Ghost vs MailerLite (2026): Which Pays Better?
Both are popular newsletter platforms. Here is how Ghost and MailerLite 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
MailerLite
Affordable email marketing with paid newsletter subscriptions and digital product sales via Stripe.
7.6 /10
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $10/mo
Pros
- Cheap, clean and includes paid subscriptions and a website builder
- Free plan to 1,000 subscribers
Cons
- Fewer creator-specific growth features
- Approval process for new accounts
Ghost vs MailerLite at a glance
| Ghost | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 8.9 / 10 | 7.6 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Open source | Freemium |
| Starting price | $9/mo | $10/mo |
| Web rank | #4.2k | #4.3k |
| Minimum traffic | None | None |
| Revenue share / fee | No revenue share; Ghost(Pro) hosting from $9/mo or self-host free | No cut on paid subscriptions (Stripe fees apply); plans from $10/mo |
| Commission | – | – |
| Payout | Via your Stripe | Via Stripe |
| Methods served | paid newsletter, newsletter sponsorship, memberships subscriptions, paywall premium content | paid newsletter, digital products, newsletter sponsorship |
| 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, paid newsletter, affordable |
Our pick
Ghost edges it with a score of 8.9 versus 7.6. 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 MailerLite instead if you need: cheap, clean and includes paid subscriptions and a website builder, free plan to 1,000 subscribers.
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.
Kit (ConvertKit) 🧰 PlatformFreemium
Email marketing for creators with paid newsletters, digital product checkout, tip jars and a sponsor network.