HostGOAT supports modern websites and applications with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Node.js, React, databases, email, SSL, SFTP, and daily backups.
HostGOAT is a managed hosting platform running inside a virtual-machine environment on Debian 13. Customers buy HostGOAT plans and tools rather than a raw server instance.
Traditional shared hosting places many customer sites on the same server environment. HostGOAT also serves multiple customers, but it adds its own account controls, file manager, databases, backups, SSL automation, and tenant-level tooling.
A VPS is a virtual server with an isolated allocation of resources. HostGOAT itself currently runs inside a virtual machine, but standard HostGOAT customers do not receive a general-purpose VPS or unrestricted SSH shell.
Dedicated hosting gives one customer an entire physical server. HostGOAT's standard Starter, Pro, and Business plans are not dedicated-server products.
Cloud hosting typically spreads workloads across multiple connected servers for redundancy and elastic scaling. The current HostGOAT beta runs in a virtual-machine environment, and the production plan is to move to professional VPS infrastructure. We will only describe HostGOAT as cloud hosting if the production architecture actually uses that kind of distributed design.
Host static sites, traditional PHP projects, and modern JavaScript applications from the same account.
Host conventional front-end websites with direct access to your project files.
Run PHP applications alongside database-backed sites and common web workflows.
Build and host Node.js and React projects, including projects created with Nancy AI.
Create and manage MySQL-compatible and PostgreSQL databases from your account.
Mailbox capacity scales with your plan, starting with three mailboxes on Starter.
HostGOAT does not impose an account-level bandwidth cap.
HostGOAT supports PHP and MySQL-compatible databases, the core stack WordPress needs. WordPress-specific managed features such as one-click installation or automatic WordPress maintenance are not currently advertised, so compatibility should be verified before production use.
Domains stay with your registrar or DNS provider. HostGOAT gives you the DNS records to point the domain to your site, while Nginx Proxy Manager handles Let's Encrypt certificates and automated renewal.
HostGOAT is not currently a domain registrar or DNS host.
HostGOAT provides the records needed to connect your domain.
Let's Encrypt certificates are managed through Nginx Proxy Manager.
Work from the HostGOAT dashboard or use SFTP for direct file transfer. Unrestricted SSH access is intentionally not offered.
A browser-based file manager built specifically for HostGOAT.
Secure file transfer is the primary external file-transfer mechanism.
Download project files as ZIP archives and move them to another environment when needed.
Existing website files can be uploaded through the browser file manager or SFTP. You can also create the required databases in HostGOAT and point your existing domain to the new deployment when you are ready to switch.
Use SFTP or the browser-based file manager to transfer the project.
Set up any MySQL-compatible or PostgreSQL databases your project requires.
Confirm the project works in HostGOAT, then update the required DNS records at your registrar or DNS provider.
Successful backups are retained for two weeks. Every plan can restore available backups directly, while higher tiers may also include additional manual-backup capability.
| Capability | HostGOAT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Debian 13 | HostGOAT runs inside a Debian-based environment. |
| Application stack | React + Node.js | HostGOAT itself is built with modern open-source web technologies. |
| Databases | MySQL-compatible + PostgreSQL | Customer-managed databases with direct access. |
| File transfer | SFTP | SSH shell access is not currently exposed to customers. |
| SSL | Let's Encrypt | Managed automatically through Nginx Proxy Manager. |
| Backups | Daily / 14 days | Stored on a separate system on the same network with RAID redundancy. |
Start at $5 per month and scale when your projects grow.