better choice. However, if you require extensive customization, plugins, or the ability to build complex, multifunctional websites, WordPress offers greater flexibility. Evaluate factors such as hosting requirements, available themes and integrations, and the scalability of each platform to make an informed decision.