Are you a fan of Ghost.org for blogging or newsletters? There’s some big news—Ghost.org changed their prices this summer.
What Changed?
Before, you could start using Ghost(Pro) for just $9 a month. That plan was called the Starter plan. Now, the lowest price you can get is $15 a month.
But — it’s not just the price that changed!
The Starter plan doesn’t let you make money from paid members anymore. If you want your readers to pay you, you need the Publisher plan. That one starts at $29 a month, which is more expensive than before.
Why Did They Do This?
Ghost says they made these changes to go along with their latest update, called Ghost 6.0. In this update, they added new features, like sending your blog posts straight to social media and better ways to see how many people read your stuff.
They also want to help people who are more serious about blogging and running newsletters. That’s why the new plans cost a bit more.
What Happens If You Already Had the Old Plan?
If you paid for Ghost(Pro) before this change, don’t worry! You still get your old price if you don’t change your plan. You’re what’s called “grandfathered in.” If you upgrade, downgrade, or switch plans, you’ll have to pay the new prices.
What Are People Saying?
A lot of users on Reddit and Ghost forums were surprised by the change. Some people are upset because $15 a month is a lot if you’re just starting out or if your blog is mostly a hobby.
The biggest problem for some is the Starter plan not letting you make money from members anymore. To use paid memberships, you need to pay $29 a month now. That’s a big jump for small creators.
Others think it’s fair because Ghost’s managed service does a lot, like keeping your website safe and fast. You also don’t have to worry about updates or fixing anything.
But if you can handle the tech stuff, you can always use the free Ghost software and run it on your own server for less money.
The Bottom Line
- The $9/month plan is gone. Now, Starter costs $15/month and can’t do paid members.
- To make money with Ghost(Pro), you need the $29/month Publisher plan.
- If you already had the old plan, you can keep it—unless you change your plan.
- Ghost made these changes when they launched Ghost 6.0 and added cool new features.
- The community feels mixed about it. Some folks like the new tools, but others miss the cheaper option.
If you’re just getting started with blogging and want to save money, you might want to look into self-hosting Ghost. You’ll need to set up a server, but it can cost less.