Kit vs Ghost: cost and features compared (2026)
Last verified against official pricing pages · USD, monthly billing, excluding tax
Prices change often. Every price here was checked against the platform's official pricing page on the date shown, but plans, promos and taxes vary. Always confirm on the official site before you buy or switch. Not financial advice.
Quick answer
- Basic newsletter: Kit is cheaper at 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers; Ghost is cheaper at 25,000 subscribers.
- With automations: only Kit has a verified option at every size we checked.
- Paid newsletter: Kit is cheaper at 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers; Ghost is cheaper at 25,000 subscribers.
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Cost at 1k, 5k, 10k and 25k subscribers
Basic newsletter (no automations)
| Subscribers | Kit | Ghost | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $0 (Free) | $18 (Starter) | Kit by $18/mo |
| 5,000 | $0 (Free) | $75 (Publisher) | Kit by $75/mo |
| 10,000 | $0 (Free) | $105 (Publisher) | Kit by $105/mo |
| 25,000 | $199 (Creator) | $169 (Publisher) | Ghost by $30/mo |
With automations (welcome sequences, drips)
| Subscribers | Kit | Ghost | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $39 (Creator) | n/a | Kit (only option in our verified data) |
| 5,000 | $89 (Creator) | n/a | Kit (only option in our verified data) |
| 10,000 | $139 (Creator) | n/a | Kit (only option in our verified data) |
| 25,000 | $199 (Creator) | n/a | Kit (only option in our verified data) |
Ghost has no native automation builder in our data, so that scenario shows n/a.
Paid newsletter (5% of subscribers pay $8/mo)
| Subscribers | Kit | Ghost | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $29 (Free) | $64.40 (Publisher) | Kit by $35.40/mo |
| 5,000 | $145 (Free) | $222 (Publisher) | Kit by $77/mo |
| 10,000 | $290 (Free) | $399 (Publisher) | Kit by $109/mo |
| 25,000 | $924 (Creator) | $904 (Publisher) | Ghost by $20/mo |
Switching? Kit → Ghost cost · Ghost → Kit cost · Best platform for your needs
Cheapest plan on each platform that covers the list size and required features. Paid totals = plan + platform cut + Stripe card fees (2.9% + $0.30 per payment, estimate) + Stripe's 0.7% Billing fee on recurring payments where confirmed (beehiiv, MailerLite, Ghost, Buttondown, Substack and AWeber); not added for GetResponse (not confirmed); Kit's 3.5% + $0.30 is all-in. How we model fees. "limited" = feature is capped on that plan. Run your exact numbers →
Key differences
| Kit | Ghost | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | free up to 10,000 subscribers | no free plan |
| Fee on paid subscriptions | 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction (processing included) | 0% platform cut + Stripe fees |
| Cheapest plan with automations | Creator (from $39/mo) | not available |
| Cheapest plan with own domain | Free (free) | Starter (from $18/mo) |
| Cheapest plan without platform branding | Creator (from $39/mo) | Starter (from $18/mo) |
| Plans | Free, Creator, Pro | Starter, Publisher, Business |
| Prices verified | 2026-10-20 | 2026-10-20 |
Who each is best for
Kit is best for
Creators who sell digital products and rely on automations and sequences — or who want a free plan for a list up to 10,000.
- Free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, but without visual automations or sequences, and Kit branding stays on. source
- Creator plan includes unlimited visual automations and sequences; Pro adds deliverability reporting and a referral system. source
- Charges 3.5% + 30¢ per paid-subscription transaction, inclusive of card processing. source
Ghost is best for
Publishers who want a full website and membership business on their own domain, with 0% platform fees and the option to self-host.
- No free hosted plan; Starter is capped at 1,000 members and does not include paid subscriptions. source
- 0% Ghost transaction fees on Publisher and above; Stripe fees apply. source
- Ghost is open-source software, so you can also self-host it instead of paying for Ghost(Pro). source
- No drip/automation builder is listed on the Ghost(Pro) pricing page. source
FAQ
Is Kit cheaper than Ghost?
It depends on your list and needs. In our data (monthly billing, 1,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 25,000 subscribers): basic newsletter — Kit is cheaper at 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers; Ghost is cheaper at 25,000 subscribers. With automations — only Kit has a verified option at every size we checked. Paid newsletter — Kit is cheaper at 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers; Ghost is cheaper at 25,000 subscribers. Prices verified 2026-10-20.
Which has the bigger free plan, Kit or Ghost?
Kit: free up to 10,000 subscribers. Ghost: no free plan. Free plans have feature limits — see the comparison table.
Do Kit and Ghost take a cut of paid subscriptions?
Kit: 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction (processing included). Ghost: 0% platform cut + Stripe fees.
What do Kit and Ghost cost at 10,000 subscribers?
On monthly billing, a basic newsletter costs $0/mo on Kit Free and $105/mo on Ghost Publisher. With automations: $139/mo (Kit Creator) vs n/a on Ghost.
Sources
- Kit pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- Ghost pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- Ghost: ghost.org/
- Stripe pricing (card-fee estimate)
- Stripe Billing pricing (0.7% on recurring payments)
More comparisons: beehiiv vs Kit · beehiiv vs Substack · Kit vs MailerLite · beehiiv vs MailerLite · Substack vs Ghost · Mailchimp vs MailerLite · Brevo vs MailerLite · Brevo vs Mailchimp · AWeber vs MailerLite · AWeber vs Mailchimp · AWeber vs Kit · Constant Contact vs Mailchimp · Constant Contact vs MailerLite · AWeber vs Constant Contact · ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp · GetResponse vs Mailchimp · ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse · GetResponse vs MailerLite · beehiiv vs Ghost · Kit vs Substack · Kit vs Mailchimp · beehiiv vs Mailchimp · Substack vs MailerLite · Ghost vs MailerLite · beehiiv vs AWeber · Substack vs Mailchimp · AWeber vs Substack · AWeber vs Ghost · Ghost vs Mailchimp · all comparisons · Cheapest for 500, 1k, 2.5k, 5k, 10k, 25k subscribers · Best for: paid newsletters, beginners, small business, creators, nonprofits · Alternatives to Substack, Mailchimp, beehiiv, Kit
Guides: Is beehiiv worth it in 2026 · beehiiv Free plan (2026) · AWeber Free plan (2026)
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