lazysite vs Ghost
Memberships and paid content, without running a Node app and a database.
Ghost is a polished publishing platform, but under the hood it is a Node.js application backed by a database that you either pay Ghost to host or self-host and maintain. lazysite serves your site from plain files - no database, no application server to babysit - and still offers the memberships and paid content people choose Ghost for.
| Feature | lazysite | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | ||
| Content format | Plain Markdown files you own | Rich posts in a database (web editor) |
| Build step | None - renders on request, caches the result | None - a dynamic Node application |
| Database | None - files only | Required (MySQL, or SQLite for small installs) |
| Footprint | Tiny - one CGI script plus Perl modules from your distro | Heavy - a Node.js application plus a database |
| Capabilities | ||
| Dynamic content | Server-side templating, remote data, query parameters | Yes, within its publishing model |
| Built-in forms, auth & payments | All built in (forms, sign-in, x402 pay-per-read) | Memberships built in; forms via integrations |
| AI-first management | Built for it - agents edit over WebDAV, an API or MCP | A content API exists; the product centres on its editor |
| Memberships & paid content | Pay-per-read (x402) and per-user access | Built-in memberships and subscriptions (Stripe) |
| Design & experience | ||
| Themes & customisation | Layout plus theme tokens - one file to re-skin | Handlebars themes with a marketplace |
| Editing experience | Markdown files, a simple manager, or an AI agent | A polished web editor |
| Hosting & operations | ||
| Hosting | Any CGI host, or its own built-in server | A Node host you manage, or paid Ghost(Pro) |
| Performance | Cached static HTML after the first hit | Dynamic; caching or a CDN recommended |
| Backup | Copy the files - nothing else to dump | Database plus files; export tools |
| Migration & portability | Move the folder anywhere - plain files | Export and import via Ghost's tools |
| Maintenance & security surface | Small - static files, no database, a compact codebase | A Node runtime and database to keep updated |
| Cost | Free, with minimal hosting | Free to self-host (you run it), or paid Ghost(Pro) |
Switching from Ghost
Ghost exports its content to JSON and Markdown, and its two core ideas - posts and paid members - map cleanly onto lazysite pages and built-in auth. You trade the managed editor and hosted newsletters for owning plain files and a far smaller, cheaper footprint you fully control.
When Ghost still wins
If you want a fully managed writing platform with a polished editor and built-in email newsletters, and would rather pay to never think about infrastructure.
When lazysite wins
If you want to own plain files, avoid running a Node app and a database, host for next to nothing, and still offer memberships and paid content.
Compare lazysite with another platform
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