Circle vs Ghost
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
$89/mo + 2% · monthly subscription plus transaction fee
from $9/mo · monthly subscription
Payout speed
weekly
instant
Minimum payout
Stripe default
$0
Countries
Wherever Stripe operates
Stripe-supported
Email list export
Full access
Full access
Custom domain
Yes (custom domain supported)
Yes
Community features
Full-featured: spaces, chat, DMs, live rooms, events
Comments, paid tiers, member signups
Best for
Coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof
Independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share
Circle vs Ghost: which one wins?
Circle charges $89/mo + 2% (monthly subscription plus transaction fee) versus Ghost at from $9/mo (monthly subscription).
On payout speed, Circle pays weekly while Ghost pays instant. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Circle offers full access email export and Ghost offers full access. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Circle suits coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof. Ghost fits independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share.