Embed code in every issue
General referral tools ask you to paste an HTML widget into your emails and host a separate sign-up page.
One line of text in an Email content card.
Made only for Ghost
Let your readers grow your Ghost newsletter.
Every subscriber gets a personal share link. Tellafriend counts the friends who actually subscribe and tells you who earned a reward. No code, no widgets, no switching platforms.
- $9/month after the trial
- No credit card
- Ghost(Pro) or self-hosted, 6.0+
Why Tellafriend
Referral tools weren't built for Ghost.
Ghost has no built-in way to reward readers who bring friends. The options so far each come with a catch.
Pricing that grows with your success
Popular referral platforms charge by participant, from around $35–49 a month, and cost more as readers share more.
A flat $9 a month, set by your list size.
Or move your whole newsletter
Platforms with built-in referral programs only work if you leave Ghost and migrate your list, posts and payments.
Stay on Ghost. Nothing to migrate.
How it works
Live before your next issue goes out.
- 1
Connect Ghost
Paste your site URL and an Admin API key from a custom integration. We sync your subscribers in about a minute.
Ghost site URLyourname.ghost.ioAdmin API key••••••••••••••••✓ 1,240 subscribers - 2
Add one line to your email
Drop the referral card into an Email content card and save it as a snippet. Ghost fills in each reader's own link when it sends.
/emailShare it and earn rewards → …/r/{uuid}
- 3
Readers share, you reward
Friends subscribe through Ghost's own sign-up form. We count each one, tag winners in Ghost and email you who to thank.
Maya · Exclusive PDF guideMark as sentTheo · Signed sticker packMark as sent
Compare
The shortest path to referrals on Ghost.
| Feature | Tellafriend | General referral tools | Switching platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works with your current Ghost site | ✓ | Some tools | No, you migrate |
| What goes in your newsletter | One line of text | HTML widget code | The platform's own block |
| Where friends subscribe | Ghost's own sign-up form | The tool's landing page | The new platform |
| Price | $9/mo flat, up to 2,500 subscribers | From ~$35–49/mo, per participant | A new platform plan |
| Rewards tagged as Ghost labels | ✓ | — | — |
| Set up | About 5 minutes | Campaign + widget setup | Full migration |
General-tool pricing reflects public price pages of referral platforms that support Ghost, October 2026, billed monthly.
What you get
Built for how Ghost actually works.
Real subscribers only
A referral counts only after the friend confirms their email and Ghost creates the member.
Fraud checks built in
Self-referrals and repeat sign-ups are excluded. Disposable emails, sudden bursts and friends who stop emails within a week go to a review queue for you to approve.
Rewards inside Ghost
Readers who reach a level get a Ghost label, so you can send their reward with a filtered email.
We never email your readers
You stay the only sender. We only email you: reward alerts and an optional Monday summary.
Nothing slips through
If Ghost's signup notification is ever missed, a daily check finds the signup and counts it.
Minimal, encrypted data
We copy only member ID, email and name. Your API key is encrypted and deleted the moment you disconnect.
For your readers
A referral page they'll actually use.
- Their own link, ready to share. One tap to copy, or share to X, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and email with a message already written.
- Progress they can see. How many friends subscribed, and how close the next reward is.
- Your brand, not ours. Your newsletter name, tagline and color. Built for phones, because that's where newsletters get read.
- No sign-up for readers. The link in your newsletter opens their page directly.
Pricing
Simple pricing. No per-referral fees.
Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial. No credit card needed.
Starter
$9/month
Up to 2,500 subscribers
- Personal share link for every subscriber
- Reward campaigns with dates, up to 5 levels each
- Fraud checks and a review queue
- Ghost labels for winners
- Reward alerts and weekly summary
For growing lists
Growth
$19/month
Up to 20,000 subscribers
- Personal share link for every subscriber
- Reward campaigns with dates, up to 5 levels each
- Fraud checks and a review queue
- Ghost labels for winners
- Reward alerts and weekly summary
- Priority support
Who sends the rewards?
You do, so you can offer anything: a PDF, a call, merch or a free month. We tag each winner in Ghost and email you a daily list. Mark each reward as sent when you're done.
Does it work with self-hosted Ghost?
Yes. Tellafriend works with Ghost(Pro) and self-hosted Ghost 6.0 or newer. You connect it with a custom integration's Admin API key.
Will you email my subscribers?
Never. Your readers only hear from you. We only send emails to you, the author.
What counts as a referral?
A new member who subscribes after opening a reader's share link, once Ghost has confirmed their email. Self-referrals are excluded and suspicious signups wait for your review.
What happens when my trial ends?
Pick a plan to keep counting referrals. If you don't, counting pauses and your data is deleted after 30 days.
Is my Admin API key safe?
It's stored with industry-standard encryption, never shown again after you save it, and deleted the moment you disconnect.
Your readers already love your newsletter. Let them say so.
Set it up in 5 minutes and put the link in your next issue.
Start free for 14 days