Ghost vs Maropost
Ghost is a newsletter platform while Maropost is a all-in-one marketing platform. Ghost is the more affordable option at $18/mo — that's $261 less than Maropost's $279/mo entry point. Ghost offers a free plan (Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro)), while Maropost does not. Maropost has the edge with marketing automation, A/B testing, landing pages.
Quick Verdict
Ghost wins on price, rating, integrations, free tier.
Maropost wins on deliverability.
Best for most users: Ghost (independent publishers and bloggers).
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.
Maropost
Unified commerce platform that connects every channel
Maropost is a unified commerce and marketing automation platform for mid-market ecommerce businesses. It combines email, SMS, social advertising, and customer journey automation with a full ecommerce storefront.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ghost | Maropost |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Starting Price | $18/mo | $279/mo |
| Free Plan | Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro) | No free plan |
| Founded | 2013 | 2011 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 100 |
| Integrations | 1,000 | 50 |
| Deliverability Rate | 95% | 98% |
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
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
Maropost: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Unified commerce and marketing platform under one roof
- +Strong deliverability with 98% claimed rate
- +Cross-channel automation across email, SMS, and Meta ads
- +Deep ecommerce integrations with Shopify and Salesforce
- +Unified platform covers email, SMS, and web push in one dashboard
Cons
- −Expensive starting at $279/mo with 12-month commitment
- −No free plan or free trial
- −Steep learning curve due to platform complexity
- −Pricing requires contacting sales for exact quotes
- −Smaller user community means fewer third-party tutorials and resources
The Verdict
Ghost and Maropost are closely matched — both score within 0.2 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, Maropost reports 98% compared to 95% for Ghost — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Ghost | Maropost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $18/mo | $279/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 95% | 98% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 1000 | 50 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
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
Choose Maropost if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need marketing automation
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need A/B testing