Publishing and newsletter pricing
Ghost pricing: member count and paid subscriptions set the real cost
Ghost(Pro) combines a publication site, newsletter and memberships. Hosted pricing is tied to member count, and the low entry plan cannot sell subscriptions, so a paid publication starts at Publisher.
Joonas Rotko
Pricing checked 28 September 2026
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Pricing at a glance
| Plan | Monthly price | Annual / billing note | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $18/mo | $15/mo billed yearly | A small publication and newsletter without paid memberships. |
| Publisher(best fit) | From $35/mo | From $29/mo billed yearly | The hosted plan for a paid newsletter or small publication. |
| Business | From $239/mo | From $199/mo billed yearly | For larger member counts and an editorial team. |
| Custom | Custom | — | For larger operational or publication requirements. |
Prices and billing terms above reflect the stated check date. Confirm the checkout total, tax and renewal terms before buying.
Buddy's take
Ghost(Pro) is a publishing platform first. The entry tier is inexpensive for a free newsletter, but any paid-subscription business starts at Publisher and scales with members.
Which plan fits your workload?
| If you need | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A simple site and newsletter without paid subscriptions | Starter | Starter is the entry hosted plan but does not include paid subscriptions. |
| A paid newsletter, premium tiers or a custom theme | Publisher | Publisher is the first public plan that adds paid subscriptions and the publishing features that go with them. |
| A publication with 10,000+ members or several editorial staff | Business | Business starts at 10,000 members and increases staff, newsletters, offers and premium-tier capacity. |
Starter
- ✓Up to 1,000 members
- ✓One staff user
- ✓Website and newsletters
- ✓No paid subscriptions
- ✓Self-hosting remains a separate option
Publisher
- ✓Starts at 1,000 members
- ✓Paid subscriptions
- ✓3 staff users
- ✓Custom themes
- ✓3 newsletters and 0% Ghost transaction fee
Business
- ✓Starts at 10,000 members
- ✓15 staff users
- ✓10 newsletters
- ✓10 premium tiers
- ✓50 special offers
Custom
- ✓Custom member volume
- ✓Confirm support scope
- ✓Confirm migration needs
- ✓Confirm annual total
- ✓Request written renewal terms
Billing, extra costs and terms
The published subscription price is not necessarily the total cost. Check the terms that affect your actual workload, expansion and cancellation before you migrate.
Ghost(Pro) prices from member count, including a large free audience. Price Publisher at your actual list size before using its entry price in a comparison.
On the captured yearly view, Publisher rises from $29 per month at 1,000 members to $63 at 5,000, $88 at 10,000 and $141 at 25,000. Confirm today’s slider values before paying.
Ghost advertises 0% transaction fees for paid subscriptions, but Stripe card-processing fees still apply.
Self-hosted Ghost is open-source software, not a zero-cost publishing operation. Hosting, maintenance, backups and bulk email provider costs remain yours.
What else could fit your budget?
Compare the job and cost model, not only the entry price
EmailOctopus
$10/mo · Pro at 500 subscribers
A low-cost email sender for a newsletter that already has a separate website and membership system.
MailerLite
$12/mo · Comfort at 500 subscribers
A subscriber-priced email platform with landing pages and straightforward automation.
AWeber
$15/mo · Lite at 500 subscribers
A traditional email suite with a clear Lite and Plus feature split.
Full product context
Need the product trade-offs too?
The pricing page focuses on plan selection and cost. The review covers product fit, limitations, alternatives, AI capabilities and the buying risks that a plan table leaves out.
Read: Ghost reviewFrequently asked questions
Ghost(Pro) Starter is $18 per month or $15 per month billed yearly at up to 1,000 members. Publisher starts at $35 monthly or $29 yearly, and Business starts at $239 monthly or $199 yearly at 10,000 members.
Publisher is the first hosted Ghost(Pro) plan that includes paid subscriptions. Starter is for publishing and newsletters without paid memberships.
Ghost states that its transaction fee is 0%. Stripe still charges its own payment-processing fees.
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