Ghost vs Payhip: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Ghost if keeping fees low matters most.
- Choose Payhip if you want the simplest, fastest setup.
- Both work for: memberships.
Ghost
Self-hosted: free. Ghost(Pro): from $9/month. Stripe handles payments (0% platform fee).
Open source publishing platform with native paid memberships via Stripe. 0% platform fee — only Stripe's processing costs. Best for established writers who want full control.
Payhip
Free: 5% fee. Plus $29/mo: 2%. Pro $99/mo: 0%
More customizable than Gumroad with better fee structure at volume. Does not handle VAT globally.
Pricing comparison
Feature comparison
Best for
Ghost is best for Newsletters, blogs, Memberships, indie creators, open source, Creators. Payhip is best for ebooks, templates, Courses, Memberships, Creators, Digital products.
FAQ
Is Ghost better than Payhip?
Neither is universally better. Ghost is the right pick if keeping fees low matters most; Payhip wins if you want the simplest, fastest setup.
Which is cheaper, Ghost or Payhip?
Ghost ranks higher on fee competitiveness (5/5). Ghost pricing: Self-hosted: free. Ghost(Pro): from $9/month. Stripe handles payments (0% platform fee).. Payhip pricing: Free: 5% fee. Plus $29/mo: 2%. Pro $99/mo: 0%.
Can I switch from Ghost to Payhip?
Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.
Does Ghost handle sales tax?
No. Ghost does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.
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