Ghost

Open-source publishing platform built for professional bloggers, writers, and journalists. Combines a modern content editor, built-in newsletters, membership management, and paid subscriptions in one stack so publishers can run an independent media business without third-party platform lock-in.

Ghost is self-funded and independently maintained. Publications such as Platformer, 404 Media, Tangle, and The Lever run on it, as do content teams at Y Combinator, Kickstarter, Buffer, and Unsplash. It distinguishes itself from WordPress and Medium by focusing solely on publishing and monetization rather than generic site building, with native newsletters and subscriptions instead of plugins.

Key features:

• Professional editor with rich media support: galleries, video, audio, accordions, downloadable files
• Built-in newsletters with audience segmentation and multiple lists
• Native membership and subscription management with signup forms and paid tiers
• REST Content API for headless use and integrations
• Custom themes via Handlebars, plus a theme marketplace
• Self-hosted via Ghost CLI or managed cloud deployment

Publishers use it to run indie newsletters and paid memberships, grow audiences outside algorithm-driven platforms, and own their content and subscriber data. Technical teams rely on the Content API for headless setups, custom themes for brand control, and Stripe integration for payments.