> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thesignaturejess.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Why I chose Ghost.org instead of Substack - URL: https://www.thesignaturejess.com/ghost-vs-substack/ - Published: 2026-07-30T14:30:53.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-30T14:47:52.000Z - Description: After Blogger, Mailchimp and WordPress, I needed a platform I could trust. Here's why Ghost.org became my publishing home and where Substack fits into the picture - Author: Jess - Tags: On my Screen, Newsletter *Hey there, I’m Jess* ✨*. On* [***The Signature***](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/about-me/)*, I share reflections on beauty, routines, travel, wellness, culture, and everyday life. For those drawn to a calmer, more intentional way of living, I send a free newsletter each month on the 7th.* [***You're welcome to join***](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/#/portal/)*.* --- [**I started blogging two decades ago**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/about-me/). My online writing journey commenced in 2005 on a platform that quickly died and I moved to **Blogger**, to create a *Blogspot* blog (do you remember those days?) that same year. It was one of the most popular platforms for upcoming writers in the 2000s. Then in 2016, I moved to the newsletter format on **Mailchimp**, where I sent a monthly mailer for over 5 years and manually transferred the whole archive to **WordPress**. If you are reading this in 2026, know that I am using a platform called **Ghost.org** to publish my work. Here's how I landed here. In 2023, I did a lot of research on where I should write my blog after losing years of work on **WordPress** because I didn't click an email in time (one of my major online heartbreaks!) and falling out with **Mailchimp** (everybody was using it) and **Blogger.com** (RIP, but we are not in the 2000s anymore!). It was time to look for a new publishing platform and I saw many videos about **Ghost.org**, **Beehiiv**, **Medium**, **Squarespace** and **Substack**. I was one of the first people among my group of *online friends* to charge for content and I used **Patreon** for it, but it was a manual hassle to make dates work per tier. The newer platforms were better equipped to accommodate those needs, until I made the shortlist of **Substack** and **Ghost.org**, choosing the latter. [Welcome to The SignatureLet me show you around.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-c63126a9-c3dd-477f-a80b-fd8f7defd23c.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1529251333259-d36cccaf22ea-a4830222-d25a-45c8-9f3a-26abf55bd787)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/thank-you/) ## Why did I choose Ghost.org? I needed a seamless experience regarding layout and ownership of my page. Furthermore, I needed an integrated system to have paying tiers and clear benefits. So what made **Ghost.org** win? - It allowed me to have a custom domain (aka a **.com**) - It had very simple and clean design settings (only losing to **Squarespace** which makes beautiful websites!) - I didn't know anybody else using Ghost.org - yes, uniqueness is important for me - It has amazing integrations and plugins such as **Spotify** and **YouTube** - **Ghost.org** charges a monthly or annual subscription fee but it doesn't matter if you have 10 or 100 subscribers, you will earn the same from the platform, only accounting for **Stripe**'s payment processing fees [Subscribe for more articles like this](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/#/portal) ## Why didn't I choose Substack? Although I recognise it's the most famous publishing platform of the decade, I steer away from very popular things at first. Call me a late adopter, but when everybody and their momma is somewhere, I have some joy of missing out (JOMO is my middle name by the way). I think **Substack** is a free and fabulous way to create a community but it has some hurdles such as... - You can have a custom domain, but it's a pain - The design is stiff and you can change your tab and photos, but all websites on the platform look the same - If your goal is to earn some money, **Substack** takes a substantial percentage on your paid subscriptions, and the more you have, the less you earn [How I Designed My Spending Plan for 2026 💰🔐How my 2025 spending breakdown aligns with my values and financial priorities for 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/icon/VHColletion_02_vhcollection_03-4fb019e0-93b7-4a94-acda-224eff6b1224.png)The SignatureJess![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/67/5867d415-55cd-4f42-962a-67b9b6110b2c/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1664575602276-acd073f104c1-179c0f1d-5cd2-42c5-b9d2-67e876c74663)](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/spending-plan-2026/) ## Ghost vs Substack, which one wins? **Ghost.org** isn't perfect but after three years of using the platform, I have been very happy with it. In over 1000 days, there has only been a day with global technical difficulties which were promptly communicated and resolved. They have launched several new features and integrations but what it misses and what **Substack** really does best is creating a sense of community. **Ghost Explore** feature doesn't stand a fighting chance against **Substack** **Feed** and **Substack Notes**, which are amazing in discoverability. I eventually realised that **Ghost.org** and **Substack** are more complementary than competing platforms, as **they solve different problems**. Therefore, **Ghost.org** became my preferred publishing platform (where I have already curated over 200 articles) while **Substack** is where I meet and connect with fellow readers. --- **Like this content and want more?* You can* [***subscribe to get a monthly edit***](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/#/portal/) *and we can connect also on* [**BlueSky**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/r/eebbfd7d?m=5c4efd93-0ef0-4db1-af3b-7675f61db0cb) *|* [**TikTok**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/r/3a8dd75f?m=5c4efd93-0ef0-4db1-af3b-7675f61db0cb) *|* [**Youtube**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/r/5cd54466?m=5c4efd93-0ef0-4db1-af3b-7675f61db0cb) *|* [**Pinterest**](https://www.thesignaturejess.com/r/f6c35afb?m=5c4efd93-0ef0-4db1-af3b-7675f61db0cb)