Ghost
Just a blogging platform.
Ghost vs HTMLy
Two self-hosted Blogging Platforms apps, compared on the facts we track: GitHub popularity and activity, license, language, Docker images and a rough hosting estimate.
Side by side
| Ghost | HTMLy | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Just a blogging platform. | Databaseless PHP blogging platform. A flat-file CMS that allows you to create a fast, secure, and powerful website or blog in seconds. |
| GitHub stars | 55,680 | 1,367 |
| Forks | 12.1k | – |
| Open issues (incl. PRs) | 207 | – |
| Commits (12 months) | 6.3k | 52 |
| Last activity | 2026-11-05 | 2026-01-25 |
| Latest release | v6.75.0 (2026-11-04) | v3.1.1 (2025-11-03) |
| Maintenance health | Active | Maintained |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language / platform | Nodejs | PHP |
| Docker Hub image | – | – |
| Docker pulls | – | – |
| Est. server size | ~1 GB, 1 vCPU | ~1 GB, 1 vCPU |
| Est. hosting from | $5/mo | $5/mo |
| Categories | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms, Content Management Systems (CMS) |
| Links | Website · Source | Website · Source |
What the numbers say
- Ghost is more popular on GitHub: 55.7k stars vs 1.4k for HTMLy.
- Ghost had more commits in the last 12 months (6,257 vs 52).
- Ghost has more recent repository activity (2026-11-05 vs 2026-01-25).
- Ghost published a release more recently (v6.75.0 on 2026-11-04; HTMLy's latest is v3.1.1 on 2025-11-03).
- Ghost is licensed under MIT, HTMLy under GPL-2.0. Ghost's license is permissive; HTMLy's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
- Ghost is written in Nodejs; HTMLy in PHP.
Summary: Ghost leads on GitHub popularity, commit activity and recent activity. The right choice depends on the features you need — read both project descriptions and docs.
This summary is generated from GitHub, Docker Hub and awesome-selfhosted data as of 2026-11-05. It does not rate features or quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ghost or HTMLy more popular?
Ghost has more GitHub stars (55,680 vs 1,367 for HTMLy, as of 2026-11-05). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, Ghost or HTMLy?
Ghost had more commits over the last 12 months (6,257 vs 52). The last recorded activity was 2026-11-05 for Ghost and 2026-01-25 for HTMLy. Our health labels: Ghost is “Active”, HTMLy is “Maintained”.
What licenses do Ghost and HTMLy use?
Ghost: MIT. HTMLy: GPL-2.0. Ghost's license is permissive; HTMLy's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
Can I run Ghost and HTMLy with Docker?
We did not detect a Docker Hub image for either app. Check each project's documentation for install options.
Read more
HTMLy
Databaseless PHP blogging platform. A flat-file CMS that allows you to create a fast, secure, and powerful website or blog in seconds.
Browse all self-hosted Blogging Platforms apps.