MailBeez
MailBeez V5 arrives with a redesigned workspace, dark mode and V5-ready modules.
Comparison · Mkt Auto
Joomla vs Ghost
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Joomla and Ghost — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Joomla vs Ghost: at a glance
What is Joomla?
Joomla 6.2 is out, and every branch now ships patches in lockstep.
Joomla 6.2.0 shipped on 13 October after two release candidates, with more than 116 merged pull requests including a refactored MVCFactory, Crypt package deprecation and build tooling. The 5.4 line released 5.4.10 the same day with an API PATCH timezone fix and banner access checks, and late September brought paired security releases, 5.4.9 and 6.1.4.
What is Ghost?
Ghost lets publishers store their own member details in custom fields.
Ghost now lets publications define custom fields and store member details directly in Ghost. It follows a run of member email automation releases: tier-specific welcome sequences and automation analytics in October, then lifecycle triggers on 4 November that start flows when a paid member changes tier or leaves.
Joomla vs Ghost: editorial side-by-side
Joomla
5.0MKT AUTO
Joomla 6.2 is out, and every branch now ships patches in lockstep.
◆ Current state
Joomla 6.2.0 shipped on 13 October after two release candidates, with more than 116 merged pull requests including a refactored MVCFactory, Crypt package deprecation and build tooling. The 5.4 line released 5.4.10 the same day with an API PATCH timezone fix and banner access checks, and late September brought paired security releases, 5.4.9 and 6.1.4.
◆ Where it's heading
The project runs three lines on one calendar: a feature minor on 6.x, security and bug patches on 6.1 and 5.4, all released together. 6.2 is mostly framework work aimed at Joomla 7, with deprecations now targeted at version 7. Several fixes are tagged [AI], meaning contributors used AI tools to write them.
◆ Prediction
With 6.2 out, 6.1 maintenance should wind down while 6.2.x patches start on the same paired schedule as 5.4. Further deprecations ahead of Joomla 7 are the likely theme of the next minor.
Ghost
5.0MKT AUTO
Ghost lets publishers store their own member details in custom fields.
◆ Current state
Ghost now lets publications define custom fields and store member details directly in Ghost. It follows a run of member email automation releases: tier-specific welcome sequences and automation analytics in October, then lifecycle triggers on 4 November that start flows when a paid member changes tier or leaves.
◆ Where it's heading
Ghost is building out its member database so automations have more to act on. Custom fields are the data layer the triggers and sequences have been missing, which points toward segmenting and targeting by publisher-defined attributes.
◆ Prediction
Expect automations or email segments to filter on custom fields next; the entry does not say whether fields can be set through signup forms or the API.
Alternatives to Joomla and Ghost
Other Mkt Auto products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Joomla or Ghost.
Postiz
Postiz encrypts channel tokens and lets agents send connect links for new channels.
n8n
n8n fixes executions being redacted when they used global credentials, on three lines.
Gumloop
Gumloop 13.6 gives admins one set of rules for every tool an agent touches.
AcyMailing
AcyMailing 11.1.2 closes holes that let strangers read or unsubscribe any subscriber.
Buttondown
Buttondown lets writers reorder editor blocks without a mouse.
See all Joomla alternatives → · See all Ghost alternatives →
Recent activity from Joomla and Ghost
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 4d agoGhostCustom fields
- 10d agoGhostLifecycle triggers for automations
- 24d agoGhostStripe Checkout customization
- 1mo agoGhostTier-specific welcome sequences
- 1mo agoJoomlaJoomla 6.2.0 ships with framework refactors aimed at Joomla 7
- 1mo agoJoomla5.4.10 fixes API PATCH dates and banner access checks
- 1mo agoGhostAutomation analytics
- 1mo agoJoomla6.2.0 RC2 adds a what's-new tour and association fix
- 1mo agoJoomla5.4.10 RC1 previews API PATCH and banner fixes
- 1mo agoJoomla5.4.9 security release hardens TOTP checks and exports
- 1mo agoJoomla6.2.0 RC1 treats MariaDB as a first-class database
- 2mo agoGhostGift subscription improvements
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Joomla and Ghost?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Joomla and Ghost are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Joomla better than Ghost?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Joomla and Ghost are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Mkt Auto products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Joomla?
Top Joomla alternatives in Mkt Auto are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Joomla alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/joomla for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Ghost?
Top Ghost alternatives in Mkt Auto are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Ghost alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/ghost for the full list with editorial commentary on each.