10 Best WordPress Membership Plugins Most are FREE 2024

We tested the best WordPress membership plugins so you can start your online business immediately.

We like a membership program because it is very predictable. Some clients come and go, but (MANY) others will stay loyal (forever).

Whether a blog with exclusive content, a course-oriented platform, or a subscription-based business, whatever your project is about, you can turn it into a long-term profit-generating machine with a proper plugin.

(You can set monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments depending on the program.)

So easy to start. It is easy to use and can be configured to your business needs.

Advice: A membership site is not the way to go if you are in for quick money.

Everyone can build a profitable membership WordPress site easily. No need to hire someone to do it for you. Instead, start taking action and have it set up ASAP.

Now, let’s look into the finest plugins for crafting membership websites.

This post covers the following:

• What to look for in a WordPress membership plugin?
• 10 best membership WordPress plugins
• Best membership plugin for WordPress
• Which WordPress membership plugin is the best for you?
• Frequently asked questions

What to Look For in a WordPress Membership Plugin?

When purchasing a WordPress membership plugin, you need to consider several key features and elements. Here are the factors that we looked at in every plugin we tested:

Unfortunately, we needed to eliminate MANY tools because they didn’t meet the requirements. But the ten below did!

User-friendliness

While building a membership website sounds daunting for many (beginner) users, a plugin must be user-friendly. When purchasing a membership plugin, ensure it has a great, easy-to-understand interface so everyone can get the most out of it.

No plugin will ask you for coding knowledge, so you can start immediately. We even tested most of the plugins with our three beginner friends, and they quickly learned everything on the fly.

And so can YOU!

Membership Levels

You’ll want to sort this out before you even launch your membership website or expand your existing website with one.

There are two of the most common membership levels you can opt for when purchasing a plugin:

1. Your users can start with (the lowest) membership plan and grow to the top one, step by step (this is a great option in combination with gamification).
2. Your users can individually pick/purchase a membership plan that suits their needs (but they can still upgrade when they want).

Remember, you can also create a one-time membership program without levels, upgrades, etc., just recurring payments.

Payment Options/Gateways

The plugin you use must offer multiple payment options and gateways. Not everyone prefers PayPal! When purchasing, ensure it connects with Stripe and offers card payments.

Some plugins even offer third-party integrations, especially for payment gateways, so you can choose the best solutions for your audience.

Upgrades and Subscriptions

When purchasing a membership plugin, it all depends on what you want to do with your membership business regarding upgrades and subscriptions.

Offering one-time payments and then letting members upgrade when they need new features, services, etc., is an option. Alternatively, let users enter your subscription model with recurring payments, which could be monthly or yearly; you have the right to choose the period.

Notifications and Reminders

We especially like setting notifications and reminders because they help keep your business even more organized. When purchasing a plugin, ensure you can configure notifications to your specific needs, saving you a lot of time.

For example, you don’t have to worry about notifying your users about new features or reminding them to renew their subscriptions.

Support (and Documentation)

Last, there’s no quality plugin without a great support team and extensive documentation. It doesn’t matter how many features, functions, special elements, and whatever else exciting it offers; when things go sideways and you don’t have anything to rely on, that’s a BIG no-no.

But you don’t have to worry because we picked only the membership plugins that you can depend on, both feature-wise and support-wise.

Some other worthy factors of membership plugins are statistics, reports, free trials, discounts, and content dripping.

TL;DR – Best Membership Plugins For WordPress

• MemberPress: Excellent all-in-one membership solution for any business.
• WooCommerce Memberships: Great to expand your products and services with a membership model.
• Restrict Content Pro: Easy and quick way to restrict content on websites and blogs.
• MemberMouse: The best business-oriented membership plugin with advanced functionality.
• s2Member: A robust and affordable membership website and content protection plugin.
• LearnDash: The best plugin for online courses and education memberships.
• Ultimate Membership Pro: Use it to protect your entire website or parts of it easily.
• ARMember: Ideal tool for professional services and online training with solid security.
• Paid Memberships Pro: Makes every large business expand with a membership system.
• Ultimate Member: A free and reliable membership plugin for content restriction.

Hey(!): You may also be interested in our reviewed content protection plugins for WordPress if that’s the (only) function you need.

10 Best Membership WordPress Plugins

1. MemberPress

When searching for the perfect membership plugin for purchasing for your WordPress site, MemberPress is mentioned quite a bit. It is one of the most popular plugins, powering many subscription-based sites.

It is very easy to install and almost too simple to use. And it comes with all the necessary features for a fully functional membership solution.

Once a tedious and expensive process, it is as simple as 1, 2, 3 with MemberPress!

You will have complete control over what content members can access, depending on their membership level with MemberPress.

Setting up pages, posts, categories, tags, you name it – all possible. When you get the plugin, it comes packed with a selection of price page themes, which you can use immediately. It guarantees that your pricing page works smoothly.

After customers purchase the desired membership package, they can upgrade (or cancel it) straight from your site.

With automatic billing, you almost do not have to do anything other than enjoy the incoming sales.

Since we could go on and on with the features, one more is worth pointing out: content dripping or content that unlocks and expires after a set time.

Note: MemberPress is also part of our best membership site platforms collection.

Best for:

Anyone who wants to start a membership website and needs an all-in-one solution that easily scales with their needs.

MemberPress Pros:

• Quick and easy setup
• Great statistics and reporting
• Configurable checkout
• Paywall and content dripping
• Affiliate program
• Supports any WordPress theme (you can also pick a membership WordPress theme)

MemberPress Cons:

• No free plan

MemberPress Pricing:

• Basic ($179.50/year): 1 site, unlimited members, unlimited courses, no monthly fees
• Plus ($299.50/year): All Basic features, 2 sites, unlimited quizzes, marketing integrations
• Pro ($399.50/year): All Pro features, 5 sites, Authorize.net integration, premium support

2. WooCommerce Memberships

Linking a membership section to your website is no longer difficult with WooCommerce Memberships. This plugin simplifies the process of purchasing and integrating membership functionality into your WordPress site.

You can set up a membership site and enjoy your business growth in just a few steps. For any advanced features, check out the comprehensive documentation available.

You’ll be impressed by how much you can achieve with this straightforward yet powerful plugin. With WooCommerce Memberships, you have full control over your membership site, allowing you to limit content access or implement a content drip schedule.

Choose the ideal membership plan now and scale it up as your business grows. WooCommerce Memberships offers great scalability, enabling you to integrate memberships into your e-products or services seamlessly. Our guide on how to sell digital products online can also be useful for this purpose.

For example, create memberships to provide access to premium content such as recipes, exclusive how-to videos, or podcasts. You can also set up an invite-only member area where you manually select members.

Start a purchasing club, offer exclusive discounts to members, and allow them to manage their plans easily. WooCommerce Memberships can be further enhanced with WooCommerce Subscriptions for additional functionality.

With WooCommerce Memberships, you can automate your online membership business and focus on growth without limitations.

Best for:

Easily adding a membership plan to your product or service and managing member-only content.

WooCommerce Memberships Pros:

• Very flexible membership functionality
• Offers discounts and member-exclusive perks
• Built-in customer service
• Integrates with 3rd-party plugins
• Customizable emails for notifications and reminders

WooCommerce Memberships Cons:

• No free version available (but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee)

WooCommerce Memberships Pricing:

$199/year provides you with the complete package to manage your membership site on WordPress.

3. Restrict Content Pro

Using Restrict Content Pro is a straightforward way to manage memberships and restrict content access on your WordPress site. This plugin makes the process of purchasing and managing memberships easy and efficient.

With Restrict Content Pro, you can set various membership levels and plan a long-term business model based on recurring revenue. Even if you’ve been offering free content, you can now monetize your site by providing exclusive, high-end content to paying members.

Restrict Content Pro comes with several built-in integrations at no additional cost, allowing you to accept payments via Stripe, 2Checkout, or PayPal. The more payment options you offer, the higher your chances of attracting new members and growing your business.

Additional features include CSV data export, unlimited subscription packages, and performance reports for your membership site. Automated welcome emails, receipts, and reminders are also easily managed through the plugin.

Extensive documentation is available for free, and members receive prompt email support, regardless of their membership level. This ensures that help is readily available whether you are purchasing the free version or opting for the Pro version.

Best for:

Any website looking to restrict content access and add a membership model, making it ideal for those interested in purchasing a solution for content monetization.

Restrict Content Pro Pros:

• Free, trial, and paid subscription options available
• Easy-to-read performance and usage reports
• Private and ticketed support for all membership levels
• Multiple add-ons for extended functionality
• Prevents password sharing to enhance security

Restrict Content Pro Cons:

• Beginner users might face setup challenges, but support is available

Restrict Content Pro Pricing:

• Free: Includes content restriction, membership levels, invoices, and basic member emails
• Pro: Starts at $99/year for 1 site, with all free features, private support, and 33+ pro add-ons

4. MemberMouse

Imagine a turn-key membership platform that you can set up in just a few minutes. MemberMouse offers exactly that, making it an excellent choice for those purchasing a membership solution for their WordPress site.

With a free 14-day trial, you have ample time to explore how MemberMouse operates and experience its benefits firsthand. This premium, flexible WordPress membership plugin is designed to run your online business efficiently without requiring extensive coding skills.

MemberMouse is an adaptable platform that quickly adjusts to meet your business needs. By automating routine tasks, MemberMouse takes the hassle out of managing membership sites. You can set up a secure, password-protected members’ area and define content access based on membership levels.

Content delivery can be scheduled, allowing for timed releases or upgrades to various membership plans. MemberMouse also includes essential features like affiliate tracking, one-click upsells, split testing for prices, trial offers, customizable checkout options, and robust management tools.

Manage order history, engagement, pauses, cancellations, and refunds with ease. Integration with popular email marketing and payment gateways, including MailChimp, AWeber, PayPal, and Stripe, ensures a seamless experience for both you and your members.

Prepare to optimize your membership business with this comprehensive plugin designed for those purchasing advanced membership management solutions.

Best for:

Coaches, entrepreneurs, and course creators who require a wide range of advanced membership features and are looking to invest in a top-tier membership plugin.

MemberMouse Pros:

• Comprehensive membership, product, and subscription management
• Excellent engagement statistics
• Drip content and scheduling capabilities
• Affiliate channel tracking for increased revenue
• Flexible payment plans
• Social media login integration

MemberMouse Cons:

• Relatively high cost, even with annual payment options

MemberMouse Pricing:

• Builder: $29/month – Includes core features, 11 membership pages, email integration, and basic reporting
• Advanced: $79/month – Includes all core features, full analytics and reporting, custom billing dates, and affiliate settings
• Premium: $100/month – Includes all core and advanced features, plus Sticky.io integration

5. s2Member

If you’re on a budget and looking for a cost-effective membership solution, s2Member offers a framework option that is free of charge. This allows you to test the waters of the online membership business without any upfront costs.

However, the free version supports only PayPal payments and lacks features like content dripping. For more advanced features, consider upgrading to the pro version. s2Member offers both single-site and unlimited-site licenses with a one-time payment, making it a great choice if you prefer to avoid recurring fees.

With s2Member, you can start monetizing your site without relying on traditional advertising. Offer some content for free while reserving premium content for paying members. This approach can help you generate revenue from your existing site.

s2Member supports all popular payment options and allows file storage either locally or through Amazon integration. The plugin uses WordPress shortcodes to simplify the setup process, turning complex tasks into straightforward solutions. Transform your site into a profitable membership platform with ease.

Additionally, s2Member comes with comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and email support for pro users, ensuring you have all the resources needed to build and maintain a successful membership site.

Start for free and explore s2Member’s robust features to enhance your membership site. Discover how easy it is to set up a membership program with this powerful tool.

Best for:

Anyone looking for an affordable and straightforward way to set up a membership website and protect content.

s2Member Pros:

• One-time payment (no recurring subscription fees)
• Flexible and scalable membership options
• Supports unlimited membership levels
• Includes content dripping capabilities
• File download restrictions for enhanced security
• Utilizes WordPress hooks and filters for customization

s2Member Cons:

• Not the most user-friendly interface
• Design and usability may feel outdated

s2Member Pricing:

• Framework: Free – Includes basic membership plugin features, content protection, and PayPal buttons
• Single Site: $89 – All Framework features plus multiple payment integrations and coupon codes
• Unlimited Sites: $189 – All Framework features with unlimited membership levels, gift/redemption codes

6. LearnDash

Fall in love with LearnDash as soon as you start using it. This powerful plugin simplifies the process of managing your paid subscription-based online project, offering total freedom to tailor the ideal solution for your business.

With LearnDash, you can easily enjoy recurring revenue and focus on generating more leads to scale your business. It’s the perfect choice for building and selling online courses and education programs. Renowned institutions like the University of Florida use LearnDash for their online learning platforms, highlighting its reliability and effectiveness.

Whether you want to monetize content that was previously available for free or create new, premium educational material, LearnDash makes it all possible. This comprehensive membership plugin is compatible with all WordPress sites, offering extensive features for course creation and management.

Beyond simply releasing content, LearnDash allows you to enhance the learning experience with features like certificates, badges, and points to motivate students. You can also interact with users based on their skill levels, manage student progress, and set flexible pricing or offer free content.

LearnDash is designed to elevate your online course creation and e-learning business, providing the tools you need to succeed in the competitive online education market.

Best for:

Building and managing online courses and educational programs with a robust membership system.

LearnDash Pros:

• Easy-to-use drag and drop online course builder plugin
• Flexible purchasing options: one-time or recurring payments
• Features like points, badges, and certificates to engage students
• Compatibility with any WordPress theme
• Supports WP Multisite networks for expanded use

LearnDash Cons:

• Advanced features require additional paid add-ons

LearnDash Pricing:

LearnDash pricing starts at $199/year for one site. You can scale up to ten sites for $399/year, or manage unlimited sites for $799/year. Alternatively, you can choose the Full Site plan for $29/month.

7. Ultimate Membership Pro

Ultimate Membership Pro is a premium WordPress tool designed for users who want a comprehensive solution for managing and purchasing subscriptions. It allows you to handle both free and paid memberships with ease.

With Ultimate Membership Pro, you can restrict access to your entire site or just specific content. The plugin offers advanced features for securing pages, products, URLs, and images, along with customizable redirection rules to enhance your content protection.

Utilize a variety of pre-built templates to streamline your setup. These ready-to-use templates save you time and effort, letting you focus on improving and customizing the predefined material.

Key features include support for multiple payment gateways, content dripping, and numerous membership levels. You can sell subscriptions through WooCommerce, integrate with nine popular email marketing platforms, and control content access by keywords.

Ultimate Membership Pro also simplifies login with options for seven major social networks (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), making member access quick and convenient.

Offering a vast array of options, Ultimate Membership Pro is highly scalable to accommodate your website’s growth. It provides extensive flexibility and customization to fit your unique needs.

Best for:

Anyone looking to protect their entire WordPress site or specific parts of it while managing memberships and subscriptions.

Ultimate Membership Pro Pros:

• Unlimited free and premium membership levels
• Compatible with WordPress page builders and themes
• Social media logins for quick and easy member access
• Custom content locker for enhanced security
• Push notifications for member engagement
• Advanced filtering and search options

Ultimate Membership Pro Cons:

• No free version or money-back guarantee available

Ultimate Membership Pro Pricing:

• Regular License ($59): Suitable for one end product that does not charge end users
• Extended License ($199): Suitable for one end product that can charge end users

8. ARMember

Discover ARMember, a premium membership plugin for WordPress designed to streamline the process of purchasing and managing subscriptions. This powerful tool makes it easy to create and manage subscription-based online projects without requiring coding skills.

ARMember provides a range of content restriction options, including level-based access, partial content protection for posts, IP limitations, and redirects. You can configure various membership settings such as one-time payments, free and paid trials, invite-only access, and recurring payments.

The plugin also offers flexible membership plan management, allowing users to easily upgrade or downgrade their subscriptions as needed.

Featuring a built-in page builder, ARMember enables you to design custom forms, signup pages, and password recovery pages, ensuring your membership site aligns with your main design. You can choose from predefined templates and ready-to-use badge layouts to save time and enhance your site’s appearance.

Additionally, ARMember supports social media logins for Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, simplifying the signup process for your users.

Overall, ARMember makes building and managing a membership site both user-friendly and enjoyable.

Best for:

Professionals seeking to build and manage subscription-based projects, including consulting services, corporate training, online courses, and premium content.

ARMember Pros:

• Optimized for novice users managing memberships
• Very affordable pricing options
• Fast support and comprehensive documentation
• Support for recurring payments
• Developer-friendly API for customization
• Integration with BuddyPress for enhanced community features

ARMember Cons:

• One license is required for each end product

ARMember Pricing:

• Free: Basic membership management, free trials, anti-spam features, import/export data, and support for both free and paid memberships
• Regular License ($59): Suitable for one end product that does not charge end users

9. Paid Memberships Pro

Paid Memberships Pro is a powerful plugin for creating and managing premium membership sites on WordPress. Ideal for purchasing and setting up a full-featured membership system, this tool offers extensive functionality to meet various needs.

With Paid Memberships Pro, you don’t need prior experience to get started. Comprehensive documentation and video tutorials will guide you through the setup process. Begin with the free plan to explore its basic features and determine if it fits your needs.

The free version provides essential tools to test the plugin, making it ideal for users who are considering whether Paid Memberships Pro is the right solution for their membership site. Upgrade to the Plus or Builder versions for additional features after familiarizing yourself with the basics.

Paid Memberships Pro is suitable for various online projects, including e-learning platforms, private communities, and businesses with large member bases. It supports different membership levels such as free, paid, weekly, monthly, and yearly subscriptions.

Integrate with major payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and CyberSource. If your preferred gateway isn’t listed, you can use the WooCommerce plugin for checkout processing.

Additionally, the plugin integrates with third-party tools such as MailChimp, Kissmetrics, and AffiliateWP. Over 70 available add-ons allow you to enhance your membership site with extra features.

Best for:

Large organizations and businesses looking to expand with a robust multi-level membership program and comprehensive functionality.

Paid Memberships Pro Pros:

• Supports custom post types and single-page restrictions
• Compatible with WordPress Multisite
• Offers multi-tiered memberships (parent and child accounts)
• Provides various payment options
• Includes insightful admin reports and tracking features

Paid Memberships Pro Cons:

• High cost for pro plans

Paid Memberships Pro Pricing:

• Free: Access to basic features including member-only content, one-time payments, recurring subscriptions, and discounts
• Standard ($247/year): Includes 1-site license, premium support, advanced customization options, and 20+ add-ons
• Plus ($397/year): Covers 2-site license, all Standard features, and 30+ add-ons
• Builder ($697/year): Provides 5-site license, all Plus features, and automatic updates

10. Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member is a sophisticated and user-friendly WordPress membership plugin that provides a free solution for building and managing membership sites. Ideal for those looking to handle purchasing and membership functionalities without upfront costs.

With Ultimate Member, users can easily create profiles and manage membership areas on their websites. This plugin offers versatility for any membership page you want to build, including features like front-end profiles, registration and login layouts, custom forms, a drag-and-drop builder, custom user roles, emails, and conditional navigation menus.

Start with the free version to explore its basic capabilities, and consider upgrading to Ultimate Member Pro for enhanced features. The Pro version provides over 20 additional extensions, allowing you to tailor the plugin to your specific business needs and optimize your membership site.

If you are uncertain about committing to a paid plan, Ultimate Member offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you ample time to test its features and ensure it meets your expectations.

Best for:

Anyone seeking a cost-effective way to start a membership website with robust content restriction features and easy membership management.

Ultimate Member Pros:

• Registration status and role selector field
• Anti-spam protection and modern user profiles
• Built-in search and filtering system
• Global or custom site access options
• Customizable email templates for notifications

Ultimate Member Cons:

• Support response times can be slow
• Fun and advanced extensions are available only in paid plans
• Individual extensions can be expensive if purchased separately

Ultimate Member Pricing:

• Free: Includes user profiles, registration and login forms, and basic content restriction features
• Extensions Pass ($249/year): Provides 20+ extensions, unlimited site license, and 1 year of updates and support
• Extensions + Theme Pass ($299/year): Includes everything in the Extensions Pass plan plus the Ultimate Member theme

Best Membership Plugin for WordPress

Choosing the right membership plugin depends on your specific needs and the size of your site. Some plugins are ideal for basic content restrictions, while others offer multi-level memberships, recurring payments, badges, and more advanced features.

To help you find the best solution, we’ve reviewed several top WordPress membership plugins tailored for different site sizes and requirements.

Which WordPress Membership Plugin Is the Best For You?

New Websites

If you’re just starting or have a small-volume blog or website and want to expand with a members-only area on a limited budget, consider these top plugins:

• Ultimate Membership Pro: An affordable one-time-payment tool that scales with your purchasing needs as your site grows.
• ARMember: Features a free version with practical membership features and strong security options, ideal for those looking to manage purchasing efficiently.
• Ultimate Member: A great start with its free version offering user profiles, forms, and content restrictions, perfect for basic membership purchasing.

Medium-Volume Websites

For those gaining traction and ready to invest in a more advanced membership program with additional features, here are three recommended plugins:

• WooCommerce Memberships: Offers excellent flexibility with easy integration of third-party plugins, ideal for those managing membership purchasing and transactions.
• MemberPress: Provides a quick setup for creating an advanced membership system with content dripping and an affiliate program, suitable for more complex membership purchasing needs.
• Restrict Content Pro: Features multi-subscription options with various add-ons for adding new functionalities, perfect for managing and enhancing membership purchasing.

High-Volume Websites

For larger businesses with higher budgets, these plugins offer robust features and scalability for managing extensive membership programs:

• MemberMouse: Provides endless options for running a membership site tailored to your specific purchasing and membership needs.
• s2Member: A powerful yet relatively basic membership plugin that covers extensive membership management and purchasing features.
• LearnDash: A modern and comprehensive plugin designed for running a successful online learning business with advanced membership purchasing functionalities.
• Paid Memberships Pro: An all-rounder plugin offering a handy free solution with three paid plans to cater to every purchasing and membership need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a membership plugin for WordPress?

Yes, there are multiple membership plugins for WordPress that you can use for various business needs. For example, Paid Memberships Pro is one of the ultimate solutions, offering both free and premium plans so anyone can start their membership site immediately. When purchasing a membership plugin, consider features that align with your business goals.

How do I add a membership to my WordPress site?

The easiest and quickest way to add a membership model to your WordPress site is by using a plugin. These plugins come with all the necessary features built-in, so you only need to select the functionalities you require, configure your settings, and you’re all set. When purchasing a membership plugin, ensure it has the features you need for effective membership management.

What is a membership plugin?

A membership plugin allows you to gate content, products, and services with complete control. It includes features to manage multi-level memberships, set up free and paid subscriptions, assign badges, and send notifications. When purchasing a membership plugin, look for one that offers comprehensive control over your membership site’s features.

Do membership sites make money?

Yes, membership sites can be a very lucrative business model. The advantage of membership sites is their predictability in revenue. While not all members will stay indefinitely, continuously expanding your offerings, adding new content, and enhancing services can significantly increase your revenue potential. Choosing the right membership plugin is crucial for effectively managing and growing your site’s revenue.

What’s the difference between a membership and a subscription?

While memberships and subscriptions are similar, the primary difference lies in their focus. Memberships often emphasize community and exclusive content, while subscriptions tend to be more revenue-focused. Both can offer free and premium plans. When purchasing a membership plugin, understanding these differences can help you select a plugin that best fits your business model.