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Hashnode alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Hashnode: custom domain requires the paid Pro plan, and no real paid subscription or membership tools. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Hashnode, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Ghost currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Ghost logoGhostOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 562.6
2Bear Blog logoBear BlogFree plan + paidNoWeb4 of 459.6
3Medium logoMediumFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android0 of 056.0
  1. Ghost logo

    1. GhostTop pick

    Best for: Independent publishers who want their own branded site, newsletter and memberships

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Hashnode

    Full open-source site with newsletters and paid memberships.

    Pros

    • No transaction fees from Ghost on paid memberships
    • Open source and self-hostable for full control
    • Custom themes and a large integration marketplace
    • Fast sites with strong SEO defaults

    Cons

    • No discovery network to bring in readers
    • Starter plan lacks custom themes and paid subscriptions
    • Self-hosting needs a server and some sysadmin work
    Visit Ghost Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ghost a good Hashnode alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $18/month (Starter, billed yearly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Publisher plan
    $29/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Transaction fees
    0% from Ghost (processor fees apply)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, Ubuntu or Docker
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Bear Blog logo

    2. Bear Blog

    Best for: Writers who want a fast, minimal personal blog without trackers or bloat

    Free plan + paidWeb

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Hashnode

    Minimal, very fast blog with custom CSS and no tracking.

    Pros

    • Extremely light pages with no trackers or ads
    • Custom CSS and free themes for personal styling
    • Discovery feed helps new posts find readers

    Cons

    • Run by one developer, which is a continuity risk
    • No paid subscriptions or memberships
    • Detailed analytics require the paid upgrade
    Visit Bear Blog Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Bear Blog a good Hashnode alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Tracking
    No trackers, ads or scripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom domain
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Feeds
    RSS and Atom
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Newsletters
    Email subscribers supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Medium logo

    3. Medium

    Best for: Writers who want an existing audience for essays without running their own site or list

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    56.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Hashnode

    Bigger general readership, though with less control over your blog.

    Pros

    • Large existing readership and topic-based discovery
    • Free to write, with a clean editor
    • Partner Program pays writers from member reading

    Cons

    • No direct paid subscriptions you control
    • Earnings and distribution depend on changing platform rules
    • Little control over design and branding
    Visit Medium Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Medium a good Hashnode alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Hashnode alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Ghost logo

Best Hashnode alternative for most people

Ghost

Full open-source site with newsletters and paid memberships.

Ghost logo

Best Hashnode alternative for a free option

Ghost

Full open-source site with newsletters and paid memberships.

Bear Blog logo

Best Hashnode alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bear Blog

Minimal, very fast blog with custom CSS and no tracking.

Blot logo

Best Hashnode alternative for open source

Blot

Publishes a blog straight from a folder of Markdown files you already keep.

Ghost logo

Best Hashnode alternative for self-hosting

Ghost

Full open-source site with newsletters and paid memberships.

Micro.blog logo

Best Hashnode alternative for Mac

Micro.blog

Cheap hosted blog on your domain, with newsletters and fediverse cross-posting.

Medium logo

Best Hashnode alternative for iPhone and Android

Medium

Bigger general readership, though with less control over your blog.

Ghost logo

Best Hashnode alternative for working in the browser

Ghost

Full open-source site with newsletters and paid memberships.

Hashnode alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Hashnode?

Ghost ranks first right now. Full open-source site with newsletters and paid memberships. Bear Blog and Blot follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Hashnode?

Yes. Ghost (open source), Bear Blog (free plan + paid) and Medium (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Hashnode?

Yes: Ghost and Blot. Ghost and Blot can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Hashnode?

The complaints we hear most: custom domain requires the paid Pro plan; no real paid subscription or membership tools; company attention is split across other products.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Hashnode, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.