Ghost is an open-source blogging platform built on a modern Node.js framework. Ghost CMS is the best option for running a minimal blog with no overhead. In other words, Ghost CMS is appropriate for blogs that only need to publish and manage posts and pages. It can also effectively manage membership sites.

In general, Ghost is a full-featured headless CMS that is completely independent of any front-end or static site framework. Its front end, like Ghost's admin client, is both optional and interchangeable.

Top 15 Best Free Ghost Themes Designed for Blog

Like any other blogging platform, Ghost has a marketplace where you can buy different themes. You can choose whatever best fits your needs. Here are some free templates you can use to publish content on Ghost. There are simple themes that focus on the text, lively designs with lots of posts and images, and essential publishing tools. So, we wrote this post as a guide for open-source Ghost themes for people who want to use open-source programming.

1.) Simply

free-ghost-themes-simply

Simply is an open-source, multipurpose ghost theme that was made by Godofredo.ninja. It comes with different home designs and layouts, dozens of customization options, and documentation that is easy for both users and developers to understand. 

Simply can be used as a magazine, a company or personal portfolio, a newsletter portal, a photographer showcase, or even a simple blog.

2.) Source

news wave open source free ghost theme

Source is a feature-rich Ghost theme that combines a modern aesthetic with practical functionality. It includes built-in social media integration, customizable widgets, and a user-friendly admin panel, making it ideal for news magazine websites. It is a comprehensive solution for their online presence.

It is a very lightweight theme, making it a great choice for news websites that need to load quickly. News Wave has a clean and modern design, with a focus on readability. It is also highly customizable, so you can use it to fit your specific needs.

3.) Aesto

aesto free-blog-and-magazine-ghost-theme

Aesto is a fantastic Free Blog & Magazine theme specifically designed for the Ghost platform. This theme offers a clean, modern, and minimalist aesthetic that is ideal for bloggers and online publishers. Its responsive design ensures that your content looks great on all types of devices, providing an excellent user experience. Aesto also comes with easy customization options, enabling you to make your website match your individual style and branding.

Whether you're running a personal blog or a professional magazine, Aesto serves as an attractive and functional theme to enhance your Ghost-powered website.

4.) Caffeine

caffeine-free-ghost-template

Caffeine is a minimalist theme for the Ghost publishing platform that was inspired by Material Design. It used to be a branch of Uno-Zen, but since then, a lot has changed. Huge thanks to the original creator for the original theme layout and inspiration.

 It is a simple theme that will work for a business blog, a simple blog where you can share your stories or exciting list posts.

5.) Bulletin

open-source-ghost-theme-bulletin

Bulletin is a minimal newsletter theme for Ghost CMS. The theme separates your homepage into two sections. This is a free Ghost theme that follows all the latest trends and regulations of the web. In other words, it works fantastically well on all devices and web browsers.

 Every reader will enjoy skimming your content and be happy to come back for more.

6.) Ghost Starter Theme

ghost-starter-theme

The Ghost Starter Theme is an official theme from Ghost that developers can use as a base for building their own themes with any CSS and JS framework they want. The layout is 100% mobile-friendly, works in all browsers and is ready for retina displays. 

You don't have to worry about the technical details and good performance because the Editorial takes care of it all for your convenience. One cool thing about the theme is the sticky sidebar menu, which keeps navigation tools visible all the time.

7.) Headline

ghost-theme-headline

The Headline is a simple free magazine theme for Ghost that is also offered by the Ghost team. It works with Ghost 5 but is also compatible with Ghost 4.

The whole design is based on a full-screen image that makes your blog look better overall. You can also change the default look of Massively and personalize it down to the last detail. The headline has a clean, responsive design, nice fonts, built-in search, and frontage.

8.) Journal

free-ghost-blog-themes-journal

Journal is a free journaling and magazine theme for Ghost 4 and 5. It's a clean, typographic newsletter theme. It is an open-source theme distributed under the MIT license.

It looks great on mobile devices and has all of the great features that a fully sustainable blogging site would require.

9.) Liebling

free-ghost-theme-liebling

Liebling is a stylish magazine theme for Ghost version 5 and Ghost version 4. Eduardo Gómez created it, and he ensured that it contains everything you need to run a modern magazine website with your Ghost installation.

Liebling includes RTL support, NTF card support, a custom subscription form, an image lightbox viewer, and a plethora of language options.

10.) Mapache

open-source-ghost-theme-mapache

Mapache includes a number of home page layouts and post formats that make use of sidebars, headers, images, video, and other features. Mapache has six languages, light and dark modes, an Instagram feed, a 404 error page, members and subscriptions, and other features.

You also get an about page, social media buttons, and quite a collection of elements and components in the kit. Couple it with compelling texts, and you have a winning combination.

11.) Taste

ghost food magazine theme

Taste is an exquisite Ghost theme designed specifically for food magazines and recipe blogs. With its visually appealing design, it is very easy to customize. This theme is perfect for those looking to showcase mouthwatering recipes, restaurant reviews, and food-related content. Taste offers a user-friendly experience for both creators and food enthusiasts, and it's designed to be responsive, ensuring your food content looks enticing on all devices.

Whether you're a food blogger, chef, or simply passionate about gastronomy, Taste is the ideal choice to create a flavorful online presence for your Ghost-powered food magazine.

12.) Gilli

gili ghost blog theme

Gilli is an open-source and free Ghost theme, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to create a stunning and functional website on the Ghost CMS. This theme provides an accessible and cost-effective way to build a professional online presence. Gilli's open-source nature allows developers and users to customize and modify it to suit their unique needs and preferences.

If you're a blogger, writer, or business owner, Gilli offers a versatile and visually appealing option for creating a Ghost-powered website without the need for significant financial investment.

13.) Wisper

open-source-ghost-theme-wisper

Whisper is a popular ghost theme that focuses on both the image and the content. This theme includes a built-in menu as well as a Disqus comment feature. It is a modified version of the Casper theme with no main header.

When you click on Posts from the homepage, a new page slides out from the right side. All content posts are made accessible by their titles and publish dates. The design is quite straightforward.

14.) Casper

casper free ghost theme

Casper is indeed another popular free Ghost theme. It's known for its simplicity, clean design, and readability, making it a favorite choice among bloggers and content creators on the Ghost platform. Casper offers a minimalist and distraction-free layout, allowing your content to take center stage. With its responsive design, it ensures that your website looks great on various devices.

Casper is user-friendly and easy to set up, making it a fantastic option for those who want a straightforward yet elegant theme for their Ghost-powered website.

15.) Jamie Solo

open-source-ghost-theme-jamie-solo

Jamie Solo is an open-source Ghost theme designed specifically for solo bloggers like me. It has a clean, simple design that is focused on text-heavy content written by a single author. Jamie Solo is a good choice for technical blogs.

The design is completely responsive, cross-browser compatible, and retina-ready. You don't have to worry about technicalities or excellent performance because the Editorial team handles everything for you.

To Sum Up

If you have any other open-source, free Ghost themes that we didn't mention here, please let us know. Besides if you want to buy any premium ghost themes for your upcoming ghost blog then visit our themes gallery.

Common FAQs About Open Source Free Ghost Themes


1.) What is a Ghost theme? 

A Ghost theme is a template that you can use to change the look and feel of your Ghost blog. Ghost themes are open source, so you can customize them to fit your specific needs.

2.) What are the benefits of using a free Ghost theme? 

There are many benefits to using a free Ghost theme, including:

  • You can save money.

  • You can choose from a wide variety of themes.

  • You can customize the theme to fit your specific needs.

3.) What are the factors to consider when choosing a Ghost theme?

When choosing a Ghost theme, you should consider the following factors:

  • The design of the theme.

  • The features of the theme.

  • The compatibility of the theme with your Ghost version.

  • The responsiveness of the theme.

  • The support offered by the theme developer.

4.) How do I install a Ghost theme? 

To install a Ghost theme, follow these steps:

  1. Download the theme file.

  2. Log in to your Ghost admin dashboard.

  3. Go to Appearance > Themes.

  4. Click the "Add New Theme" button.

  5. Click the "Upload Theme" button and select the theme folder.

  6. Click the "Activate" button.