Drip vs Ghost
Drip is a email marketing platform while Ghost is a newsletter platform. Ghost is the more affordable option at $18/mo — that's $21 less than Drip's $39/mo entry point. Ghost offers a free plan (Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro)), while Drip does not. Drip has the edge with marketing automation, A/B testing, SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
Drip wins on deliverability, rating.
Ghost wins on price, integrations, free tier.
It's a close call — your choice depends on your specific needs.
Drip
Marketing automation for ecommerce
Drip is a focused ecommerce marketing platform known for its powerful visual automation builder and behavior-based segmentation. It's designed specifically for online stores that want sophisticated marketing automation without the complexity of enterprise tools.
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 | Drip | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | $18/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 50 |
| Integrations | 150 | 1,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Drip: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent ecommerce automation
- +Visual workflow builder
- +Strong Shopify integration
- +Revenue attribution
- +Behavior-based segmentation
Cons
- −No free plan
- −More expensive starting price ($39)
- −No landing page builder
- −Limited to ecommerce focus
- −Smaller company, less known
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
Drip edges ahead with a 4.4/5 rating compared to Ghost's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from ease of use (4.5 vs 3.9) and deliverability (4.5 vs 4). On deliverability, Drip reports 98% compared to 95% for Ghost — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Drip | Ghost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $39/mo | $18/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 150 | 1000 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Drip if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need marketing automation
- + You need A/B testing
- + You're a ecommerce
Choose Ghost if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($18/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a independent publishers and bloggers
- + You're a newsletter creators who want zero platform fees