SSL securedPublishing Platform vs Subscription Platform
Ghost is free — until you count the hidden costs.
Self-hosted Ghost is free, but you need a server ($5–50/mo), SSL, email delivery (Mailgun), theme customization, and ongoing maintenance. Ghost Pro simplifies this but starts at $9/mo and scales to $199/mo for 10K members. Neither option includes invoicing, VAT, or SEPA.
Ghost is powerful for publishers who want full control. But the total cost of ownership adds up — especially without invoicing, VAT, or SEPA.
Fully managed. No server. No theme files.
100% No-Code
Sign up, build your site visually, start selling. No server to manage, no theme files to edit, no terminal commands. Ghost self-hosted requires sysadmin skills.
Automatic Invoicing & VAT
Compliant invoices generated automatically with VAT handling and dunning. Ghost does not provide invoicing or VAT management.
SEPA & Direct Debit
Accept SEPA direct debit via GoCardless — essential for European businesses. Ghost only supports Stripe credit card payments.
Advanced Billing
Trials, coupons, plan upgrades, automatic dunning, flexible billing periods. Ghost offers basic free/paid membership tiers.
Full Customer Portal
Subscribers manage their subscription, invoices, and payment method in a dedicated portal. Ghost offers a basic member account page.
GDPR Compliant, EU Hosted
Data stored in the EU, GDPR compliant by design. Ghost self-hosted depends on your server location; Ghost Pro is US-based.
Ghost is an excellent tool — for technical publishers
If you’re a developer, a media company, or a publication that wants full control over design and infrastructure — Ghost is outstanding. The editor is beautiful, the performance is fast, and the open-source community is active.
But if you’re a coach, trainer, or entrepreneur who needs to sell subscriptions with proper invoicing, VAT, and SEPA — without managing servers or editing theme files — PayFacile is the simpler path.
Frequently asked questions
Ghost is open-source and free to self-host — but you need a server, email service (Mailgun), and technical skills. Ghost Pro (managed hosting) starts at $9/mo and goes up to $199/mo.
Neither takes a large platform commission. PayFacile charges a low 1% transaction fee (0.5% on Enterprise). The real difference is what’s included: PayFacile provides invoicing, VAT, SEPA, dunning, customer portal, and a visual builder — out of the box. Ghost focuses on publishing and requires third-party tools for billing features.
Yes. Your Stripe subscriptions and member list can be imported. Contact us for assisted migration.
Ghost supports gated content (members-only posts), but it’s not designed as a course or product platform. PayFacile lets you sell courses, digital files, and memberships with flexible billing.
No. Ghost does not generate invoices and does not manage VAT. If you sell to European customers, you need a separate invoicing solution. PayFacile handles this automatically.
Sell subscriptions without managing a server.
Fully managed. Invoicing, VAT, SEPA, customer portal — all included. No code required.
No credit card. No lock-in. Cancel anytime.
