Ghost vs MailerLite — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Ghost and MailerLite to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
MailerLite takes the lead with a 4.3 rating and is best for small businesses and creators wanting beautiful email marketing at affordable prices.. Ghost (4.0) is the better pick if you need independent publishers and writers who want an all-in-one publishing and membership platform.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Ghost | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.0(42) | ★★★★ 4.3(189) |
| Pricing Model | open_source | freemium |
| Starter Price | $9/mo | $10/mo (Growing Business, 500 subs) |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | web, ios, android |
| Learning Curve | easy | easy |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Independent publishers and writers who want an all-in-one publishing and membership platform | Small businesses and creators wanting beautiful email marketing at affordable prices. |
| Verdict | recommended | recommended |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Ghost | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Blog and newsletter combined | — | |
| Paid membership support | — | |
| Native email delivery | — | |
| SEO optimization | — | |
| Theme customization | — | |
| Self-hosting option | — | |
| Drag-and-drop email editor | — | |
| Marketing automation | — | |
| Website and blog builder | — | |
| Landing pages and forms | — | |
| Digital product sales | — | |
| Paid newsletter subscriptions | — |
Ghost
Pros
- ✓All-in-one publishing platform
- ✓Open-source and self-hostable
- ✓Built-in paid memberships
- ✓Clean writing experience
Cons
- ✕Less flexible than WordPress
- ✕Limited plugins
- ✕Self-hosting requires Node.js knowledge
MailerLite
Pros
- ✓Best-designed email editor in the affordable tier
- ✓Generous free plan with 1,000 subscribers
- ✓Built-in website builder and digital product sales
Cons
- ✕Advanced automation features are limited compared to ActiveCampaign
- ✕Migration from Classic to New platform was rocky
- ✕Smaller integration ecosystem than Mailchimp
The Bottom Line
Both Ghost and MailerLite are solid tools in the Email Marketing space. MailerLite edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and is the better choice for small businesses and creators wanting beautiful email marketing at affordable prices.. However, if you prioritize independent publishers and writers who want an all-in-one publishing and membership platform, Ghost is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.