Ghost

Ghost is an open-source platform built from scratch for publishers, with newsletters, membership, and subscriptions baked in. It takes zero revenue share from member subscriptions, a stark contrast to platforms with 5-10% cuts. You own your data and can self-host or use Ghost's managed tier.

Ideal for independent writers, niche publishers, or companies building subscriber communities. If you want full control and plan to monetize directly, Ghost's transparency and open nature beats platforms built to extract fees.