Compare · Xem vs Ghost
Xem vs Ghost.
Two open-source tools. One charges for members.
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform with newsletters built in; Ghost(Pro) bills by member. Xem is open-source email marketing, billed by email sent, with automations, forms and a CRM.
A weekly newsletter, priced.
Four sends a month to the whole list, on monthly billing in US dollars. Ghost on Ghost(Pro) Publisher; Xem on its cheapest plan for that volume. Ghost prices checked November 5, 2026.
| Subscribers | Emails a month | Ghost | Xem |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | 40,000 | $105 | $19 · Starter |
| 50,000 | 200,000 | $249 | $59 · Growth |
| 100,000 | 400,000 | $329 | $99 · Scale |
How they charge
- Ghost
- Ghost(Pro) hosting charges per member and takes no share of paid subscriptions. Starter is limited to 1,000 members without paid subscriptions, so most newsletters need Publisher.
- Xem
- Per email sent. Free for 3,000 a month, then from $9. Contacts are free to keep, every plan has every feature, and you can self-host the open-source version and pay only your email provider.
When Ghost fits better
- You want a full publishing website and membership site in one product.
- Your newsletter is mainly your blog posts sent by email.
- You already self-host Ghost and are happy with its newsletter features.
Questions.
Is Xem cheaper than Ghost?
At 10,000 members sending weekly, Ghost(Pro) Publisher is $105 a month on monthly billing and Xem is $19. Both can be self-hosted for free.
Can I move my Ghost list to Xem?
Yes. Export members as a CSV from Settings → Advanced → Import/Export. Xem recognises Ghost exports and keeps unsubscribed people unsubscribed.
When is Ghost the better choice?
You want a full publishing website and membership site in one product. Your newsletter is mainly your blog posts sent by email. You already self-host Ghost and are happy with its newsletter features.
Sources
Prices change. We check these pages by hand; tell us at team@xem.email if something is out of date.