01
Ghost CLI workflow
Use Ghost CLI to check the environment and manage installation, configuration, service setup, updates, logs, and rollback.
Unmanaged Ghost hosting
Ghost hosting on an unmanaged VPS
Use an unmanaged KVM VPS for Ghost when you are prepared to operate the supported Ubuntu, Node.js, MySQL, Nginx, systemd, and Ghost CLI workflow.
Bitfoo opens for orders soon.
- Platform
- Unmanaged VPS
- Installer
- Ghost CLI
- Database
- MySQL
- Minimum memory
- 1GB
Linux administration required
Run and maintained by you
Production stack
Ghost’s documented baseline
Choose by responsibility
Self-hosted Ghost or a managed publication service?
Ghost provides a documented server workflow, but the person choosing it must still maintain the complete production stack.
Self-hosted control
Choose a Bitfoo VPS
Operate Ghost on a persistent Ubuntu server with direct access to the stack.
- You want control over the host and configuration
- Someone can apply OS and Ghost updates
- Backups, monitoring, and mail delivery have clear owners
Managed publication
Consider Ghost(Pro)
Use Ghost’s managed service when the publication should not own Linux and database operations.
- The team wants Ghost-managed hosting and updates
- Server access is not required
- Editorial work should remain separate from infrastructure work
Production foundation
Follow the supported production stack
Ghost’s official installation workflow is intentionally specific. Treat its prerequisites and maintenance steps as part of the product decision.
02
Supported server stack
Production installation uses a supported Ubuntu release, Node.js version, MySQL, Nginx, and systemd.
03
DNS and HTTPS
Point the domain before installation so the setup can configure the publication URL and certificate correctly.
04
Publication backups
Back up content, members, themes, media, routes, redirects, and the database before updates and as a routine operation.
Plan comparison
Start from Ghost’s memory baseline, then add headroom
Ghost documents a one-gigabyte minimum for its supported production installation. Leave additional room for MySQL, Nginx, updates, backups, and traffic behavior.
Swipe horizontally to compare every plan.
| Specification | VPS-1 Ghost’s documented minimum-memory baseline | VPS-2 A production publication with more headroom Recommended starting point | VPS-4 A busier publication or adjacent services | VPS-8 Higher-traffic or media-heavy workloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vCPU | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| RAM | 1GB DDR5 | 2GB DDR5 | 4GB DDR5 | 8GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 25GB NVMe | 50GB NVMe | 100GB NVMe | 200GB NVMe |
| Bandwidth | 1TB | 2TB | 4TB | 6TB |
| IPv4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Price | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon |
| Availability | Join waitlist → | Join waitlist → | Join waitlist → | Join waitlist → |
Exact prices will appear when ordering opens. VPS plans are unmanaged and do not include an automated backup service.
Before deployment
Prepare the publication and the server
Complete the prerequisites before running the installer, then establish a repeatable maintenance routine.
- 01
Confirm the supported stack
Use a supported Ubuntu and Node.js combination and the required MySQL, Nginx, and systemd services.
- 02
Point the domain first
Create the DNS record before requesting the Ghost CLI HTTPS setup for the final publication URL.
- 03
Configure outbound mail
Choose and test the mail transport required for transactional or newsletter behavior.
- 04
Back up before updating
Create an independent publication and database backup, then confirm the rollback path before each major change.
Related hosting guidance
Common questions
Is Ghost installed automatically?
No. You provision an unmanaged VPS and follow Ghost’s supported installation workflow with Ghost CLI.
Why does this page recommend VPS-2?
Ghost documents one gigabyte as the minimum for its supported production install. VPS-2 provides additional room for the database, updates, backups, and variable traffic.
Does Ghost CLI manage future updates?
Ghost CLI provides update, rollback, diagnostics, logs, and backup commands, but you remain responsible for running and validating those operations.
Are VPS backups included?
No automated VPS backup service is included. You must back up Ghost content and the database separately and test restoration.