> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ectobuilder.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Ghost(Pro) vs other Ghost hosting: what you get and what you give up - URL: https://www.ectobuilder.com/blog/ghost-pro-vs-other-hosting/ - Published: 2026-10-12T07:33:13.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-19T15:13:56.000Z - Description: Ghost runs the same everywhere, but hosting decides what's included, what's plan-gated and who fixes things. Ghost(Pro), independent managed hosts and self-hosting compared. - Author: Michal Wlosik - Tags: Guides, Hosting Ghost is open source, so the same software runs everywhere: on [Ghost(Pro)](https://ghost.org/pricing/?via=michal-207c22&ref=ectobuilder.com), on [an independent managed host](https://www.ectobuilder.com/blog/cheap-ghost-hosting/), or on a server you rent yourself. Where you run it doesn't change what Ghost can do. It changes what's included, what's locked behind a plan, who fixes things when they break, and what you pay. This guide compares the three options: what you get with each, what you give up, and which one fits which kind of site. ## The three ways to run Ghost - **Ghost(Pro)** is the official hosting, run by the Ghost Foundation, the non-profit that makes Ghost. Your subscription pays for Ghost's development. - **Independent managed hosts** such as Magic Pages, [PikaPods](https://www.ectobuilder.com/blog/ghost-on-pikapods/), Synaps Media or FirePress run Ghost for you, like Ghost(Pro) does, but with their own plans, prices and limits. - **Self-hosting** means installing Ghost on a server you rent ([DigitalOcean](https://m.do.co/c/7c3b07dcd82e?ref=ectobuilder.com), Hetzner, [Hostinger](https://www.hostinger.com/?REFERRALCODE=D09MICHALB1O&ref=ectobuilder.com), Linode and so on) and looking after it yourself. ## Ghost(Pro): what you get - **Nothing to look after.** Updates, security patches, backups, SSL and a worldwide CDN are handled for you. New Ghost features reach you first. - **Newsletters that just work.** Email sending is included and set up. Ghost's team manages deliverability, so you don't need your own Mailgun account. - **The newest features, ready to use.** [Built-in web analytics](https://www.ectobuilder.com/blog/ghost-analytics/) and the social web (ActivityPub) work without any setup. - **Support from the people who make Ghost.** When something breaks, you're talking to the team that wrote the code. - **0% transaction fees.** Ghost takes no cut of paid subscriptions on the plans that allow them; you only pay Stripe's fees. - **Funding the project.** Your subscription pays for Ghost's development. If you care about Ghost staying independent, that's worth something. ## Ghost(Pro): what you give up - **Custom themes need a higher plan.** On the Starter plan you can only use Ghost's official themes. A theme from a marketplace, one you've built, or one made with Ectobuilder needs Publisher or above. - **Integrations and paid memberships are plan-gated too.** Starter doesn't include paid subscriptions or custom integrations, and it caps the number of members and staff users. - **The price grows with your audience.** Ghost(Pro) charges by the number of members, not by traffic. A growing free newsletter can push you into a higher price band even if it earns nothing. - **Less control over the server.** No server access, no custom configuration and no storage adapters. Hosting Ghost under a subdirectory, like `yoursite.com/blog`, is a paid add-on on the Business plan. 💡 ****Using Ectobuilder on Ghost(Pro)?** Deploying a theme needs a plan that allows custom themes and custom integrations: Publisher or above. On Starter, Ghost won't accept the upload. ## Independent managed hosts: what you get - **Lower prices.** Plans usually start well below Ghost(Pro)'s, and many don't charge by member count. - **Fewer locked features.** Custom themes, integrations and full API access are often available on the entry plan or as a small add-on. - **Choices Ghost(Pro) doesn't offer.** Some hosts let you pick EU-only servers, download full backups, install Ghost under a subdirectory, or change Ghost's configuration. - **Still hands-off.** Updates and backups are usually handled for you, though how quickly updates arrive varies from host to host. ## Independent managed hosts: what you give up - **Smaller teams.** Several are run by one person or a small team. Support can be personal and fast, or slow when that person is away. - **Email limits vary.** Some include newsletter sending with a monthly cap; others expect you to bring your own Mailgun account. Check before you move a large list. - **New features may lag.** Features that depend on Ghost's own services, like analytics and the social web, may need extra setup or arrive later. - **Your money doesn't fund Ghost.** You pay the host, not the Ghost Foundation. ## Self-hosting: what you get - **Full control.** Any theme, any integration, any configuration: custom storage, redirects, server-level caching, several sites on one server. - **The lowest running cost.** A small server costs a few dollars a month, and the price doesn't depend on your member count. - **Your data, on your server.** You choose the country, the backups and who has access. ****Self-hosting without the setup.** Hostinger’s Ghost VPS comes with Ghost preinstalled, 4GB of RAM, weekly backups and full root access from $6.49 a month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get 20% off your first purchase through our link. [Get 20% off Hostinger ](https://www.hostinger.com/?REFERRALCODE=D09MICHALB1O&ref=ectobuilder.com) ## Self-hosting: what you give up - **Your time.** Updates, security patches, backups, SSL renewals and server monitoring are all yours. If the site goes down at night, so does your sleep. - **Easy newsletters.** Ghost sends bulk email only through Mailgun, so you need your own Mailgun account, paid once your list grows, and you handle deliverability yourself. - **Turnkey extras.** Analytics and the social web need extra setup on a self-hosted site. - **Support.** There's the community forum and your own skills. Nobody else is on call. ## Side by side | | Ghost(Pro) | Managed host | Self-hosted | | -------------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------- | ---------------- | | Updates, backups, security | Done for you | Done for you | You | | Custom themes | Publisher plan and up | Usually any plan | Always | | Newsletter sending | Included | Varies (caps or own Mailgun) | Your own Mailgun | | Analytics and social web | Built in | Varies | Extra setup | | Price based on | Members | Usually a flat plan | Server size | | Server access and config | No | Some hosts | Full | | Subdirectory (/blog) | Business add-on | Some hosts | Yes | | Support | Ghost's own team | The host's team | Community forum | | Funds Ghost's development | Yes | No | No | Prices and plan limits change often, so check each host's current pricing page before you decide. [![CTA Image](https://www.ectobuilder.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2026/06/Ecto_builder_logo_sq_small.png)](https://editor.ectobuilder.com/login?mode=signup&plan=free&ref=ectobuilder.com) **Your theme works on every host.** Ectobuilder themes are standard Ghost themes. Deploy to Ghost(Pro), a managed host or your own server, and take the theme with you if you move. [Try it free ](https://editor.ectobuilder.com/login?mode=signup&plan=free&ref=ectobuilder.com) ## Which one should you pick? - **Pick Ghost(Pro)** if you want zero maintenance, plan to send newsletters to a large list, want the newest features the day they ship, or want your money to support Ghost. Budget for Publisher if you want your own theme. - **Pick a managed host** if you want hands-off hosting with a custom theme at a lower price, need EU-only hosting or a subdirectory, or have a large free list that would be expensive on member-based pricing. - **Self-host** if you're comfortable running a server, want full control or several sites on one machine, and don't mind setting up Mailgun. **Want a custom theme without the Publisher price?** Magic Pages is independent managed Ghost hosting on EU servers. Custom themes, a CDN and downloadable backups are included, and updates are handled for you. [Try Magic Pages ](https://www.magicpages.co/?aff=OIcAEpl1OcEE&ref=ectobuilder.com) ## Switching later You're not locked in. Ghost exports your posts, pages, tags and settings as one JSON file, and your members as a CSV. Paid members stay connected to the same Stripe account. Images and your theme are separate downloads, so move those too. A redirect isn't needed if the domain stays the same: point it at the new host and you're done. [![CTA Image](https://www.ectobuilder.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2026/06/Ecto_builder_logo_sq_small.png)](https://editor.ectobuilder.com/login?mode=signup&plan=free&ref=ectobuilder.com) **Build your Ghost theme without code.** Pick a design, change it by clicking, and deploy it to your Ghost site in one step. Start free and only pay when you publish. [Start building ](https://editor.ectobuilder.com/login?mode=signup&plan=free&ref=ectobuilder.com) ## FAQ #### Is Ghost itself free? Yes. Ghost is open source under the MIT license. You pay for hosting, not for the software. #### Does Ghost(Pro) have features self-hosted Ghost doesn't? The software is the same. What Ghost(Pro) adds is setup: newsletter sending, analytics and the social web work out of the box, while elsewhere some of them need extra configuration. #### Can I use a custom theme on Ghost(Pro) Starter? No. Starter only allows Ghost's official themes. Custom themes need Publisher or above. #### Do I need Mailgun? Only to send newsletters from a self-hosted site, or on a managed host that doesn't include email. Ghost(Pro) includes it. #### Which is cheapest? Self-hosting on a small server, if you don't count your time. A managed host is usually cheapest once you do. Some links in this article are affiliate links: if you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.