WordPress vs Ghost CMS: Technical Comparison
Core Differences
| Feature | WordPress | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | PHP/MySQL (LAMP stack) | Node.js (Modern JS stack) |
| Content Model | Posts + Custom Post Types | Posts + Pages only |
| API | REST API + GraphQL plugins | Native REST + Admin API |
| Theming | PHP templates + Block Editor | Handlebars.js + Lexical Editor |
| Memberships | Requires plugins (WooCommerce/etc) | Native subscriptions |
| Performance | ~500ms-2s (typical) | ~200-500ms (SSR by default) |
| Plugin Ecosystem | 58,000+ plugins | 200+ official integrations |
Key Technical Considerations
When to Choose WordPress:
- Need complex functionality (e-commerce, forums, LMS)
- Require granular user roles (6 default roles)
- Enterprise-scale multisite networks
- Custom post types beyond simple content
- Existing PHP expertise
When to Choose Ghost:
- Content-first strategy (native SEO tools)
- Newsletter/membership focus (built-in)
- Headless CMS requirements (native Content API)
- Modern JS/Node.js stack preference
- Minimal maintenance (auto updates)
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | WordPress (Basic) | Ghost (Basic) |
|---|---|---|
| TTFB | 600-800ms | 200-300ms |
| Page Size | 1.5-3MB | 500-800KB |
| DB Queries | 40-60 | 10-15 |
| Memory Usage | 60-100MB | 30-50MB |
Security Comparison
- WordPress: 93% of hacked CMS sites (Sucuri 2023 report)
- Ghost: No reported critical vulnerabilities (2023)
- Update Frequency: Ghost offers automatic security patches
Pricing (Managed Hosting)
| WordPress.com | Ghost(Pro) | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Plan | $4/mo | $9/mo |
| Commerce | $45/mo | $199/mo |
| Custom Domain | Premium | Included |
| CDN | $20/mo extra | Included |
Migration Factors
- WordPress to Ghost: Loses custom post types, requires URL redirects
- Ghost to WordPress: Loses memberships, requires plugin setup
Alternatives Consideration
- For pure blogging: Medium (simplest)
- For developers: Gatsby/Next.js + Headless CMS
- For designers: Webflow
Recommendation:
✅ Choose Ghost if: You need a fast, secure blog/newsletter with native memberships.
✅ Choose WordPress if: You need flexible customization or complex functionality beyond content.
Techinical Edge Cases:
- Use WordPress with React Frontend (Frontity) for hybrid approach
- Use Ghost as headless CMS with Next.js for JAMstack benefits