Kit vs Ghost
A big free plan for creators who sell vs full ownership from day one — the real trade-off.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) and Ghost both serve creators who want to earn from their audience, but through different models: Kit is built around selling products, courses and coaching by email, while Ghost is an open-source publishing platform built around a paid newsletter.
| Kit | Ghost | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Up to 10,000 subscribers (no automations) | None — paid only, from $15–$29/month |
| Entry paid plan | Creator plan from $33/month (annual, 1,000 subscribers) | From $15–$29/month, or self-hosted for the cost of your own server |
| Best suited for | Creators selling courses, coaching or digital products | Publishers who want full ownership and portability from day one |
| Platform type | Closed, proprietary SaaS | Open-source, can be self-hosted |
Kit's free plan is far more generous and its tools are built for creators monetizing through products and email sequences. If your newsletter itself is the product you're selling and you want full ownership of the platform, Ghost's publishing-first, open-source approach fits better despite no free tier.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kit give me ownership of my content like Ghost does?
Not in the same way — Kit is a closed, proprietary platform, while Ghost is open-source and can be fully self-hosted if you want complete control and portability.
Can I sell courses through Ghost the way I can through Kit?
Ghost focuses on paid-newsletter subscriptions rather than dedicated course-selling automations, so Kit's tools are generally a better fit for selling structured courses.