Alexis Kestler
Hey there!
So you‘re thinking about starting a business blog on Ghost but not sure which hosting provider to choose? I‘ve been there too. The platform options can definitely be overwhelming at first.
But don‘t worry! In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to find the perfect Ghost hosting service for your specific needs and budget.
An Introduction to Ghost CMS
Before jumping into the hosts, let‘s take a quick look at what exactly Ghost is and why it‘s become so popular for business blogging.
Ghost is a content management system (CMS) developed specifically for publishing content online. Unlike WordPress which tries to be an all-in-one solution for building full websites, Ghost focuses entirely on the publishing experience.
Here are some of the key benefits Ghost offers:
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Lightning fast performance – Pages load up to 15x faster than traditional PHP-based CMSs. This improves SEO rankings, visitor engagement, and conversion rates.
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Intuitive editor – The distraction-free WYSIWYG editor simplifies writing and formatting content. No coding skills needed!
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Responsive themes – Designed for mobile-friendliness out of the box. Sites automatically adapt to any screen size.
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Scheduling – Easily queue up blog posts in advance by setting a future publish date and time.
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Memberships – Offer exclusive early access or subscriber-only content to generate revenue.
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Powerful API – Integrate Ghost seamlessly with other platforms like email services, ecommerce, and analytics.
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Open source – Backed by a worldwide community of developers continuously improving the platform. New versions release every 2 weeks on average.
For businesses, Ghost eliminates all the bloat and complexity of WordPress. It‘s the perfect lightweight CMS for establishing a blog and sharing knowledge with your audience.
But Ghost itself is just the software. To actually launch a site, you need…
Ghost Hosting – Your Complete Guide
While you can download Ghost for free, you‘ll need reliable hosting in order to run it.
Trying to host Ghost yourself can be complex and time consuming. The easier approach is using a managed Ghost hosting provider. But how do you choose the right one?
In this guide, I compare the top six Ghost hosting services available today based on key factors like:
- Price – Budget-friendly options to enterprise-level plans
- Speed – SSD storage, caching, CDN for performance
- Uptime – Guaranteed 99.9%+ uptime
- Support – Knowledgeable 24/7 customer service
- Security – Firewalls, backups, SSL certificates
- Control – Server access and customization options
- Locations – Global infrastructure closer to your visitors
I‘ll break down the pros and cons of each host and who they‘re best suited for – whether you‘re a developer looking for full control or a blogger who wants a completely hands-off experience.
Let‘s get started!
1. Ghost(Pro)
Ghost(Pro) is the official managed hosting platform by the Ghost Foundation. Their infrastructure is purpose-built for optimal security, speed, and reliability when running Ghost.
Some key features include:
- Global CDN for fast performance
- Automatic free SSL certificate
- Daily database backups
- One-click updates to latest Ghost version
- 24/7 support team responds <2 hours
- 30-day money back guarantee
Plans start at $13/month for a single site. There are no surprises or hidden fees. You get everything you need to start publishing right away.
Ghost(Pro) is best for beginners who want a completely hassle-free hosting experience. You don‘t need to worry about technical configuration or maintenance. Just launch your Ghost site in a few clicks and they handle the rest.
However, the downside is there are limited customization options compared to other hosts. You can‘t access the server environment or tune specific settings. Ghost(Pro) is also pricier than competitors for sites with higher traffic demands.
Best for
- Beginner Ghost users
- Hands-off managed hosting
- Publishers who value speed
Downsides
- Few customization options
- No server access
- Higher cost for high traffic sites
2. Kinsta
If you‘re already using WordPress, Kinsta makes an excellent Ghost host as well. Their architecture is optimized for WordPress but also works very well for Ghost.
Kinsta delivers exceptional performance and reliability using Google‘s Cloud Platform network combined with their own caching technologies.
Other notable features:
- Free CDN powered by Cloudflare
- Malware detection and DDoS protection
- Daily backups with 30-day retention
- Staging sites to test changes
- Access to previous Ghost versions
- 24/7 live chat and email support
Kinsta provides more control over your server configuration compared to Ghost(Pro). For example, you can customize PHP versions, NGINX settings, Opcache memory allocation and more based on your site‘s needs.
Prices start at $30/month. Kinsta is definitely on the pricier side, but delivers amazing uptime and support. They‘re a great option for existing WordPress users wanting to expand into Ghost.
Best for
- Current WordPress sites
- Full server access and control
- Guaranteed uptime and performance
Downsides
- Costs significantly more than competitors
- No specific Ghost optimization
3. WPEngine
WPEngine is another managed WordPress host trusted by over 70,000 sites globally. Like Kinsta, they also support Ghost installs with the same level of speed, security, and scalability.
Key WPEngine features:
- Guaranteed 99.95% uptime
- Malware scanning and threat detection
- CDN powered by Cloudflare
- EverCache proprietary page caching
- Free SSL certificates
- 24×7 chat and email support
A standout benefit of WPEngine is their infrastructure across 8 global data centers. You can choose to host in a region closest to your audience – ideal for maximizing performance worldwide.
Prices start at $35/month. WPEngine is definitely on the expensive side, but their track record for delivering managed hosting excellence makes them a top contender.
Best for
- Existing WordPress users
- Global audience reach
- Rock solid reliability
Downsides
- No Ghost-specific optimization
- High minimum costs
4. A2 Hosting
If you‘re looking for an affordable yet high performance Ghost host, A2 Hosting is a great choice. Their Turbo Servers feature up to 20X faster page load speeds compared to other popular hosts.
A2 Hosting offers:
- Free site migration from other platforms
- Anycast CDN included
- NVMe SSD storage
- HTTP/2 support
- Cloudflare Railgun optimization
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- 24/7/365 customer support
In addition, all plans include powerful security protection like hack detection, malware scanning, IP banning, and more.
Shared hosting starts at just $2.99/month for one site. But for Ghost, their managed Cloud VPS plans are recommended, starting at $25/month.
Overall A2 provides excellent bang-for-buck. They‘re not the cheapest provider, but deliver amazing performance and support for the price.
Best for
- Bloggers on a budget
- Blazing fast load times
- High security protection
Downsides
- Limited data center locations
- Support response can be slow
5. DigitalOcean
If you‘re a developer or tech-savvy user looking for affordable Ghost hosting, DigitalOcean is a great choice.
Their cloud infrastructure platform caters to developers with features like:
- Global data center locations
- Developer collaboration tools
- Direct access and SSH
- Extensive API integrations
- Built-in monitoring
- Team accounts and access controls
DigitalOcean doesn‘t offer fully managed Ghost hosting. Their platform requires more hands-on server administration. However, their detailed documentation and community forums provide excellent guidance and support.
Pricing starts at just $5/month for entry-level needs. DigitalOcean provides amazing value and flexibility for developers.
Best for
- Developers and technical users
- Tight budget hosting
- Full server control
Downsides
- Not beginner friendly
- No fully managed offering
- Support relies on docs
6. Linode
Similar to DigitalOcean, Linode offers a developer-first platform for high performance Ghost hosting. Their cloud infrastructure gives you full server access along with the latest speed and security features.
Some highlights include:
- 40Gbps network
- NVMe SSD storage
- DDoS protection
- Automated weekly backups
- NodeBalancers for traffic distribution
- IPv6 support
- 750GB transfer included
- 24/7 live chat support
Linode provides extensive Ghost guides to get you up and running quickly. You have access to helpful documentation, forums, and tutorials.
Pricing starts at just $5/month. Like DigitalOcean, Linode gives developers a fast, flexible, and affordable hosting option.
Best for
- Developers and technical users
- Low-budget hosting
- Full server control
Downsides
- Not ideal for beginners
- No managed plans
- Support via forums
Other Notable Ghost Hosts
There are a few other Ghost hosting services that didn‘t quite make my top six, but are still worth mentioning:
- Flywheel – Managed WordPress host starting at $15/month. They fully support Ghost installs as well.
- SiteGround – Popular shared host with strong WordPress expertise. Ghost plans from $6.99/month.
- HostGator – Budget shared hosting including Ghost support from $2.75/month.
- Hostwinds – Affordable VPS plans with dedicated resources for Ghost.
- Liquid Web – Reliable managed VPS hosting with custom Ghost options.
These can all make great alternatives depending on your specific needs and constraints. The key is finding a provider that fits your budget while delivering the speed, support, and reliability you expect.
6 Key Factors When Choosing Ghost Hosting
With so many providers out there, how do you decide? Here are the 6 most important criteria to evaluate:
Performance
Optimized servers, SSD storage, caching, and CDNs are must-haves for fast Ghost performance. Test hosts using online speed check tools before signing up. Even a 1-second delay in load times can hurt engagement.
Uptime
Look for a provider offering at least 99.9% guaranteed uptime, backed by an SLA and financial remuneration. Ghost‘s speed advantages fade quickly if your site is down.
Support
Make sure your host offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and tickets. You‘ll want help readily available in case issues arise.
Security
Robust security is crucial. Firewalls, DDoS protection, VPN access, SSL certificates, isolated accounts, and automatic backups should all be included.
Control
Some hosts give you more access to server settings and infrastructure than others. If you‘re technically inclined, choose a provider allowing custom configurations.
Locations
If targeting a global audience, look for providers with data centers distributed internationally to deliver speed worldwide.
By evaluating hosts based on these key aspects, you can zero in on the right solution to meet your specific needs and goals.
Finding the Ideal Ghost Hosting Service for Your Website
So there you have it – everything you need to know about the top Ghost hosting providers available today!
Here‘s a quick recap on finding the best fit:
- Ghost(Pro) – The official platform. Best for hands-off simplicity from Ghost experts.
- Kinsta – Leading WordPress host. Excellent infrastructure and support.
- WPEngine – Managed performance and uptime. Global data centers.
- A2 Hosting – Affordable speed demon. Top security protection.
- DigitalOcean – Developer cloud host. Extremely configurable.
- Linode – Fast and flexible. Full server control.
Take the time to evaluate your specific needs in terms of budget, performance, support, security, and ease of use. This will point you towards the ideal Ghost host.
And remember – the software is just one piece of the puzzle. Choosing the right hosting partner ensures your Ghost CMS performs optimally and reliably to grow your business and audience.
I hope this guide provides tremendous value in helping you make the best decision. Now it‘s time to stop "ghosting" around WordPress and launch the lightning fast blog your readers deserve!
Let me know if any other questions come up. I‘m always happy to help fellow Ghost users any way I can.
Talk soon!
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