Looking for a Ghost alternative for your books and essays?
Ghost is a powerful open-source platform for running a membership publication — hosted for a monthly fee or self-hosted on your own server. Facet is made for writers who'd rather write than run a website: no hosting, no themes, no setup.
Free to write and publish — no credit card required.
Made for writing that deserves more than a post.
Ghost is a powerful open-source platform for membership sites. Facet gives your books and essays a home without hosting, themes or setup — free to write and publish.
Free, with zero setup
No server, no hosting plan, no theme to pick. Sign up, open a blank page and start writing — Facet takes care of everything else.
Made for books
Chapters, serial releases and a book-like reader are built in — not something you have to bend a blog into.
Community included
Every book and essay comes with its own community space, so readers can discuss, ask questions and stay close to your work.
Facet and Ghost at a glance.
What you get out of the box when you publish long-form writing on Facet compared to Ghost.
| Feature | Facet | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Books with chaptersStructure long-form work in chapters, not a feed of posts. | Included | Not available: Posts and pages |
| Serial publishingRelease chapter by chapter, readers get notified. | Included: Library readers get notified | Partly: Posts by email, no chapters |
| Community for every writingThreaded discussions right next to each book and essay. | Included: Threads for every writing | Partly: Member comments |
| Book-like reading experienceA calm reader that remembers where readers left off. | Included: Progress saved automatically | Not available: Depends on the theme |
| Built-in cover designerDesign covers and hero images without extra software. | Included | Not available |
| Markdown exportDownload your writing in a clean, portable format. | Included | Partly: JSON export |
| Free to write & publishNo hosting, no setup, no monthly fee. | Included: No hosting needed | Not available: Paid hosting or self-hosting |
Which one is right for you?
Ghost is a great product — for a different kind of writing. Here's an honest take on when each platform fits best.
Choose Facet if…
- You write books, serials or long-form essays.
- You want readers to follow your serials chapter by chapter.
- You want a community space around every writing.
- You like a cover designer and Markdown export built in.
Choose Ghost if…
- You want full control over a self-hosted, open-source website.
- You run a newsletter business built on paid memberships.
- You need custom themes, integrations and your own domain.
Give your writing the home it deserves.
Create your free Facet account and publish your first book or essay in minutes — no hosting, no setup, no credit card.