Build Faster Sites by Disabling Unused Features in Ghost

Ghost is lean by design — but if you’re aiming for peak performance, there’s still room to trim the fat. By default, Ghost includes features like native search, membership routes, and comment integrations (when using certain themes). If you’re not using them, disabling or removing these elements can lead to faster load times and a cleaner experience for your readers.

Here’s how to optimize:

1. Remove Membership & Portal UI
   If you’re not using Ghost’s membership system, hide the Portal and remove any {{^if @member}} conditionals from your theme. You can also disable signups entirely in Settings → Membership.
2. Disable Unused Routes
   Open your routes.yaml file and clean it up. If you’re not running collections for newsletters, members-only content, or tags you’re not using, don’t load them. Every route you serve adds complexity.
3. Strip Out Third-Party Scripts
   Some themes load optional scripts (like comments or analytics) by default. Audit your theme’s default.hbs and footer files. Remove anything you’re not actively using.
4. Optimize Theme Assets
   Minify your CSS/JS, remove unused helpers, and make sure images are compressed and lazy-loaded. Ghost doesn’t bundle CSS like a build tool — you have full control. Use it.

Ghost’s flexibility lets you decide what kind of experience you deliver. Cutting out what you don’t need not only improves performance — it sharpens focus.

Lean into minimal. Ghost is built for it.