> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.outpost.pub/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What is Outpost?

> Answers to common questions about what Outpost does and who it's for.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What is Outpost?">
    Outpost is a growth and retention platform built for Ghost CMS membership sites. It adds tools to convert free readers to paid, retain paying subscribers, and automate the work of running a publication.

    Ghost handles your content, members, and Stripe billing. Outpost adds conversion widgets, email automation, segmentation, and integrations with CRMs, podcast platforms, and analytics tools.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Who is Outpost for?">
    Outpost is for independent content creators, journalists, and publishers who:

    * Use Ghost CMS as their publishing platform
    * Want to grow and retain a paid membership
    * Need more automation and integration capabilities than Ghost provides out of the box
    * Run newsletters, podcasts, or media businesses
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need Ghost to use Outpost?">
    Yes. Outpost is built specifically for Ghost sites. While some features (like embeddable widgets) can work on non-Ghost pages, the core platform requires a Ghost site.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Outpost replace Ghost?">
    No. Outpost complements Ghost — it doesn't replace it. Your readers visit your Ghost site, read your posts, and subscribe through Ghost's native checkout. Outpost runs alongside Ghost, adding growth and retention tools on top.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Outpost work with Ghost Pro?">
    Yes. Outpost works with Ghost Pro on the **Publisher plan or higher**. Starter and Creator plans are not compatible.

    Outpost also works with any self-hosted Ghost installation on Ghost 5.x or later.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Outpost handle billing?">
    Ghost handles subscription billing natively via Stripe. Outpost connects to the same Stripe account to read subscription activity and use it to drive automation, retention flows, and segmentation. Outpost also powers offers (discounts) and subscription schedules on top of that.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is Outpost open source?">
    No, Outpost is not open source, but Ghost is. Outpost Publishers Cooperative is a small member-services cooperative, and the founders have been building indie publishing technology since 2010.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I get started?">
    See the [Quickstart guide](/getting-started/quickstart) to connect your Ghost site and Stripe account and set up your first conversion tool.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>