Alternatives to Ghost
Ghost is a modern, open-source publishing platform built with Node.js. Designed specifically for blogging and content creation, it provides a clean, intuitive interface with powerful features for writers, publishers, and content creators who want to focus on creating great content. Find open source and proprietary alternatives that serve similar purposes.
Self-hosted alternatives to Ghost
Open source projects that can replace Ghost:
WriteFreely
WriteFreely is a beautifully minimalist publishing platform that puts the focus back on writing. Built with Go and designed for simplicity, it provides a clean, distraction-free environment for writers while supporting modern features like federation and community building.
Key Features
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Distraction-Free Writing:
- Clean, minimalist editor interface
- Native Markdown support
- Beautiful, readable typography
- Focus mode for concentrated writing
- Draft management and autosave
- Seamless writing experience
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Federation & Decentralization:
- ActivityPub protocol support
- Fediverse integration and compatibility
- Cross-platform following and interaction
- Federated timeline and discovery
- Decentralized publishing network
- Open social web participation
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Community & Multi-User:
- Multi-user blog hosting
- Community blog creation
- User management and permissions
- Public and private post options
- Reader discovery and following
- Collaborative writing spaces
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Customization & Branding:
- Custom theme support
- CSS customization options
- Custom domain configuration
- Branding and personalization
- Layout control and styling
- Responsive design themes
-
Privacy & Data Ownership:
- Privacy-focused design
- No tracking or analytics by default
- Anonymous publishing options
- Complete data ownership
- GDPR compliance
- Minimal data collection
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Technical Excellence:
- Lightweight and fast performance
- Efficient Go-based architecture
- RSS feed generation
- REST API access
- Data export capabilities
- Self-hosted control
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Publishing Features:
- Clean, readable post layouts
- SEO-friendly URLs
- Social media sharing
- Comment-free focus on content
- Mobile-responsive design
- Fast loading times
Technical Specifications
- Language: Go
- License: AGPL-3.0
- Deployment: Binary, Docker
- Platforms: Cross-platform
- Requirements: Minimal (Go binary)
- Database: MySQL, SQLite
- Architecture: Lightweight web application
Use Cases
- Personal Blogging: Individual writers seeking simplicity
- Creative Writing: Authors and creative writers
- Academic Writing: Researchers and academic publishing
- Community Blogs: Small communities and groups
- Privacy-Conscious Publishing: Writers prioritizing privacy
- Federated Networks: Participation in decentralized social web
Unique Advantages
- Minimalist Design: Focus purely on writing and reading
- Federation Support: Native ActivityPub and fediverse integration
- Privacy-First: No tracking, analytics, or data mining
- Lightweight: Minimal resource usage and fast performance
- Community-Oriented: Built for both individual and community use
- Open Source: Transparent, customizable, and community-driven
Based on the WriteFreely GitHub repository, this tool provides writers with a clean, minimalist publishing platform that prioritizes the writing experience while supporting modern federation and community features, making it ideal for writers who want to focus on content creation without distractions while participating in the decentralized web.
Known
Known is a modern social publishing platform that bridges the gap between traditional blogging and social media. Built with PHP and designed around IndieWeb principles, it provides a comprehensive solution for individuals and communities who want to own their content while maintaining social connectivity.
Key Features
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Social Publishing Integration:
- Native social media integration
- Cross-posting to multiple platforms
- Social interactions and engagement
- Activity stream aggregation
- Social login and authentication
- Unified publishing workflow
-
IndieWeb Standards Support:
- Microformats markup for structured data
- Webmentions for cross-site conversations
- IndieAuth for decentralized authentication
- POSSE (Publish Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere)
- Micropub API for publishing
- Own your content philosophy
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Diverse Content Types:
- Traditional blog posts and articles
- Status updates and microblogging
- Photo sharing and galleries
- Location check-ins and mapping
- Event creation and management
- Rich media content support
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Collaborative Features:
- Multi-user publishing platform
- Team and organization support
- User profiles and biographies
- Following and subscription system
- Community building features
- Collaborative content creation
-
Customization & Extensibility:
- Flexible theme system
- Plugin architecture for extensions
- Custom template development
- Responsive design framework
- Mobile application support
- Developer-friendly APIs
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Modern Publishing Features:
- REST API for integrations
- Webhook support for automation
- Real-time updates and notifications
- Mobile publishing capabilities
- Progressive web app features
- Cross-platform compatibility
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Enterprise Capabilities:
- Multi-site management
- User management and permissions
- Analytics and insights
- Custom branding options
- Professional support
- Scalable deployment
Technical Specifications
- Language: PHP
- License: Apache-2.0
- Deployment: Web server, PHP
- Platforms: Cross-platform (web-based)
- Requirements: PHP, web server, database
- Database: MySQL, MongoDB
- Architecture: Modern web application with API
Use Cases
- Personal Publishing: Individual blogs with social features
- Community Platforms: Community-driven content platforms
- Organization Blogs: Corporate and organizational publishing
- Social Blogging: Blogging with social media integration
- IndieWeb Sites: Decentralized web publishing
- Collaborative Writing: Team-based content creation
Unique Advantages
- Social-First: Built specifically for social publishing
- IndieWeb Native: Full support for IndieWeb standards
- Content Ownership: Own your content while staying social
- Collaborative: Built for teams and communities
- Modern Standards: Supports latest web publishing standards
- Open Source: Transparent, customizable, and community-driven
Based on the Known GitHub repository, this tool provides content creators with a modern social publishing platform that combines the best of blogging and social media while supporting IndieWeb principles, making it ideal for individuals and communities who want to maintain control over their content while staying connected to social networks and the broader web.
Serendipity
Serendipity (s9y) is a powerful, highly extensible PHP blog engine that provides advanced customization capabilities through its plugin system and Smarty templating engine. Designed for developers and advanced users, it offers unparalleled flexibility and extensibility for creating sophisticated blogging platforms.
Key Features
-
Extensive Plugin System:
- Comprehensive plugin architecture
- Event-driven plugin system
- Custom plugin development capabilities
- Plugin marketplace and repository
- API extensions and integrations
- Modular functionality approach
-
Advanced Templating:
- Smarty templating engine integration
- Custom theme development
- Template inheritance and organization
- CSS customization and styling
- Responsive design support
- Mobile-optimized themes
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Comprehensive Content Management:
- Advanced WYSIWYG editor
- Multi-author support and collaboration
- Hierarchical category system
- Tag management and organization
- Media library and management
- Content versioning and drafts
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Advanced Blogging Features:
- Multi-language support and localization
- Advanced comment system
- Spam protection and moderation
- SEO optimization features
- RSS and Atom feed generation
- Trackback and pingback support
-
Administration & Management:
- Comprehensive admin interface
- User management and roles
- Permission system and access control
- Extensive configuration options
- Import/export capabilities
- Backup and restore features
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Developer-Friendly Features:
- Plugin development framework
- Theme development tools
- Event hooks and filters
- Database abstraction layer
- API access and integration
- Custom field support
-
Enterprise Capabilities:
- Multi-site management
- Performance optimization
- Caching mechanisms
- Security features
- Scalability options
- Professional support
Technical Specifications
- Language: PHP
- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Deployment: Web server, PHP
- Platforms: Cross-platform (web-based)
- Requirements: PHP, web server, database
- Database: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
- Architecture: MVC-based web application
Use Cases
- Advanced Blogging: Feature-rich personal and professional blogs
- Corporate Websites: Business websites with blogging capabilities
- Community Sites: Multi-author community platforms
- Developer Blogs: Technical blogs with custom functionality
- Educational Platforms: Academic and educational content sites
- Custom Applications: Highly customized content management needs
Unique Advantages
- Maximum Extensibility: Unparalleled plugin and customization capabilities
- Smarty Integration: Professional templating engine for advanced themes
- Developer-Friendly: Built for developers and advanced customization
- Mature Platform: Long-established with proven reliability
- Flexible Architecture: Highly adaptable to specific requirements
- Open Source: Transparent, customizable, and community-driven
Based on the Serendipity GitHub repository, this tool provides developers and advanced users with a highly extensible blogging platform that excels in customization and plugin development, making it ideal for those who need maximum flexibility and control over their blogging platform with advanced features and developer-friendly architecture.
More blogging-platforms projects
Discover other open source projects in the blogging-platforms category:
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