Just a blogging platform.
- MIT
- TypeScript
- Actively maintained
Blogging Platforms comparison
Ghost vs WordPress: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Ghost for a fast, focused publishing platform with built-in newsletters and paid memberships; pick WordPress for maximum flexibility through plugins, themes and any type of site.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
World's most-used blogging and CMS engine.
- GPL-2.0
- PHP
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
Ghost vs WordPress, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Ghost |  WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT. | GPL-2.0 or later. |
| Language/stack | Node.js with MySQL 8. | PHP with MySQL or MariaDB. |
| Standout features | Built-in newsletters, members, Stripe subscriptions and ActivityPub support. | Block editor, tens of thousands of plugins and themes, WooCommerce for shops. |
| Hosting | Official installs use Ghost-CLI on Ubuntu or the newer Docker Compose setup; docs ask for at least 1 GB memory. | Runs on almost any PHP hosting, from shared hosts to containers. |
| Learning curve | Opinionated and simple; themes use Handlebars templates. | Easy to start, but plugins and themes add maintenance and security upkeep. |
| GitHub stars | 55,489 | 21,450 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 5,329 | 2,047 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Latest release | v6.67.0Sep 29, 2026 | No GitHub releases |
| Main language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| Repository | TryGhost/Ghost | WordPress/WordPress |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Ghost is built for writers and publishers: newsletters, member signups and Stripe subscriptions are part of the core, and the editor is clean and fast. WordPress powers every kind of site, from blogs to shops to directories, thanks to its enormous plugin and theme ecosystem, but it needs more maintenance and care around plugin security.
Best for
Choose Ghost for
Newsletters, paid memberships and focused publishing.
Best for
Choose WordPress for
Any kind of website that needs plugins and custom themes.
Deploy either in minutes
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Is Ghost faster than WordPress?
Ghost ships with fewer moving parts and no plugin layer, so a default install is lean. A well-tuned WordPress site with caching can also be fast; the difference comes mostly from plugins and themes.
Can I move from WordPress to Ghost?
Yes. Ghost provides an official WordPress migration plugin and importer that bring over posts, pages, tags and images.
Can Ghost run an online store?
Ghost handles paid memberships and subscriptions, not general product sales. For a full store, WordPress with WooCommerce or a dedicated e-commerce app is the better fit.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Ghost or WordPress?
Ghost has 55,489 GitHub stars against 21,450 for WordPress. Over the last twelve months Ghost received 5,329 commits and WordPress received 2,047, so Ghost is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.