Ghost
Turn your audience into a business
Shopify
The commerce platform that powers millions
Ghost vs Shopify Comparison
Compare Ghost and Shopify side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Ghost and Shopify are both strong contenders in the website builders space, but they serve different needs. Shopify edges ahead with an overall score of 86/100 compared to Ghost's 76/100. Shopify is easier to get started with (8/10 for ease of use vs 7/10). On pricing, Ghost offers a free tier while Shopify requires a paid plan from $29/mo. Ghost rates higher for value for money (8/10 vs 7/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Ghost | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 76/100 | 86/100 |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $29/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Turn your audience into a business | The commerce platform that powers millions |
Pricing comparison
Ghost
Free tier available
Self-hostedFree
Starter$18/mo
Publisher$35/mo
Business$239/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-17
Shopify
No free tier
Basic$39/mo
Grow$105/mo
Advanced$399/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-17
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Ghost | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| Templates | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile responsive | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domains | Yes | Yes |
ecommerce
| Feature | Ghost | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Online store | No | Yes |
| Payments | Memberships | Yes |
| Inventory management | No | Yes |
| Shipping labels | No | Yes |
| POS | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Ghost | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| SEO tools | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Memberships | Yes | App |
| CMS | Yes | Basic |
| Newsletter | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | Ghost | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Mailchimp | No | Yes |
| Zapier | Yes | Yes |
| Stripe | Yes | No |
| No | Yes | |
| No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
Ghost
Ease of use7/10
Value for money8/10
Features7/10
Support7/10
Shopify
Ease of use8/10
Value for money7/10
Features9/10
Support8/10
Choose Ghost if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose Shopify if...
- You're ready to invest from $29/mo
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
