Ghost vs WriteFreely

Comparing two open source alternatives to WordPress . Use the comparison below to decide which one fits your needs.

Ghost

MIT

Ghost is an independent open-source publishing platform for modern creators. Run blogs, newsletters, memberships, and paid subscriptions all in one place.

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WriteFreely

AGPL-3.0

Minimalist, federated blogging platform for writers who want a clean, distraction-free space to publish.

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Side-by-side comparison

	Ghost	WriteFreely
License	MIT	AGPL-3.0
Self-hostable	Yes	Yes
GitHub Stars	54,757	5,223
Forks	11,885	385
Open Issues	123	109
Last Commit	Aug 14, 2026	Aug 11, 2026
First Released	May 4, 2013	Apr 2, 2017
Categories	Blogging Platforms	Blogging Platforms
Tags	#blog #publishing #cms	#blog #publishing #markdown

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