Memberships & Monetization
Ghost Native Memberships
Ghost includes a complete membership system that handles everything from free newsletter subscriptions to paid tiers, recurring billing, and member management. Neutrino fully supports all membership features with custom-styled components that maintain design consistency across your publication.
Core Membership Features
Authentication & Access
Free and paid member registration, passwordless authentication via magic links and one-time codes, member account management, subscription upgrades and downgrades, cancellation flows
Payment Processing
Stripe integration for payment processing, recurring subscriptions (monthly/yearly), multiple currency support, automatic tax handling, payment method management
Content Gating
Public, members-only, and paid-members-only content access levels, custom excerpts for non-members, email-exclusive content for subscribers
Neutrino Implementation
The theme includes styled components for all membership touchpoints:
- Signup blocks – inline newsletter capture forms within content
- Custom signup page – dedicated
/signuproute for conversions - Pricing page – showcase membership tiers at
/membership - Account portal – member subscription management interface
- Content paywalls – elegant gating for premium content
Monetization Models
Ghost memberships support various business models beyond traditional content subscriptions:
Publication & Newsletter
The classic model for independent writers, journalists, and publishers. Offer free content to build audience, premium analysis for paying subscribers, and email-exclusive content for engaged readers. Examples: technology newsletters, financial analysis, industry reports.
Community Access
Gate access to a community rather than just content. Members pay for participation in discussions, exclusive events, networking opportunities, or expert Q&A sessions. Works well for professional communities, hobby groups, and learning cohorts.
Digital Products & Resources
Use memberships to deliver digital products on a recurring basis. Monthly templates, stock assets, educational materials, code libraries, or research reports. The membership model ensures predictable revenue while providing ongoing value.
SaaS Documentation & Support
Software companies can offer free documentation publicly while gating advanced guides, priority support, and implementation resources behind membership tiers. This model helps identify and nurture high-value customers.
Course Platform
Combine free lessons with premium coursework. Use public content for lead generation, members-only content for full courses, and higher tiers for cohort-based learning with additional support.
Hybrid Models
Mix consulting services with content subscriptions, combine physical products with digital memberships, or blend community access with educational resources. Ghost's flexible tier system supports creative combinations.
Implementation Options
Free Newsletter
Build an audience before monetizing. Collect emails, send regular newsletters, grow organic reach, and convert readers to paid when ready.
Freemium Model
Offer basic content free with premium tiers for exclusive access. Set custom preview lengths, create member-only posts, and use call-to-action blocks strategically.
Hard Paywall
All content requires paid subscription. Useful for specialized publications, professional resources, and high-value niche content.
Donation Model
Enable voluntary support without gating content. Accept one-time contributions or recurring support from readers who value your work.
Key Features for Growth
Promotional Tools: Create discount codes, limited-time offers, free trial periods, complimentary subscriptions for VIPs
Analytics: Track member growth, monitor revenue metrics, analyze content performance, identify conversion patterns
Email Automation: Welcome sequences for new members, renewal reminders, win-back campaigns, segmented newsletters
Integration Options: Connect with Zapier, webhook events for custom workflows, API access for advanced implementations
Getting Started
- How Ghost memberships work – Official documentation
- Setting up paid subscriptions – Configuration guide
- Connecting Stripe – Payment processing setup
- Creating membership tiers – Pricing strategy guide
- Email newsletter setup – Newsletter configuration
Platform Comparison
Ghost memberships eliminate the need for multiple services. No separate payment processor fees beyond Stripe, no email service provider costs up to substantial volumes, no membership plugin subscriptions, and no complex integration maintenance.
The system handles EU VAT automatically, supports Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), manages failed payment recovery, and provides detailed financial exports for accounting.
For publications ready to monetize, Ghost memberships provide enterprise-grade infrastructure at indie-friendly pricing, all styled perfectly with Neutrino.
