# Ghost vs Payload CMS

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** Ghost

| Attribute | Ghost | Payload CMS |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 71.7 (69% (medium)) | 53.6 (18% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | - |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 468 | - |
| adoption.github_stars | 55,540 | - |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 15,292 | - |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Ghost is a publishing platform that helps independent publishers create and host websites, publish content via email newsletters, and manage paid member subscriptions. It provides built-in tools for audience growth, subscriber engagement, and content distribution. It is indexed under CMS Software.","source":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","question":"What is Ghost?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Ghost is a paid product; published pricing starts at $18 per month. It is sold across 4 plans (Starter, Publisher, Business and Custom). There is no free tier. Prices are published openly on the vendor's own pricing page. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","question":"How much does Ghost cost?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed browser-based access to Ghost. That is the extent of what we could verify from public sources, so it may well offer desktop or mobile clients we have not indexed.","source":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","question":"What platforms does Ghost support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Ghost can be deployed cloud / SaaS, on-premise and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","question":"Can Ghost be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 4 integrations for Ghost, including Slack, Zapier, n8n and BeyondWords. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","question":"What does Ghost integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed GDPR for Ghost. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as Ghost not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://ghost.org/privacy/","question":"What security certifications does Ghost have?","confidence":0.7},{"answer":"Yes. Ghost is published under the MIT licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost","question":"Is Ghost open source?","confidence":0.99},{"answer":"Ghost is available worldwide. Its primary market is the United States.","source":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","question":"Where is Ghost available?","confidence":0.5}]` | `[{"answer":"An open-source framework providing a complete backend with TypeScript, database support, and content management features. Deploy as a headless CMS or standalone application with built-in admin interface. It is indexed under CMS Software.","source":"https://payloadcms.com","question":"What is Payload CMS?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Payload CMS is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://payloadcms.com","question":"Is Payload CMS free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Payload CMS supports the web and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://payloadcms.com","question":"What platforms does Payload CMS support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Payload CMS can be deployed cloud / SaaS, hybrid, on-premise and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://payloadcms.com","question":"Can Payload CMS be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 8 integrations for Payload CMS, including Nodemailer, Resend, SendGrid, Stripe, Ethereal, SMTP, MongoDB and PostgreSQL. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://payloadcms.com","question":"What does Payload CMS integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Payload CMS is available worldwide. Its primary market is the United States.","source":"https://payloadcms.com","question":"Where is Payload CMS available?","confidence":0.5}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | An open-source platform enabling content creators to manage websites, send newsletters, and offer paid subscriber memberships all in one unified system. Includes native analytics, content editor, and extensive integration support. | A Node.js-based framework providing an instant TypeScript backend, administrative interface, and deployment flexibility. Functions as both a headless content management system and a foundation for building custom applications. |
| features.capabilities | `{"cms_type":"traditional","free_tier":true,"multisite":false,"open_source":true,"git_workflow":true,"headless_api":true,"localization":true,"self_hostable":true,"visual_builder":true,"managed_hosting":true,"content_workflow":true,"plugin_ecosystem":"8,000+ integrations","structured_content":true}` | `{"cms_type":"headless","free_tier":true,"multisite":true,"open_source":true,"git_workflow":true,"headless_api":true,"localization":true,"pricing_model":"open_source_free","self_hostable":true,"visual_builder":true,"managed_hosting":true,"content_workflow":true,"deployment_model":"self_hosted_open_source","plugin_ecosystem":"Community-driven with templates and GitHub integration","rest_api_delivery":true,"structured_content":true,"webhooks_event_triggers":true,"graphql_api_native_delivery":true,"real_time_visual_preview_editor":true,"multi_language_localization_i18n":true,"nextjs_gatsby_native_framework_support":true,"visual_content_modeling_schema_builder":true,"granular_role_based_access_control_rbac":true}` |
| integrations.count | 8,000 | 5 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Slack"},{"name":"Zapier"},{"name":"n8n"},{"name":"BeyondWords"},{"name":"Stripe","native":true,"category":"payments","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"GitHub","native":true},{"name":"Google Analytics","category":"analytics"},{"name":"Plausible","category":"analytics"},{"name":"Instagram","category":"social"},{"name":"Tinybird","category":"analytics"}]` | `[{"name":"Nodemailer"},{"name":"Resend"},{"name":"SendGrid"},{"name":"Stripe"},{"name":"Ethereal"},{"name":"SMTP"},{"name":"MongoDB","native":true,"direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"PostgreSQL","native":true,"direction":"bidirectional"}]` |
| language.primary | TypeScript | - |
| license.spdx | MIT | - |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"web":true}` | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Starter","features":["Website hosting","Free custom domain","Email newsletters","Simple design settings","Unlimited email sends"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":18,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For solo blogs and newsletters","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"members":"1,000","email_sends":"unlimited","staff_users":"1"}},{"free":false,"name":"Publisher","features":["Custom themes","8000+ integrations","Paid subscriptions","Advanced analytics","Whitelist branding","Internationalization","Marketplace themes"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":29,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For custom publications","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"staff_users":"3"}},{"free":false,"name":"Business","features":["Priority support","Higher usage limits","Early access to features"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":199,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For teams scaling up","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"staff_users":"15"}},{"free":false,"name":"Custom","features":["Advanced configurations","Dedicated IP address","99.9% uptime SLA","Unlimited members"],"description":"For more complex needs","contactSales":true,"includedLimits":{"members":"unlimited"}}],"summary":"From $18/mo. Free 14-day trial.","currency":"USD","freeTier":false,"sourceUrl":"https://ghost.org/pricing/","retrievedAt":"2026-10-15T09:23:23.029Z","freeTrialDays":14,"startingPrice":{"amount":18,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"open_source","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Payload Cloud","description":"Cloud-hosted deployment with 14-day free trial for new signups","contactSales":false}],"summary":"Open source. Payload Cloud available with 14-day free trial.","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://payloadcms.com","retrievedAt":"2026-09-08T18:51:28.862Z","freeTrialDays":14}` |
| pricing.free_tier | no | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | mid | free |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":18,"currency":"USD"}` | - |
| pricing.transparent | yes | no |
| release.cadence_days | 5 | - |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.70.0","date":"2026-10-13T15:11:13Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.70.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.69.0","date":"2026-10-07T13:58:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.69.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.68.0","date":"2026-10-06T15:27:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.68.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.67.0","date":"2026-09-29T17:23:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.67.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.66.0","date":"2026-09-29T17:30:21Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.66.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.65.0","date":"2026-09-22T15:28:40Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.65.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.64.0","date":"2026-09-15T15:15:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.64.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.63.0","date":"2026-09-08T20:21:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.63.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.62.0","date":"2026-09-01T15:33:02Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.62.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.61.0","date":"2026-08-27T10:12:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.61.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.60.0","date":"2026-08-25T15:30:37Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.60.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.59.0","date":"2026-08-19T20:27:39Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.59.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.58.0","date":"2026-08-18T16:07:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.58.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.57.1","date":"2026-08-10T20:39:48Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.57.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.57.0","date":"2026-08-07T15:32:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.57.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.56.0","date":"2026-08-04T17:48:55Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.56.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.55.0","date":"2026-07-31T16:17:29Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.55.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.54.1","date":"2026-07-27T20:46:05Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.54.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.54.0","date":"2026-07-24T15:43:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.54.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.53.0","date":"2026-07-17T15:43:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.53.0"}]` | - |
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.9 | - |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.scorecard | 3.8 | - |
| security.trust_center | https://ghost.org/privacy/ | https://payloadcms.com/security |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":41,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=ghost&per_page=100","last_12m":26,"max_severity":"CRITICAL"}` | - |

## Capabilities (CMS Software)

| Capability | Ghost | Payload CMS |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| CMS type | Traditional / monolithic | Headless / API-first |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Open-source | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Self-hostable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Managed / cloud hosting offered | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Delivery** |  |  |
| Headless API (REST/GraphQL) | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Content** |  |  |
| Structured content modelling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Localisation / i18n | ✓ | ✓ |
| Content workflow / approvals | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Editing** |  |  |
| Visual / no-code page builder | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Plugin / app ecosystem size | 8,000+ integrations | Community-driven with templates and GitHub integration |
| **Scale** |  |  |
| Multi-site / multi-tenant | ✗ | ✓ |
| **Workflow** |  |  |
| Git-based / code-first workflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Free / open tier | ✓ | ✓ |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:15:13.178Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*