Circle.so vs Ghost
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best Membership Site Software (2026) and The 11 Best CMS Platforms for Small Business (2026). Last verified June 13, 2026.
The short answer
Circle.so ranks higher on Top 11 (#2 vs #7) for Creators running paid membership communities / Small business owners choosing a content management system. A beautifully designed community platform with excellent integrations and a premium feel.
At a glance
| Circle.so | Ghost | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / The 11 Best Membership Site Software (2026) | #7 / The 11 Best CMS Platforms for Small Business (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.1 | 7.9 |
| Best for | Premium modern communities | Best for publishers and newsletters |
| Pricing | $$ ($49 to $399+/mo) | $$ ($9 to $199/mo) |
| HQ | New York, USA | Singapore |
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
Circle.so
A beautifully designed community platform with excellent integrations and a premium feel.
circle.soSee full entry in The 11 Best Membership Site Software (2026)
Ghost
A clean, fast platform built for newsletters and memberships.
ghost.orgSee full entry in The 11 Best CMS Platforms for Small Business (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.