Ghost vs Memberful
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
from $9/mo · monthly subscription
4.9% + $25/mo · of revenue on Pro plan
Payout speed
instant
weekly
Minimum payout
$0
Stripe default
Countries
Stripe-supported
Wherever Stripe operates (40+ countries)
Email list export
Full access
Full access
Custom domain
Yes
Yes
Community features
Comments, paid tiers, member signups
No native forums; integrates with Discord and Circle
Best for
Independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share
Writers, podcasters, and publishers who want to own their site, domain, and email list
Ghost vs Memberful: which one wins?
Ghost charges from $9/mo (monthly subscription) versus Memberful at 4.9% + $25/mo (of revenue on Pro plan).
On payout speed, Ghost pays instant while Memberful pays weekly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Ghost offers full access email export and Memberful offers full access. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Ghost suits independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share. Memberful fits writers, podcasters, and publishers who want to own their site, domain, and email list.