Ghost vs YouTube
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
from $9/mo · monthly subscription
30–45% · 45% on ads · 30% on memberships
Payout speed
instant
monthly
Minimum payout
$0
$100
Countries
Stripe-supported
AdSense-supported
Email list export
Full access
None
Custom domain
Yes
No
Community features
Comments, paid tiers, member signups
Community posts, members-only posts, Super Chat
Best for
Independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share
Video creators, large audiences, established creators chasing scale
Ghost vs YouTube: which one wins?
Ghost charges from $9/mo (monthly subscription) versus YouTube at 30–45% (45% on ads · 30% on memberships).
On payout speed, Ghost pays instant while YouTube pays monthly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Ghost offers full access email export and YouTube offers none. 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. YouTube fits video creators, large audiences, established creators chasing scale.