Ghost
Ghost is an open-source content management system designed for professional publishing, newsletters, and membership businesses to help you build, share, and monetize your work online.
Join It
Join It is a specialized membership management software that helps you automate member registrations, payment processing, and communication to grow your community and reduce manual administrative tasks effectively.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Ghost | Join It |
|---|---|---|
| Website | ghost.org | joinit.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $9/month | $29/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Singapore | Los Angeles, USA |
Overview
Ghost
Ghost is a powerful platform designed specifically for professional publishing and independent creators. You can move beyond simple blogging by using its integrated suite of tools to build a custom website, send automated email newsletters, and manage a full-scale membership business. It eliminates the need for messy plugins by including SEO, social sharing, and subscription features directly in the core software.
You can focus entirely on your content while Ghost handles the technical heavy lifting. Whether you are a solo writer starting a newsletter or a large media organization managing a high-traffic publication, the platform provides a clean, distraction-free writing environment. You maintain complete ownership of your data and your audience relationship without platform-enforced algorithms or hidden fees.
Join It
Join It is a dedicated membership management platform designed to help you automate the repetitive tasks of running an organization. Instead of juggling spreadsheets and manual emails, you get a centralized hub where you can manage member databases, automate renewals, and process digital payments securely. It simplifies the entire lifecycle of your members from the moment they sign up to their annual renewal date.
You can easily create custom membership tiers, set up automated email reminders, and sell tickets to organization events. The platform is built to scale with your growth, making it a fit for everything from local social clubs and non-profits to professional associations and fitness centers. By connecting directly with your favorite tools like Stripe and Mailchimp, it ensures your data stays synced across your entire tech stack.
Overview
Ghost Features
- Native Newsletters Deliver your posts directly to your subscribers' inboxes with built-in email delivery that matches your site branding.
- Membership Tiers Create free and paid subscription levels to monetize your content and manage your community directly from your dashboard.
- Rich Editor Write and format your stories using a clean, card-based editor that supports dynamic content like images, video, and code.
- Built-in SEO Optimize your content automatically with permanent redirects, XML sitemaps, and canonical tags without installing extra third-party tools.
- Custom Themes Design a unique look for your publication using the flexible Handlebars theme engine or choose from a library of templates.
- Detailed Analytics Track your growth with audience engagement metrics, open rates, and subscription trends to see what content resonates most.
Join It Features
- Automated Renewals. Set up automated email reminders and recurring payments so your members never lose access and you never miss a payment.
- Member Portal. Give your members a dedicated space to update their own profiles, download digital membership cards, and manage their payment methods.
- Digital Membership Cards. Issue professional digital cards that your members can add to Apple Wallet or Google Pay for easy check-ins and verification.
- Event Ticketing. Create events and sell tickets directly through your dashboard with member-only pricing options to reward your loyal community.
- Custom Fields. Collect the exact data you need by adding custom fields to your registration forms for better member segmentation.
- Check-in Tools. Track attendance at your meetings or facilities using a simple web-based check-in tool or by scanning member QR codes.
Pricing Comparison
Ghost Pricing
- Up to 500 members
- Official Ghost themes
- Standard built-in integrations
- Managed hosting and SSL
- Global CDN included
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Up to 1,000 members
- Unlimited custom themes
- 1,000+ Zapier integrations
- Custom redirects
- Priority support
Join It Pricing
- Up to 500 members
- Automated renewal reminders
- Digital membership cards
- Stripe integration
- Standard support
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Up to 1,000 members
- Advanced integrations
- Eventbrite sync
- Mailchimp automation
- Custom member fields
Pros & Cons
Ghost
Pros
- Exceptional site speed and performance
- Clean and distraction-free writing interface
- No extra costs for SEO or social tools
- Complete ownership of your audience data
Cons
- Steep learning curve for custom theme development
- Limited built-in commenting features
- Managed hosting costs increase with member growth
Join It
Pros
- Extremely easy to set up and launch quickly
- Seamless integration with Stripe for payment processing
- Excellent automated communication saves hours of work
- Intuitive interface for both admins and members
Cons
- Limited advanced website customization options
- Reporting features could be more granular
- Higher tiers required for specific integrations