WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms in the world—and for good reason. It’s free, open-source, and highly customizable. With the right tools, you can turn a basic site into a powerful membership hub tailored to your exact needs.
This article covers some of those tools. We’ll cover some basics around membership plugins for WordPress and specific plugins you can use for your next membership site.
Why Do I Need a WordPress Membership Plugin?
Membership websites allow you to build deeper relationships with your audience. They give you a way to offer premium content, exclusive access, or ongoing services in exchange for recurring payments. This creates more predictable income and stronger engagement with your members.
WordPress gives you the flexibility to design almost any kind of site. Whether you’re building a learning platform, private community, or subscription-based content library, WordPress can adapt to your goals.
Plugins give your site the features it needs without custom coding. With a membership plugin, you can set up registration, control who sees what, and automate much of the user experience. This saves time and helps you launch faster, with fewer technical challenges.
What Makes a Good WordPress Membership Plugin?
Good WordPress membership plugins provide essential features like private content, recurring billing, self-serve accounts, email automation, and integrations with other tools. They also expose access to these features by integrating with popular page builders such as Bricks, Divi, and Elementor.
Once a plugin has these core features, then strong support and regular updates are what take it from good to great. Support typically includes documentation, forums, and ways to directly contact the plugin author. Regular updates ensure your site is secure and stays compatible with newer versions of WordPress.
You also want a solution that grows with you. As your audience expands or your offerings become more complex, you’ll want a system that supports multiple membership levels, plays nicely with your theme and other plugins, and gives you room to customize. Flexibility helps ensure your setup can evolve without needing to start over.
How Do I Pick a WordPress Membership Plugin?
1. Memberstack
Memberstack stands out by combining a modern, no-code-friendly interface with a native WordPress plugin. While it began as a tool for Webflow and static sites, its WordPress integration now allows creators to manage gated content, user accounts, and recurring payments—all without diving into complex configurations.
Its key differentiator is the visual-first experience. You can manage memberships, content protection, and payments through an intuitive dashboard, and the plugin supports modern features like passwordless login, social sign-in, and fine-grained access controls with minimal setup.
| Pros | Cons |
| An unlimited free trial (on a test site) gives you time to properly evaluate | Only supports Stripe for payments |
| Clean, modern interface geared toward non-technical users | Fewer WordPress-specific integrations than older plugins |
| Supports passwordless login, social sign-in, and free/paid plans | Transaction fees apply to lower-tier plans |
| Fast setup with Stripe integration and visual content protection |
Memberstack Cost
Memberstack includes core features like gated content, Stripe integration, user dashboards, and modern login options on all plans. As you move up tiers, the biggest differences are in transaction fees, the number of members you can manage, and access to advanced features like branded emails, custom fields, and priority support.
When billing annually, Memberstack’s pricing tiers include:
- Basic ($25/month): Up to 1,000 members, 4% transaction fee. Includes access control, payments, and user dashboard.
- Professional ($39/month): Up to 5,000 members, 2% fee. Adds branded emails, more advanced access rules, and better analytics.
- Business ($79/month): Up to 10,000 members, 0.9% fee. Unlocks priority support and advanced plan customization.
- Established ($399/month): 0% transaction fees, advanced scaling tools, and concierge-level support.
Memberstack’s pricing is structured around your growth. As your member base expands, you’re rewarded with lower transaction fees and more control, but the monthly costs increase accordingly.
How to Get Started With Memberstack
- Install the plugin from the WordPress plugin directory
- Create a free Memberstack account and name your first app
- Provide your App ID to the Memberstack WordPress plugin
- Start using Memberstack on your WordPress site to protect content and add membership features.
Memberstack Support
Memberstack provides comprehensive documentation to help you through initial setup and advanced customization, all clearly organized on their official docs. If you need personalized help, direct email support and a friendly community forum are available, along with an active Slack community for real-time interaction.
2. Memberpress
MemberPress focuses mainly on features for paid courses. What sets it apart is the balance between ease of use and depth—ideal for both beginners and businesses needing scalable features like content dripping, course creation, and advanced access control.
It integrates tightly with WordPress plugins like bbPress and If Menu. Depending on your paid plan, it also integrates with various popular marketing platforms.
| Pros | Cons |
| User-friendly interface with a guided setup wizard | No free version, just a limited (14-day) trial |
| Powerful access rules, content dripping, and coupons built in | Limited visual customization without custom code |
| Strong integrations with LMS and marketing tools | Community features require more expensive paid plans |
MemberPress Cost
Every MemberPress plan includes the core feature set: content restriction, access rules, coupons, Stripe/PayPal support, and reporting. The higher tiers add support for more websites and unlock integrations with marketing tools, CRMs, and payment gateways like Authorize.net.
MemberPress doesn’t charge additional transaction fees on top of your payment processor’s standard rates. This transparency simplifies budgeting, as you’ll only need to factor in gateway fees from providers like Stripe or PayPal.
Plan tiers include:
- Basic ($179.50/year): Includes core membership management, unlimited levels, and built-in reporting.
- Plus ($299.50/year): 2 sites. Adds integration with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and ActiveCampaign.
- Pro ($399.50/year): 5 sites. Includes Authorize.net integration, Zapier, advanced reporting, and affiliate plugin compatibility.
The jump in pricing from Basic to Plus adds key integrations, which are essential for scaling your email automation and marketing efforts. Pro is more suitable for businesses with complex payment needs or multiple properties.
How to Get Started With MemberPress
- Purchase a plan from memberpress.com
- Install the plugin and activate your license
- Use the setup wizard to configure levels, payments, and restrictions
MemberPress Support
MemberPress has an extensive, searchable knowledge base on their official documentation site, offering detailed tutorials and troubleshooting guides. Paid users have access to dedicated ticket-based email support, and a vibrant MemberPress Facebook community is great for peer-to-peer advice and tips.
3. Ultimate Member
Ultimate Member specializes in front-end user profiles and directories. Unlike traditional membership plugins, it emphasizes social interaction and member visibility.
Its standout feature is its visual registration form builder and user directory system, allowing you to create richly styled, editable public profiles and filterable member listings with ease.
| Pros | Cons |
| Front-end profile editing and customizable user directories | Many useful features are locked behind premium extensions |
| Fine-grained access control with custom user roles | Documentation can be sparse for complex setups |
| Wide selection of free and premium extensions | Limited built-in support for eCommerce or LMS |
Ultimate Member Cost
The free version of Ultimate Member includes profile forms, registration/login, role-based content restriction, and member directories. If you need private messaging, WooCommerce support, content following, or integration with marketing tools, you’ll need to purchase premium extensions individually or via the full bundle.
Ultimate Member itself doesn’t include any transaction fees because payments are processed entirely through third-party gateways. Your only costs will be those from your chosen payment provider.
Plan tiers include:
- Free: Custom roles, member directory, registration/login forms, and profile editing.
- Individual Add-ons: ~$40–$70 each. Adds private messaging, social login, user reviews, reCAPTCHA, and WooCommerce integration.
- Extensions Pass ($249/year): All premium extensions for unlimited sites, with updates and support.
Ultimate Member scales more through functionality than member count. As your site becomes more interactive or commerce-focused, you’ll likely need several of the premium extensions.
How to Get Started With Ultimate Member
- Install from the WordPress Plugin Directory
- Set up registration/login/profile pages using shortcodes
- Configure roles, forms, and optional directories
Ultimate Member Support
Ultimate Member’s official documentation provides detailed setup instructions and helpful troubleshooting articles. Free users can ask questions in the WordPress.org support forums, while premium users get dedicated ticket support. Additionally, their active Facebook group offers community-driven support and best practices.
4. UsersWP
UsersWP is a lightweight solution built for sites that need flexible user profiles and directories without unnecessary overhead. Unlike many plugins that bundle everything into one system, UsersWP keeps things modular—ideal for performance-focused sites or those that already use other tools for payments or content gating.
Its unique strength lies in simplicity and speed. It’s well-suited for directories, community sites, and any project that needs clean front-end registration, login, and profile functionality with minimal friction.
| Pros | Cons |
| Modular architecture for fast performance | Requires add-ons for most membership-related features |
| Easy setup for user profiles, directories, and login flows | Lacks built-in payment or subscription options |
| Compatible with BuddyPress, WooCommerce, and custom roles | Limited LMS or content protection features |
UsersWP Cost
UsersWP starts with lightweight user registration, login, and profile management. To enable features like content restriction, WooCommerce or EDD integration, social login, or email marketing tools, you’ll need to install paid add-ons or purchase the full bundle.
Since UsersWP does not directly handle payments or subscriptions, it doesn’t charge any transaction fees. Any associated fees will come directly from the payment gateways you choose to integrate separately.
Plan tiers include:
- Free: Front-end user login, registration, and simple profile display.
- Individual Add-ons: $29–$39 each. Adds functionality like social login, content restriction, Mailchimp, custom tabs, and user reviews.
- Bundle ($199/year): All premium add-ons for unlimited sites.
The pricing is flat and affordable, especially with the bundle. It’s ideal for developers or site builders who want flexibility without paying for bloated features they don’t need.
How to Get Started With UsersWP
- Install the core plugin from WordPress.org
- Create user registration and profile forms
- Add paid add-ons, directories and integrate with other tools as needed
UsersWP Support
UsersWP has clear and helpful guides available in their documentation section, covering everything from initial installation to add-on integrations. Free plugin users receive community-based support via WordPress.org forums, while premium users enjoy priority ticket support. They also maintain an active Facebook community group.
5. User Registration and Membership
User Registration and Membership is focused on form-building and user onboarding, making it ideal for sites that need custom registration flows or detailed user profiles. Unlike some more generalized tools, it offers an intuitive drag-and-drop form builder tailored specifically for user signups.
Its strength lies in its flexibility—offering multi-step registration, conditional logic, and role-based redirection. For developers or site owners who need precise control over how users join and interact with the site, WP User Registration stands out.
| Pros | Cons |
| Drag-and-drop builder with strong field customization | No free trial |
| Supports multi-step forms and conditional logic | Requires premium add-ons for content restriction and WooCommerce integration |
| Offers role-based redirection and user approval workflows | Limited built-in membership features compared to other all-in-one tools |
| Some advanced features are split across multiple paid extensions |
User Registration and Membership Cost
User Registration and Membership offers a powerful drag-and-drop form builder and lets you create custom registration flows. The free version is limited to basic forms and user role assignment, while the paid tiers unlock advanced features like multi-step forms, conditional logic, and content restriction.
WP User Registration does not collect any additional transaction fees on your sales or subscriptions. You’ll only pay standard fees through your connected payment gateways.
Plan tiers include:
- Free: Basic form builder, shortcodes, email notifications, user roles.
- Personal ($99/year): 1 site. Adds content restriction, file uploads, WooCommerce integration, login redirection, and reCAPTCHA.
- Plus ($249/year): 5 sites. Includes everything in Personal, plus advanced fields and integrations.
- Professional ($499/year): The Plus plan’s features with unlimited sites.
Upgrading gives you more control over workflows and integrations. The Professional plan is the best choice if you’re building many sites. Otherwise, you get full functionality with the Plus plan.
How to Get Started With WP User Registration
- Install the free plugin from the WordPress Plugin Directory
- Use the drag-and-drop builder to create registration forms
- Configure user roles, redirects, and notifications
WP User Registration Support
WP User Registration’s official documentation site offers straightforward, step-by-step instructions on form setup and customization. Basic support is available through WordPress.org forums, while premium users have direct access to dedicated ticket-based support. Although no large external forums exist, their blog provides regular tips and tutorials.
6. Membermouse
MemberMouse markets itself as an “Enterprise Level Membership Plugin”. Unlike most plugins, it’s built more like a SaaS and includes built-in tools for upsells, churn reduction, detailed reporting, and customer management.
It also doesn’t follow the typical WordPress licensing model. Instead of GPL, it’s a hosted plugin with per-site billing and centralized updates, which appeals to businesses looking for robust control over monetization and scaling.
| Pros | Cons |
| Advanced tools for revenue optimization (e.g., 1-click upsells, SmartTags) | Not GPL-licensed and runs as a hosted plugin (some users may find this restrictive) |
| Powerful reporting and analytics dashboard | Pricing is higher than most alternatives |
| Supports complex pricing models, trial periods, and product bundles | Less friendly to developers due to limited extensibility |
MemberMouse Cost
MemberMouse uses a hosted licensing model and scales pricing by both features and member volume. Every plan includes SmartTags, checkout pages, and core billing features. Higher tiers unlock advanced automation, analytics, and integration tools.
MemberMouse doesn’t impose its own transaction fees. You’re only responsible for fees charged by the payment processor you select, keeping billing straightforward.
Plan tiers include:
- Basic ($299/year): Stripe Payments, email marketing integrations, content scheduling.
- Plus ($499/year): Everything in basic plus additional payment options and course features.
- Pro ($699/year): Everything in Plus with additional payment options and analytics.
Plans scale to add additional course features
How to Get Started With MemberMouse
- Sign up for a MemberMouse license at membermouse.com
- Download and install the plugin via their customer portal
- Set up membership levels, SmartTags, and access rules
MemberMouse Support
MemberMouse offers extensive documentation, video tutorials, and troubleshooting guides through their official support portal. All license holders receive direct support via email tickets, with premium plans getting priority responses. While there’s no official community forum, third-party resources and reviews can provide additional insights.
7. Wishlist Member
Wishlist Member is one of the oldest membership tools in the WordPress space and has evolved to support a wide variety of use cases. What makes it unique is its modular system that supports both simple and highly complex membership setups, including sequential content delivery, flexible membership pipelines, and extensive third-party integrations.
It also offers a true “stacked” access model—members can belong to multiple membership levels at once, which provides more flexibility than plugins that force users into a single tier.
| Pros | Cons |
| Members can belong to multiple membership levels simultaneously | Interface feels dated compared to newer plugins |
| Deep integration support (over 50 third-party tools, including CRMs and LMSs) | The learning curve is higher for beginners |
| Built-in tools for drip content, pay-per-post access, and sequential upgrades | Advanced automation features may require additional integrations |
Wishlist Member Cost
Wishlist Member has one-time pricing and scales mainly by site usage. All plans include the full set of features—sequential upgrades, stacked memberships, and payment integrations—so you’re not limited by functionality on lower tiers.
Wishlist Member doesn’t add any transaction fees. Your costs will be limited to standard charges from your payment gateways (e.g., Stripe or PayPal).
Plan tiers include:
- Basic ($299/year): 1 site. Content protection and scheduling features, customizable registration forms, email and LMS integrations.
- Plus ($499/year): 2 sites. Adds course gamification and various integrations too the basic plan.
- Pro ($699/year): 5 sites. Unlocks more integrations and functionality for teams using the plugin.
The price scales purely by the number of sites. Functionality remains mostly consistent, with the main benefit of higher tiers being more integrations.
How to Get Started With Wishlist Member
- Purchase a license at wishlistmember.com and download the plugin
- Install and activate the plugin on your WordPress site
- Set up membership levels and configure access rules
Wishlist Member Support
Wishlist Member maintains a thorough documentation library to help you navigate setup and integrations smoothly. They provide email-based ticket support for all active license holders. The community presence is limited but helpful, with occasional engagement in a dedicated Facebook group.
8. Simple Membership Plugin
Simple Membership is one of the lightest and most beginner-friendly options on this list. Its biggest differentiator is its completely free core offering, which covers the basics of member management and content protection without requiring a premium plan or bundled upsells.
It’s a great fit for hobbyists, nonprofits, or anyone who needs to protect content behind a login without the complexity or overhead of enterprise features.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free and fully functional for basic use cases | Very limited built-in integrations |
| Lightweight and fast with minimal configuration required | Advanced features (like 2FA or dynamic menus) require separate add-ons |
| Simple shortcodes for content restriction and member pages | Not ideal for complex or highly scalable membership sites |
Simple Membership Cost
Simple Membership is a free plugin that includes all essential membership functionality out of the box. Payments, content protection, and user management are included, and the pricing model is focused on optional, low-cost add-ons for extra functionality.
Simple Membership doesn’t charge transaction fees; any applicable costs come solely from your integrated payment processor, making it budget-friendly for small sites.
Plan tiers include:
- Free: Unlimited membership levels, content restriction, PayPal integration, shortcodes.
- Add-ons: $29–$87 each. Stripe payments, Mailchimp integration, custom messages, email autoresponders.
Most users can launch with the free version and layer in functionality gradually. It’s ideal for simple projects or budget-conscious creators.
How to Get Started With Simple Membership
- Install the plugin from the WordPress Plugin Directory
- Create membership levels and protect posts or pages via shortcodes
- Add login, registration, and member account pages with built-in tools
Simple Membership Support
Simple Membership has detailed documentation on their official site that covers common questions and troubleshooting tips. Support is primarily community-driven through their official forums and WordPress.org forums.
9. AccessAlly
AccessAlly is the most LMS and automation-focused tool on this list. Originally built for course creators and coaches, its standout feature is deep native integration with CRM platforms like ActiveCampaign, Keap, ConvertKit, and Drip—allowing you to create personalized user journeys based entirely on tags and automations.
Rather than working through shortcodes or WordPress roles, AccessAlly gives you granular control through your CRM. This makes it a top choice for users with complex funnel needs or those selling coaching programs, online courses, or digital ecosystems with behavior-based access.
| Pros | Cons |
| Deep two-way CRM integration with advanced tagging and automation | Pricing is significantly higher than most other plugins |
| Built-in LMS with progress tracking, quizzes, and certificates | Requires familiarity with CRM workflows for full benefit |
| Highly customizable user experience and member dashboards | Overkill for simple membership sites |
| Only 1 site per license on all paid plan tiers |
AccessAlly Cost
AccessAlly is priced as a premium SaaS-style plugin with monthly billing. All plans include deep CRM integration and core membership functionality, but higher tiers add LMS features, gamification, and affiliate tools.
AccessAlly charges no extra transaction fees beyond those imposed by your payment provider, which allows predictable and transparent monthly expenses.
Plan tiers include:
- Essentials ($990/year): Includes CRM integration (ActiveCampaign, Keap, ConvertKit, etc.), member tagging, and access control.
- Pro ($1290/year): Adds built-in LMS features like quizzes, progress tracking, and private notes.
- Community ($1490/year): Adds unlimited members, affiliate management, and advanced automation.
AccessAlly’s pricing reflects its enterprise positioning. It’s a strong fit for creators who rely heavily on CRM automation and advanced course delivery.
How to Get Started With AccessAlly
- Sign up at accessally.com and connect your CRM
- Install the plugin and sync with your site
- Use the visual course builder and CRM tags to control access
AccessAlly Support
AccessAlly’s official documentation is extensive and detailed, complete with setup guides and videos tailored to CRM integration. However, since they focus more on direct support, their documentation lacks a well-defined “Getting Started” path. They provide direct email support, onboarding consultations, and regular webinars. Additionally, users benefit from an active private Facebook community where they share best practices and strategies.
10. SureMembers
SureMembers is one of the newest options in the membership space and was created by the team behind SureCart. Its main differentiator is how tightly it’s integrated with the modern WordPress stack, especially block-based editing.
The plugin is lightweight, performance-focused, and designed for ease of use. It fits perfectly into sites that are already using modern tools like Gutenberg or Kadence and want fast content protection with minimal bloat.
| Pros | Cons |
| Modern UI with block editor integration | Limited third-party integrations outside the Sure ecosystem |
| Built to work natively with SureCart and SureTriggers | Still relatively new—fewer tutorials and user community resources |
| Lightweight and fast with minimal dependencies | Lacks some advanced LMS or drip content features out of the box |
SureMembers Cost
SureMembers is priced competitively and scales by the number of sites. Every plan includes all features—access groups, content restriction, and SureCart/SureTriggers integration—so you’re not gated by functionality.
SureMembers itself doesn’t charge any transaction fees. You’ll only pay fees associated with whichever payment processor you connect.
Plan tiers include:
- Starter ($99/year): 1 site.
- Pro($199/year): 10 sites.
- Business ($299/year): 100 sites.
- Business Lifetime ($1299 one-time): Business features for a fixed price.
There’s no functional lock-in across plans, making this a simple and transparent choice for developers or teams already using the Sure ecosystem.
How to Get Started With SureMembers
- Purchase a license from suremembers.com
- Install and activate the plugin
- Connect SureCart (if used) and begin protecting content using access groups
SureMembers Support
SureMembers offers clear, well-structured documentation available at their official docs site, making setup intuitive and quick. Direct email support and convenient in-app chat options are available for all paid users. Community support is also accessible through a shared Facebook group alongside other Sure products like SureCart and SureTriggers.
11. aMember Pro
aMember Pro is unique in that it’s a standalone PHP-based membership application that also integrates with WordPress. It’s a self-contained system that offers advanced billing, affiliate management, and multilingual support out of the box.
This makes aMember ideal for users with complex billing needs or legacy systems who still want to protect WordPress content. It’s especially popular outside the typical WordPress ecosystem, with strong support for international payment processors and non-English languages.
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly flexible billing system with multiple payment gateways | No free trial |
| Built-in affiliate program management | Dated interface and non-native WordPress user experience |
| Multilingual and multi-currency support out of the box | Requires technical setup and manual integration with WordPress |
| Lacks the polished UX of modern WordPress plugins |
aMember Pro Cost
aMember Pro uses a one-time license model. You pay once for lifetime access, with 6 months of support and updates. Functionality is not split by pricing tiers—everything is included from the start. Higher tiers allow additional sites.
aMember Pro doesn’t add transaction fees. You’ll only incur costs from the payment gateway you select, without hidden or additional charges from the plugin.
Plan tiers include:
- Single ($149 one-time): 1 site. 6 months of updates/ support.
- Professional ($399 one-time): 5 sites. 6 months of updates/ support.
After 6 months, you can renew support and updates for an additional fee, but the plugin continues to work indefinitely. This makes it a good fit for developers who prefer flat costs and don’t mind a more manual setup.
How to Get Started With aMember Pro
- Purchase and download from amember.com
- Install aMember on your web server (separate from WordPress)
- Use the WordPress integration plugin to protect content and sync users
aMember Pro Support
aMember Pro provides thorough documentation on their official docs page, covering installation, setup, and integration scenarios. Users can access direct ticket-based support included with their purchase. There’s a small but engaged user forum for peer-to-peer support and community discussions.
12. WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Memberships is built specifically for store owners who want to turn their eCommerce setup into a membership system. Unlike most membership plugins, it’s deeply integrated with WooCommerce, allowing you to tie membership access to product purchases or subscriptions.
Its strength lies in blending content restriction with store functionality—you can grant access based on purchases, drip content tied to products, and even offer members-only discounts or products.
| Pros | Cons |
| Seamless integration with WooCommerce and WooCommerce Subscriptions | Requires WooCommerce to function |
| Content access can be granted or revoked based on product purchases | Best used with WooCommerce Subscriptions (sold separately) for recurring billing |
| Supports member discounts, product visibility, and content dripping | Can feel overly complex for non-store use cases |
WooCommerce Memberships Cost
WooCommerce Memberships is sold as a premium extension and designed to work alongside WooCommerce Subscriptions for recurring billing. Pricing is an annual subscription and based on per-site licensing.
WooCommerce Memberships itself does not add any transaction fees, though standard payment processor and WooCommerce gateway fees will apply.
Plan tiers include:
- One-year ($199/year): 1 site license. Full access to content restriction, product-based membership access, and member-exclusive pricing.
- Two-year ($318.40/ 2 years): Optional but recommended for recurring billing.
This model makes sense for store owners already using WooCommerce and looking to add memberships without migrating to a new system.
How to Get Started With WooCommerce Memberships
- Install and configure WooCommerce
- Purchase and activate the Memberships plugin
- Create membership plans and link them to product purchases
WooCommerce Memberships Support
WooCommerce Memberships has official documentation alongside other WooCommerce extensions. Support for active license holders is provided through WooCommerce’s direct ticketing system. Their Slack community offers excellent additional resources and peer assistance.
13. Paid Memberships Pro
Paid Memberships Pro is both powerful and flexible, offering excellent out-of-the-box functionality alongside extensive add-ons. You can easily create unlimited membership tiers, restrict content, and access built-in analytics and reporting—all within a user-friendly dashboard.
Its robust set of add-ons extends functionality dramatically, including options for content dripping, affiliate management, WooCommerce integration, and advanced email marketing connections. If customization is important to you, Paid Memberships Pro delivers.
Paid Memberships Pro Features
Paid Memberships Pro provides a user-friendly yet powerful dashboard for creating unlimited membership levels, managing content access, and configuring detailed membership rules. It comes equipped with built-in reports, content restriction, payment integrations with Stripe and PayPal, and supports recurring subscriptions.
Additionally, Paid Memberships Pro offers extensive add-ons for advanced functionality. Whether you’re looking to drip content, manage affiliates, integrate with WooCommerce, or enhance your email marketing, there’s likely an add-on to meet your needs. Its flexibility makes it suitable for almost any membership scenario.
| Pros | Cons |
| Generous free version with strong core functionality | Advanced setups may require multiple add-ons |
| Extensive add-on library for advanced features | The large number of add-ons can be overwhelming for beginners |
| Highly developer-friendly with extensive documentation and hooks | Interface less modern than some competitors |
Paid Memberships Pro Cost
Paid Memberships Pro offers additional support and add-ons as you upgrade through their paid plans. They also offer a generous free tier with more native integrations than other plugins on this list.
Paid Memberships Pro doesn’t charge transaction fees. You’ll simply cover the normal fees from your chosen payment gateway, providing clear, predictable costs.
- Free: Content restriction, membership levels, multiple payment gateway integrations, marketing and LMS integrations.
- Standard ($347/year): 1 site, access to 23 Standard add-ons, additional analytics.
- Plus ($597/year): 2 sites, access to 32 Plus add-ons, including advanced integrations.
- Unlimited ($3000 one-time): 2 sites. All features.
Paid Memberships Pro Support
Paid Memberships Pro features official documentation on their documentation hub. Free users receive community support via WordPress.org forums, while paid members have access to responsive ticket-based email support.
14. Restrict Content Pro
Restrict Content Pro was built to be a clean, lightweight membership plugin that integrates closely with the WordPress ecosystem. It stands out for its simplicity, straightforward plans, and smooth user experience.
| Pros | Cons |
| Clean interface with a minimal learning curve | Fewer marketing and automation features compared to others |
| Deep integration with Easy Digital Downloads | Less focus on LMS or community-building functionality |
| Developer-friendly and built with performance in mind | Advanced features like content dripping are only in higher tiers |
| Limited support for free-tier users |
Restrict Content Pro Cost
Restrict Content Pro offers a base free tier as well as paid tiers that scale the number of sites licensed. All plans include content restriction, member dashboards, and basic member emails. The paid tiers add access to 34 “Pro Add-Ons”, which include a mix of additional functionality and integrations.
Restrict Content Pro doesn’t add transaction fees on top of your gateway’s standard charges. Your total fees remain straightforward and predictable.
Plan tiers include:
- Free: 1 site. Core membership features.
- Pro – 1 Site ($99/year): 1 site. Free features plus Pro Add-Ons and private support.
- Pro – 5 Sites ($99/year): 5 sites. Free features plus Pro Add-Ons and private support.
- Unlimited ($249/year): Unlimited sites. Free features plus Pro Add-Ons and private support.
This structure allows solo site owners to start affordably and upgrade only when needed, while agencies can benefit from the unlimited and lifetime tiers.
How to Get Started With Restrict Content Pro
- Purchase a plan from restrictcontentpro.com
- Install the plugin and enter your license key
- Set up membership levels and restriction rules via the dashboard
Restrict Content Pro Support
Restrict Content Pro has an official knowledgebase offering a reference for the most common functions, but doesn’t promote “Getting Started” guides. Dedicated ticket support is only provided for all paid users. No free or community support is advertised on their site.
15. ARMember
ARMember offers a balance of visual design flexibility and built-in features, making it a strong choice for users who want control over styling without heavy custom code. It includes a live form builder, content restriction, payment integrations, profiles, and directory features on all plans.
| Pros | Cons |
| Built-in drag-and-drop form builder and visual access rules | UI can feel cluttered due to the number of built-in features |
| Supports multiple payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, etc.) | Some users report slow support response times |
| Includes drip content, trial periods, coupons, and even course support without extra plugins | Shortcode-heavy in certain areas for customization |
| Weak satisfaction guarantee (only if you can’t get it working with their help) |
ARMember Cost
ARMember includes a wide range of features in the base plugin, even at the free level. Premium unlocks more integrations, payment gateways, and automation tools.
ARMember itself doesn’t collect transaction fees. You’re responsible only for the usual payment processing fees from integrated gateways like PayPal or Stripe.
Plan tiers include:
- Free Plan ($0): Unlimited membership plans, basic payment gateways (PayPal and Bank Transfer), and essential add-ons; ideal for beginners or smaller sites.
- Standard Plan ($69/year): Single-site license with access to additional payment gateways (Stripe, Authorize.net, 2Checkout) and standard add-ons like Drip Content and Two-Factor Authentication.
- Professional Plan ($129/year): Covers two sites and unlocks extra add-ons including multi-language support, digital downloads, and gift memberships.
- Enterprise Plan ($299/year): Supports up to ten sites and includes advanced add-ons such as Online Courses, Affiliate programs, Social Communities, and Group Memberships.
How to Get Started With ARMember
- Install and activate ARMember directly from your WordPress dashboard (Plugins > Add New).
- Run the Setup Wizard from the ARMember dashboard to create membership plans and configure payments.
- Build customized registration and login forms using the built-in form builder.
- Set up content access rules, then test your setup thoroughly before launching.
ARMember Support
ARMember has official documentation, offering step-by-step guidance for setup and common configurations. Premium customers receive direct ticket-based support from the ARMember team, while free users can seek community-driven assistance via WordPress.org forums.
Where to Go From Here
All the plugins in this comparison share the same core purpose: they let you control access to content, manage users, and accept payments for memberships. They differ in design, integrations, pricing models, and how much technical setup they require—but at the foundation, they all help you build and grow a membership site on WordPress.
Your ideal plugin depends on your site’s goals, your preferred workflow, and how much flexibility or simplicity you need. Start by narrowing down your options based on what fits your current setup—and test a few to see what feels right in practice.
Here are a few ways you can move forward:
- Revisit your must-have features and deal-breakers
- Choose 2–3 plugins that best align with your use case
- Test the free versions or demos before you commit
Happy building!
