Self-Hosted CMS: Five Platforms Compared
Ghost, Strapi, Payload, Directus, WordPress. Each solves different problems. None solve the ops problem. Until now.
Why 'Free' Software Costs the Most
Open-source CMS platforms don't charge for software. They charge you in hidden ways.
Ghost(Pro) tier jumps from $29/month (1,000 members) to $199/month (10,001 members). That's a 586% increase for crossing a threshold.
Or you self-host. Then you own the ops: server rental ($20-100/mo), backups and recovery ($30-50/mo), monitoring and labor ($200+/mo).
The real cost of DIY: €400-600/month. For Ghost. And you still maintain it.
That's not a saving. That's a job.
Comparing Five Self-Hosted CMS Platforms
| Platform | Best For | Stack | Effort | Cost (DIY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost | Publishers, newsletters, memberships | Node.js, MySQL | Medium. CLI deploy, full publishing UI | €400-600/mo + labor |
| Strapi | Custom headless APIs, complex content | Node.js, 100% JavaScript, SQLite/MySQL/PostgreSQL | High. Code-first setup, plugin development | €400-600/mo + developer time |
| Payload CMS | Next.js teams, serverless-ready apps | Next.js native, TypeScript-first, MongoDB/PostgreSQL | High. Code configuration, React knowledge required | €400-600/mo + development |
| Directus | Database-first teams, existing SQL | Node.js, database-agnostic (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, etc.) | Low-medium. Instant UI wraps your DB. No-code admin | €400-600/mo, minimal labor |
| WordPress | Traditional sites, non-developers | PHP, MySQL | Low. Setup wizards, 70K+ plugins | €3-20/mo (shared hosting) but high plugin/security debt |
Traditional vs Headless CMS: When Each Fits
Ghost and WordPress are traditional full-stack CMS. You get a backend, a frontend theme, and a publishing interface all together. You publish to their domain or yours. Fast to launch. Right for publishers, blogs, newsletters.
Strapi, Payload, and Directus are headless. They're API-first. You build your own frontend (React, Next.js, mobile app, whatever). You get all the flexibility. You own the UI layer. Right for developers, complex content models, custom integrations.
Here's the thing: the stack doesn't matter much when you don't manage it.
Managed Ghost on Opsily gives you the traditional CMS (all-in-one publishing stack) without the ops. Managed Directus gives you the headless flexibility without the database burden. Both at a flat rate. No surprises.
Self-Hosted CMS Without the Ops: Why Opsily
Self-hosted CMS platforms are powerful. But they're powerful because you maintain them. Opsily removes that job.
One flat monthly rate
No tier jumps. No per-member overages. No upgrade shock when you grow to 10K members or 1M API calls. Ghost on Opsily: same price at 1,000 members or 100,000. Directus on Opsily: same price with 1 project or 100. Grow without fear.
Your infrastructure, audited and backed up
Daily encrypted backups. Automated monitoring. Security patches applied while you sleep. SSL certificates renewed automatically. One phone call gets you a restore. We handle the boring. You focus on content and users.
GDPR by default, EU data residency included
Your Ghost or Directus instance runs in ISO 27001-certified German data centers. No US jurisdiction. No data routing through third parties. GDPR-compliant from day one. DPA included in the contract.
Built for teams who need reliability
Getting Ghost Running in Minutes
Your managed Ghost instance goes live before you have finished your coffee.
Email, password, done. No credit card required to explore.
Browse Opsily's app library, select Ghost, choose a plan. Auto-provisioning starts.
MySQL, backups, and isolated infrastructure spin up in parallel. Usually under 3 minutes.
Email, password, done. No credit card required to explore.
Browse Opsily's app library, select Ghost, choose a plan. Auto-provisioning starts.
MySQL, backups, and isolated infrastructure spin up in parallel. Usually under 3 minutes.
Create your Opsily account
Email, password, done. No credit card required to explore.
Deploy Ghost from the catalog
Browse Opsily's app library, select Ghost, choose a plan. Auto-provisioning starts.
Your database and server are ready
MySQL, backups, and isolated infrastructure spin up in parallel. Usually under 3 minutes.
Start publishing
Ghost's admin panel loads with your domain. Add staff users. Write. Schedule. Publish. Monetize with memberships.
Trust and Compliance Built In
Opsily handles the compliance work so you don't have to.
GDPR Compliant
Your data stays in the EU. No US jurisdiction, no data transfer agreements needed.
EU Data Residency
Your data is hosted in Germany. Your database never leaves Europe.
Daily Encrypted Backups
Automated backups run every night. Restore a point-in-time copy with one command.
Automatic Security Patches
OS and Ghost updates applied automatically. No manual maintenance, no security debt.
Transparent, Flat-Rate Pricing
No surprises. No tier jumps. Upgrade or downgrade anytime.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about self-hosted CMS and managed Ghost/Directus on Opsily.
A self-hosted CMS is software you download and run on your own server or VPS, rather than using a SaaS platform. You own the infrastructure, the data, and the responsibility for backups, security, and updates. Open-source CMS platforms like Ghost, Strapi, and Directus are free to use but cost money and effort to operate. The advantage: no vendor lock-in and full control. The disadvantage: you become the ops team.
Ready to stop managing CMS infrastructure?
Ghost and Directus on Opsily. Flat-rate managed hosting. No ops burden. No tier-jump pricing. Start your free trial in under two minutes.