Taplio vs AuthoredUp vs Ghost: Complete LinkedIn Tool Comparison (2024)

Choosing the right LinkedIn tool feels like navigating a minefield of features, pricing tiers, and marketing promises. You've probably seen Taplio's viral posts about their AI capabilities, AuthoredUp's claims about being the "best LinkedIn writing tool," and wondered where Ghost fits into this landscape.

Here's the thing: most comparisons focus on surface-level features. They miss the fundamental question that matters for your business — how does this tool actually help you generate revenue from LinkedIn?

After analysing hundreds of LinkedIn tools and speaking with founders who've tried them all, I've identified three distinct approaches to LinkedIn success. Each tool represents a different philosophy, and understanding these differences will save you months of trial and error.

Three Tools, Three Approaches

Before diving into features, let's understand what each tool is actually trying to solve:

Taplio positions itself as the comprehensive LinkedIn growth platform. Their approach: throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. Content creation, scheduling, analytics, DMs, lead generation — they've got it all. The philosophy is "one tool to rule them all."

AuthoredUp takes the opposite approach. They're laser-focused on one thing: making your LinkedIn posts look professional and engaging. Think of them as the typography experts of LinkedIn content. Their philosophy: "Perfect posts drive perfect results."

Ghost bridges content and outbound with a unique premise: your content engagement becomes your outbound pipeline. Instead of treating content and lead generation as separate activities, Ghost connects them. The philosophy: "Content that converts viewers into customers."

Each approach works, but for different business models and goals. Let's break down exactly how.

Content Creation Features — Side by Side

Content creation is where these tools diverge most dramatically. Here's what you actually get:

Taplio Content Features:

• AI Post Generator: Creates posts based on trending topics and viral templates
• Content Library: Access to 4M+ viral posts for inspiration
• Carousel Creator: Built-in design tool for LinkedIn carousels
• Video Tools: Basic video scheduling and preview features
• Scheduling: Standard post scheduling with best time recommendations
• Content Recycling: Automatically suggests when to repost old content

AuthoredUp Content Features:

• Post Formatter: Advanced text formatting with custom fonts and styling
• Preview Mode: See exactly how posts appear on desktop and mobile
• Character Counter: Precise tracking of post length and line breaks
• Emoji Integration: Extensive emoji library with search functionality
• Draft Management: Unlimited draft storage and organisation
• Scheduling: Basic scheduling functionality

Ghost Content Features:

• AI Content Engine: Generates posts optimised for engagement AND lead generation
• Engagement Amplification: AI suggests content that drives meaningful comments
• Content-to-Pipeline Tracking: See which posts generate actual leads
• Industry-Specific Templates: Pre-built frameworks for different business types
• Smart Scheduling: Posts when your audience is most likely to engage
• Content Performance Scoring: Predict post success before publishing

The key difference? Taplio focuses on volume, AuthoredUp focuses on presentation, Ghost focuses on conversion.

If you're a content agency managing dozens of clients, Taplio's content library makes sense. If you're a personal brand obsessed with post aesthetics, AuthoredUp delivers. If you're a founder who needs content that actually generates pipeline, Ghost's approach wins.

Analytics & Insights

Analytics reveal each tool's true priorities. Here's what you'll actually learn from each platform:

Taplio Analytics:

• Vanity Metrics Focus: Views, likes, comments, shares, follower growth
• Content Performance: Which posts performed best by engagement
• Optimal Timing: When your audience is most active
• Competitor Analysis: How your content compares to others in your space
• Growth Tracking: Follower acquisition over time

AuthoredUp Analytics:

• Basic Metrics: Post performance data (limited compared to competitors)
• Engagement Tracking: Comments, likes, and shares per post
• Publishing History: Archive of all published content

Ghost Analytics:

• Revenue Attribution: Which content directly generated leads and customers
• Engagement Quality Score: Measures meaningful vs. superficial engagement
• Lead Generation Metrics: Content-to-pipeline conversion rates
• Intent Signal Tracking: Who's engaging and showing buying intent
• ROI Dashboard: Actual revenue generated from LinkedIn activity

Here's the brutal truth: most LinkedIn analytics are vanity metrics that don't correlate with business results. Getting 10,000 views feels great, but if none of those viewers become customers, what's the point?

Ghost's analytics focus on what actually matters for business growth. You can see exactly which posts generated qualified leads, which comments came from potential buyers, and how your content directly impacts revenue.

Outbound & Lead Generation (Ghost Only)

This is where the comparison gets interesting. Taplio and AuthoredUp treat outbound as either an afterthought or ignore it entirely. Ghost makes it central to the entire platform.

Taplio's Outbound Features:

• Basic DM Automation: Send connection requests and follow-up messages
• Lead Lists: Export LinkedIn profiles for outreach
• Message Templates: Pre-written outreach sequences

AuthoredUp's Outbound Features:

• None. AuthoredUp is purely a content creation tool

Ghost's Outbound Features:

• Intent-Powered Outreach: Target people based on their content engagement behaviour
• 5-Dimensional Lead Scoring: Analyse prospects across multiple data points
• Warm Lead Identification: Automatically identify hot prospects from content engagement
• Contextual Messaging: Reference specific posts or comments in outreach
• Lead Inbox: Centralised hub for managing all prospect conversations
• Content-to-Outbound Pipeline: Seamlessly move engaged users into sales sequences

The game-changer is Ghost's approach to connecting content and outbound. Instead of treating them as separate activities, Ghost identifies people who engage with your content and automatically adds them to targeted outreach sequences.

Think about it: someone who comments thoughtfully on your post about sales challenges is infinitely more qualified than a cold lead from a random LinkedIn search. Ghost captures these warm leads automatically.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing reveals each tool's target market and value proposition. Here's the complete breakdown:

Taplio Pricing:

• Starter: $39/month (basic content creation and scheduling)
• Standard: $55/month (adds analytics and lead generation)
• Pro: $149/month (full feature access and team collaboration)

AuthoredUp Pricing:

• Free Plan: Basic post formatting and preview
• Pro: $15/month (unlimited posts, advanced formatting, scheduling)

Ghost Pricing:

• Content Pro: $47/month (AI content creation, scheduling, analytics)
• Outbound Pro: $71/month (intent-powered lead generation and outreach)
• Full Suite: $103/month (complete content + outbound platform)

The pricing tells the story. AuthoredUp is positioned as an affordable formatting tool. Taplio targets mid-market companies with comprehensive needs. Ghost focuses on founders and sales teams who need measurable ROI from their LinkedIn investment.

Value per dollar analysis: If you only need post formatting, AuthoredUp wins on price. If you want every possible LinkedIn feature, Taplio offers good value. If you need content that actually generates pipeline, Ghost delivers the highest ROI despite the premium pricing.

Which Tool Fits Your Use Case

Choosing between these tools isn't about features — it's about matching your business model and goals. Here's how to decide:

Best for Pure Content Writing

Choose AuthoredUp if:

• You're a personal brand focused on thought leadership
• Post aesthetics and formatting matter more than lead generation
• You have a tight budget and only need basic LinkedIn functionality
• You're already generating leads through other channels
• You write long-form content that needs careful formatting

AuthoredUp excels when LinkedIn is primarily a branding channel rather than a revenue driver. If you're building authority in your industry and monetising through speaking, consulting, or other offline methods, AuthoredUp's focus on presentation makes sense.

Best for Content + Pipeline

Choose Ghost if:

• You're a founder, sales leader, or business owner who needs LinkedIn to generate actual revenue
• You want to connect content engagement with outbound sales efforts
• You prefer quality leads over quantity metrics
• You're willing to invest in tools that deliver measurable ROI
• You want to automate the process of turning content viewers into customers

Ghost is built for businesses that treat LinkedIn as a revenue channel, not just a marketing channel. The content features are designed to attract qualified prospects, while the outbound capabilities convert that engagement into pipeline.

Best for Post Formatting

Choose Taplio if:

• You're managing LinkedIn for multiple clients or team members
• You need access to a large content library for inspiration
• You want every possible LinkedIn feature in one platform
• You have a mid-market budget and need comprehensive functionality
• You're focused on growing follower count and engagement metrics

Taplio works well for agencies, marketing teams, and businesses that need comprehensive LinkedIn management. If you're optimising for reach and engagement rather than qualified leads, Taplio's feature breadth is valuable.

FAQ

Can I use multiple tools together?

Technically yes, but it's usually counterproductive. Most users who try combining tools end up with overlapping features, higher costs, and complicated workflows. The exception: some users combine AuthoredUp's formatting with Ghost's outbound capabilities, though Ghost's content features typically eliminate this need.

Which tool has the best AI content generation?

Ghost's AI is optimised for business outcomes rather than just engagement. While Taplio's AI can generate viral content, Ghost's AI creates posts designed to attract qualified prospects. AuthoredUp doesn't offer AI content generation — it focuses purely on formatting existing content.

Do these tools work for B2B and B2C equally well?

AuthoredUp works equally well for both since it's just formatting. Taplio is better for B2C and consumer brands focused on viral content. Ghost is specifically designed for B2B businesses where LinkedIn engagement can be converted into sales pipeline.

What's the learning curve for each tool?

AuthoredUp has the shortest learning curve — it's essentially a text editor with LinkedIn preview. Taplio has moderate complexity due to its feature breadth. Ghost requires more initial setup but provides extensive onboarding and support to help users maximise the content-to-outbound connection.

Can I migrate my data between these tools?

Data portability varies significantly. AuthoredUp stores minimal data, so migration is simple. Taplio allows content export but not analytics data. Ghost provides comprehensive data export and offers migration assistance for users switching from other platforms.

Which tool offers the best customer support?

Ghost provides the most comprehensive support with dedicated customer success managers for annual subscribers. Taplio offers standard email support with good response times. AuthoredUp provides basic email support, which matches their positioning as a simple, affordable tool.

The bottom line: if you're treating LinkedIn as a revenue channel rather than just a marketing channel, Ghost's approach of connecting content engagement with outbound sales delivers measurable business results.

Ready to see how Ghost can transform your LinkedIn content into actual pipeline? Start your free 7-day trial — no credit card required. See exactly how content engagement becomes qualified leads in your first week.