Migration Check

Ghost site migration

Keep your Ghost posts. Lose the upkeep.

Ghost is a clean place to write. But Ghost(Pro) prices rise with your audience, and self-hosting means looking after Node.js, a database and upgrades. I move your posts to Redline from Ghost's export, rebuild your design as fast, plain pages, and keep every link working. Enter your address to see what your move would involve.

I look at your public pages and page list, the same way a visitor would. Nothing is saved unless you ask for a quote.

Typical level

A quick move for small, simple sites. Booking tools, several forms or many pages add some custom work.

Typical price

$1,800–4,000 for most Ghost sites, $4,000–6,000 for big ones. Hosting and care is $150 a month.

Time

Usually 1–3 weeks. Your current site stays live until the new one is ready.

After the move

Edit your pages yourself in a simple editor, or let me: an hour of edits a month is included.

Why people move off Ghost

To be fair to Ghost: its pages are fast and search engines read them well. The reasons to move are cost and upkeep:

  • Prices that grow with your list. Ghost(Pro) plans are priced by how many members you have, so success raises the bill.
  • Self-hosting is real work. Running Ghost yourself means a server, Node.js, MySQL, email setup and regular upgrades.
  • Built around newsletters. If your site is a business site with a blog rather than a publication, much of Ghost goes unused.
  • Themes need a developer. Changing a Ghost theme means editing template code.

On Redline your pages stay fast, you write and edit posts in a simple editor, and if you ever leave, you get your whole site as standard HTML, CSS and JavaScript files.

What moves over

Comes over

  • Every post and page, from Ghost's own export.
  • Tags, authors and feature images.
  • Your design, rebuilt as plain pages.
  • Your domain, and every post address you have now.
  • Logins and free members-only pages: Redline supports sign-in and different access levels.

Needs a closer look

  • Pages behind a login, and who is allowed to see each one.
  • Your newsletter list, which moves to an email service of your choice.
  • Payments, paid memberships and online stores, which aren't covered yet.

I can't see pages behind a login from outside, so for sites with logins I work with whoever built your site to list every one and who can see it. Each is tested before we switch over.

Ghost posts live at the top level, like /post-name/, with tag pages under /tag/… and author pages under /author/…. Every one of those keeps working on the new site, along with your RSS feed address, and I test them all before we switch over.

How the move works

  1. Check your siteEnter your address above. You'll see the level, and I'll reply with a fixed price.
  2. Send your exportExport your content from Ghost's settings (a single file). I bring every post over from it and rebuild the design from your live site.
  3. You review itYou see the new site before anything changes, and I test that every old address still works.
  4. We switch overI point your domain at the new site. Then you can cancel Ghost(Pro) or shut down your server.

If you ever leave, here's what you take with you

Your website

As standard HTML, CSS and JavaScript files that any web host can run.

Your data

If your site keeps records such as members, bookings or form entries, you get a complete copy in a format other tools can read.

Your code

Anything built just for your business is yours. I don't own it and I won't keep it.

Your domain

It was always yours, and it goes wherever you go.

The Redline engine stays with me. Everything else goes with you. Your files, data and code are always handed over free. If you'd like help setting them up somewhere else, that's billed at my normal rate.

Questions about moving from Ghost

Can I export my Ghost content?

Yes. Ghost exports all your posts, pages, tags and authors as one file from its settings. That's what I use, so nothing is retyped.

What about my newsletter and paid subscribers?

Free member sign-ups and members-only posts are supported. Paid subscriptions aren't covered yet, and your newsletter list moves to an email service of your choice.

How much does it cost to move a Ghost site?

Most Ghost sites are $1,800–4,000: a small, simple site is a quick move, and booking tools, several forms or many pages add some custom work. Big sites are $4,000–6,000. Hosting and care is $150 a month, or $1,500 a year, with an hour of edits a month included. The free check on this page shows your site's level.

Will my domain and links stay the same?

Yes. Your domain stays yours, and every page address you have now keeps working. I test each one before we switch over.

Who's behind this

I'm Brad Simon, and Coder B Dev is my one-person studio. I've been writing software for more than 30 years: enterprise systems, web applications and SaaS platforms, for companies from startups to large enterprises. Redline is the platform I built so small business sites can get that same engineering without the upkeep. I take on a small number of sites at a time, so each one gets my full attention.

I'd rather you stay because you want to. I've seen too many business owners stuck with a platform because leaving meant losing their site. I don't work that way. Your words, images and data are yours, and so is any code written for your business: I don't claim any rights to it. If you ever decide to move on, I'll hand you your site as standard files, a full copy of your data and all of your own code, with no runaround. The only thing I keep is the Redline engine itself.

More about me →