Ghost vs Kit (ConvertKit) (2026): Which Pays Better?
Both are popular newsletter platforms. Here is how Ghost and Kit (ConvertKit) stack up on requirements, what you keep, payout terms, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.
Ghost
Open-source publishing with newsletters, memberships and paywalls built in; 0% platform fee, hosted from $9 a month.
8.9 /10
Pricing: Open source, paid cloud from $9/mo
Pros
- Website, newsletter, paywall and memberships in one place with no cut of revenue
- Self-hostable and fully yours; excellent SEO and speed
Cons
- Fewer growth tools than Substack or beehiiv (no built-in network or ad marketplace)
- Self-hosting requires technical comfort
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing for creators with paid newsletters, digital product checkout, tip jars and a sponsor network.
8.2 /10
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $25/mo
Pros
- Automations, landing pages and commerce in one tool
- Creator Network recommendations and a sponsor network for larger lists
Cons
- Paid newsletter features are less polished than Substack's
- Costs rise with list size
Ghost vs Kit (ConvertKit) at a glance
| Ghost | Kit (ConvertKit) | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 8.9 / 10 | 8.2 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Open source | Freemium |
| Starting price | $9/mo | $25/mo |
| Web rank | #4.2k | #4.4k |
| Minimum traffic | None | None |
| Revenue share / fee | No revenue share; Ghost(Pro) hosting from $9/mo or self-host free | Commerce: 3.5% + 30c per transaction; plans from $25/mo (free to 10,000 subscribers) |
| Commission | – | – |
| Payout | Via your Stripe | Via Stripe |
| Methods served | paid newsletter, newsletter sponsorship, memberships subscriptions, paywall premium content | paid newsletter, newsletter sponsorship, memberships subscriptions, digital products |
| Niches accepted | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | newsletter, membership, paywall | email marketing, creators, automations |
Our pick
Ghost edges it with a score of 8.9 versus 8.2. Ghost is the better fit if you value: website, newsletter, paywall and memberships in one place with no cut of revenue, self-hostable and fully yours; excellent seo and speed. Choose Kit (ConvertKit) instead if you need: automations, landing pages and commerce in one tool, creator network recommendations and a sponsor network for larger lists.
Other newsletter platforms to consider
Full ranking →beehiiv 🧰 PlatformFreemium
Newsletter platform with paid subscriptions at 0% cut, a built-in ad network, referral program and boosts.
Substack 🧰 PlatformFree
Free newsletter hosting with one-click paid subscriptions; Substack takes 10% of paid revenue.
MailerLite 🧰 PlatformFreemium
Affordable email marketing with paid newsletter subscriptions and digital product sales via Stripe.