Why I migrated from Substack to Ghost

Over the last 1.5 years, I used Substack to host my newsletter. However, I recently switched to Ghost (check out my website).

In this article, I'll discuss my key takeaways from using both platforms, the pros and cons of each, why I prefer Ghost, and who I believe each platform is better suited for.

Key Takeaways

Before diving into specifics, here are my key takeaways from using Substack and Ghost:

• Substack is a great platform for writers who want a simple and straightforward way to start a newsletter and monetize their content.
• Ghost offers more customization options, excellent SEO, and advanced features, making it a better choice for writers who want to build a brand and have full control over their website.
• Ultimately, the choice comes down to your specific needs and goals as a writer.

Pros and Cons

Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of each platform.

Substack

Pros:

• Easy to set up and use. Free to use.
• Built-in monetization options
• Great for building an email list and growing a following

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Lack of control over your website and content
• Limited analytics and reporting features

Ghost

Pros:

• Highly customizable with access to code and themes
• Full control over your website and content
• Excellent SEO

Cons:

• Steep learning curve for beginners
• No built-in monetization options
• More expensive than Substack for hosting and maintenance

Why I Prefer Ghost

As a software developer, I value a Content Management System (CMS) that is open-source and customizable to fit my needs. But I wasn't convinced I should migrate to it until I saw these 10 examples of custom websites and blogs. Pair those examples with this support from bitcoiner Marty Bent and I was sold.

After signing up, I found Ghost is easy to use out of the box. It comes with a range of excellent free and paid website themes. However, none of them are exactly what I want. It turns out Skillshare has an awesome 3 hour course that teaches Ghost theme development. I spent an afternoon going through it and now I have my website up and running!

This process proved that Ghost gives you full control over your website and newsletters. You can even host them on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) with platforms like DigitalOcean or on a physical server like Embassy Pro. For now, I pay for the Creator tier of Ghost Pro.

This puts management of my server on the Ghost team and gives me peace of mind. Eventually, I will self-host everything on the Embassy Pro.

Ghost also boasts excellent SEO, which means my website will be highly visible across search engines like Google, Bing, Startpage, etc. I put this to the test by comparing the stats between my Ghost and Substack websites using Pagespeed Insights.

My Ghost website is all-around better on mobile and desktop devices than my Substack. Even if it wasn't, I could improve it's stats by fixing the issues PageSpeed Insights identifies. Can't do that on Substack!

Ghost really is the full package.

Who Each Platform is Better For

Based on my experience, here's who I believe each platform is better suited for:

• Substack is better for writers who are just starting out and want a simple, free way to build an email list and monetize their content.
• Ghost is better for writers who want to build a brand and have full control over their website, and are willing to invest the time and resources to do so.

Parting Words

In the end, the decision to migrate from Substack to Ghost was the right one for me. While Substack served its purpose as a starting point, Ghost has given me the flexibility and control I need to run my newsletter out of my main website. It also aligns with the open-source, digital sovereignty mentality that Bitcoin has instilled in me. However, every writer's needs and goals are different, so it's important to carefully consider your options before making a decision.

If you’re thinking about using Ghost and customizing a theme, I recommend

• Hiring a ghost theme developer
• Learning how to do it yourself
• Booking a free consultation with me

Here's a video breakdown of why I migrated to Ghost