Top 10+ WordPress Membership Plugins Compared

Do you want to create a membership website with WordPress? A membership plugin can help you restrict content, manage subscriptions, and build a community. These plugins let you offer exclusive content to paying members, creating a way to earn money from your website. Choosing the right membership plugin is very important for your growth and sales. This post compares some of the best WordPress membership plugins available so you can easily create a paid membership website.

How to Choose a WordPress Membership Plugin

Before we look at the plugins, let’s consider what makes a good membership plugin. When testing these plugins, we looked at several factors. Here are some key criteria to think about when you choose a plugin for your site:

• Ease of Use: The plugin should be easy to use, even if you are not a tech expert. Look for beginner-friendly dashboards and clear instructions.
• Membership Features: Consider what you want to offer your members. Do you need to restrict content, offer different subscription plans, build a community, sell online courses, or drip content? Make sure the plugin supports the features you need.
• Members-Only Content: The plugin should let you hide posts and pages for paying members.
• Subscription Plans: Check if the plugin can handle the types of subscriptions you want to offer, like monthly, yearly, or one-time payments.
• Payment Gateways: The plugin needs to work with popular payment systems like PayPal and Stripe so you can easily collect payments.
• Customization and Growth: You should be able to change things like membership levels and access rules easily. The plugin should also be able to grow with your website.
• User Reviews: It’s helpful to see what other users say about the plugin.

The Top WordPress Membership Plugins

Here is a comparison of some of the best WordPress membership plugins you can use in 2025.

1. MemberPress

MemberPress is a popular all-in-one membership plugin for WordPress. Many people find it easy to use but also powerful.

Key Features:

• Easy setup with automatic creation of essential pages like pricing and login.
• Drip content tools to keep members engaged over time.
• Powerful access control for posts, pages, files, and more.
• Supports recurring and one-time payments via PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net (Developer Plan).
• Courses and CoachKit add-ons for online learning.
• Integrates with email marketing tools like AWeber and Mailchimp.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• Allows unlimited membership levels.
• Offers strong content restriction features.
• Has good documentation and support.

Cons:

• The free plan has basic features only.
• Supports only the three most popular payment gateways in the basic plan.

Pricing: Starts at $179.50 per year.

2. Thrive Apprentice

Thrive Apprentice is a membership and course builder plugin. It is ideal if you want to create and manage professional online courses easily.

Key Features:

• Intuitive school setup wizard for easy onboarding.
• Drag-and-drop course builder with over 55 customizable templates.
• Customizable certificates to reward students.
• Personalized content display for visitors and members.
• Flexible content-dripping tools with multiple schedules.
• Supports one-time and recurring subscriptions.

Pros:

• Easy to use for creating and selling online courses.
• Offers advanced features for online learning.
• Has various course templates.
• Provides content drip features.

Cons:

• No free plan.
• Offers built-in support only for Stripe payments.

Pricing: Starts at $149 per year for the standalone plugin. The Thrive Suite plan with more plugins costs $299 per year.

3. Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a top e-commerce plugin. It is a great option if you want to sell digital products on your membership site.

Key Features:

• Built-in shopping cart for multiple downloads.
• Supports subscription billing with the Recurring Payments add-on.
• Lets you restrict downloads by membership levels.
• Offers special discounts and email notifications.
• Provides reports and analytics to track sales and performance.
• Accepts payments from Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and use.
• Specifically designed for selling digital products.
• Has a library of add-ons to expand features.

Cons:

• Has limited integrations beyond AffiliateWP.
• The free plan lacks subscription and membership features.

Pricing: While there is a free version, the Personal plan with more features starts at $199 per year.

4. MemberMouse

MemberMouse is a versatile WordPress membership plugin for growing businesses. It has advanced features to protect content, sell products, create courses, and boost revenue.

Key Features:

• Easy to offer both free and paid memberships.
• Drip content feature to release material over time.
• One-click upsells and cross-sells for seamless purchases.
• Personalize content using SmartTags without coding.
• Tracks key metrics like customer value and churn.
• Automates overdue payment handling.

Pros:

• Offers powerful features for sales and marketing.
• Suitable for large membership sites.
• Provides advanced analytics.

Cons:

• Has limited design options.
• No free plan.
• Has limited integration options for payment gateways compared to some.

Pricing: Starts at $199.50 per year.

5. WishList Member

WishList Member has many powerful features to protect members-only content. Its advanced restriction settings are ideal for paywalling content.

Key Features:

• Unlimited membership levels.
• Easy content protection with a one-click functionality.
• Private Tags for section-specific protection.
• Sneak peek content for non-members.
• Built-in course builder (CourseCure).
• Drip content scheduling.
• Integration with email marketing services.
• Accepts payments from 20+ popular gateways, including Stripe and PayPal.

Pros:

• Offers flexible content protection.
• Integrates with many payment gateways.
• Has a built-in course builder.

Cons:

• The extensive features can be overwhelming for beginners.
• Has no free plan.

Pricing: The Basic plan costs $149.50 per year.

6. AccessAlly

AccessAlly is a powerful and user-friendly membership plugin. It is a great solution for creating and selling courses, group coaching, and memberships.

Key Features:

• Elegant and user-friendly design.
• Built-in affiliate program.
• Gamification tools like points and badges.
• Multiple drip content delivery options.
• Conversion-focused features like upsells and coupons.
• Abandoned cart follow-up.
• Solid reporting and analytics.
• Integrates with Stripe and PayPal.

Pros:

• Offers advanced features for coaching and training sites.
• Includes gamification to boost engagement.
• Has strong marketing and sales tools.

Cons:

• Has limited customization options for the site’s look.
• No free plan.
• Can be more expensive than other options.

Pricing: The starter plan (AccessAlly Essentials) is $990 per year.

7. LearnDash

LearnDash is a flexible and user-friendly WordPress LMS plugin with advanced membership modules. It is ideal for creating exclusive members-only online courses.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop course builder with templates.
• Completion certificates.
• Flexible content restriction with levels and groups.
• Engagement tools like quizzes and forums.
• Drip content for timed lesson release.
• Tracks student progress.
• Integrates with MemberPress, WooCommerce, and more.
• Multiple payment options.

Pros:

• Excellent for building and selling online courses.
• Offers robust learning management features.
• Has many integrations.

Cons:

• Some features may not be relevant if you don’t sell courses.
• Has no free plan.
• Can be pricey for basic membership features.

Pricing: Starts at $199 per year for a single site.

8. Restrict Content Pro

Restrict Content Pro is a WordPress membership plugin with strong content restriction features. It lets you lock down access to content based on different criteria.

Key Features:

• Advanced content restriction capabilities with an easy dashboard.
• Customize access based on user progress or actions.
• Set up unlimited membership tiers.
• Recurring subscriptions options.
• Features for registration, login, discount coupons, and drip content.
• Built-in reporting and analytics.
• Integration with email marketing services.

Pros:

• Offers powerful content restriction.
• Is easy to use.
• Has a free version with basic features.

Cons:

• Marketing features are not as strong as other tools.
• The free plan has limited features and plugin branding.
• Best for websites where members need only one membership level.

Pricing: Offers a free version. The Pro version starts at $99 annually.

9. SureMembers

SureMembers is a user-friendly membership plugin designed for beginners. It offers essential features like content protection and subscription management.

Key Features:

• Beginner-friendly tool for simple and complex memberships.
• Content protection for pages, posts, categories, and tags with paywall.
• Third-party tool integrations.
• Detailed analytics.
• Drip scheduling with email marketing integration.

Pros:

• Simple to get started.
• Integrates with other WordPress plugins.
• Offers good customer support.

Cons:

• No course builder or community forum features.
• Has limited content dripping capabilities.
• No free plan.

Pricing: Starts at $69 per year.

10. Paid Memberships Pro

Paid Memberships Pro simplifies creating membership and subscription sites. It is known for letting users create multi-tiered membership levels easily.

Key Features:

• Create multi-tiered membership levels.
• Option to set up offline communities.
• Lets you lock custom post types and pages for paying members.
• Add personalized and drip content.
• Tools to run promotions with discount offers.
• Track sales and revenue.
• Integration with PayPal, Stripe, and Braintree.
• Free core plugin available.

Pros:

• Highly customizable.
• Offers a free core plugin with many features.
• Supports unlimited membership levels.

Cons:

• Protecting content can be challenging as you need to set access individually.
• Limited integrations with some tools in the free version.
• The user interface can be a bit overwhelming for beginners.

Pricing: Has a free plan. Paid plans start at $247 per year.

11. Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member helps you build online communities and membership programs easily. One of its highlights is the ability to create visually appealing user profiles.

Key Features:

• High customization for user and membership directories.
• Easy to create public or private directories with custom sorting.
• Integration with BuddyPress for a connected community.
• Account management system for easy profile updates.
• Social features like reviews and activity tracking.
• Works well with WooCommerce.
• Free to download.

Pros:

• Free to download and use for basic features.
• Great for building online communities.
• Offers good customization for user profiles.

Cons:

• Integrating with other tools can sometimes cause conflicts.
• Lacks an advanced reporting feature.
• No e-commerce features in the free version without WooCommerce.

Pricing: Free to download. Pro plans start at $249 per year.

Conclusion

Choosing the best WordPress membership plugin depends on your specific needs and goals. MemberPress is often considered the top choice overall due to its comprehensive features and ease of use. If you want to focus on online courses, Thrive Apprentice and LearnDash are excellent options. For selling digital products, Easy Digital Downloads is a strong contender. Consider your budget, the features you need, and how easy the plugin is to use to make the right decision for your website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best membership plugin for WordPress?

Our top recommendations include MemberPress for overall use, Thrive Apprentice for online courses, and Easy Digital Downloads for selling digital products.

What is the best free membership plugin for WordPress?

While free plugins like Paid Memberships Pro and Ultimate Member are available, they often have limited features. Premium plugins usually offer more features and better support.

How do I create a successful membership site?

Consider your niche, offer valuable content, engage with your members, and choose a reliable membership plugin.

What features should I look for in a membership plugin?

Key features include payment gateway integration, subscription management, content restrictions, and customizable member dashboards.

Can I sell courses using a membership plugin?

Yes, many membership plugins, especially those with LMS features like MemberPress and LearnDash, allow you to sell online courses.

How much does a WordPress membership plugin cost?

The cost can range from free to several hundred dollars per year, depending on the features and the plugin. Premium plugins generally offer more advanced features.