Ghost
Ghost is a free and open-source headless content management system built on Node.js, designed for professional publishers, newsletters, and membership-based content businesses.
| Ghost | |
|---|---|
| Status | 🤝 Community |
| Type | Headless CMS / Blogging Platform |
| License | MIT License |
| Language | Node.js (JavaScript) |
| Database | |
| Latest Version | |
| Release Date | |
| Website | Official Site |
| GitHub | Repository |
Overview
Ghost was created by John O'Nolan following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013. The Ghost Foundation is a non-profit organization that maintains Ghost as open-source software. Ghost is natively built for writing and publishing, offering memberships, subscriptions, and paid newsletters directly out of the box.
Key Features
- Minimal Writing Interface — Clean, distraction-free Markdown and rich-text editor
- Built-in Memberships — Native subscriber and membership management
- Email Newsletters — Built-in email delivery to send posts to subscribers
- Headless Architecture — Full Content API for decoupled front-ends
Installation
Requirements
- Node.js
- Database Server
- Server with at least 1 GB RAM
Quick Start
The recommended way to install Ghost is by using the official CLI tool via Node Package Manager. It automates the setup of the server, database connection, and SSL certificates.
API Reference
Ghost provides a public read-only API and an authenticated Admin API. Both APIs can be accessed using standard HTTP requests or the official JavaScript SDKs.
Pricing
Self-hosted Ghost is free. The managed Ghost(Pro) hosting service starts at a monthly fee for automated hosting and updates.
Pros & Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Native membership & paid subscriptions | Smaller plugin ecosystem |
| Built-in email newsletter delivery | Requires Node.js hosting |
| Fast performance | No e-commerce built-in |