How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- There is no current official Ghost mobile app, so the best Ghost setup combines Ghost itself with a mobile editor, a desktop writing app, or a hosting service.
- Ghost remains the centre of the list, because its editor, newsletters, memberships, and analytics are built into the platform rather than added by plugins.
- Ecto is the clearest iPhone companion for Ghost publishers who want to browse posts and keep publishing work moving away from a desk.
- Ulysses and iA Writer suit writers who prefer to draft in a focused writing app and then send finished work to Ghost.
- Hosting and app services such as MagicPages, PikaPods, and Webvify matter as much as editors, because they decide how a Ghost site is run and how readers reach it on phones.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Ghost | Running a Ghost publication | $15 per month | Free trial |
 Ecto | Managing Ghost from an iPhone | See website | See website |
 Ulysses | Drafting and publishing from Apple devices | $5.99 per month | Free trial |
 iA Writer | Plain-text drafting for Ghost writers | See website | See website |
 MagicPages | Managed Ghost hosting | $15 per month | Free trial |
 PikaPods | Low-cost managed Ghost hosting | See website | See website |
 Webvify | Turning a Ghost site into a mobile app | See website | See website |
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The best ghost app
#1Ghost
Best for: Running a Ghost publication4.0/5 on
G2 (40 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit ghost.org
Starting price$15 per month
Free planFree trial
Ghost is the publishing platform at the centre of this list, and it is the product most people mean when they search for a Ghost app. A publication gets a website, a calm editor, email newsletters, free and paid membership tiers, and built-in analytics, without stitching several tools together. Themes can be changed, custom designs can be built, and content can be delivered through the Ghost API to other front ends when a team wants a headless setup. That breadth is why independent newsletters, magazines, and creator businesses choose it over a general website builder.
The gap to understand is mobile editing. Ghost has a responsive web admin that works on phones, but there is no current official native mobile app to match it, and the old Android app is no longer usable with modern Ghost versions. That is why the rest of this list exists. Ghost also prices hosted plans by member count, so a publication with many free subscribers should check the pricing slider for its list size. Self-hosting removes the hosted fee, but adds server, email delivery, and maintenance work.
What we like- Editor, newsletters, memberships, and analytics in one platform
- Open-source software with a self-hosting option
- No platform fee on paid subscriptions beyond payment processing
Watch out for- No current official native mobile app
- Hosted prices rise with member count, so large free lists can become costly
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Ecto fills the most obvious gap in the Ghost ecosystem. It is a native iPhone companion for Ghost publishers, built to browse posts, review published stories and drafts, and keep publishing work moving away from a desk. A publisher who takes photos at an event, or who needs to check a draft on a train, can open Ecto rather than wrestling with a mobile browser admin. The app presents a focused workspace, rather than trying to copy every desktop admin screen onto a small display.
Newness is the main caution. Ecto is a smaller, newer product than Ghost itself, so its feature set, support history, and long-term roadmap are less established. Android publishers also gain nothing from it, since it is built for iPhone. For an iPhone-based Ghost publisher, however, Ecto is currently the most direct answer to the missing official mobile app, and it is worth testing with a real draft before relying on it for deadline work.
What we like- Native iPhone workspace for browsing Ghost posts
- Review of published stories and drafts without a laptop
- Focused publishing flows for work on the move
Watch out for- IPhone only, so Android publishers need another option
- A newer, smaller app with less history than the main platform
#3Ulysses
Best for: Drafting and publishing from Apple devices4.5/5 on
G2 (25 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit ulysses.app
Starting price$5.99 per month
Free planFree trial
Ulysses is a focused writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, with a direct integration that publishes to Ghost through the Ghost API. A writer drafts in Ulysses, organises work into projects, sets word goals, and then exports to a Ghost publication without copying text into a browser. Ghost documents that workflow on its own integration page, which makes Ulysses a safer choice than a generic writing app with no Ghost connection. Sync across Apple devices also means a draft started on a Mac can be finished on an iPhone.
The limits are platform and price. Ulysses is Apple only, and its subscription is a recurring cost on top of Ghost hosting. Writers who publish a few times a month may find that hard to justify against a one-time writing app. Writers who publish often, and who live inside Apple devices, will find the combination of project organisation and direct Ghost publishing hard to beat. Test the trial with a full article, including images, before committing.
What we like- Direct Ghost publishing integration from inside the writing app
- Project library and writing goals for long-form work
- Sync across Mac, iPad, and iPhone
Watch out for- Subscription cost adds up over years
- Apple only, so Windows and Android writers cannot use it
#4
iA Writer
Best for: Plain-text drafting for Ghost writers
Visit ia.net
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
iA Writer takes the opposite approach from a feature-heavy editor. It offers a clean, focused page for Markdown and plain-text writing, with typography and syntax highlighting designed to keep attention on words. Ghost lists iA Writer among its integrations, and many Ghost writers use it as the drafting front end, then move finished text into Ghost for final editing and publishing. That split suits writers who dislike writing inside a browser admin, or who want their drafts as portable text files.
It is important not to overstate what iA Writer does. It is a writing app, not a Ghost admin, member manager, or analytics tool. A writer still needs Ghost itself for publishing, newsletters, and subscriptions, and the exact publishing step depends on the workflow set up. For writers who value a quiet drafting space and portable Markdown files, iA Writer is a strong companion. For publishers who want one app to do everything, Ghost itself remains the answer.
What we like- Distraction-free plain-text and Markdown writing
- Appears in Ghost integration library as a writing companion
- Clean export to formats Ghost can use
Watch out for- Not a full Ghost admin replacement
- Publishing workflow depends on the setup chosen, rather than a single built-in button for every case
Starting price$15 per month
Free planFree trial
MagicPages is a managed hosting service for Ghost, aimed at publishers who want Ghost without running a server. It handles the server layer, offers custom themes on every plan, and does not cap members and staff in the way Ghost Pro plans do. That combination suits small publications that expect a growing free list, or that want a custom theme without moving to a higher hosted tier. A trial period lets a publisher test speed, admin access, and email delivery before migrating a live site.
The trade-off is email volume and scale. MagicPages includes a set amount of email sends, with extra sends priced separately, while Ghost Pro offers unlimited sends on its plans. Publishers who send frequent newsletters to a large list should compare total email cost, not just the monthly hosting price. MagicPages fits publishers who want managed hosting, custom themes, and member freedom at a lower starting price. High-volume newsletter publishers should run the numbers for both services first.
What we like- Managed Ghost hosting with custom themes on every plan
- Unlimited members and staff on its plans
- A 14-day trial with no card required
Watch out for- Unlimited email sends are not included in the same way as Ghost Pro
- A smaller host than the official service, so support scale differs
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
PikaPods is a managed host for open-source applications, including Ghost, that appeals to publishers who want self-hosting benefits without full server administration. It runs the Ghost application, handles updates and server care at a basic level, and charges a low monthly amount for a small pod. That model suits a personal blog, a small newsletter, or a test site that does not yet justify a full Ghost Pro plan. It also keeps the open-source Ghost software, rather than locking a publisher into a proprietary platform.
PikaPods is not a full Ghost concierge service. Newsletter email delivery, custom domain setup, and scaling for traffic spikes still need attention, and larger publications with teams may want the support and unlimited sends of Ghost Pro or the theme freedom of MagicPages. PikaPods fits publishers who are comfortable with a little technical setup and who want a low-cost managed home for Ghost. Publishers who want everything handled should compare it against the dedicated Ghost hosts first.
What we like- Managed hosting for open-source apps including Ghost
- Handles the server layer for a low monthly cost
- A good fit for a single small publication
Watch out for- Email delivery and scaling need separate planning
- Less hand-holding than a dedicated Ghost host for larger publications
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Webvify answers a different question from the editors in this list. Instead of helping a publisher write, it turns an existing Ghost site into a branded mobile app for iOS and Android, and handles the build and store submission process. Readers get an app icon and a native-feeling home for the publication, while the publisher keeps using Ghost as the only content system. That is attractive for publications that want app store presence without hiring developers or maintaining a second codebase.
The limits are about app store rules and expectations. A converted site is still a web view inside an app shell, so it will not gain native features that Ghost does not already provide. Paid digital subscriptions on iOS also face Apple purchase rules, which can affect how Stripe-based Ghost memberships work inside the app, while Android is less restricted. Webvify fits publications that want distribution in app stores and a branded reader app. Publishers who want a fully native reading experience should weigh that difference before buying.
What we like- Converts a Ghost site into branded iOS and Android apps
- Handles App Store and Google Play submission
- Ghost dashboard remains the only content system
Watch out for- A wrapper service, not a new publishing platform
- Paid digital subscriptions on iOS face App Store purchase rules that need planning
How we chose
This list was built from vendor pricing pages and product pages, public documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, Reddit, and app store listings, with attention to Ghost compatibility, publishing workflow, platform support, hosting terms, and free-plan or trial limits. A tool made the list only if it is available today and clearly fits the Ghost publishing ecosystem, as the platform itself, a mobile or desktop editor, or a hosting or app service for Ghost sites. Ghost, Ecto, and the official Ghost integration pages sit beside smaller and newer options such as MagicPages, PikaPods, and Webvify, so readers can compare both the core platform and the surrounding ecosystem. Prices were checked against vendor pages where available, and marked as See website where a vendor page did not confirm a figure on the day of writing.
Building a Ghost setup that covers writing, hosting, and readers
Start with Ghost, then add one editor
Choose Ghost Pro or a managed host first, because that decision sets price, email limits, and support. Then add only one editor that matches your main device. iPhone publishers should test Ecto, Apple writers should test Ulysses, and plain-text writers should test iA Writer. Adding several editors at once creates duplicate drafts and version confusion.
Check hosting limits for your list size
Ghost Pro prices rise with members, MagicPages prices email sends separately, and PikaPods needs email planning. Write down your current member count, your monthly email volume, and your expected growth for the next year, then compare total cost across hosts. A host that looks cheapest at 500 members can become expensive at 5,000.
Decide whether readers need an app at all
Many Ghost publications do fine with a fast mobile website and email newsletters, and an app adds store rules and maintenance. Webvify makes sense when readers ask for an app, when app store discovery matters, or when a branded icon helps a membership drive. If readers mainly arrive by email and search, invest in the site and newsletter first, and revisit an app later.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Ghost app?
Ghost is a powerful web app for publishers, and its admin works in a mobile browser, but there is no current official native mobile app for modern Ghost versions. The old Android app is no longer usable with current Ghost sites. Third-party editors such as Ecto for iPhone fill part of that gap, and desktop writing apps such as Ulysses publish to Ghost through its API.
Can I run Ghost for free?
Yes, Ghost software is open source and can be self-hosted for free, apart from server and email delivery costs. Ghost Pro, the official managed service, offers a trial but no permanent free hosted tier. Low-cost managed hosts such as PikaPods reduce server work, but still charge a hosting fee and need email planning.
Which Ghost app is best for iPhone publishers?
Ecto is the clearest iPhone companion in this list, because it is built specifically for browsing and managing Ghost posts from an iPhone. Ulysses also works on iPhone and publishes to Ghost, but it is a full writing app rather than a Ghost admin companion. Publishers should test both with a real draft, since their strengths cover different parts of the workflow.
Do I need a separate app to publish to Ghost?
No, Ghost itself includes a full editor and publishing workflow in its web admin. Separate apps help when a publisher wants to draft offline, write on a phone, or use a focused writing environment. They are companions to Ghost, not replacements for the platform, its memberships, or its newsletters.
Is Ghost good for paid newsletters?
Yes, Ghost is built for newsletters and paid memberships, with native signup forms, tiers, offers, and analytics, and no platform fee on subscription revenue beyond payment processing. Hosted pricing rises with member count, so publishers should check the pricing slider for their list size. Self-hosting keeps the same membership features, but adds server and email delivery work.
Sources we checked (7)
- https://ghost.org/
- https://ectoapp.uk/
- https://ulysses.app
- https://ia.net/writer
- https://magicpages.co
- https://www.pikapods.com
- https://webvify.app
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.