Compare software

Medium vs Ghost: catalog facts
Medium	Ghost
Freemium Free to publish, with a paid reader membership.	Freemium Free to self-host; the hosted service is paid after a 14-day trial.
Web	Web, Self-hosted
No hosting or setup to manage Built-in audience of readers on the platform	Website, newsletter and paid subscriptions in one product Clean editor with rich media cards
Little control over design and layout Your content lives on a platform you do not control	Hosted plans are paid after the trial Self-hosting requires running and updating your own server
Hosted service	Self-hosted, Hosted service
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.