ClassicPress 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.
Not the right match-up?
ClassicPress
Community-led WordPress fork without the block editor
VS
Ghost
Professional publishing platform for blogs and newsletters
| Feature | ClassicPress | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker, one-click | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 856 | ★ 54,707 |
| First released | 2018 | 2013 |
| Replaces | WordPress | WordPress, Substack, Medium |
Why pick each one
Choose ClassicPress if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
Choose Ghost if…
- Excellent for newsletters and memberships
- Clean, fast publishing experience
Frequently asked questions
Is ClassicPress or Ghost better?
Neither is universally better. Ghost has the larger community, while ClassicPress is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are ClassicPress and Ghost free and open-source?
Yes. ClassicPress is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Ghost under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ClassicPress and Ghost with Docker?
ClassicPress: yes. Ghost: yes.