For many years, WordPress has been a popular platform for creating various types of websites. Membership sites are one of the most common types of websites created with WordPress.
Membership websites allow users to sign up and pay to gain access to premium content, courses, or exclusive resources. Building a membership site necessitates the use of a membership plugin that can handle user registration, payment processing, content access, and other functions.
This article will look at the top seven WordPress membership plugins on the market.
What Should a WordPress Membership Plugin Have?
Choosing the right membership plugin is critical if you want to create a membership site with WordPress. There are numerous WordPress membership plugins on the market, each with its own set of features and functionality. Consider the following factors when selecting the best WordPress membership plugin for your site:
- Membership Levels: Look for a WordPress membership plugin that lets you create multiple membership levels with varying levels of access and pricing.
- Payment Gateways: To make it easier for members to pay for their memberships, look for a plugin that supports popular payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net.
- Content Restriction: The plugin should enable you to limit content access based on membership level. It should also allow you to set up drip distribution to gradually release content to members.
- User Management: You should be able to manage user accounts with the plugin, including user registration, login, and password reset.
- Email Marketing Integration: Look for a plugin that integrates with email marketing services like MailChimp or AWeber to help you manage your email list and send members automated emails.
- Support: Look for a plugin that includes good documentation and support so that you can get assistance when you need it.
- Security: To prevent security vulnerabilities and keep your membership site safe, the plugin should be secure and regularly updated.
- Customization: You should be able to customize the look and feel of your membership site, including the login page, registration page, and member profile pages, using the plugin.
- Compatibility: The plugin should work with your WordPress theme and any other plugins you have installed on your site.
- Pricing: Think about how much the plugin will cost you, including any ongoing fees or add-ons you may need to buy to get the features you want.
You can find a WordPress membership plugin that meets your specific needs and requirements by taking these factors into account. It is critical to spend time researching and testing various plugins to ensure you select the best one for your site.
Best WordPress Membership Plugins
Here is a list of seven WordPress membership plugins that we thoroughly researched for your convenience.
MemberPress
MemberPress is a WordPress membership plugin that simplifies the creation and management of membership sites. It includes a number of features such as unlimited membership levels, content restriction, payment processing, and email marketing integration.
It is a popular option for companies and individuals who want to monetize their content, courses, or exclusive resources.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use: MemberPress is simple to set up and use, even for inexperienced users. It includes a user-friendly interface and documentation to help you set up and manage your membership site.
- Customization: MemberPress provides extensive customization, allowing you to create unique membership levels, pricing options, and content restrictions to meet your specific requirements.
- Payment Processing: MemberPress supports a variety of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, making it simple for members to pay for their membership.
- Content Restriction: MemberPress allows you to restrict content access based on membership level, making it simple to control who has access to your premium content and resources.
- Email Marketing Integration: MemberPress integrates with popular email marketing services like MailChimp and AWeber, making it simple to manage your email list and send automated emails to members.
- Drip Content: MemberPress allows you to gradually release content to members, which helps you keep them engaged and subscribed to your site.
- Customer Support: MemberPress provides excellent customer service, including extensive documentation, a knowledge base, and a dedicated support team.
Cons:
- Limited Design Options: MemberPress has limited design options, which may make it unsuitable for those looking to create a highly customized membership site.
- Price: Because MemberPress is a premium WordPress membership plugin, its pricing may be a bit steep for some users, particularly those who are just getting started with their membership site.
- No free trial: Because MemberPress does not provide a free trial, it can be difficult to evaluate the plugin before committing to a purchase.
Thrive Apprentice
Thrive Apprentice is a powerful course creation plugin that assists you in creating high-quality courses that include lessons, quizzes, and other interactive elements. It has a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes it simple to use even if you don’t have any coding experience.
Pros:
- User-friendly Interface: Thrive Apprentice has an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to create and customize your courses. You can drag and drop elements, change colors and fonts, and do other things without knowing how to code.
- Integration with Other Thrive Themes Products: If you already use other Thrive Themes products, like Thrive Leads or Thrive Architect, Thrive Apprentice can be seamlessly integrated with them.
- Customizable Course Options: You can create quizzes, certificates, and other interactive elements to engage your learners and aid in their retention of information.
- Dedicated support team: Thrive Themes has a dedicated support team that can assist you with any issues you could encounter while using Thrive Apprentice.
Cons:
- Other Thrive Themes products are required: To fully utilize Thrive Apprentice, you may need to purchase additional Thrive Themes products, which may increase the cost.
- Limited Marketing Features: Thrive Apprentice lacks some marketing features that other course creation tools have, such as email marketing automation and upselling options.
- Steep learning curve: Although the interface is user-friendly, there is still a learning curve to effectively using Thrive Apprentice, especially if you are new to WordPress and course creation tools.
Easy Digital Downloads
WooCommerce Memberships is a WordPress plugin that enables store owners to create and manage membership programs for their online stores.
Pros:
- Flexible Membership Plans: WooCommerce Memberships plugin allows you to create various membership plans with varying levels of access to your products and content. You can also configure membership pricing and renewal options, as well as provide free trials.
- Restriction of Content and Products: The plugin allows you to restrict access to specific pages, products, or content based on membership level. You can also limit a member’s access to a product or certain content.
- Integration with Other WooCommerce Plugins: WooCommerce Memberships integrates seamlessly with other WooCommerce plugins like Subscriptions and Bookings, allowing you to offer memberships that include recurring payments or access to bookable products.
- Customizable Membership Emails: You can personalize the emails sent to members when they sign up, renew their membership, or when their membership is about to expire.
Cons:
- Additional Cost: The WooCommerce Memberships plugin is a paid plugin, so you must purchase it separately. Small businesses or individuals just starting out may find the cost prohibitive.
- Complexity: The plugin may be difficult to configure and use, particularly for those unfamiliar with WordPress and WooCommerce. It may take some time to figure out how to use it properly.
- Limited Features: The plugin does not include all of the features you might need for a membership site, such as a forum, chat rooms, or other community features. Other plugins or tools may be required to add these features to your site.
- Compatibility Issues: The plugin may not be compatible with all WordPress themes and plugins, causing problems with your site’s functionality. You may need to thoroughly test it before implementing it on your site.
Restrict Content Pro
Restrict Content Pro is a WordPress plugin designed for website owners who want to create a membership site that provides their members with exclusive content, products, or services.
The plugin enables you to easily restrict access to specific pages, posts, or digital downloads based on membership levels, making it an ideal solution for businesses, organizations, and individuals looking to monetize and build a community around their content.
Pros:
- Flexible Membership Plans: Restrict Content Pro allows you to create an unlimited number of membership levels with customizable pricing, access levels, and trial periods.
- Payment Integration: The plugin integrates with major payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, enabling you to manage and accept recurring payments with ease.
- Easy to Use: The plugin is simple to use and set up, with a simple interface that allows you to manage memberships, restrict content, and track sales and earnings.
- Customizable Emails: You can personalize the emails that are sent to members when they sign up, renew their membership, or when their membership is about to expire.
- Content Restriction: The plugin allows you to restrict access to specific pages, posts, and digital downloads based on membership level, making it simple to provide exclusive content to your members.
Cons:
- Limited Integrations: Restrict Content Pro has limited integrations with other WordPress plugins and tools, which may limit the functionality of your site.
- Limited Membership Features: Because the plugin focuses primarily on membership management and content restriction, it lacks some features that some membership sites may require, such as community forums or social networking features.
- Limited Support: Support is only available via email, which may be a disadvantage for those who prefer more immediate assistance.
- Additional Cost: While the plugin itself is inexpensive, you may need to pay for additional add-ons to access some of the more advanced features, which can add up over time.
aMember Pro
aMember Pro is a membership management and e-commerce plugin that assists businesses in the creation and management of membership sites.
It offers a variety of features to assist you in managing your members, products, and payments, and it is highly customizable to meet your specific business requirements.
Pros:
- Easy Member Management: aMember Pro provides a simple and user-friendly way to manage members, making it simple to add, remove, or update member information.
- Flexible Payment Options: aMember Pro supports a wide range of payment gateways, giving you the freedom to select the one that works best for your business.
- Multiple Membership Levels: You can create multiple membership levels with varying access levels and pricing to cater to various customer segments and price points.
- Built-in Affiliate Program: aMember Pro includes a built-in affiliate program that allows you to incentivize members to promote your products and services.
Cons:
- Steep Learning Curve: aMember Pro’s interface can be overwhelming at first, and it will take some time to get used to.
- Limited Documentation: aMember Pro has limited documentation, which can make troubleshooting and customizing the plugin difficult.
- Limited Integrations: aMember Pro has few integrations with third-party tools, which can be a disadvantage for businesses that rely heavily on other software solutions.
S2Member
S2Member is a popular WordPress membership plugin that allows website owners to create membership sites and restrict registered users’ access to specific content.
Pros:
- Easy to Use: S2Member is relatively simple to use, with a user-friendly interface that allows even novices to create membership sites with little difficulty.
- Customizable: S2Member allows you to customize the look and feel of your membership site using custom templates, allowing you to create a one-of-a-kind site that matches your brand.
- Integrations: S2Member integrates with a variety of third-party tools, such as email marketing services, payment gateways, and social media platforms.
- Security: S2Member includes several security features, such as brute force protection, IP restriction, and CAPTCHA verification, among others.
- Free Version Available: S2Member has a free version that provides basic membership functionality, making it an affordable option for those on a tight budget.
Cons:
- Limited Support: Support is limited in the free version of S2Member, but the paid version includes email and phone support. Some users, however, have complained about the support team’s slow response times.
- Steep Learning Curve: S2Member has a steep learning curve, and while it is relatively simple to use, it can be difficult for beginners to navigate. Some users have reported that getting used to the interface and features takes some time.
- Limited Features in The Free Version: While the free version of S2Member provides basic membership functionality, it lacks some of the more advanced features found in the paid version, such as integration with popular payment gateways and email marketing tools.
Paid Memberships Pro
Paid Memberships Pro is another popular WordPress membership plugin that enables website owners to create membership sites and restrict access to specific content for registered users.
Pros:
- Flexible Membership Levels: Paid Memberships Pro allows you to create multiple membership levels, each with its own set of features and access permissions, making it simple to create a customized membership site.
- Easy to Use: Paid Memberships Pro has a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for beginners to set up and manage membership sites.
- Integrations: Payment gateways, email marketing services, and social media platforms are just a few of the third-party tools that Paid Memberships Pro integrates with.
- Free Version Available: Paid Memberships Pro includes a free version that provides basic membership functionality, making it an affordable option for those on a tight budget.
Cons:
- Limited Support: While Paid Memberships Pro provides support via email and forums, some users have complained about slow response times from the support team.
- Limited Features in The Free Version: Paid Memberships Pro’s free version lacks some of the more advanced features of the paid version, such as integration with popular payment gateways and email marketing tools.
- No custom templates: Paid Memberships Pro, unlike some other WordPress membership plugins, does not provide custom templates, which means you may need to hire a developer to create a unique look and feel for your membership site.
WordPress Membership Plugins Summary
The best WordPress membership plugin for you is determined by your specific needs and requirements. Each of the plugins listed above provides a variety of features for building membership sites, but they differ in terms of usability, customization options, and support.
When choosing a WordPress membership plugin for your WordPress site, keep your budget, goals, and technical expertise in mind.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you will be able to select WordPress membership plugins that are appropriate for your website. If you found this article useful, please leave a comment below.
