Why consider Ghost if you use wordpress?
If you run a blog or publish regular content on WordPress, you’re probably familiar with its flexibility and large plugin ecosystem. Ghost arrives from a different angle: it was built specifically for publishing and subscriptions, with a focus on speed, clear content structure, and an editor designed around Markdown. For many writers and publishers who want faster page loads, simpler maintenance, and built-in membership tools, Ghost can provide a cleaner experience without the complexity of managing plugins, updates, and frequent compatibility issues. It’s not a one-size-fits-all replacement, but it solves a lot of pain points that arise from combining many different plugins and theme functions in WordPress.
Key differences between Ghost and WordPress
Content model and editor
Ghost treats content as structured posts and pages with strong support for Markdown, so formatting and embedding media feel closer to writing in a document than building a page. The editor is streamlined, giving you live preview and simple card-based blocks for images, galleries, and embeds. WordPress offers a block editor that is very flexible, but that flexibility can lead to clutter when your primary goal is to publish readable articles quickly. If you prefer a writing-first environment and want fewer options that can break layouts, Ghost is appealing.
Architecture and performance
Ghost is built on Node.js and focuses on delivering content quickly with minimal server overhead. That often translates to faster page speeds and lower resource consumption compared with a typical WordPress site running php and multiple plugins. Ghost also has built-in caching and a lean theming system, so you get good performance out of the box. WordPress can match this with careful setup and caching layers, but it takes more tuning and maintenance to reach the same level of consistency.
Extensibility and ecosystem
WordPress has thousands of plugins and themes, which gives you almost unlimited options to add features. Ghost keeps the core smaller and relies on integrations, themes, and webhooks for extending functionality. That means fewer one-click add-ons but also fewer compatibility headaches. If you depend heavily on certain WordPress plugins (e-commerce, advanced forms, complex SEO suites), you’ll need to check how those needs map to Ghost features or available integrations.
Getting started: hosting and setup
Choosing how you host Ghost is the first practical decision. You can use Ghost(Pro), the official managed hosting, which gets you automatic updates, backups, and a dashboard that mirrors Ghost’s development focus, or you can self-host on a vps like DigitalOcean, AWS, or a container platform. Self-hosting gives you more control and lower recurring costs at scale, but it requires handling ssl, updates, and server security yourself. For beginners who just want to test or move a blog, Ghost(Pro) simplifies the path and reduces technical friction.
- Ghost(Pro): managed, fast setup, paid monthly or yearly.
- Self-hosted on a vps: more control, lower long-term cost, needs sysadmin work.
- Containers and serverless setups: suitable if you’re comfortable with docker and CI/CD workflows.
migrating from WordPress to Ghost
Moving content is usually the biggest concern for WordPress users. Ghost provides an importer that accepts a json export created by a plugin or service, and there are community tools that convert WordPress XML exports into Ghost-compatible JSON. The basic steps are straightforward: export posts and images from WordPress, convert the file if necessary, import into Ghost, and then check formatting, internal links, and images. Don’t forget to migrate users, tags, and SEO metadata,some of these elements may require manual tweaks or plugins that generate compatible fields before export.
A practical migration checklist: export WordPress content (XML), convert to Ghost JSON with a migration tool if needed, upload images and verify paths, import the JSON into Ghost, test posts and pages, and set up redirects from old WordPress permalinks to new Ghost urls. Proper redirects are essential to preserve search rankings and inbound links, so configure server-level redirects or use your DNS/CDN provider to manage them.
The Ghost admin, themes, and customization
The Ghost admin console is intentionally uncluttered. You’ll find a content list, editor, and settings for members and integrations. Themes are built with Handlebars templates and a predictable folder structure; they prioritize readability and concise code rather than a visual builder. Editing a theme requires basic knowledge of html, Handlebars, and css; if you’re comfortable editing wordpress themes, the learning curve is gentle. For design changes that would have been handled by WordPress page builders, Ghost instead encourages custom templates and route configurations that are easier to maintain long-term.
Useful theme and customization tips
- Start with a lightweight theme and tweak CSS rather than installing heavy themes with many features.
- Use code injection for small header/footer scripts instead of modifying templates for temporary tracking snippets.
- Learn routes.yaml to create custom homepages and collections without bloating templates.
Members and subscriptions built in
One of Ghost’s standout features is first-class membership and subscription support. You can enable free memberships, paid subscriptions, and tiered access directly in the admin without relying on third-party plugins. The Stripe integration handles payments, and you can use the members API to show gated content or email sign-ups. For publishers moving from WordPress plus a separate membership plugin, this consolidation can simplify billing, analytics, and content gating.
SEO and performance best practices
Ghost includes sensible SEO defaults like canonical URLs, sitemap generation, structured data, and meta-tag controls per post. That means you won’t need an extensive SEO plugin to get good results, but you should still pay attention to fundamentals: write descriptive titles and meta descriptions, optimize images, use proper heading hierarchy, and set up redirects after migration. Because Ghost pages are fast and clean, you often see immediate improvements in Core Web Vitals and page speed scores, which helps search rankings and reader experience.
Integrations and extending functionality
While Ghost lacks a plugin marketplace on the scale of WordPress, integrations are supported through Zapier, webhooks, members API, and OAuth providers. Popular needs,like email automation, analytics, and comment systems,are covered by established integrations. Where WordPress plugins add server-side logic, Ghost expects many customizations to live in external services or client-side scripts, keeping the core lean. If your site relies on very specific server-side features, plan how to replicate those using third-party services or server-side middleware.
Security, maintenance, and costs
Security is simpler with Ghost because you have a smaller surface area: fewer plugins and a focused codebase reduce potential vulnerabilities. Using Ghost(Pro) means the team handles updates and backups; self-hosting requires you to maintain the server OS, Node.js, and Ghost releases. Cost-wise, wordpress hosting can be cheaper at the base level, but add-ons and plugin licenses add up. Ghost(Pro) has a predictable pricing model that includes hosting and support, which can be worth it for publishers who prefer not to manage infrastructure.
Practical workflow tips for former WordPress users
To get the most out of Ghost, adjust how you approach site features and edits. Treat Ghost as a writing and membership platform first: focus on content structure, lightweight themes, and clear navigational patterns. Use the built-in email newsletters to reach your members instead of relying on separate plugins. When you need custom functionality, lean on APIs or serverless functions to avoid complicating the Ghost install. Finally, build a testing site before switching your production domain so you can verify migrations, redirects, and design without affecting live traffic.
Summary
Ghost is a focused publishing platform that appeals to WordPress users who want streamlined writing tools, faster performance, and built-in membership features. It trades some of WordPress’s plugin-driven flexibility for a cleaner maintenance profile and a writer-friendly editor. Migration requires planning,exporting content, converting files, and setting up redirects,but many publishers find the end result worth the effort when they get reliable site speed, simpler maintenance, and native subscription tools.
FAQs
Can I migrate my entire WordPress site to Ghost?
You can migrate posts, pages, images, tags, and basic metadata. Complex features like custom plugin functionality, shortcodes, or advanced e-commerce integrations will need replacements or reimplementation. Use migration tools to convert exports and prepare redirects to preserve SEO.
Do I need to know Node.js to run Ghost?
Not necessarily. If you choose Ghost(Pro), the hosting team handles Node.js, updates, and server tasks. For self-hosting, basic server knowledge is helpful but there are clear guides for installing Ghost on common VPS providers. You don’t need deep Node development skills for everyday site management.
How does Ghost handle SEO compared to WordPress?
Ghost provides built-in SEO features like sitemaps, canonical URLs, and meta controls, so you often need fewer external tools than on WordPress. Good SEO still depends on content quality, on-page optimization, and correct redirects, but Ghost’s performance and structured output give it a strong starting point.
Can I use a custom domain and email newsletters with Ghost?
Yes. Ghost supports custom domains and includes newsletter functionality tied to members. You can send newsletters directly from the admin and sync membership lists for gated content or paid subscriptions. For advanced email features, integrate with third-party providers via Zapier or APIs.
Is Ghost better than WordPress for monetization?
Ghost simplifies monetization through integrated subscriptions and Stripe payments, which can be easier to manage than assembling multiple wordpress plugins. Whether it’s better depends on your needs: if you rely on complex commerce features, WordPress may still be preferable, but for content subscriptions and newsletters, Ghost offers a streamlined approach.
