Ghost

Open-source publishing CMS oriented to newsletters and blogs. Self-host or Ghost(Pro).

Website & formsCMS / site builders

Ghost self-hosted

Hosting: Self-hosted Reviewed

MIT; Node self-host on an EU VPS is the sovereignty path.

FES Scores 9

Pillar	Criterion	Score	Evidence
Easy	Day-one UX Can non-technical staff use it without a project?	4	Typical onboarding for this product category. Source
Easy	Operate Admin burden, updates, backups and language coverage.	3	You handle updates, backups and scaling. Source
Easy	Integrate SSO, mail/CalDAV, APIs and common NGO connectors.	3	Integrations vary; check current APIs and connectors. Source
Fair	Lock-in / exit Can you leave with your data in open formats, at known cost?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): self-host + open-source path supports exit with your data. Source
Fair	Sovereignty EU legal entity, EU hosting, and exposure to extra-EU lawful access?	4	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): non-EU vendor; self-host still lets you pick EU infra — verify update/support exposure. Source
Fair	Openness Open source or open standards? Are independent implementations possible?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): license classified as open-source family. Source
Secure	IT security Authentication, encryption, patch cadence and independent audit.	3	Security baseline depends on vendor posture and your configuration. Source
Secure	User security 2FA, roles, phishing resistance and safe defaults.	3	Account roles and MFA availability vary by plan. Source
Secure	Personal data GDPR fit: DPA, residency, sub-processors and Schrems II posture.	4	Review DPA, residency and subprocessors carefully. Source

Indicative scores from public information — how we score.

Hosting: Global SaaS Reviewed

Official hosted Ghost; convenient but not EU-sovereign by default.

FES Scores 9

Pillar	Criterion	Score	Evidence
Easy	Day-one UX Can non-technical staff use it without a project?	5	Typical onboarding for this product category. Source
Easy	Operate Admin burden, updates, backups and language coverage.	5	Vendor operates the hosted service. Source
Easy	Integrate SSO, mail/CalDAV, APIs and common NGO connectors.	3	Integrations vary; check current APIs and connectors. Source
Fair	Lock-in / exit Can you leave with your data in open formats, at known cost?	2	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): global SaaS APIs/export exist, but suite gravity and remapping remain. Source
Fair	Sovereignty EU legal entity, EU hosting, and exposure to extra-EU lawful access?	1	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): non-EU legal entity + global SaaS — high extra-EU lawful-access exposure. Source
Fair	Openness Open source or open standards? Are independent implementations possible?	5	Rule baseline (rubric_v1): license classified as open-source family. Source
Secure	IT security Authentication, encryption, patch cadence and independent audit.	4	Security baseline depends on vendor posture and your configuration. Source
Secure	User security 2FA, roles, phishing resistance and safe defaults.	3	Account roles and MFA availability vary by plan. Source
Secure	Personal data GDPR fit: DPA, residency, sub-processors and Schrems II posture.	2	Review DPA, residency and subprocessors carefully. Source

Indicative scores from public information — how we score.