Ghost
Turn your audience into a business
WordPress.com
The world's most popular website platform
Ghost vs WordPress.com Comparison
Compare Ghost and WordPress.com side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Ghost and WordPress.com are both strong contenders in the website builders space, but they serve different needs. Ghost edges ahead with an overall score of 76/100 compared to WordPress.com's 74/100. Both are equally user-friendly (7/10 each). On pricing, both offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing. 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 | WordPress.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 76/100 | 74/100 |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $4/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Turn your audience into a business | The world's most popular website platform |
Pricing comparison
Ghost
Free tier available
Self-hostedFree
Starter$18/mo
Publisher$35/mo
Business$239/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-17
WordPress.com
Free tier available
FreeFree
Starter$4/mo
Explorer$8/mo
Creator$25/mo
Entrepreneur$45/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-17
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Ghost | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| Templates | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile responsive | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domains | Yes | Paid |
ecommerce
| Feature | Ghost | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Online store | No | Creator+ |
| Payments | Memberships | Creator+ |
| Inventory management | No | Creator+ |
advanced
| Feature | Ghost | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| SEO tools | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Memberships | Yes | Creator+ |
| CMS | Yes | Yes |
| Newsletter | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| Plugins | No | Creator+ |
integrations
| Feature | Ghost | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Mailchimp | No | Yes |
| Zapier | Yes | Yes |
| Stripe | Yes | No |
| Jetpack | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
Ghost
Ease of use7/10
Value for money8/10
Features7/10
Support7/10
WordPress.com
Ease of use7/10
Value for money7/10
Features8/10
Support6/10
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 WordPress.com if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities