Brandwave

Ghost vs Leaky Paywall:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Ghost had more branded searches than Leaky Paywall among paywall platforms worldwide. Ghost had about 10,700 branded searches, while Leaky Paywall had 170. Ghost made up 31.6% of all paywall platform searches we track, and Leaky Paywall accounted for 0.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about paywall platforms, Ghost appeared in three of the five answers and Leaky Paywall in two. Ghost was mentioned before Leaky Paywall in every answer.

Among paywall platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Ghost, about 63 searches for every 1 for Leaky Paywall

Ghost 10.7K searchesLeaky Paywall 170 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Ghost, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Leaky Paywall in 2

Ghost in 3 of 5Leaky Paywall in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Ghost, named ahead of Leaky Paywall in every answer

Ghost first in 3Leaky Paywall never first

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Top paywall platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Ghost was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Leaky Paywall was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Ghost was listed before Leaky Paywall in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Ghost1st
  2. Memberful2nd
  3. Piano3rd
  4. Leaky Paywall4th
  5. Zuora5th
  6. Poool–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Ghost3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Memberful3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Leaky Paywall2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Piano2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Zuora1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Poool0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about paywall platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Ghost or Leaky Paywall more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ghost and Leaky Paywall by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six paywall platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Ghost and Leaky Paywall among paywall platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Ghost, Leaky Paywall. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthZuoraGhostPooolMemberfulLeaky PaywallPiano
Oct 202549.2%28.9%14.7%6.5%0.71%0.03%
Nov 202545%31.9%16.4%5.8%0.79%0.03%
Dec 202544.8%30.9%16.4%7.3%0.64%0.03%
Jan 202642.3%31.2%18.9%6.9%0.74%0.03%
Feb 202644.2%31.6%16.1%7.2%0.78%0.03%
Mar 202645.5%31.3%16.6%6%0.65%0.03%
Apr 202640.3%35.9%18%5.2%0.71%0.03%
May 202639.2%33.7%21.5%5%0.56%0.03%
Jun 202641.4%30%22.7%5.3%0.59%0.03%
Jul 202639%29.2%26.1%5.2%0.55%0.03%
Aug 202645.6%29.6%20.3%4%0.52%0.03%
Sep 202643.7%31.6%19.5%4.7%0.5%0.03%

How has the Ghost and Leaky Paywall comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Ghost was ahead of Leaky Paywall in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ghost’s share of searches among paywall platforms worldwide moved from 28.9% to 31.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10.6K to 10.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Leaky Paywall’s share of searches among paywall platforms worldwide moved from 0.71% to 0.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 260 to 170.

How did search popularity change for paywall platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Ghost gained share of searches among paywall platforms worldwide, from 29.6% to 31.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Leaky Paywall worldwide fell 34.6% over 12 measured months, from 260 to 170 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

11 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ghost’s and Leaky Paywall’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Ghost

10 branded search terms

  • ghost blog platform
  • ghost blogging platform
  • Ghost CMS
  • ghost cms docker
  • ghost cms github
  • ghost cms themes
  • ghost headless cms
  • ghost io
  • ghost wordpress
  • ghost.io

Leaky Paywall

1 branded search term

  • leaky paywall

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among paywall platforms

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