Head-to-head · Publishing and Subscriptions Software
Ghost vs Kit
Ghost leads on 0 checks, Kit on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreGhost · 9.3/10
- Free planonly Kit
- Free trialboth
- Most featuresKit · 3 of 6
Ghost scores higher on our rubric for publishing and subscriptions software: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.
Kit offers free plan; Ghost doesn't.
Ghost is the better fit for publishers building a membership-backed publication. Kit is the better fit for creators wanting a flexible newsletter business.
- Ghost fits best
Publishers building a membership-backed publication
- Kit fits best
Creators wanting a flexible newsletter business
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Side by side
| Feature | Ghost 9.3/10 Visit ↗ | Kit 9.1/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Ranking | #1 in Publishing and Subscriptions Software | #3 in Publishing and Subscriptions Software |
| Best for | Publishers building a membership-backed publication | Creators wanting a flexible newsletter business |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $18/mo | $390/yr |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Free trial length | 14 days | 14 days · no card needed |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Email, Live chat, Docs · 24/7 |
| Compliance | 2FA | GDPR |
| Integrations | 8,000+ integrations | 100+ integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Ghost 1/6 · Kit 3/6 | ||
| Paid subscriptions | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Paywall support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Newsletter tools | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Audience analytics | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Custom domain | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Ghost combines website and post publishing, email newsletters, memberships, protected content, analytics, themes, integrations, and APIs in one open-source platform. It is aimed at independent writers, creators, publishers, and… Read the review → |
Kit is a cloud-based email marketing and newsletter platform for online creators, including authors, bloggers, coaches, podcasters, musicians, and video creators. It combines email broadcasts, scheduled newsletters, subscriber tagging,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Ghost — where it wins
- Combines websites, newsletters, memberships, and paid subscriptions
- Supports tiered content access with Stripe recurring billing
- Cloud or self-hosted deployment with APIs and webhooks
Where it doesn't
- Starter is limited to 1,000 members
- Payment processor fees still apply to subscriptions
- Priority support is listed only on the Business plan
Kit — where it wins
- Free Newsletter plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers
- Combines newsletters, paid subscriptions, products, and automations
- 100 integrations plus API access support a connected creator stack
Where it doesn't
- Advanced automations and sequences require the Creator plan
- Engagement analytics and referral tools require the Pro plan
- Higher subscriber tiers cost more than the listed 1,000-subscriber pricing
- Ghost9.3/10 · 14-day trial
A publishing, newsletter, and membership stack for subscription-backed publications.
Visit GhostFull verdict → - Kit9.1/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial
A flexible creator platform combining newsletters, subscriptions, products, and automations.
Visit KitFull verdict →
More comparisons
All publishing and subscriptions software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update