Why Ghost
I know I surprised a lot of people who knew me when I decided to choose Ghost for this blog over WordPress, given my history with ManageWP and WP community.
I love WP and still use it quite often.
Working on ManageWP was driven by a vision to streamline and optimize the experience of managing multiple WordPress sites however in 2023 it feels like there are better options for a simple blog than the behemoth WordPress became in its almost two decades of existence.
Choosing Ghost over WordPress depended on the specific needs and preferences I had for this blog.
1. Focus on Content Creation:
- Ghost has a minimalistic and user-friendly interface that is optimized for content creation and publication, which appealed to me.
2. Performance:
- Ghost is known for its high speed and performance, as it is built on Node.js, making it a preferable choice for those prioritizing website speed and responsiveness.
3. Membership and Subscription:
- Ghost has built-in support for memberships and subscriptions, allowing creators to easily monetize their content without relying on third-party plugins or services. Not something I need yet but hey!
4. Security:
- Given its lightweight nature and the fewer plugins needed, Ghost can be considered more secure compared to WordPress, which often requires multiple plugins which can be potential security risks.
5. Open Source:
- Like WordPress, Ghost is also open source but might appeal to those who prefer JavaScript (Node.js) to PHP, and JavaScript will eat the world.
6. Less Overhead:
- Ghost tends to have less overhead in terms of maintenance and management due to its simplicity and focus on content creation, appealing to those who prefer a hands-off approach or have less time to spend like I do.
7. Professional Publishing:
- Ghost provides a clean and uncluttered interface and offers features like content scheduling, which can be beneficial for semi-professional publishers.
While Ghost can be a great option for many, it’s important to note that WordPress offers extensive flexibility, a vast array of plugins, and a large community, making it a better fit for those looking to create more complex and feature-rich websites or those who prefer working with PHP.
The choice between Ghost and WordPress will largely depend on individual needs, technical preferences, and the intended use of the platform.
For a single-person-owned and maintained blog with subscriptions and a newsletter, I would go with Ghost in 2024.
The real choice for me was probably Substack vs Ghost, and I felt Ghost gave me more flexibility when dealing with my data going forward.