Kit (ConvertKit) vs Ghost
Kit (ConvertKit) is a email marketing platform while Ghost is a newsletter platform. Ghost is the more affordable option at $18/mo — that's $15 less per month than Kit (ConvertKit)'s $33/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Kit (ConvertKit) has the edge with marketing automation, A/B testing, landing pages.
Quick Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating.
Ghost wins on price, integrations.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing built for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is purpose-built for online creators including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It emphasizes simplicity and deliverability over complex design features, making it ideal for text-based newsletters and automated sequences.
Ghost
Open-source publishing platform with built-in newsletters and memberships
Ghost is an independent, open-source publishing platform built for professional content creators who want full control over their audience and revenue. It combines a beautiful writing editor, built-in newsletters via Mailgun, and native membership/subscription billing with zero platform fees. Available as a free self-hosted solution or as managed Ghost(Pro) hosting starting at $18/month.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $33/mo | $18/mo |
| Free Plan | 10,000 subscribers | Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 50 |
| Integrations | 90 | 1,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98.2% | 95% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✕ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✕ | ✕ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✕ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- +Intuitive visual automation builder
- +Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- +Strong deliverability rates
- +Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- −Limited email template design options
- −Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- −No SMS marketing capabilities
- −Basic reporting compared to competitors
- −No drag-and-drop email editor
Ghost: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Completely open-source with self-hosting option at zero cost
- +Built-in membership and paid subscription system with 0% platform fees on revenue
- +Distraction-free professional editor optimized for long-form writing
- +Significantly faster page load times compared to WordPress, boosting SEO and reader engagement
- +Native newsletter delivery integrated directly into the publishing workflow
Cons
- −Newsletter emails are limited to Mailgun as the sending provider, which is no longer free
- −No plugin ecosystem or marketplace unlike WordPress — limited extensibility
- −Analytics are basic and only show the last 90 days on the dashboard
- −No drag-and-drop email builder or A/B testing for email campaigns
- −Starter plan limited to only 1 staff user and 1 newsletter with no paid subscription support
The Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Ghost's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from deliverability (4.7 vs 4) and ease of use (4.5 vs 3.9). On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 95% for Ghost — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Kit (ConvertKit) | Ghost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $33/mo | $18/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98.2% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 90 | 1000 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need marketing automation
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need A/B testing
- + You're a bloggers
Choose Ghost if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($18/mo)
- + You're a independent publishers and bloggers
- + You're a newsletter creators who want zero platform fees