A Practical Guide to Hosting Ghost

Ghost is an open-source publishing system. Because it’s open-source, you can run it in several ways—from managing your own server to using a fully managed host. This guide outlines the options and the factors that actually matter when choosing where to run a Ghost site.

Self-Hosting Ghost

Self-hosting makes sense if you’re comfortable maintaining servers and keeping supporting services running. A typical setup involves:

• a Linux server,
• a reverse proxy (Nginx/Traefik),
• Ghost itself,
• optional services such as ActivityPub, analytics proxy.

Providers like Hetzner, DigitalOcean, and others offer inexpensive virtual machines. You carry all responsibility: updates, backups, security patches, uptime, and email deliverability. Self-hosting offers full control but requires attention. You can check our detailed article about deciding if self-hosting Ghost is the best option for you.

Some hosting services provide one-click installations or semi-managed solutions (like Pikapods). They help to install and maintain your Ghost instance easier, while still needing some extra effort for some parts.

Managed Ghost Hosting

Managed hosting removes the operational work. The provider runs Ghost, keeps it updated, handles backups, and supplies the supporting components Ghost depends on.

Common responsibilities handled by managed hosts:

• Updates: Ghost releases frequently. Managed hosts apply updates automatically.
• Backups: Databases and content are backed up regularly.
• Email delivery: Ghost requires an external bulk-email service. Hosts either bundle this or integrate with third-party providers.
• CDN: Assets are cached globally for faster load times.
• SSL: Certificates are created and renewed automatically.
• Supporting services: ActivityPub, analytics proxy, image processing, and other background processes are provided.

Managed hosting is appropriate when you want Ghost without running infrastructure.

What to compare

When comparing managed hosting providers, look at concrete, verifiable factors:

Custom Theme Uploads

Some entry-level plans restrict theme uploads. If you plan to modify your theme or use a custom one, confirm whether uploads are allowed on the plan level.

Newsletter Sending Model

Providers use different models:

• unlimited sending included,
• credit-based sending,
• external Mailgun account required.

Your choice depends on newsletter volume and frequency rather than site traffic.

Member Limits

Some services tie pricing to total members. Others do not. If your publication might grow quickly, check whether scaling members changes cost.

Upload Limits

Image/video upload size or total storage may vary. Photographers, podcasters, and anyone working with large media should pay attention here.

Social Web & Analytics

ActivityPub and built-in analytics are available in Ghost itself, but not all hosts enable them on all plans.

Support

Look at response channels (email, chat) and expected response times. You can test this during a trial.

Data Location and Policies

If data residency matters to you, check where servers run and how backups are handled. Privacy policies usually describe this.

Managed Ghost Hosting Options

Below are well-known providers that run current versions of Ghost and offer maintained services. Presented in alphabetical order.

Ghost(Pro)

Ghost(Pro) is operated by the team that develops Ghost. Pricing scales with total members (free + paid). Lower-tier plans include feature restrictions such as limited theme customization or integrations. Newsletter sending is included without volume-based charges. Revenue from Ghost(Pro) supports core Ghost development.

Magic Pages

Magic Pages is another managed hosting service for Ghost, run by Jannis Fedoruk-Betschki. It uses a credit-based newsletter model and does not limit the number of members you can have. The entry plan focuses on simplicity. Higher-tier plans include features such as custom themes and CDN support.

Synaps Media

Synaps Media is a managed Ghost hosting platform run by Murat Çorlu and a small team. It offers custom theme uploads, CDN integration, multi-site management, and external Mailgun integration for newsletter delivery. Pricing is flat and does not scale with the number of members.

Choosing the Right Approach

A simple decision process:

• Choose self-hosting if you want full control and don’t mind server maintenance.
• Choose Ghost(Pro) if you prefer first-party hosting and want newsletter sending bundled without external configuration.
• Choose Magic Pages if you want fixed-cost member scaling and are comfortable with credit-based email sending.
• Choose Synaps Media if you want custom theme freedom, a lower predictable cost, and some extra services like multi-site management and domain manager.

Each option solves a different set of needs. The best fit depends on your workflow, technical comfort level, and newsletter volume—not on one fixed “best” service.

Switching Between Hosting Options Is Easy

One advantage of Ghost’s open-source design is that you’re never locked into a specific provider. Your content, members, and settings belong to you, and moving between different hosting setups is straightforward. Because every Ghost installation runs the same open-source core, you aren’t tied to a proprietary format or a custom platform.

This means:

• You can start with managed hosting and move to self-hosting later.
• You can switch between managed providers without rebuilding your site.
• You can test a service during a trial without committing long-term.
• You can leave any platform without negotiation, approvals, or hidden blockers.

In practice, migrations usually take minutes, not days. Ghost’s data structure and export tools are intentionally simple, so choosing a hosting option is not a permanent decision. Pick whatever fits your needs today—knowing you can move later if your requirements change.

Bonus: Ghost Terms You’ll See in Hosting Plans

Ghost hosting plans often mention features that are specific to the Ghost ecosystem. A few terms worth understanding:

Custom Sending Domain

The domain used in newsletter emails (e.g., newsletter.example.com). Improves deliverability and branding. Requires DNS access and email service configuration.

Custom Integrations

Ghost’s way of connecting external tools or adding custom API-based workflows. Plans that restrict integrations limit what you can automate or connect.

Social Web (ActivityPub)

Ghost’s built-in ActivityPub support that lets your publication appear in fediverse platforms like Mastodon. Requires an additional service running behind Ghost.

Built-in Analytics

Ghost’s privacy-friendly analytics layer. Does not require third-party scripts. Some hosts enable it only on certain plans because it needs an additional backend process.

Theme Uploads / Custom Themes

Upload your own Ghost theme or modify an existing one. If not included in a plan, you are limited to pre-installed themes.