The 4 Best Ghost CMS Hosting Options[2025]

Choosing the right Ghost CMS hosting provider can make or break your website experience. Whether you're launching a blog, newsletter, or membership site, the hosting option you select directly impacts your site's performance, ease of management, and overall cost.

After months of testing different Ghost CMS hosting options, I've identified the four best solutions available in 2025. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly which hosting option is perfect for your specific needs and budget.

Why I Switched from WordPress to Ghost CMS

Before diving into hosting options, let me share why I made the switch to Ghost in the first place.

For years, I built hundreds of WordPress websites for myself and clients. But if you've ever worked with WordPress, you know the struggle of maintaining it. It's like playing Jenga with your website—one wrong update and everything falls apart.

I was tired of:

• Plugin compatibility issues
• Constant updates breaking functionality
• Slow page loading speeds
• Complex interfaces with too many options

When I discovered Ghost CMS, I was immediately drawn to its clean, simple approach. Ghost comes with built-in features like newsletters, memberships, analytics, and payments—all in one elegantly designed platform.

The writing editor alone was enough to win me over, but the real game-changer was the reliability. No more plugin conflicts or update nightmares.

However, when I first looked into Ghost CMS hosting, I discovered that the official hosting option was relatively expensive, especially for someone just wanting to test the platform. That's when my search for alternative hosting solutions began.

Option 1: Ghost Pro - The Official Managed Hosting

Ghost Pro is the premium, official hosting service created and maintained by the Ghost Foundation team. It offers the most seamless experience possible for running a Ghost website.

Key Features of Ghost Pro

• Fully managed service - They handle all technical aspects
• Automatic updates - Always running the latest Ghost version
• Regular backups - Your content is always protected
• Built-in CDN - Lightning-fast loading speeds worldwide
• Unlimited email sending - No restrictions on newsletter frequency
• Free migration - Switch from WordPress or Substack with annual plans
• Expert support - Direct access to the Ghost team

Ghost Pro Pricing Structure

Ghost Pro uses a subscriber-based pricing model:

• Starter Plan: $11/month (limited to official themes only)
• Creator Plan: $31/month for up to 1,000 members
• Creator Plan: $50/month for up to 3,000 members
• Creator Plan: Increases as your audience grows

The key thing to understand about Ghost Pro pricing is that you're charged based on your subscriber count, not email volume. This makes it ideal for creators who send frequent newsletters to a growing audience.

Who Should Choose Ghost Pro?

Ghost Pro is perfect for:

1. Content creators who want zero technical hassle
2. Publications sending daily or frequent newsletters
3. Serious membership businesses where reliability is crucial
4. Those migrating from WordPress or Substack who want a smooth transition

If budget isn't your primary concern and you value a premium, hands-off experience, Ghost Pro is the gold standard. They offer a 14-day free trial so you can test the platform before committing.

Option 2: Magic Pages - Affordable Managed Hosting

Magic Pages offers a compelling alternative to Ghost Pro with similar features but a different pricing structure. It's also a fully managed Ghost CMS hosting service but comes with a more budget-friendly approach.

Key Features of Magic Pages

• Fully managed service - All technical aspects handled for you
• Automatic updates and backups - Stay current without effort
• Built-in CDN - Fast global performance
• Custom dashboard - Integrated directly into your Ghost site
• Personal support - Direct help from Jannis, the founder

What sets Magic Pages apart is the founder's active involvement in the Ghost community. Jannis is regularly seen answering questions in the Ghost subreddit, demonstrating his expertise and commitment to the platform.

Magic Pages Pricing Structure

Unlike Ghost Pro, Magic Pages charges a flat monthly fee plus limits on email sending:

• Starter Plan: $6/month (includes 2,000 emails, official themes only)
• Pro Plan: $15/month (includes 10,000 emails, custom themes allowed)
• Additional emails: $5 for each additional 10,000 emails

This pricing model can be more cost-effective if you have a large subscriber base but send newsletters less frequently (weekly rather than daily).

Who Should Choose Magic Pages?

Magic Pages is ideal for:

1. Publishers who want managed service at a lower cost than Ghost Pro
2. Content creators with weekly rather than daily newsletter schedules
3. Those who prefer a flat fee structure rather than subscriber-based pricing
4. Sites that require custom themes but have modest budgets

Like Ghost Pro, Magic Pages offers a 14-day free trial to test their service.

Option 3: Pikapods - Semi-Managed Budget Hosting

Pikapods represents the sweet spot between affordability and ease of use, offering what I call "semi-managed" Ghost CMS hosting. This is my personal choice for hosting multiple Ghost websites.

Key Features of Pikapods

• Semi-managed service - Ghost installation and updates handled automatically
• Flexible server configuration - Choose exactly the resources you need
• Cost-effective - Starting at just $3/month for basic sites
• One-click scaling - Easily upgrade as your traffic grows
• Multi-site friendly - Perfect for hosting multiple Ghost websites
• $5 free credit - Test drive without immediate commitment

The main difference between Pikapods and fully managed options is that you'll need to handle some technical aspects yourself, particularly email service setup for newsletters.

Pikapods Pricing Structure

Pikapods uses a resource-based pricing model:

• Basic Ghost site: Approximately $3/month
• Custom configuration: Pay only for the exact resources you need
• Multiple sites: Easy to add additional websites under one account

Who Should Choose Pikapods?

Pikapods is perfect for:

1. Budget-conscious website owners comfortable with some technical setup
2. Those planning to host multiple Ghost websites
3. Publishers who primarily use Ghost for blogging or memberships rather than newsletters
4. People who want more control while avoiding deep technical management

The $5 credit makes it easy to test whether this option works for your needs.

Option 4: Digital Ocean - Full Control Self-Hosting

Digital Ocean represents the most technical option but offers complete control over your Ghost CMS hosting environment. While they provide a one-click Ghost installation, the rest is up to you.

Key Features of Digital Ocean

• Complete control - Customize every aspect of your hosting
• One-click installation - Initial Ghost setup is simplified
• Scalable resources - Powerful options for high-traffic sites
• Developer-friendly - Full access to server configuration
• Extensive documentation - Resources for technical users

Digital Ocean Pricing Structure

• Minimum viable setup: $10/month (Ghost requires specific resources to run properly)
• Additional costs: May need separate services for email, backups, etc.

What You Need to Know About Digital Ocean

While Digital Ocean is marketed as a cheaper option, the total cost can add up when you factor in:

1. Manual updates - You'll need to update Ghost yourself
2. Email service setup - Required for newsletters
3. Backup management - Your responsibility
4. Server maintenance and security - Requires technical knowledge

Who Should Choose Digital Ocean?

Digital Ocean is best suited for:

1. Developers comfortable with server management
2. Those who need complete control over their hosting environment
3. Users with Linux and command line experience
4. Publishers who want to heavily modify how Ghost works

Comparing All Ghost CMS Hosting Options

To help you make a decision, here's a side-by-side comparison of all four Ghost CMS hosting options:

Which Ghost CMS Hosting Option Is Right For You?

Based on my extensive testing, here's my recommendation for which Ghost CMS hosting option to choose:

Choose Ghost Pro if:

• You want zero technical hassle and a premium experience
• You send daily newsletters to your audience
• Budget isn't your primary concern
• You're running a serious publication or membership business

Choose Magic Pages if:

• You want managed service at a lower cost than Ghost Pro
• You send weekly rather than daily newsletters
• You prefer paying based on email volume rather than subscriber count

Choose Pikapods if:

• You're comfortable with some technical setup
• You want to save money without diving too deep into server management
• You plan to host multiple Ghost websites
• Newsletters aren't your primary feature

Choose Digital Ocean if:

• You're a developer who enjoys working with servers
• You need complete control over your hosting environment
• You have experience with Linux and command lines
• You want to heavily customize how Ghost works

Remember, all these options offer free trials or credits, so you can test them before making a final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ghost CMS require technical knowledge?

It depends on your hosting choice. Ghost Pro and Magic Pages require zero technical knowledge. Pikapods requires basic technical understanding, while Digital Ocean demands significant server management experience.

How much does Ghost CMS hosting typically cost?

Ghost CMS hosting ranges from $3/month (Pikapods) to $31+/month (Ghost Pro), depending on your needs. The key factors affecting price are management level, subscriber count, and email volume.

Can I migrate from WordPress to Ghost CMS?

Yes! Ghost Pro offers free migration from WordPress with annual plans. For other hosting options, you can use Ghost's migration tools or hire a specialist to help with the transition.

Is Ghost CMS good for SEO?

Absolutely. Ghost CMS is built with SEO best practices in mind, featuring clean code, fast loading times, and structured data. All Ghost themes are mobile-responsive and optimized for search engines.

Can I use a custom domain with Ghost CMS?

Yes, all hosting options allow you to use your own custom domain name with your Ghost website.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Ghost CMS hosting option comes down to balancing your technical comfort level, budget, and specific needs. After testing all four options extensively, I can confidently say there's a perfect solution for everyone.

For most users, I recommend starting with Ghost Pro's 14-day free trial if budget isn't an issue, or Magic Pages if you want similar features at a lower price point. If you're more technically inclined and budget-conscious, Pikapods offers excellent value.

Remember, the best hosting choice is the one that lets you focus on what matters most—creating great content and growing your audience.

Need Help Setting Up Your Ghost CMS Website?

If all this technical information feels overwhelming, I also offer a complete done-for-you service where I handle everything from start to finish—custom theme, hosting setup, maintenance, and more. You focus on creating content while I handle the technical details.

Want to learn more about each hosting option? Subscribe to my channel for detailed tutorials on setting up Ghost CMS with each hosting provider mentioned in this article.

Last updated: April 2025

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps support the creation of more free tutorials and content.