· web builders · 25 min read

Ghost review

One of the best things about Ghost is its focus on speed

Ghost is a modern, open-source content management system (CMS) that is designed for professional publishers. It is built on top of Node.js and Ember.js, and it offers a wide range of features that make it ideal for creating high-quality, user-friendly websites and blogs.

One of the best things about Ghost is its focus on speed and performance. Ghost sites are built to load quickly, even on slow connections. This is important for both publishers and users, as it ensures that everyone has a good experience when visiting a Ghost-powered website.

Another great feature of Ghost is its flexibility. Ghost can be used to create a wide variety of websites, from simple blogs to complex news sites. It is also easy to customize Ghost to match your specific needs.

Ghost is also very secure. It is built with security in mind, and it comes with a number of features that help to protect your website from attack. This is important for any publisher who wants to ensure that their website is safe and secure.

Features of Ghost

Speed: Ghost sites are built to load quickly, even on slow connections. This is important for both publishers and users, as it ensures that everyone has a good experience when visiting a Ghost-powered website.

Security: Ghost is built with security in mind, and it comes with a number of features that help to protect your website from attack. This is important for any publisher who wants to ensure that their website is safe and secure.

Flexibility: Ghost can be used to create a wide variety of websites, from simple blogs to complex news sites. It is also easy to customize Ghost to match your specific needs.

Ease of use: Ghost is very easy to use, even for beginners. The user interface is clean and intuitive, and the documentation is comprehensive.

Open source: Ghost is an open source project, which means that it is free to use and modify. This gives you the freedom to customize Ghost to meet your specific needs.

Who should consider using Ghost CMS

Professional publishers

Ghost is a great choice for professional publishers who want to create a high-quality, user-friendly website or blog. It is fast, secure, flexible, and easy to use.

Small businesses

Ghost is also a good option for small businesses who want to create a website or blog. It is affordable, easy to use, and scalable.

Personal bloggers

Ghost is a great choice for personal bloggers who want to create a beautiful, easy-to-read blog. It is fast, secure, and flexible.

Developers

Ghost is also a good option for developers who want to create a custom website or blog. It is open source and highly customizable.

Notable users who use Ghost CMS

Medium

Medium is a popular blogging platform that is powered by Ghost. Medium is used by millions of people around the world to share their thoughts, ideas, and stories.

The Next Web

The Next Web is a leading technology news website that is powered by Ghost. The Next Web covers the latest news and trends in the tech industry.

Product Hunt

Product Hunt is a website where people can discover and discuss new products. Product Hunt is powered by Ghost.

Overall, Ghost is a great choice for any publisher who wants to create a high-quality, user-friendly website or blog. It is fast, secure, flexible, and easy to use. If you are looking for a CMS that can help you to take your publishing to the next level, then Ghost is definitely worth considering.

Pros and cons of Ghost CMS

Pros:

  • Fast and secure
  • Flexible and customizable
  • Easy to use
  • Built for professional publishers
  • Open source

Cons:

  • Can be expensive for some users

Ghost is not free to use. You can either self-host Ghost on your own server, or you can use Ghost’s hosted service. Self-hosting is more affordable, but it requires more technical knowledge. Ghost’s hosted service is more expensive, but it is easier to use and manage.

  • Not as well-known as some other CMSs

Ghost is a smaller CMS than some of its competitors, so it has a smaller community of users and developers. This can make it more difficult to find help and support if you have problems with Ghost.

  • Learning curve for developers

Ghost is a relatively new CMS, so it does not have all of the features that some users may be looking for. For example, Ghost does not have a built-in e-commerce platform or a built-in comment system. However, there are many third-party plugins and extensions that can add these features to Ghost.

If you are looking for a fast, secure, and flexible CMS that is easy to use and built for professional publishers, then Ghost is a great option. However, if you are on a tight budget or are not a developer, then you may want to consider another CMS.

Best themes for Ghost

Here are 5 recommended Ghost CMS themes for bloggers. These are just a few of the many great Ghost CMS themes that are available. The best theme for you will depend on your personal preferences and the style of your blog.

Casper is the default theme for Ghost and is a great option for bloggers who want a simple and clean design.

Helium is a modern and responsive theme that is perfect for bloggers who want a stylish and engaging website.

Minimal is a minimalist theme that is perfect for bloggers who want a simple and uncluttered design.

Neon is a bright and colorful theme that is perfect for bloggers who want a fun and eye-catching website.

Paperleaf is a nature-inspired theme that is perfect for bloggers who want a peaceful and relaxing website.

Here are some additional features to consider when choosing a Ghost CMS theme:

Design: The design of the theme should be visually appealing and easy to use.

Customization: The theme should be customizable so that you can make it look and feel the way you want.

Features: The theme should have the features that you need, such as support for social media, comments, and e-commerce.

Support: The theme should have good support so that you can get help if you need it.

New CMSs that are similar to Ghost

  • Strapi: Strapi is a headless CMS that is built on Express and React. It is easy to use and customize, and it is scalable to meet the needs of any project.
  • ButterCMS: ButterCMS is a content management system that is built for speed and performance. It is easy to use and manage, and it is affordable for small businesses and individuals.
  • Craft CMS: Craft CMS is a powerful and flexible content management system that is built for developers. It is easy to use and customize, and it is scalable to meet the needs of any project.
  • Webiny CMS: Webiny CMS is a headless CMS that is built on React. It is easy to use and customize, and it is scalable to meet the needs of any project.
  • Wagtail CMS: Wagtail CMS is a content management system that is built for developers. It is easy to use and customize, and it is scalable to meet the needs of any project.
  • Strapi
  • Sanity
  • Contentful
  • Butter CMS
  • Webflow
  • Hygraph
  • Craft CMS
  • Umbraco
  • Jekyll
  • Medium

Each of these platforms has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to do your research to find the one that’s right for you. Here is a brief overview of each platform:

  • Strapi is a headless CMS that is known for its flexibility and scalability. It is a good choice for businesses that need a powerful CMS that can be customized to meet their specific needs.
  • Sanity is a fully-managed headless CMS that is known for its ease of use and security. It is a good choice for businesses that need a CMS that is easy to set up and manage, and that can be used to create secure and compliant websites.
  • Contentful is a popular headless CMS that is known for its API-first approach. It is a good choice for businesses that need a CMS that can be integrated with other applications and services.
  • Butter CMS is a lightweight headless CMS that is known for its speed and simplicity. It is a good choice for businesses that need a CMS that is easy to set up and use, and that can be used to create fast and responsive websites.
  • Webflow is a website builder that is known for its drag-and-drop interface and its ability to create beautiful and responsive websites. It is a good choice for businesses that need a website builder that is easy to use, and that can be used to create visually appealing websites.
  • Hygraph is a new headless CMS that is known for its speed and its ability to create dynamic and interactive content. It is a good choice for businesses that need a CMS that is fast and that can be used to create engaging and interactive websites.
  • Craft CMS is a popular open-source CMS that is known for its flexibility and its ability to be customized to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. It is a good choice for businesses that need a powerful and flexible CMS that can be customized to meet their specific needs.
  • Umbraco is a popular enterprise CMS that is known for its scalability and its ability to be integrated with other applications and services. It is a good choice for businesses that need a powerful and scalable CMS that can be integrated with other applications and services.
  • Jekyll is a static site generator that is known for its simplicity and its ability to create fast and secure websites. It is a good choice for businesses that need a static site generator that is easy to use and that can be used to create fast and secure websites.
  • Medium is a blogging platform that is known for its ease of use and its large community of users. It is a good choice for businesses that need a blogging platform that is easy to use and that can be used to reach a large audience.

Ultimately, the best CMS for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. Consider the following factors when making your decision:

  • Your budget: CMS platforms can range in price from free to thousands of dollars per month. It’s important to choose a platform that fits your budget.
  • Your technical expertise: Some CMS platforms are more complex than others. If you’re not a technical user, you may want to choose a platform that is easy to use.
  • Your specific needs: Some CMS platforms are better suited for certain types of businesses or websites than others. Consider what features are important to you and choose a platform that meets your needs.

Once you’ve considered these factors, you can start comparing different CMS platforms. There are many resources available online that can help you compare different platforms and make an informed decision.

Case study: leveraging Ghost CMS for personal blog

Introduction: In this case study, we explore the experience of utilizing Ghost CMS (Content Management System) for a personal blog. Ghost CMS is a lightweight, open-source platform designed specifically for bloggers and content creators. We will delve into the reasons behind selecting Ghost CMS, its features, and the overall benefits and outcomes achieved.

Background: Our subject, a passionate writer and blogger, was seeking a reliable and user-friendly CMS to power their personal blog. They needed a platform that would provide a seamless writing and publishing experience, while also offering customization options and performance optimizations.

Selection of Ghost CMS: After thorough research and evaluating different options, the blogger opted for Ghost CMS. The decision was driven by several key factors, including:

  • Focused and Intuitive Interface: Ghost CMS is renowned for its minimalistic and distraction-free writing environment. It allowed the blogger to concentrate on content creation without unnecessary clutter.
  • Markdown Editor: Ghost CMS employs Markdown, a lightweight markup language, as its default editor. This enabled the blogger to write in plain text and effortlessly format the content without the need for complex HTML coding.
  • Customization and Theming: Ghost CMS provides an extensive range of customizable themes, allowing the blogger to personalize the look and feel of their blog to align with their unique style and brand.
  • Performance and Speed: Ghost CMS is designed to be fast and efficient, ensuring optimal page load times. This was crucial to enhance the user experience and maintain a responsive blog.

Implementation and Results: The implementation of Ghost CMS for the personal blog proved to be a seamless process. The blogger successfully installed and configured Ghost CMS on their hosting environment, following the platform’s comprehensive documentation.

Upon launching the blog, the following notable outcomes were observed:

Enhanced Writing Experience: The blogger appreciated the distraction-free writing interface, enabling them to focus solely on content creation. The Markdown editor simplified the formatting process, resulting in more efficient and consistent writing.

Improved Site Performance: Ghost CMS’s lightweight architecture and optimized codebase significantly improved the blog’s loading speed. This enhanced user experience and reduced bounce rates, leading to increased engagement.

Customization and Branding: The availability of diverse themes and templates empowered the blogger to personalize their blog’s appearance. By creating a cohesive and visually appealing design, they successfully established a unique brand identity.

Seamless Content Management: Ghost CMS’s intuitive content management capabilities allowed the blogger to efficiently organize, categorize, and manage their articles. This simplified content creation and made it easier to maintain a structured and easily navigable blog.

Conclusion: The adoption of Ghost CMS proved to be a wise choice for our blogger’s personal blog. The platform’s intuitive interface, Markdown editor, customization options, and performance optimizations resulted in an enhanced writing experience, improved site performance, and seamless content management. By leveraging Ghost CMS, the blogger successfully created a professional and engaging personal blog, establishing a strong online presence in their niche.

If you are looking for a CMS that offers all of these features, then Ghost is a great option.

Blogs built with Ghost

According to BuiltWith, there are currently 133,252 websites using Ghost. Of these, 52,868 are live websites and an additional 69,419 domains redirect to sites in this list. Additionally, 80,384 sites used Ghost in the past, and 28,999 websites in the United States are currently using Ghost.

Ghost vs Webflow

Ghost and Webflow are two popular website building platforms. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.

Ghost

Ghost is a headless CMS, which means that it’s designed to be used with a separate front-end framework. This makes it a good choice for developers who want more control over the look and feel of their website. Ghost is also known for its speed and security.

Webflow

Webflow is a drag-and-drop website builder that’s designed for non-technical users. It’s a good choice for anyone who wants to create a beautiful website without having to learn how to code. Webflow also offers a wide range of features, including e-commerce, membership sites, and marketing tools.

Which one is right for you?

If you’re a developer who wants more control over the look and feel of your website, then Ghost is a good choice. If you’re a non-technical user who wants to create a beautiful website without having to learn how to code, then Webflow is a good choice.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which platform is right for you is to try both of them out and see which one you prefer.

Here is a more detailed comparison of Ghost and Webflow:

Ghost

Pros:

Developer-friendly SEO-friendly Fast Secure

Cons: Not as user-friendly as Webflow More expensive than Webflow Steeper learning curve

Webflow

Pros: User-friendly Design-focused No coding required Affordable

Cons: Not as flexible as Ghost Not as scalable as Ghost Can be difficult to customize

Ultimately, the best way to decide which platform is right for you is to try both of them out and see which one you prefer.

Ghost vs Hugo

Ghost CMS and Hugo are both popular open-source content management systems (CMSs) that are designed for creating blogs and websites. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.

Ghost CMS

Ghost CMS is a modern, open-source CMS that is built with the Jamstack architecture. This means that it is a headless CMS, which means that it is designed to be used with a separate front-end framework. Ghost is known for its speed, security, and ease of use.

Some of the pros of Ghost CMS include:

Speed: Ghost is a very fast CMS, which is important for websites with a lot of traffic.

Security: Ghost is a very secure CMS, which is important for websites that store sensitive data.

Ease of use: Ghost is a very easy-to-use CMS, even for beginners.

Developer-friendly: Ghost is developer-friendly, which means that it is easy to customize and extend.

SEO-friendly: Ghost is SEO-friendly, which means that it is easy to optimize your website for search engines. Some of the cons of Ghost CMS include:

Cost: Ghost is not free, so you will need to pay for a license if you want to use it.

Learning curve: There is a bit of a learning curve to using Ghost, especially for users who are not familiar with web development.

Not as flexible as some other CMSs: Ghost is not as flexible as some other CMSs, so you may not be able to create exactly the website you want.

Hugo

Hugo is a static site generator that is written in Go. It is known for its speed, security, and scalability. Hugo is a good choice for websites with a lot of traffic or for websites that need to be highly secure.

Some of the pros of Hugo include:

Speed: Hugo is a very fast static site generator, which is important for websites with a lot of traffic.

Security: Hugo is a very secure static site generator, which is important for websites that store sensitive data.

Scalability: Hugo is a very scalable static site generator, which is important for websites that need to handle a lot of traffic.

Developer-friendly: Hugo is developer-friendly, which means that it is easy to customize and extend.

SEO-friendly: Hugo is SEO-friendly, which means that it is easy to optimize your website for search engines. Some of the cons of Hugo include:

Not as user-friendly as some other CMSs: Hugo is not as user-friendly as some other CMSs, so it may not be the best choice for non-technical users.

No built-in blogging features: Hugo does not have any built-in blogging features, so you will need to use a third-party plugin if you want to create a blog.

Can be difficult to learn: Hugo can be difficult to learn, especially for users who are not familiar with web development.

Which One is Right for You?

So, which one is right for you? Ghost CMS or Hugo? It depends on your needs and your level of technical expertise. If you’re a developer who wants complete control over your website’s content and design, then Ghost CMS is a good choice. If you’re a non-technical user who wants to create a beautiful website without having to learn how to code, then Hugo is a good choice.

Ghost vs Squarespace

Ghost and Squarespace are both popular website building platforms, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. Ghost is a more open-source platform that is designed for developers, while Squarespace is a more user-friendly platform that is designed for non-technical users.

Ghost

Pros:

  • Open-source
  • Developer-friendly
  • Highly customizable
  • SEO-friendly

Cons:

  • More complex to use
  • Requires more technical knowledge
  • More expensive

Squarespace

Pros:

  • User-friendly
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • A wide range of templates and features
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Less customizable
  • Not as developer-friendly
  • Not as SEO-friendly

Which platform is right for you?

If you are a developer who wants a highly customizable and SEO-friendly platform, then Ghost is a good choice. If you are a non-technical user who wants a user-friendly platform with a wide range of features, then Squarespace is a good choice.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which platform is right for you is to try both of them out and see which one you prefer.

Ghost vs WordPress

WordPress and Ghost are both popular content management systems (CMS) that can be used to create blogs, websites, and online stores. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms.

WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world, powering over 40% of the web. It is a free and open-source platform that is known for its flexibility and customizability. WordPress has a wide range of features and plugins that can be used to add new functionality to your site. However, WordPress can be complex to set up and manage, especially for beginners.

Ghost is a newer CMS that is designed specifically for blogging. It is a more lightweight and streamlined platform than WordPress, making it easier to use and manage. Ghost also has a focus on performance, and it is known for being one of the fastest CMS platforms available. However, Ghost is not as feature-rich as WordPress, and it has a smaller community of developers and users.

Both Ghost and WordPress have their strengths and weaknesses, and choosing between them can be a difficult decision. Ghost is a newer platform that is focused on providing a simple, powerful publishing experience. Its editor is designed to make writing and formatting posts as easy as possible, and it offers a range of customization options to help users create the perfect website.

WordPress, on the other hand, is a more established platform that has been around for over a decade. It is incredibly versatile and can be used to create everything from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. WordPress offers a huge range of themes and plugins that can be used to customize your site, and it is supported by a large community of developers who are constantly creating new tools and features. When it comes to choosing between Ghost and WordPress, it really depends on what you are looking for in a blogging platform.

Which platform is right for you?

It depends on your needs and preferences. If you are looking for a powerful and flexible CMS with a wide range of features, then WordPress is a good choice. If you are looking for a simpler and more streamlined platform that is easy to use and manage, then Ghost is a good option.

Here is a more detailed comparison of WordPress and Ghost:

WordPress

Pros:

  • Free and open-source
  • Wide range of features and plugins
  • Large community of developers and users
  • Extensive documentation and support

Cons:

  • Can be complex to set up and manage
  • Not as fast as some other CMS platforms
  • Security vulnerabilities can be a problem

Ghost

Ghost is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that is specifically designed for bloggers and writers. It was launched in 2013 as a Kickstarter campaign and has since gained a lot of popularity among bloggers and writers who are looking for a simple and easy-to-use platform to publish their content.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and streamlined platform
  • Easy to use and manage Ghost has a simple and intuitive user interface that makes it easy for users to write and publish their content. It also has a built-in editor that allows users to format their content with ease.
  • Fast performance Ghost is known for its speed and performance, which makes it a great choice for bloggers and writers who want a fast and reliable platform to publish their content.
  • Focus on security and privacy
  • SEO-friendly Ghost is designed to be SEO-friendly, which means that it is optimized for search engines and can help users to improve their search engine rankings.
  • Ghost offers a range of customization options, including themes and plugins, that allow users to customize their blogs to suit their needs.

Cons:

  • Not as feature-rich as WordPress Ghost is designed specifically for blogging and writing, which means that it has limited functionality compared to other CMSs like WordPress.
  • Smaller community of developers and users Ghost has a smaller community compared to other CMSs like WordPress, which means that it can be harder to find help and support when needed.
  • More expensive than WordPress

Ghost is a great choice for bloggers and writers who are looking for a simple and easy-to-use platform to publish their content. While it may have some limitations compared to other CMSs like WordPress, its speed, ease of use, and SEO-friendliness make it a popular choice among bloggers and writers.

There is no doubt that WordPress dominates the blogging and online publishing world for many years. WordPress as a CMS powers nearly half of the Internet’s websites. So what’s the point to compare WordPress against Ghost, a new, free, and open-source blogging platform?

In this review, I’m going to through the details and the points what Ghost is worth a look into. And why it should be your next content management system of choice for your new blog or project. And I think there is no exception that WordPress is popular.

Please note that all of the websites and blogs we host and develop are based on WordPress.

How to build ultra-fast blog with Ghost

Ghost Content Management System (CMS)

What’s it? “Ghost is an open-source blogging platform that helps you easily create a professional-looking online blog. Ghost is a robust content management system (CMS) with a Markdown editor, an easy-to-use user interface, and beautiful themes. It is easy to install and update with Ghost-CLI.”

Installing Ghost on a local machine

I can confirm that it’s easy to install Ghost (14.x (Node v14 Fermium LTS) on your Mac machine. It’s simple and straightforward. I also tried to set up a local environment for testing a Raspberry Pi 4 (Ubuntu), but I struggled to get the compatible Nodjs version. I’m sure I’ll go back to this again.

After all, this local Ghost on my MacBook Pro laptop is the first time I can see how Ghost works at the back end. Simply, it’s beautiful and neat. Or I’d say: less is more.

Running a Ghost static site

You can install a local Ghost on your laptop, push your site to GitHub repository, and host it on GitHub page (with or without your custom domain), you can follow this easy-to-follow instruction: Hosting a Ghost Blog in GitHub. With small sites, you can have this nice setup for free. It’s ideal for students and those who want to learn Ghost and Jamstack.

Installing Ghost on a Linode virtual private server (VPS) What you need:

  • A VPS (at least 1GB RAM)
  • NGINX
  • MySQL
  • Node.js and NPM
  • Ghost-CLI

I think it has taken me quite a while to get things right. Why? Well, because I want to re-use the existing VPS I have for Ghost installation. You can read the full installation guide here: How to install Ghost on Ubuntu. And Linode also has a documentation section on how to install Ghost CMS on Centos, Debian, and Ubuntu (and with Docker).

Compared with WordPress installation, Ghost takes on a different approach. While WordPress has its famous 5-minute installation, you mostly use Linux commands. But what I really like about Ghost CMS installation is that if the first attempt fails you, you can start it all over again. Ghost doctor, Systemd, and Ghost uninstall are most often used.

If you install Ghost CMS on a 1GB VPS, you should be able to set up a few blogs. Each setup consumes about 300MB. After installing 3 basic blogs, it’s getting difficult with insufficient RAM available.

Hosting several Ghost instances on one single VPS? You should read this method of using one VPS to host multiple blogs.

Install Ghost on your local machine

It’s just a few minutes to set up Ghost on my MacBook Pro. There are many tutorials available to do so.

Install Ghost on Raspberry Pi? There is a good blog dedicated to this. Ghost Pi blog covers all you need to know to do the same, such as using custom domain names and a CDN to optimize your blog. Check it out if you want to learn how to test it: GhostPi.

Moving to Ghost from WordPress?

There is a WordPress plugin to export your WordPress database and files for this. But after downloading the Export file of this site (just under 100MB), the import tool on the Ghost dashboard cannot really handle it.

It says: Import failed. The request is larger than the maximum file size the server allows

But it’s not the end. When exporting your WordPress database, you also have the option to download it as a JSON file format. The reason is simply that Export to Ghost means downloading all the content (posts, pages, and image files). This is usually impossible with a lot of files. The JSON file is different. It’s like an XML file. It’s way smaller because it contains only the text content, no images. So, if you’ve got a huge WordPress site, it’s not yet simple. It would need extra work.

With a modern cloud-based server designed for WordPress, you can easily get a lightning-fast, safe and secure blog. We love this setup, which is the best performance optimization for a VPS to host WordPress sites for our clients: OS: Ubuntu Server 64-bit, latest packages of Nginx, PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, and Redis, Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS certificate. Essentially, with this kind of setup, it takes much less memory consumption to run WordPress blogs efficiently. You can actually read our in-depth review for Linode vs. Vultr vs. DigitalOcean, using SpinupWP to manage WordPress sites.

Blogs and sites powered by Ghost CMS

  • Buffer’s social media and marketing library, Unsplash blog, OpenAI, DigitalOcean Blog, Cloudflare Blog, The Standford Review

My takes:

Why should you consider using Ghost in the first place? Well, if you want to use an open, stable platform, and it’s fast and SEO friendly. Not PHP. If you’re an experienced blogger who wants to learn something new, you should look into Ghost as your next CMS after WordPress. “Ghost is the fast, modern WordPress alternative, focused completely on professional publishing.”

Get quick access to all the WordPress resources at kokitree including knowledge base articles, in-depth learn guides and the latest from our blog. Over the years, we’ve kept adding useful how-to guides available from around the web. As we’ve been using WordPress as software for over a decade, we still love a lot of things about it.

Good to read:

Ghost Blog SEO: My experiences and results - Norbert Hires

How to Build a Blog with the Ghost API and Next.js

Build a JAMStack Blog with NextJS and Ghost

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