Grav Hosting

How Grav works

Grav is a file-based web platform. Pages are represented by folders and Markdown content, YAML stores configuration and front matter, and Twig templates control presentation. The folder hierarchy becomes the site structure, so a project can be moved or versioned as files rather than relying on a separate relational content database.

The administration plugin can provide browser-based editing, media management, configuration, and updates for people who do not want to edit files directly. Themes change presentation and plugins add functions through Grav’s event system. The catalogue persists the LinuxServer Grav configuration under /config and asks the first visitor to create the administrator account.

Key Grav features

Flat-file architecture reduces database administration, but it does not remove publishing discipline. Themes, plugins, custom templates, Markdown, YAML, routes, permissions, and cached output still need testing together. A third-party extension can become incompatible or unmaintained, and automatic application updates do not verify that every custom theme or plugin behaves correctly afterward.

Grav can build blogs, documentation, portfolios, landing pages, and more customised sites. Commerce, forms, search, multilingual content, or editorial workflows may require selected extensions and separate services. Application email is disabled on the hosting service, so mail-based forms, notifications, account recovery, or newsletters should not be described as included.

Grav vs Squarespace

Grav gives the operator file-based content, source-level templates, themes, plugins, and control over the hosting environment. Squarespace is a provider-managed website builder with visual layout editing, professional templates, domains, marketing tools, online-store functions, scheduling and other features integrated into commercial subscriptions.

Squarespace may suit owners who want a maintained visual editor, integrated commerce and marketing, vendor support, and less responsibility for extensions or server behaviour. Grav fits teams that prefer Markdown, templates, and code-level flexibility. The hosted Grav package does not reproduce Squarespace’s design service, payments, commerce stack, marketing platform, or support organisation.

Who uses Grav

Developers can create custom sites with Twig and plugins, documentation teams can publish Markdown collections, and designers can build portfolios or campaign pages with a chosen theme. Small organisations may use the admin interface when they accept responsibility for extensions and updates.

Grav is not a fully managed site-builder subscription, hosted email service, payment processor, legal compliance review, or guarantee that third-party themes and plugins remain supported. Site owners must maintain content, permissions, forms, analytics, cookies, accessibility, extension choices, and any recovery copies required beyond the hosted backup.

Self-hosting Grav: requirements and cost

Grav resource use depends on page count, media, theme complexity, plugins, cache generation, searches, form processing, administrator activity, and visitor traffic. PostgreSQL and MariaDB are Not required because content and configuration are file based. The software has no separate application charge, while image-heavy sites or expensive plugins can need more storage and processing than a small documentation site.

On AvaHost, Grav uses Plan 1 at €2. The hosted Grav package includes one-click deployment, a custom domain with automated HTTPS, automatic application updates, and scheduled backups. Create the administrator account on first visit and keep site data within the persistent configuration path. The package does not include a Squarespace account, custom design work, paid themes or plugins, commerce, payment processing, marketing, analytics providers, or application email. Test third-party extensions after updates and retain independent copies of important site content.