beehiiv vs Ghost(2026)
beehiiv is better for teams that need best growth tools (referrals + boosts). Ghost is the stronger choice if own your content and list. beehiiv is freemium (from $39/mo) and Ghost is open-source (from $9/mo).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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beehiiv
beehiiv is a newsletter platform built by the team behind Morning Brew, designed specifically for growth with referral programs, ad network, paid subscriptions, and advanced analytics.
Starting at $39/mo
Visit beehiivGhost
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform combining a blog, newsletter, and membership/subscription tool in one. Self-host for free or use Ghost(Pro) — ideal for independent publishers.
Starting at $9/mo
Visit GhostHow Do beehiiv and Ghost Compare on Features?
| Feature | beehiiv | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Starting price | $39/mo | $9/mo |
| Referral program | ✓ | — |
| Ad network | ✓ | — |
| Paid subscriptions | ✓ | — |
| Web hosting | ✓ | — |
| Advanced segmentation | ✓ | — |
| Automations | ✓ | — |
| Boosts (paid growth) | ✓ | — |
| Open source (MIT) | — | ✓ |
| Newsletter + blog combo | — | ✓ |
| Paid memberships | — | ✓ |
| Custom themes | — | ✓ |
| Built-in SEO | — | ✓ |
| Comments | — | ✓ |
| Recommendations | — | ✓ |
beehiiv Pros and Cons vs Ghost
beehiiv
Ghost
Should You Use beehiiv or Ghost?
Choose beehiiv if…
- •Best growth tools (referrals + boosts)
- •Built-in monetization
- •Great analytics
Choose Ghost if…
- •Own your content and list
- •No transaction fees self-hosted
- •Beautiful publication design