Ghost AlternativesTop Blog Publishing & CMS Tools like Ghost

Ghost is described as 'The world's most popular modern publishing platform for creating a new media platform' and is a very popular Blog Publishing tool in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Ghost for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Self-Hosted, PHP, SaaS and Mac apps. The best Ghost alternative is WordPress, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Ghost are Drupal, Hugo, Blogger and Medium.

filter to find the best alternatives

Ghost alternatives are mainly CMS Tools, but if you're looking for Blog Publishing Tools or Website Builders you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Ghost.
Ghost iconGhost
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The world's most popular modern publishing platform for creating a new media platform.

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Ghost alternatives page was last updated Mar 30, 2025
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  1. WordPress icon

    WordPress

     1652 likes
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    Create a website or blog with open-source software focused on accessibility, ease of use, performance, and security. Minimal setup, powerful growth features, and a large community supporting democratization of publishing.

    95 WordPress alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • PHP
    • Cloudron
    WordPress screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Self-deployment
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Content Management
    5.  Hostable
    6.  Ecommerce Integration
    7.  Multi-Site Management
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Headless CMS
    10.  Dockerized
    11. Google Plus icon  Google Plus integration
    12. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration

    WordPress VS Ghost

     
    Comments about WordPress as an Alternative to Ghost
    Shoji
    Positive Dec 19, 2024
    0

    Most popular CMS in the world that empowers almost half of websites in the world

    John Fastman
    Positive Dec 23, 2016
    1

    Wordpress is based on open source code, is more established in this field and has a much greater range of functionality, esp. though its community-driven plugin system. WP is more complicated also, but probably the "default" alternative, if there had to be one.

    Ghost Icon
    WordPress icon

    • Almost everyone thinks WordPress is a great Ghost alternative.

    • WordPress is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Ghost.

    • WordPress is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Ghost.

    • WordPress is Freemium and Open SourceGhost is Free Personal and Open Source
    • WordPress is CustomizableGhost is not according to our users
  2. Drupal icon

    Drupal

     488 likes
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    Drupal is an open source platform for building amazing digital experiences. It's made by a dedicated community. Anyone can use it, and it will always be free.

    212 Drupal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • BE flagBelgium
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • PHP
    Drupal screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Modular System
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Configuration Management
    5.  Layout Builder
    6.  WYSIWYG Support
    7.  Support for Bootstrap
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Data export/import
    10.  Modules

    Drupal VS Ghost

     
  4. Hugo icon

    Hugo

     88 likes
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    Hugo is a general-purpose website framework for generating static web pages. Hugo flexibly works with many formats and is ideal for blogs, docs, portfolios and much more.

    101 Hugo alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    Hugo screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Static Site Generator
    2.  Local server included
    3.  Publishing
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Arch Linux Package

    Hugo VS Ghost

     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Simvoly icon
    Simvoly

    Simvoly is all-in-one platform with free hosting, amazing designs, a place to control your online identity. You don't need coding skills, one place to help you grow your business. You can create pages, blogs, galleries, sell ...

    https://simvoly.com
    Learn More
  6. Blogger icon

    Blogger

     220 likes
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    Create a unique and beautiful blog. It's free and easy.

    203 Blogger alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    Blogger screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  User friendly

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration
    3.  Google Login
    4.  Publicly searchable posts
    5.  Multiple languages
    6.  Cross Linking

    Blogger VS Ghost

     
  7. Medium icon

    Medium

     179 likes
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    Medium is a new place on the Internet where people share ideas and stories that are longer than 140 characters and not just for friends. It’s designed for little stories that make your day better and manifestos that change the world.

    136 Medium alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Medium screenshot 1
    Medium screenshot 2
    Medium screenshot 3

    Medium Features

    1. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  WYSIWYG Support
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Progressive Web App

    Medium VS Ghost

     
    Comments about Medium as an Alternative to Ghost
    Guest
    Negative Nov 28, 2019
    15

    Medium is a publishing platform, Ghost is a content management system

    Ghost Icon
    Medium icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Medium is a legitimate Ghost alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Medium is Freemium and ProprietaryGhost is Free Personal and Open Source
  8. Write.as icon

    Write.as

     119 likes
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    Write.as lets you write and publish text instantly. Write a note for yourself to read later. Create a standalone article you can quickly broadcast on social media — or publish a full blog.

    104 Write.as alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Kindle Fire
    Write.as screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Distraction-free Writing
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Simple text editor
    4. ActivityPub icon  Support for ActivityPub
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Frictionless publishing
    7.  Permission system
    8.  Tagging
    9.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing
    10. X icon  X Integration
    11. Medium icon  Medium Integration

    Write.as VS Ghost

     

    • Almost everyone thinks Write.as is a great Ghost alternative.

    • Write.as is the most popular commercial alternative to Ghost.

    • Write.as is Paid and ProprietaryGhost is Free Personal and Open Source
    • Write.as is Privacy focused and LightweightGhost is not according to our users
  10. Joomla icon

    Joomla

     347 likes
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    Joomla is an award-winning content management system (CMS), which enables you to build web sites and powerful online applications. Many aspects, including its ease-of-use and extensibility, have made Joomla the most popular web site software available.

    205 Joomla alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • PHP
    Home Dashboard

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Modules
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Dark Mode

    Joomla VS Ghost

     
  11. Jekyll icon

    Jekyll

     119 likes
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    Jekyll is a simple, blog aware, static site generator. It takes a template directory (representing the raw form of a website), runs it through and Liquid converters, and spits out a complete, static website suitable for serving with Apache or your favorite web server.

    128 Jekyll alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    Jekyll screenshot 1

    Jekyll Features

    1.  Static Site Generator
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Command line interface
    7.  Content Management
    8.  Publishing

    Jekyll VS Ghost

     
  12. Publii icon

    Publii

     42 likes
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    Publii allows to you build, modify and manage an unlimited number of sites from the same app with instant switching; no databases or other credentials to remember.

    28 Publii alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Publii screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Security-focused
    4.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Desktop Publishing
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Live Preview
    7.  WYSIWYG HTML Editor
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  No Coding Required
    12.  Desktop bases

    Publii VS Ghost

     
  13. Bear Blog icon

    Bear Blog

     35 likes
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    Privacy-first, no-nonsense, super-fast blogging. No trackers, no JavaScript, no stylesheets. Just your words.

    88 Bear Blog alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • ZA flagSouth Africa

    Platforms

    • Online
    Bear Blog screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Minimalistic
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Blog editor
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Coding Required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Dark Mode

    Bear Blog VS Ghost

     
  14. Grav icon

    Grav

     134 likes
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    Grav is an easy to use, yet powerful, opensource CMS that requires no database. In a nutshell, installing Grav is a matter of unzipping the file. It is fast, has sophisticated caching, and a light footprint for optimal performance.

    190 Grav alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    The dashboard

    Grav Features

    1.  Flat File CMS
    2.  No database needed
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Twig Templating
    6.  Two-factor Authentication
    7.  Content Management

    Grav VS Ghost

     
  15. WriteFreely icon

    WriteFreely

     49 likes
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    WriteFreely is an open-source, minimalist, federated, self-hosted blogging platform. It was built for and by Write.as and can be used to power a similar community or just a single blog.

    50 WriteFreely alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    WriteFreely screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1. ActivityPub icon  Support for ActivityPub
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Federated
    4.  Dedicated Server Hosting

    WriteFreely VS Ghost

     
12 of 279 Ghost alternatives