Masthead
Masthead: A focused Markdown publishing platform for managing multiple small sites. Ranked #90 of 125 in Blogging Platforms by our editors (5.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for multi-site Markdown publishers.
At a glance
- Editor score5.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMulti-site Markdown publishers
- Free planYes
- Paid from€50/site/yr
- Custom domainYes
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Unlimited posts and pages on the Free plan
- Custom domains with automatic HTTPS or TLS
- Multiple sites managed from one account
Where it doesn't
- Paid pricing is charged per site, not per account
- Custom theme editing requires custom code
- Theme-defined editing can vary by theme
Our verdict on Masthead
Masthead is an open-source publishing platform for blogs and small business websites. It supports Markdown or HTML authoring, chronological posts, pages, tags, post filtering, image and file uploads, and marketplace or custom themes. The hosted service works on the web, while the source code and CLI support self-hosting. Its multiple-site model makes it a natural fit for publishers, consultants, and small teams managing several focused websites from one account.
The pricing structure is straightforward but important to understand. The Free plan costs €0 per site and includes unlimited posts and pages, Markdown or HTML authoring, themes, a Masthead subdomain, automatic HTTPS, and uploads. The monthly Paid plan costs €5 per site per month and adds custom domains, automatic TLS certificates, and collaborator invitations. An annual Paid option costs €50 per site per year with the same listed additions. Because pricing is per site, organizations with several properties should account for each site separately. The hosted service and self-hosted option also give publishers a choice between managed publishing and operating the software themselves.
Masthead’s strongest distinction is its focused authoring and theming model. Themes define both presentation and the editing experience, with Liquid templates, CSS, theme settings, and page-specific metadata available for custom work. That can suit publishers who want control over site structure and content workflows, especially when Markdown is central to the process. It is less suited to teams looking for a broad publishing system with a larger operational toolkit or a highly standardized editing experience across themes. Choose Masthead for lightweight, multi-site publishing with custom themes and clear per-site pricing; consider a broader platform when publishing operations extend beyond that focused scope.
Your product? Our editors can test Masthead in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Masthead pricing
All 2 Masthead plans and prices →
Masthead fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | €50/site/yr |
| Custom domain | Yes |
| Author limit | Not verified |
| Theme customization | Custom code |
| Post scheduling | Not verified |
| Built-in memberships | Not verified |
| Blog analytics | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | masthead.site |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Masthead
- WordPress.comAn all-in-one hosted platform with free publishing and scalable paid plans.9.4
- WordPressA highly configurable publishing system for teams that can manage self-hosted infrastructure.9.3
- GhostA flexible publishing platform for newsletters, memberships, gated content, and paid subscriptions.9.0
See all Masthead alternatives →
Used Masthead? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Masthead for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Masthead is listed in our Blogging Platforms directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/masthead/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/masthead.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update