Ghost features: tier-by-tier list (2026)
Ghost(Pro) offers hosted publishing starting at $18 per month billed yearly for 1,000 members, scaling to Business at $199 per month for 10,000 members.
Core capabilities (70)
Easy site design
Complete control over your website and branding. Launch a custom website and tweak the design settings to perfectly match your brand and style.
Source · core
Advanced creator tools
Publish by web & email newsletter. An editor built from the ground-up for professionals. Calm by design, with advanced workflows by default. No more suffering through clumsy toolbars or drag & oops.
Source · core automation
Rich media & dynamic cards
Modern publishing requires more than just words. Expand your story with image galleries, gifs, video, audio, products, info boxes, accordion toggles, downloadable files, bookmarks, and so much more.
Source · core
Newsletters built-in
Deliver posts by email newsletter to your audience, so they'll be in the loop whenever something new goes live.
Source · core
Grow your audiences
Transform those clicks into contacts. Until now, building an indie publication with memberships and subscriptions has been difficult and complicated. Ghost makes it easy, with native signup forms that turn anonymous views into logged-in members.
Source · core
Run your business
Manage your memberships. See who's signing up, who's paying, and what they're reading, so you can get a better understanding of your core audience.
Source · core
Offers & promotions
Entice new subscribers with offers and promotions to grow your business. Run a 30% discount for your first 100 subscribers, an 80%-off Black Friday sale, or a special promotion for a live event.
Source · core
Publishers
A newsletter is just the start Build your own independent media business Learn more →
Source · core
Creators
Escape the algorithm Your audience, brand, and revenue – owned entirely by you Learn more →
Source · core
Launch a custom website and tweak the design
Launch a custom website and tweak the design settings to perfectly match your brand and style.
Source · core
Go even further with hundreds of custom themes
Go even further with hundreds of custom themes in our marketplace, or build your own completely custom design from scratch.
Source · core
Your unique brand sits front and center, while
Your unique brand sits front and center, while Ghost runs things in the background.
Source · core
An editor built from the ground-up for professionals
An editor built from the ground-up for professionals. Calm by design, with advanced workflows by default. No more suffering through clumsy toolbars or drag & oops.
Source · core automation
Until now, building an indie publication with memberships
Until now, building an indie publication with memberships and subscriptions has been difficult and complicated.
Source · core
Ghost makes it easy, with native signup forms
Ghost makes it easy, with native signup forms that turn anonymous views into logged-in members.
Source · core
Allow people to sign up for free, or
Allow people to sign up for free, or purchase a paid subscription to support your work across monthly and yearly premium tiers.
Source · core
See who's signing up, who's paying, and what
See who's signing up, who's paying, and what they're reading, so you can get a better understanding of your core audience.
Source · core
Early versions
[ edit ] Binary Research developed GHOST in Auckland , New Zealand. After the Symantec acquisition, a few functions (such as translation into other languages) were moved elsewhere, but the main development remained in Auckland until October 2009 at which time
Source · core
GHOST 1.0 and 2.0
[ edit ] GHOST 1.0 and 1.1 were released in 1996, followed by 2.0 (2.07) in the same year. These versions supported only the cloning of entire disks. They could run on an IBM XT and without extended memory.
Source · core
Ghost 3.1
[ edit ] Version 3.1, released in 1997 supports cloning individual partitions . GHOST could clone a disk or partition to another disk or partition or to an image file.
Source · core
GHOST 4.0 and 4.1
[ edit ] Version 4.0 of GHOST added multicast technology, following the lead of a competitor, ImageCast .
Source · core
Ghost 5.0 (ghost 2000)
[ edit ] Version 5.0 moved to 386 protected mode . Unlike the text-based user interface of earlier versions, 5.0 uses a graphical user interface (GUI).
Source · core
GHOST for NetWare
[ edit ] A Norton GHOST version for Novell NetWare (called 2.0), released around 1999, supports NSS partitions (although it runs in DOS , like the others).
Source · core
Ghost 6.0 (ghost 2001)
[ edit ] GHOST 6.0, released in 2000, includes a management console for managing large numbers of machines. The console communicates with client software on managed computers and allows a system administrator to refresh the disk of a machine remotely.
Source · core
Ghost 7.0 / Ghost 2002
[ edit ] Released March 31, 2001, Norton GHOST version 7.0 (retail) was marketed as Norton GHOST 2002 Personal Edition.
Source · core
Ghost 7.5
[ edit ] Released December 14, 2001, GHOST 7.5 creates a virtual partition, a DOS partition which actually exists as a file within a normal Windows file system.
Source · core
Symantec GHOST 8.0
[ edit ] GHOST 8.0 can run directly from Windows. It is well-suited for placement on bootable media, such as BartPE ′s bootable CD. The corporate edition supports unicast , multicast and peer-to-peer transfers via TCP/IP .
Source · core
Transition from DOS
[ edit ] The off-line version of Ghost, which runs from bootable media in place of the installed operating system, originally faced a number of driver support difficulties due to limitations of the increasingly obsolete 16-bit DOS environment.
Source · core
Norton GHOST 2003
[ edit ] Norton GHOST 2003, a consumer edition of Ghost, was released on September 6, 2002. Available as an independent product, Norton GHOST 2003 was also included as a component of Norton SystemWorks 2003 Professional.
Source · core
Norton GHOST 9.0 (includes GHOST 2003)
[ edit ] GHOST 9.0 was released August 2, 2004. It represents a significant shift in the consumer product line from GHOST 2003, in several ways: It uses a totally different code base, based on the DriveImage / V2i Protector product via Symantec's acquisition o
Source · core
Norton GHOST 10.0
[ edit ] Released circa 2005. Supports creating images on CDs, DVDs, Iomega Zip and Jaz disks as well as IEEE 1394 (FireWire) and USB mass storage devices . Supports encrypting images and Maxtor external hard disk drives with Maxtor OneTouch buttons.
Source · core
Norton Save And Restore 1.0 (GHOST 10.0)
[ edit ] Norton Save And Restore 1.0, released in February 2006, was the renamed consumer version of Ghost.
Source · core
Norton GHOST 12.0
[ edit ] GHOST 12.0 (April 2007) includes Windows Vista support with an updated and more thorough user interface. It supports both full system backup and individual files or folders backup.
Source · core
Norton GHOST 14.0
[ edit ] Version 14.0 (November 2007) uses Volume Snapshot Service (VSS) to make backups and can store backups to an FTP site.
Source · core
Norton GHOST 15.0
[ edit ] According to the Norton community on Symantec's site, [ 9 ] the following features are available in Norton GHOST 15 of April 2010: Feature Description Improved support for virtual formats [ further explanation needed ] Improved platfor
Source · core
Discontinuation
[ edit ] Norton GHOST was discontinued on April 30, 2013. [ 10 ] Support via chat and knowledge base was available until June 30, 2014.
Source · core
Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 1.0 (GHOST 8.2)
[ edit ] Symantec GHOST 8.2 Released November 15, 2004, Symantec renamed the Enterprise version of GHOST to Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 1.0 . This helped clarify the difference between the consumer and business editions of the product.
Source · core
Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 1.1 (GHOST 8.3)
[ edit ] GHOST Solution Suite 1.1 was released in December 2005. GHOST Solution Suite 1.1 is a bundle of an updated version of Ghost, Symantec Client Migration (a user data and settings migration tool) and the former PowerQuest equivalent, DeployCenter (using
Source · core
Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 2.0 (GHOST 11.0)
[ edit ] GHOST Solution Suite 2.0 was released in November 2006. This version provides significant improvements in performance, as well as the ability to edit NTFS images.
Source · core
Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 2.5 (GHOST 11.5)
[ edit ] The GHOST software for enterprise, including GHOST 11.5, was released in May 2008. [ 13 ] New features include: [ 14 ] Feature Description DeployAnywhere Allows drivers to be injected during image deployment to lessen the need for hard
Source · core
Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 3.x (GHOST 12.0)
[ edit ] GSS 3.0, including GHOST 12.0 and Deployment Solution 6.9, was announced in March 2015. [ 16 ] GSS 3.1, including GHOST 12.0 and Deployment Solution 6.9, was released on 7 March 2016.
Source · core
Binary Research developed GHOST in Auckland , New Zealand
Binary Research developed GHOST in Auckland , New Zealand. After the Symantec acquisition, a few functions (such as translation into other languages) were moved elsewhere, but the main development remained in Auckland until October 2009 at which time much was
Source · core
GHOST 1.0 and 1.1 were released in 1996
GHOST 1.0 and 1.1 were released in 1996, followed by 2.0 (2.07) in the same year. These versions supported only the cloning of entire disks. They could run on an IBM XT and without extended memory.
Source · core
Version 3.1, released in 1997 supports cloning individual
Version 3.1, released in 1997 supports cloning individual partitions . GHOST could clone a disk or partition to another disk or partition or to an image file.
Source · core
Version 5.0 moved to 386 protected mode
Version 5.0 moved to 386 protected mode . Unlike the text-based user interface of earlier versions, 5.0 uses a graphical user interface (GUI). The Binary Research logo, two stars revolving around each other, plays on the main screen when the program is idle.
Source · core
A Norton GHOST version for Novell NetWare (called
A Norton GHOST version for Novell NetWare (called 2.0), released around 1999, supports NSS partitions (although it runs in DOS , like the others).
Source · core
GHOST 6.0, released in 2000, includes a management
GHOST 6.0, released in 2000, includes a management console for managing large numbers of machines. The console communicates with client software on managed computers and allows a system administrator to refresh the disk of a machine remotely.
Source · core
Released March 31, 2001, Norton GHOST version 7.0
Released March 31, 2001, Norton GHOST version 7.0 (retail) was marketed as Norton GHOST 2002 Personal Edition.
Source · core
Released December 14, 2001, GHOST 7.5 creates a
Released December 14, 2001, GHOST 7.5 creates a virtual partition, a DOS partition which actually exists as a file within a normal Windows file system.
Source · core
GHOST 8.0 can run directly from Windows
GHOST 8.0 can run directly from Windows. It is well-suited for placement on bootable media, such as BartPE ′s bootable CD. The corporate edition supports unicast , multicast and peer-to-peer transfers via TCP/IP .
Source · core
Disk imaging competitors to GHOST have dealt with
Disk imaging competitors to GHOST have dealt with the decline of DOS by moving to other recovery environments such as FreeBSD , Linux or Windows PE , where they can draw on current driver development to be able to image newer models of disk controllers.
Source · core
GHOST 8 and later are Windows programs; as
GHOST 8 and later are Windows programs; as such, they can run on Windows PE, BartPE or Hiren's BootCD and use the same plug and play hardware drivers as a standard desktop computer, making hardware support for GHOST much simpler.
Source · core
Norton GHOST 2003, a consumer edition of Ghost
Norton GHOST 2003, a consumer edition of Ghost, was released on September 6, 2002. Available as an independent product, Norton GHOST 2003 was also included as a component of Norton SystemWorks 2003 Professional.
Source · core
GHOST 9.0 was released August 2, 2004
GHOST 9.0 was released August 2, 2004. It represents a significant shift in the consumer product line from GHOST 2003, in several ways:
Source · core
Since GHOST 9 does not support the older
Since GHOST 9 does not support the older .gho format disk images, a separate CD containing GHOST 2003 is included in the retail packaging for users needing to access those older images.
Source · core
The limitations of GHOST 9 compared to GHOST
The limitations of GHOST 9 compared to GHOST 2003 were not well-communicated by Symantec, and resulted in many dissatisfied customers who purchased GHOST 9 expecting the previous version's features (like making images from the bootable GHOST environment, no in
Source · core
Released circa 2005
Released circa 2005. Supports creating images on CDs, DVDs, Iomega Zip and Jaz disks as well as IEEE 1394 (FireWire) and USB mass storage devices . Supports encrypting images and Maxtor external hard disk drives with Maxtor OneTouch buttons.
Source · core
Norton Save And Restore 1.0, released in February
Norton Save And Restore 1.0, released in February 2006, was the renamed consumer version of Ghost.
Source · core
GHOST 12.0 (April 2007) includes Windows Vista support
GHOST 12.0 (April 2007) includes Windows Vista support with an updated and more thorough user interface.
Source · core
This version provides a "LightsOut Restore" feature, which
This version provides a "LightsOut Restore" feature, which restores a system from an on-disk software recovery environment similar to Windows RE , thereby allowing recovery without a bootable CD.
Source · core
Version 14.0 (November 2007) uses Volume Snapshot Service
Version 14.0 (November 2007) uses Volume Snapshot Service (VSS) to make backups and can store backups to an FTP site.
Source · core
This version no longer supports opening .gho image files
This version no longer supports opening .gho image files. It stores images in .v2i format.
Source · core
Released November 15, 2004, Symantec renamed the Enterprise
Released November 15, 2004, Symantec renamed the Enterprise version of GHOST to Symantec GHOST Solution Suite 1.0 . This helped clarify the difference between the consumer and business editions of the product.
Source · core
GHOST Solution Suite 1.1 was released in December 2005
GHOST Solution Suite 1.1 was released in December 2005. GHOST Solution Suite 1.1 is a bundle of an updated version of Ghost, Symantec Client Migration (a user data and settings migration tool) and the former PowerQuest equivalent, DeployCenter (using PQI image
Source · core
GHOST Solution Suite 2.0 was released in November 2006
GHOST Solution Suite 2.0 was released in November 2006. This version provides significant improvements in performance, as well as the ability to edit NTFS images.
Source · core
GHOST 11.0 supports saving and restoring from native
GHOST 11.0 supports saving and restoring from native GHOST image format (.gho, .ghs) and raw images (.img, .raw).
Source · core
The GHOST software for enterprise, including GHOST 11.5
The GHOST software for enterprise, including GHOST 11.5, was released in May 2008.
Source · core
GSS 3.3, including GHOST 12.0 and Deployment Solution
GSS 3.3, including GHOST 12.0 and Deployment Solution 6.9, was released on 31 October 2018.
Source · core
Audience
Membership comparison Feature Starter plan Publisher plan Business plan Custom plan Registered members Registered members Members are any users who have either a free or paid account on your site with which they can subscribe or log-in, using Ghost's membershi
Source · core
Email Newsletters
Newsletter comparison Feature Starter plan Publisher plan Business plan Custom plan Email Sends Email Sends The number of emails you can send to your subscribers each month. All plans include unlimited email sends with no restrictions.
Source · core
Automation and workflows (2)
Norton Save & Restore 2.0 (GHOST 13.0)
[ edit ] NSR 2.0 has fewer features in comparison to Norton GHOST 12. NSR 2.0 offers one-time backups, file and folder backup, simplified schedule editor, Maxtor OneTouch integration and modifiable Symantec recovery disc.
Source · automation integrations
NSR 2.0 has fewer features in comparison to Norton GHOST 12
NSR 2.0 has fewer features in comparison to Norton GHOST 12. NSR 2.0 offers one-time backups, file and folder backup, simplified schedule editor, Maxtor OneTouch integration and modifiable Symantec recovery disc.
Source · automation integrations
Collaboration (1)
Ghost is a powerful app for professional publishers
Ghost is a powerful app for professional publishers to create, share, and grow a business around their content.
Source · collab
Reporting and analytics (2)
Native analytics
Understand what's working. Detailed engagement analytics for your audience so you can understand what content is getting the most attention, and who your biggest fans are.
Source · reporting
Businesses
Content marketing you can measure Turn clicks into contacts with native lead gen & analytics Learn more →
Source · reporting
See Ghost pricing in detail
This page lists what Ghost does. For per-seat math, tier comparison, and the full hidden-fee list, see the Ghost pricing breakdown.
Closest alternatives
Other newsletter and publishing tools buyers shortlist when they evaluate Ghost.
Sources
- https://ghost.org/features
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_(disk_utility)
- https://ghost.org/pricing/
Features evolve. Confirm directly with the vendor before purchase decisions. This list was last refreshed on 2026-05-27.
Frequently asked questions
What features does Ghost include?
This page tracks 75 verified Ghost features across 4 categories, sourced from Ghost's official site and Wikipedia.
Which tier do I need for Ghost?
Ghost's feature availability varies by plan. Compare the public Ghost tiers, calculator, and hidden fees on the Ghost pricing page.
How does Ghost compare on features to alternatives?
Buyers commonly compare Ghost against Substack, beehiiv, Kit. Each alternative's feature page is linked below where we cover it.