Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Need a server to try this on? Antihost offers Linux VPS plans with NVMe storage, full root access and a 14-day free trial.
The quickest way to create a Ghost blog is Ghost(Pro), Ghost’s managed hosting service. You choose a plan, connect a domain, select a theme and publish. The lower-cost, more flexible route is to install the free Ghost software on your own Ubuntu VPS, but you then operate the server, database, web server, HTTPS, updates, backups and email delivery.
This guide explains both routes, then gives a practical self-hosting procedure using Ghost-CLI. Ghost’s official requirements currently list Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04, NGINX 1.9.5 or newer, MySQL 8.0 or 8.4, a supported Node.js version, systemd, at least 1 GB of RAM and a registered domain.
Recommended Free Tools
Choose how you will run Ghost
Ghost is available in two fundamentally different forms. Decide first, because the setup, cost and ongoing work are not the same.
| Area | Ghost(Pro) managed hosting | Self-hosted Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Ghost’s software running on infrastructure managed for you | The free, open-source Ghost software installed on a VPS you control |
| Server administration | Handled by the provider | You handle the operating system, NGINX, MySQL, SSL, updates and backups |
| Setup effort | Low: configure the publication and domain in the hosted account | Higher: prepare Ubuntu, DNS, Ghost-CLI, web serving, HTTPS and email |
| Recurring cost | Subscription based on the plan and member tier; Ghost(Pro) is paid-only and no free tier was reported | VPS and any separate email service; the Ghost software itself is free |
| Control | Less infrastructure control, simpler operations | More control over the server and customisation, with more responsibility |
Use Ghost(Pro) when you want to publish quickly
Choose the managed route if you do not want to administer Linux, troubleshoot a database or maintain HTTPS. It is also the sensible choice when your time is worth more than the difference between a hosted subscription and a small VPS.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
The normal sequence is to create a Ghost(Pro) account, choose a plan, select the publication name, connect your custom domain and configure your publication. Theme selection, member settings and publishing then happen in Ghost’s administration interface. Exact plan limits and prices change, so check the current Ghost pricing page before paying; figures reported by third-party pages are not authoritative.
Use self-hosting when control and infrastructure ownership matter
Self-hosting suits a technically comfortable owner who wants direct access to the server, database and configuration. A small VPS is commonly suggested for one site, with third-party guides describing roughly $5–$7 per month as a starting point. That is an indicative hosting estimate, not a guaranteed capacity or total cost. You must also budget for backups, monitoring and an external email provider if you send newsletters.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What you need before a self-hosted installation
Prepare these items before running the installer. Ghost’s setup configures the web server and HTTPS as part of installation, so DNS and server prerequisites should be ready first.
- A VPS: use a supported Ubuntu release—22.04, 24.04 or 26.04 according to Ghost’s official requirements.
- Memory: at least 1 GB of RAM.
- NGINX: version 1.9.5 or newer.
- Database: MySQL 8.0 or 8.4.
- Runtime: a Node.js version supported by the Ghost release you install.
- Service manager: systemd.
- Domain: a registered domain name that you control.
- DNS access: permission to create an A record for the domain or subdomain.
- Administrative access: a sudo-capable account on the VPS.
Resolve the Node.js version before installing
The official requirement is expressed as “a supported version of Node.js,” rather than one permanent number. Third-party Ubuntu 24.04 guides associate Ghost 6.x with Node.js 22 LTS, while another claim mentions Node.js 22 or 24 LTS. Those claims conflict and were not verified against Ghost’s current support page. Check the support information for your exact Ghost release immediately before installation and use the version it lists.
Do not substitute MariaDB without checking support
A third-party claim says MariaDB is not supported for Ghost production installations, but official support was not verified here. Use the MySQL version listed in Ghost’s requirements unless current Ghost documentation explicitly says otherwise.
Point DNS at the server first
Create an A record for the domain you will use, pointing to the VPS’s public IP address. For example, you might point blog.example.com to the server while leaving the rest of your domain unchanged.
Rank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
- Open the DNS control panel at your registrar or DNS provider.
- Create an A record with the desired host name and the VPS IPv4 address.
- Save the record and allow DNS propagation time.
- Confirm that the hostname resolves to the VPS before starting Ghost installation.
Do this before installing because HTTPS is configured during setup. If the hostname does not resolve correctly, the installer cannot reliably request a certificate for it.
Install Ghost on Ubuntu with Ghost-CLI
Ghost-CLI is Ghost’s command-line installation tool. The following command installs its latest published package globally through npm:
sudo npm install ghost-cli@latest -gUse a normal administrator account
Do not create a Linux system user named ghost. Ghost’s official guidance warns that this name conflicts with Ghost-CLI. Use a separate, non-root account with sudo privileges for administration, and let Ghost-CLI create and configure the site in the directory you choose.
Run the site installer
Change to the directory where the publication will live, create it if necessary, and run the Ghost installation command described in Ghost’s official guide:
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
ghost installThe installer asks for site details and configures the application. An older Ubuntu 18.04 installation guide describes ghost install setting up NGINX as a reverse proxy and obtaining a Let’s Encrypt certificate. Because that guide is older than the supported Ubuntu versions above, treat its exact prompts and flags as historical; follow the prompts displayed by the Ghost-CLI version you actually install.
Check each installer prompt carefully
Provide the real domain name, database details and administrator information when prompted. If the installer offers automatic HTTPS, enable it only after verifying that DNS resolves to this VPS. Record the administrator URL and credentials securely rather than leaving them in shell history or a shared notes file.
Rank #3
- CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Essentials Starter Kit
Complete the first publication setup
After installation, open the administrator URL shown by Ghost-CLI and finish the publication setup.
- Create the administrator account. Use a unique password and protect the recovery email account.
- Set publication identity. Enter the publication name, description, logo and social details that should appear in the theme.
- Choose a theme. Start with a readable layout and verify navigation, typography, post pages and mobile behaviour before customising code.
- Create navigation. Add only the links readers need, such as Home, About, Topics and Contact.
- Write a draft post. Add a title, feature image if required by the theme, headings and metadata, then preview it at desktop and mobile widths.
- Publish deliberately. Check the URL, excerpt, tags, author, image credits and visibility settings before selecting Publish.
Test the public site before announcing it
- Open the home page and a post in a private browser window.
- Check that HTTP redirects to HTTPS and that the certificate is valid.
- Submit the publication’s contact or membership forms if enabled.
- Test the site on a phone, including the menu and image loading.
- Confirm that the canonical domain is the one you intend to keep permanently.
Configure newsletters and email separately
Publishing web pages and delivering bulk newsletters are separate concerns. On a self-hosted installation, newsletter sending depends on an external email service; third-party self-hosting guidance names Mailgun as one example. You must configure an appropriate provider, authenticate your sending domain and follow its sending limits and compliance requirements.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Do not assume that a working website can automatically deliver newsletters. Before inviting members, verify that confirmation, welcome and unsubscribe messages arrive, and that your domain’s email authentication records are configured according to the provider’s instructions.
Understand the ongoing maintenance burden
With self-hosting, installation is the beginning of the work rather than the end. Assign responsibility for:
- Ghost updates: apply releases using the supported Ghost-CLI workflow and read release notes first.
- Ubuntu and NGINX updates: patch the operating system and web server on a schedule.
- MySQL maintenance: monitor disk space, service health and database backups.
- Backups: keep copies of the database, content, images, theme customisations and configuration outside the VPS.
- HTTPS renewal: verify that certificate renewal works before the certificate expires.
- Monitoring: watch uptime, memory, disk usage, error logs and email delivery.
- Recovery testing: periodically restore a backup to confirm that it is usable.
Managed hosting transfers these operational tasks to the provider. You still need to protect administrator accounts and maintain your content, but you do not normally administer the underlying Linux stack.
How much does a Ghost blog cost?
The cost depends on the route and on how many members or emails you serve.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #4
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 16GB with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (16GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
| Cost item | Managed hosting | Self-hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost software | Included in the subscription | Free, open-source software |
| Hosting | Included in the Ghost(Pro) plan | VPS billed by your hosting provider |
| Domain | Usually purchased or renewed separately unless a current offer says otherwise | Purchased or renewed separately |
| Email delivery | Subject to the selected Ghost(Pro) features and limits | External email service generally required for bulk newsletters |
| Maintenance labour | Mostly handled by the provider | Your responsibility or an additional administration expense |
Third-party pricing pages have reported Ghost(Pro) at about $15 per month when billed yearly for 1,000 members, about $18 month-to-month in some listings, a Publisher plan around $29 per month billed yearly and a Business plan around $199 per month. These figures were not verified on Ghost.org and may be outdated, regional or plan-dependent. Treat them as indicative only and confirm the live price, billing interval, member allowance and feature limits before purchase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common installation problems and fixes
The installer cannot obtain an SSL certificate
Check that the A record points to this VPS, that the hostname in the installer exactly matches the DNS name and that the web server is reachable from the public internet. Correct DNS first, then rerun the relevant Ghost-CLI setup step shown by your installed version.
The Node.js version is rejected
Do not guess between Node.js releases. Look up the supported version for the Ghost release you selected, install that version, then rerun the installer. The requirement can change between Ghost major versions.
The database connection fails
Verify that MySQL is installed at a supported version, running under systemd and reachable with the credentials entered during setup. Recheck the database name, user name, password and host instead of repeatedly rerunning the command with unknown values.
The site works locally but not on the domain
Confirm DNS resolution, the configured site URL, NGINX’s server block and the firewall rules for web traffic. A local application response does not prove that the public hostname and HTTPS path are correct.
Newsletter messages do not arrive
Check the external email provider’s logs, domain authentication records, recipient consent and bounce or suppression status. Website publishing can remain healthy while email delivery is misconfigured.
Best Value
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit 45W PD Power Supply for the Raspberry Pi 5
- Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K 60p)
Which route should you choose?
- Choose Ghost(Pro) if you want the shortest path to publishing, predictable administration and no server maintenance.
- Choose self-hosting if you are comfortable operating Ubuntu, MySQL, NGINX, HTTPS and backups and you value infrastructure control.
- Start managed and migrate later if validating the publication idea matters more than owning the server on day one. Make an export and migration plan before committing to custom infrastructure.
For most first-time publishers, managed hosting removes the largest technical risks. Self-hosting can reduce infrastructure cost and increase control, but only when you treat maintenance, backups and email delivery as continuing operational responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghost free to use?
The Ghost software is free and open source when you self-host it. Ghost(Pro) is a paid managed service, and no free Ghost(Pro) tier was reported.
Can I install Ghost on shared hosting?
The documented self-hosting requirements in this guide assume a VPS with Ubuntu, NGINX, MySQL, Node.js, systemd and at least 1 GB of memory. Shared-hosting compatibility is not established here.
Do I need a domain before installing Ghost?
Yes. Ghost’s installation process configures HTTPS, so create the domain’s A record and point it to the VPS before running the installer.
Can Ghost send newsletters without another service?
Self-hosted bulk newsletter delivery depends on an external email service. Configure and authenticate that service separately from the Ghost web installation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
