Backdrop CMS vs Ghost
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Backdrop CMS | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,046 | ★ 55,413 |
| First released | 2015 | 2013 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress, Substack, Medium |
What are Backdrop CMS and Ghost?
Backdrop CMS
Backdrop CMS is an open-source content management system forked from Drupal 7, aimed at small to medium organizations. It keeps Drupal's power while focusing on lower cost and easier use.
- Drupal-derived power
- Configuration management
- Lower hosting requirements
- Layout system
Ghost
Ghost is a powerful open-source publishing platform built on Node.js, designed for professional bloggers, publications, and creators. It includes native membership, subscription, and email newsletter features alongside a fast, modern editor.
- Built-in membership and paid subscriptions
- Native email newsletters
- Fast modern editor
- SEO-optimized by default
Backdrop CMS vs Ghost: key differences
Backdrop CMS is written in PHP, while Ghost is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Backdrop CMS versus MIT for Ghost. Backdrop CMS is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Ghost. Ghost is the more established project (first released 2013), while Backdrop CMS arrived in 2015. Ghost has the considerably larger community, at 55,413 GitHub stars versus 1,046.
Why pick each one
Choose Backdrop CMS if…
- Cheaper to run than Drupal
- Familiar to Drupal users
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Fewer modules than Drupal
Choose Ghost if…
- Excellent for newsletters and memberships
- Clean, fast publishing experience
Watch out for
- Plugin ecosystem smaller than WordPress
- MySQL recommended for production
Frequently asked questions
Is Backdrop CMS or Ghost better?
Neither is universally better. Ghost has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Backdrop CMS and Ghost free and open-source?
Yes. Backdrop CMS is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Ghost under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Backdrop CMS and Ghost with Docker?
Backdrop CMS: yes. Ghost: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Backdrop CMS or Ghost?
Backdrop CMS has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Ghost. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.