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G
Ghost
Content & CMSProfessional publishing platform with native newsletters and memberships (Substack alternative).
JavaScriptLicense: MITLevel: beginner48,000
#cms#newsletter#blog#memberships#substack-alternative
About this project
Ghost is an open source publishing platform built for professional creators and publications. It combines a fast blog/CMS with built-in email newsletters, paid memberships, and subscriptions — so you can publish content and get paid directly, without platform fees or lock-in like Substack or Medium.
How to use it
Get started
Self-host with the CLI:
npm install ghost-cli -g
mkdir ghost && cd ghost
ghost install # production with MySQL + Nginx
# or: ghost install local (for development)
Connect a mail provider (Mailgun) for newsletters and Stripe for paid memberships, then start publishing.
💡 How to make a business with it
How to make a business with it
- Paid newsletter / publication — run your own membership site and keep 100% of revenue (no Substack 10% cut), powered by Ghost's native subscriptions.
- Done-for-you creator setup — sell Ghost installation, theme design, and Stripe/Mailgun configuration to creators and coaches.
- Niche media network — launch several Ghost publications around profitable niches and monetize via memberships + sponsorships.
Need technical help?
Want help setting up Ghost, customizing it, or building your product on top of it? Knock me — let's talk.