How to export your data from Ghost
Ghost lets you export content and settings as JSON, members and post analytics as CSV, and themes as a zip, all bundled into one zip file from Settings → Advanced → Import/Export. On Ghost(Pro) the export is emailed as a download link; on self-hosted installs the zip downloads instantly.
✓ Verified against Ghost's official documentation, October 2026
Step by step
- 1Log into Ghost Admin as the site owner or an administrator.
- 2Go to Settings → Advanced → Import/Export.
- 3Open the Export tab and click All data.
- 4Choose what to include: Content & settings (JSON), Members (CSV), Post analytics (CSV), Themes (zip per theme), Redirects & routes (routes.yaml/redirects.yaml), and Media files (images, video, audio — Ghost(Pro) only).
- 5Click Export to bundle your selections into a single zip file.
- 6On Ghost(Pro): wait for the export to process in the background, then use the download link emailed to you (valid for 7 days).
- 7On self-hosted sites: the zip downloads in your browser immediately — keep the dialog open until it finishes.
- 8For self-hosted media files, copy the images directory directly from the server (shell access required) since it isn't bundled into the in-app export.
What the export includes
- ✓All posts and pages (content)
- ✓All site settings
- ✓Staff/team user accounts
- ✓Tags and tiers
- ✓Members list with labels and subscription status (CSV)
- ✓Post analytics: sends, opens, clicks, conversions per post (CSV)
- ✓Installed themes including custom code (one zip per theme)
- ✓redirects.yaml and routes.yaml files
- ✓Media files (images, video, audio) — Ghost(Pro) only, via the export dialog
What it doesn't include
- ✗Media files on self-hosted installs (must be copied manually via shell access to the server)
- ✗Email analytics and member engagement history beyond what's in the post analytics CSV
- ✗Comments
- ✗Stripe/payment processor configuration itself (only stripe_customer_id reference in the members CSV)
- ✗Database-level backups (the JSON/CSV export is for content portability, not exact site replication)
Before you start
- ⚠On Ghost(Pro), the export zip is prepared asynchronously and the download link is only valid for 7 days.
- ⚠On self-hosted Ghost, you must keep the export dialog open until the download finishes.
- ⚠Full Ghost(Pro) site archives (including images) are not self-service — you must email support@ghost.org, and they won't be provided once an account has already been cancelled.
- ⚠Full site archives are explicitly not a substitute for backups and are only issued for closing a site, migrating, or spinning up a staging instance.
- ⚠Self-hosted media files require server shell access to zip and download separately from the admin export.
Where to take your data
Free and cheaper tools that can take a Ghost export. See all Ghost alternatives →
WordPress.com
Ghost's JSON export isn't natively read by WordPress; posts typically need to be converted (e.g., via an RSS/XML conversion step) before using WordPress's importer, since WordPress expects its own WXR XML format.
Substack
Substack does not have a direct Ghost JSON importer; you'd need to manually recreate posts or use a conversion tool, since Ghost's own migrators are built for importing INTO Ghost, not exporting out to Substack.
Hashnode
Hashnode supports importing posts; Ghost content would need to be converted from its JSON export into a compatible format (such as Markdown files) before import.
Exporting from Ghost: common questions
Can I export my Ghost site without admin access?+
No. Exporting requires being the site owner or an administrator in Ghost Admin, since the export tools live under Settings → Advanced → Import/Export.
Does the Ghost export include my images and media?+
On Ghost(Pro), yes — media files can be included in the export dialog. On self-hosted Ghost, images are not part of the in-app export and must be copied directly from the server's content directory.
How long do I have to download my Ghost(Pro) export?+
The emailed download link for a Ghost(Pro) export is valid for 7 days.
Can I get a full backup/archive of my Ghost(Pro) site instead of the standard export?+
Yes, but it's not self-service — you need to email support@ghost.org to request a complete site archive, which is provided for closing a site, migrating away, or creating a staging instance, not as a routine backup.
What format is the Ghost content export in?+
Content and settings (posts, pages, tags, tiers, settings) export as a single JSON file; members and post analytics export as CSV files; themes export as zip files — all bundled together into one zip when you click Export.
Can I still get my export after cancelling my Ghost(Pro) account?+
Full site archives cannot be provided for Ghost(Pro) accounts that have already been cancelled, so you should export your data before cancelling.
Sources
This guide was written from Ghost's own documentation and checked against it in October 2026. If a step has changed, the official page wins.