EmailOctopus vs Ghost
EmailOctopus is a email marketing platform while Ghost is a newsletter platform. EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $9/mo, which is $9 less than Ghost's $18/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. EmailOctopus stands out with marketing automation and landing pages, while Ghost offers ecommerce integrations and advanced analytics.
Quick Verdict
EmailOctopus wins on price, deliverability, rating.
Best for most users: EmailOctopus (beginners).
EmailOctopus
Email marketing made easy
EmailOctopus is a stripped-back email marketing tool that focuses on simplicity and affordability. It's ideal for small businesses and creators who want the essentials without paying for features they won't use. Built on Amazon SES for reliable deliverability.
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 | EmailOctopus | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $18/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro) |
| Founded | 2014 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 100 | 50 |
| Integrations | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 95% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | No |
| A/B Testing | No | No |
| Landing Pages | Yes | No |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | No |
| SMS Marketing | No | No |
| Ecommerce Features | No | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | Yes |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | Yes | No |
| Advanced Analytics | No | Yes |
EmailOctopus: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers)
- + Very affordable Pro plan
- + Simple and clean interface
- + Good deliverability using Amazon SES
- + Easy migration from other platforms
Cons
- − Limited feature set compared to competitors
- − No A/B testing
- − Small template library
- − Basic automation capabilities
- − No ecommerce features
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
EmailOctopus and Ghost are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, EmailOctopus reports 97.5% compared to 95% for Ghost — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | EmailOctopus | Ghost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo Winner | $18/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% Winner | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 Winner | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 1000 | 1000 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You need marketing automation
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You're a beginners
Choose Ghost if…
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need advanced analytics
- + You're a independent publishers and bloggers
- + You're a newsletter creators who want zero platform fees