Kit is cheaper for beginners due to its free tier, but Ghost is significantly cheaper at scale (10k+ subscribers) because it doesn't charge per subscriber.

Which is easier to learn?

Kit is easier for getting an email out quickly, while Ghost requires more setup time to configure your website and theme.

Can I use both together?

Yes, many creators use Ghost as their beautiful front-end website and Kit as their back-end email automation engine via Zapier.

Do they take a cut of my sales?

Ghost takes 0%. Kit (Commerce) takes a 3.5% + 30c transaction fee on digital products sold through their platform.

Ghost Writing vs

Kit (ConvertKit) Writing

Ghost vs Kit (ConvertKit)

Ghost and Kit (formerly ConvertKit) represent two different philosophies for creator businesses: Ghost is a CMS-first platform for publishers, while Kit is an automation-first platform for email marketers. Choosing between them depends on whether your primary product is the content on your site or the emails in your subscribers' inboxes.

Try Ghost → Try Kit (ConvertKit) →

Side-by-side

Criterion	Ghost	Kit (ConvertKit)
Pricing Structure	Flat monthly fees based on features/traffic; 0% transaction fees on memberships.	Subscriber-based pricing that scales up as your list grows; free for the first 1,000 subs.
Primary Function	A full website and blog (CMS) with newsletter capabilities built-in.	An email marketing engine with basic landing pages and commerce features.
Learning Curve	Moderate; requires understanding of themes and CMS settings, or technical skill for self-hosting.	Low to moderate; intuitive visual builders but complex automation logic can take time to master.
Monetization	Focused on recurring paid subscriptions and tiered memberships.	Focused on digital product sales (tip jars, downloads) and newsletter sponsorships.
Customization	High; full control over HTML/CSS, custom themes, and white-labeling.	Low; limited to templates for emails and landing pages with basic styling options.

Pros & cons

Ghost

Pros

No transaction fees on your membership revenue
Complete ownership of design via custom themes
Superior SEO tools and fast-loading web pages
Open-source flexibility allows for self-hosting to save costs

Cons

Email automation is very basic compared to dedicated ESPs
No free tier on the managed Ghost(Pro) hosting
Steeper learning curve for non-technical users

Kit (ConvertKit)

Pros

Powerful visual automation for complex email funnels
Creator Network helps with organic subscriber growth
Generous free tier for creators just starting out
Excellent tagging and segmentation for targeted marketing

Cons

Can become very expensive as your subscriber count grows
Website capabilities are limited to basic landing pages
Email design options are intentionally restrictive

Our verdict

Ghost is the superior choice for writers, journalists, and AI artists who want to build a premium, branded publication where the website experience is just as important as the newsletter. It is the 'forever home' for those who hate transaction fees and want total design control. Kit is the better tool for filmmakers, designers, and educators who use email as a sales engine to move followers into a funnel for digital products or services. If you need complex 'if/then' logic for your marketing, go with Kit; if you want to run a professional digital magazine, go with Ghost.

Get Ghost → Get Kit (ConvertKit) →

FAQ

Which is cheaper?: Kit is cheaper for beginners due to its free tier, but Ghost is significantly cheaper at scale (10k+ subscribers) because it doesn't charge per subscriber.
Which is easier to learn?: Kit is easier for getting an email out quickly, while Ghost requires more setup time to configure your website and theme.
Can I use both together?: Yes, many creators use Ghost as their beautiful front-end website and Kit as their back-end email automation engine via Zapier.
Do they take a cut of my sales?: Ghost takes 0%. Kit (Commerce) takes a 3.5% + 30c transaction fee on digital products sold through their platform.