Ghost Hosting Platforms: Feature & Price Comparison
Ghost is a publishing platform known for its intuitive interface and outstanding performance. It has quickly become a compelling alternative to Substack, Medium, and WordPress.
As the Ghost CMS has grown, so has the ecosystem of hosting providers that someone starting a publication with Ghost can choose from. The options can become overwhelming!
This comprehensive guide gives an overview of all the most popular Ghost hosting platforms, with something for every need.
It covers managed hosting, as well as cloud providers that are suitable for self-hosting the software. There are options for every budget as well, from free hosting options for small publications, to best-in-class hosting for large publications that need reliable, fast, and worry free service.
We’ll look at all the best hosting options in each category, with comparisons of features, pricing, and suitability for different kinds of publications.
Official Ghost Hosting
1. Ghost (Pro)
Ghost(Pro) is the official managed hosting provided by Ghost itself. It is the most well-supported and reliable option for people who want a hassle-free experience. Starting at $9/month, Ghost Pro offers scalable pricing based on the size of your audience. It's a straightforward solution that grows with your blog, making it an ideal choice for projects of all sizes.
Managed Ghost Hosting
1. PikaPods
At just $1.9/month, PikaPods offer the most affordable managed Ghost hosting you can find. You won’t get the same speed you will get from Ghost(Pro) and other premium hosting options, but if you would like to get a publication going without needing to get technical, PikaPods is a great choice.
2. Firepress
Firepress offers a fully-managed Ghost hosting -- with a 21-day free trial. Though not as well established as Ghost(Pro), Firepress can be more budget-friendly because the pricing is independent of the amount of traffic and subscribers.
3. DigitalPress
DigitalPress specializes in Ghost hosting, offering a free tier that's great for startups or DIY projects. While there are limitations on the free tier, such as ads on your website and limited storage, upgrading to a paid plan removes these cons. DigitalPress's paid plans are affordable and suitable for growing businesses.
4. Midnight
Midnight provides beginner-friendly managed Ghost hosting, pre-configured and requiring no installation. Midnight can be more affordable than Ghost(Pro) for growing publications, while still offering email support, automathic upgrades, backups, and more. Midnight's robust functionality and intuitive interface make it an enjoyable process to set up a Ghost blog.
⇒ Midnight Pricing starts at $16/month
5. Compiled
Compiled is a newer company offering amazingly inexpensive managed Ghost hosting, with a 21 day free trial.
⇒ Compiled Pricing starts at just $1.99/month
6. Gloat
Gloat is another provider that offers fully-managed Ghost CMS hosting -- including daily backups and weekly software updates, unlimited page views and subscribers, and a generous 20,000 newsletter emails per month -- starting at $19/month. Gloat is run by Dan Rowden, an active member of the Ghost community, who also makes themes and other software for Ghost.
Free Ghost Hosting Platforms
1. Fly.io
If you’re technically inclined, Fly is the easiest way to host Ghost for free. Note that the Free tier does require a credit card to prevent fraud (even though it never gets charged).
Google will turn up lots of tutorials: Host ghost on Fly free tier
2. Oracle Cloud
Like Fly.io, Oracle cloud has a Free Tier that can run Ghost, but it takes some skill with system administration to make it happen.
⇒ More info about Oracle’s free tier can be found here
⇒ Tutorial on installing Ghost on Oracle Cloud free tier
3. Render
If you have the know-how, Render can run Ghost on its free tier.
Self-Host Ghost in the Cloud on Your Own Virtual Private Server (VPS)
1. DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean offers a robust platform for hosting Ghost, supporting its NodeJS architecture. While it requires some server work to set up, it's a cost-effective solution with a range of features to get started. DigitalOcean's simplicity and affordability make it an excellent choice for those looking to host Ghost without breaking the bank.
DigitalOcean is unique among cloud providers for providing a 1-click Ghost app installer; and it is one of two self-hosting options that are covered in the official Ghost docs.
⇒ Digital Ocean VPSs start at $4/month: DigitalOcean Pricing
⇒ Sign up with this referral link to get $200 of FREE DigitalOcean hosting credit.
2. Vultr
Vultr provides a free trial for hosting Ghost, making it an attractive option for those looking to test the waters before committing to a paid plan. With a 60-day trial period, users can explore the platform's capabilities and see if it fits their needs.
⇒ Vultr Pricing starts at $2.50/month
3. Linode
Linode offers a free 60-day trial for hosting Ghost, allowing users to evaluate the platform's performance and features before deciding on a paid plan. This trial period is a great opportunity to test the hosting environment without financial commitment.
Alongside DigitalOcean, Linode is one of the two cloud hosting providers that have a dedicated tutorial in the hosting section of official Ghost documentation.
⇒ Linode Pricing starts at $5/month
4. DreamHost
DreamHost offers a guaranteed refund policy, essentially providing a free trial for hosting Ghost. This policy allows users to test the platform's services without risk, making it an attractive option for those looking to host Ghost without financial commitment.
5. FastComet
FastComet also offers a guaranteed refund policy, providing a free trial for hosting Ghost. This policy is similar to DreamHost's, offering users the opportunity to test the platform's services without financial risk.
⇒ FastComet pricing starts from as little as $2.50/month
6. A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting provides a guaranteed refund policy, offering a free trial for hosting Ghost. This policy is similar to those of DreamHost and FastComet, providing users with the opportunity to test the platform's services without financial commitment.
⇒ A2 Hosting Pricing starts at $2.99/month
Conclusion
Well, that should be enough options to choose from. Now start your publication! Unless you’re on a tight budget and technically inclined (in which case I recommend Fly), DigitalOcean seems to be the most highly-regarded and well-supported cloud provider for self-hosting – and Ghost(Pro), built and supported by the team that makes Ghost, who know the software like nobody else, is the most hassle-free and reliable hosting if you just want to get started right now (with a 14 day free trial).
Got questions? Notice something in the guide that's out-of-date? Get in touch:
Published with Ghost + Standalone Theme
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliates links. If you decide to sign up for paid hosting after clicking on one of these links, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you.