If you enjoy writing in Markdown, the next big step is choosing where your words should live. There are plenty of platforms that promise quick setup and powerful tools, but not all of them work the same way. Some focus on developers, some focus on speed, and some become confusing once you try to publish a simple blog.
This guide walks through the things that matter most when picking a Markdown hosting platform. By the end, you will know what to look for, what to avoid, and where hosted.md fits in the picture.
Start with the basics: how much control do you need?
Different platforms offer different levels of control. Some give you a full static site pipeline where you manage templates, build steps and deploy settings. Others hide all that behind a clean dashboard.
Think about how hands on you want to be.
- Full control suits people who enjoy tinkering with build tools, version control and directory structures. Tools like Hugo, Jekyll or Eleventy are powerful, but you need to configure everything yourself and keep your environment working.
- Light control suits writers who want to focus on content without dealing with build pipelines. Services in this group still use static site technology behind the scenes, but they handle the technical steps for you.
If you prefer to spend time writing instead of maintaining a build tool, look for a platform that keeps the technical side out of the way but still gives you enough flexibility when you need it.
Think about the editor experience
This is an easy point to overlook, yet it has a huge impact on how often and how happily you write. Many platforms assume you will edit everything in Git. That is great for developers but far less friendly for people who just want to open a page and update a sentence.
When reviewing platforms, check for these things:
- A clean Markdown editor
- Easy navigation between pages and folders
- Draft support
- A way to manage meta tags without digging into configuration files
If posting an update feels awkward, you will eventually stop doing it. A good Markdown site builder should invite you to write, not slow you down.
Hosting and speed: what you should expect
Static sites are known for great performance, but only if the host actually serves your content from a fast network. Some platforms limit where your files are stored. Others rely on slow build queues or cache rules that are not clear.
Look for a platform that:
- Publishes instantly or close to it
- Uses a global CDN by default
- Lets you manage your own domain without extra complexity
- Handles page caching without you needing to configure anything
Speed matters not only for readers. It also affects SEO and how pleasant your workflow feels when you publish.
Themes, layouts and design freedom
Some Markdown hosting services lock you into a small number of templates. Others require a full design system that might feel heavy for a simple blog.
The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. Enough structure to make your site look good out of the box, but enough freedom to make it your own.
If a platform supports:
- Theme switching
- Custom colour and font choices
- Easy access to layout files
- The ability to extend a theme later if you grow your site
...then you will have room to build without starting from scratch.
Things to avoid
Even strong platforms can hide surprises. Here are some warning signs that usually lead to frustration later.
- Forced Git-only workflows. If you want to write without touching a terminal, steer clear of Git-only publishing.
- Platforms that mix Markdown with proprietary syntax. It creates lock-in and makes it harder to move your content elsewhere.
- Weak asset management. Image handling should feel natural and not require manual uploads to random folders.
- Long build queues. If publishing takes several minutes, you will lose momentum.
- Confusing domain setup. Connecting a custom domain should take minutes rather than hours.
These issues seem small at first but can become real blockers once you start posting regularly.
Where hosted.md fits
hosted.md exists for people who want the benefits of static sites without the usual overhead. You write in Markdown, press save and your site is rebuilt and pushed to a global CDN. There is no build pipeline to maintain and no Git requirement unless you choose to use it in the future.
You get a clean editor, theme control, drafts, OG tags, folders for pages and a dashboard that guides you through everything. If you want to add a custom domain, you can. If you prefer to keep things simple with a hosted subdomain, that is available from the moment you sign up.
The goal is to keep the writing experience clear while still giving you full static site performance. No extra tools to install and no unexpected steps.
Final thoughts
Choosing a Markdown hosting platform does not need to be complicated. Focus on the writing tools, the publishing flow, the CDN behind it and how much control you actually want day to day. Once you know what matters to you, the right choice becomes obvious.
If you are looking for a Markdown site builder that supports clean writing, fast publishing and a straightforward setup, hosted.md is built with that in mind.