How Ghost and Medium compare
Ghost is what serious independent publishing looks like. A fast, beautifully themed site, newsletters sent from your own domain, paid memberships with zero platform fees, comments, and a clean editor, all open source and portable. Ghost(Pro) hosting removes the ops, and the whole thing respects the writer and the reader.
Medium is where a good essay can find readers on its own. The editor is calm, publications curate, the algorithm and topics surface work to members, and the Partner Program pays writers from member reading time. You bring words; Medium brings the audience and the distribution.
Where they are different
Ghost
- Ghost monetises by membership.
- Ghost sends email and stops.
- Ghost is publishing-first.
Medium
- Medium owns the reader relationship.
- Medium is one publication format.
- Medium claps and responses stay on Medium.
Choose Ghost when writing is the business and you want paid subscriptions with no platform cut, on open-source software.
Choose Medium when you want readers and modest earnings without owning a site or a list.
Compare features
What's on Ghost and Medium
A check means that capability is available. Ghost and Medium are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteGhost: IncludedMedium: Not included
- Custom domainGhost: IncludedMedium: Not included
- Theme and fontsGhost: IncludedMedium: Not included
Public content
- BlogGhost: IncludedMedium: Included
- Reader engagementGhost: IncludedMedium: Included
Reach and quality
- SEOGhost: IncludedMedium: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceGhost: IncludedMedium: Not included
- Marketing emailsGhost: IncludedMedium: Not included
Team
- Admin usersGhost: IncludedMedium: Included
- Per-admin permissionsGhost: IncludedMedium: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Ghost or Medium, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Ghost or Medium may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Ghost vs Medium pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Ghost
Current plans and prices
See what Ghost charges on their pricing page.
Medium
Current plans and prices
See what Medium charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Ghost and Medium
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Ghost or Medium?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Ghost or Medium when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Ghost and Medium are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Ghost or Medium?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Ghost or Medium for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Ghost and Medium?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Ghost and Medium set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Ghost or Medium to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.