Selling digital content isn’t a niche business anymore. From photographers selling presets to teachers selling courses, almost every industry now has a market for something digital.
If you want to turn your website into a members-only club, you need more than a shop front. You need rules for who gets in, what they can see, and how they pay. That’s exactly what a WordPress membership plugin does for you.
We tested and researched 15 of the best WordPress membership plugins for 2026 so you can compare pricing, features, and support in one place. If you’re launching your first paid newsletter or running a full online academy, one of these plugins should fit your WordPress site.
- 1. MemberPress
- 2. SureMembers
- 3. ProfilePress
- 4. Ultimate Membership Pro Plugin
- 5. Magic Members
- 6. MemberMouse
- 7. WooCommerce Memberships
- 8. Paid Memberships Pro
- 9. Paid Membership Subscriptions
- 10. WP-Members
- 11. ARMember
- 12. S2Member
- 13. LearnDash
- 14. ProfileGrid
- 15. Ultimate Member
1. MemberPress
MemberPress is one of the most recognized names in WordPress membership plugins, and it’s easy to see why. It gives you full control over your membership plans right from installation, so you decide exactly who can access your subscription-only content.
Managing subscribers is simple here. MemberPress includes a content dripping feature, so you can schedule when new content unlocks for each membership tier. You’ll also get built-in reports to track how your site is performing.
MemberPress now has three tiers: Launch, Growth, and Scale. Launch starts at an introductory price of $199.50 for the first year (renews at $399), and it charges a 4.9% transaction fee on Stripe payments. Growth and Scale drop the transaction fee and add features like CoachKit and Easy Affiliate. There’s no free version or trial.
Key features:
- Unlimited members and unlimited digital product sales
- Customizable, unlimited coupon codes
- Automatic access revocation when a member unsubscribes
- Built-in quizzes, certificates, and an affiliate program on higher tiers
2. SureMembers
SureMembers is a lean, purpose-built membership plugin that supports membership roles, paywalls, and bulk user management. You get full control over what each access group can see, and you can add or exclude specific posts, pages, and resources whenever you need to.
Pair SureMembers with SureCart for payments, and you can run a complete online store around your membership content. It works well for suggesting related products or add-ons to grow your average order value.
SureMembers is one of the more affordable options on this list. The Starter plan runs $69 a year for one site, Pro is $149 a year for 10 sites, and Business is $199 a year for 100 sites. There’s also a Business Lifetime option at $599 as a one-time payment. All plans include 24/7 priority support.
Key Features:
- Access groups and paywalls
- Drip content support
- Bulk edit for user roles
3. ProfilePress
ProfilePress is one of the newer names on this list, and it takes a different angle than most. Instead of bolting membership onto a content-restriction tool, it starts with user management and builds selling on top of that.
That means you get a drag-and-drop builder for registration forms, login pages, password resets, and front-end profile editing, all without sending anyone into the WordPress dashboard. You can then attach paid membership plans to those users, restrict pages, posts, and custom post types by plan or role, and publish searchable member directories that visitors can filter using your own custom fields.
On the payments side, ProfilePress handles both one-off purchases and recurring subscriptions natively, with support for Stripe, PayPal, Paddle, Razorpay, Paystack, and Mollie. Free trials, installment plans, coupons, and automatic invoices are all built in, so you can sell digital downloads, such as eBooks, templates, music, and software, without adding a separate eCommerce plugin. If you’re running courses, it integrates with LearnDash, LifterLMS, and Sensei LMS.
A free version is available on WordPress.org, and it’s genuinely usable for registration forms, profiles, and basic selling, though it applies an extra 2% fee on Stripe transactions and keeps the more advanced add-ons locked. Paid licences start at $129 a year for one WordPress membership site (Standard), $299 for three sites (Plus), and $599 a year for unlimited sites (Agency). All paid plans drop the extra Stripe fee and come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
The main thing to weigh up is that a few features you might consider essential, including WooCommerce support, metered paywalls, user moderation, and invoicing, sit on the Plus plan rather than Standard. Check the add-on list against your needs before you pick a tier.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop form builder for registration, login, and profiles
- Six payment gateways with recurring billing, trials, and installments
- Content restriction by membership plan or user role
- Searchable member directories with custom field filters
- Two-factor authentication and email verification
- Free version available
4. Ultimate Membership Pro Plugin
Ultimate Membership Pro is a one-time purchase, priced at $69 on CodeCanyon. It comes with 41 add-ons, and CodeCanyon lists it as active on more than 37,000 websites.
The plugin offers flexible access rules and is straightforward to set up on a new site. It supports an affiliate program, discount codes, email notifications, and recurring payments, so you can run a subscription business without extra tools bolted on.
Despite its simple look, Ultimate Membership Pro is fully responsive, so it works well no matter what device your members use to log in.
Key features:
- Easy setup with WooCommerce integration
- Unlimited subscription packages
- Built-in affiliate program
- Budget-friendly, one-time pricing
5. Magic Members
Magic Members is a solid membership plugin for WordPress, priced at $97 as a one-time payment. It includes protected downloads, flexible membership options, and full integration with WordPress out of the box.
The plugin is easy to use and helps you build a membership site quickly. It supports plenty of payment gateways, including Authorize.net, Stripe, PayPal Standard, PayPal Website Payments Pro, and Express Checkout.
Key features:
- Integrates with tools like Mailchimp
- Unlimited coupon codes
- Pay-per-post and pay-per-view options
6. MemberMouse
MemberMouse packs in a lot of functionality, but don’t let that intimidate you. Once you’re set up, you’ll have access to nearly every membership handling feature you could need.
A standout feature is that MemberMouse lets you sell content outside your main membership tiers, as a one-off bundle. A single post, page, image, or collection can be sold to anyone without requiring a full sign-up. You can also build free trials, so people can try before they buy.
Key features:
- Custom membership management
- Login attempt limits
- Prorated upgrades
- Social media integration
7. WooCommerce Memberships
If you already run a WooCommerce store, WooCommerce Memberships is likely the plugin you need. It’s especially useful if you want to restrict content to subscribers only, and it works well alongside our Website Builder or DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) services.
You can lock any content behind a members-only wall, and drip content or discount codes come standard. It’s a strong fit for existing WooCommerce users, though it offers less value if you don’t already use WooCommerce.
WooCommerce Memberships costs $199 a year for the plugin itself. If you also want to bill members on a recurring basis, you’ll need WooCommerce Subscriptions, which adds another $279 a year.
Key features:
- Full eCommerce functionality
- Unlimited membership tiers
- Membership access through product purchases
8. Paid Memberships Pro
Paid Memberships Pro is a membership plugin for WordPress that won’t cost you anything to start. You can restrict content the moment you install it, which makes it a great pick if you’re testing a membership idea before committing to a paid plugin.
One of its best features is the “teaser,” which lets non-members see a glimpse of restricted content. That keeps curiosity high and still gives your pages a shot at ranking in search results. The plugin also ships with a dedicated WordPress theme built for smooth integration.
Paid pricing starts with Standard at $174 for the first year (renewing at $347), and Plus at $299 for the first year (renewing at $597) for two site licenses. The interface takes some getting used to compared to newer plugins on this list.
Key features:
- Restricted content capabilities
- Custom access for individual pieces of content
- Drip scheduling
- Member-only discounts and deals
9. Paid Membership Subscriptions
Paid Membership Subscriptions is a popular choice for anyone building a subscription or restricted-access WordPress site. Managing subscriptions is simple, from granting access to revoking it, and the plugin includes a genuinely useful free trial before you pay for anything.
With the free version, you can already:
- Restrict content and set permissions
- Arrange subscription tier plans
- Tailor free and paid membership plans
- Customize email notifications
- Integrate with WooCommerce and PayPal
That’s a lot of functionality before you spend a cent, which is why the plugin has built a loyal following among smaller membership sites. Paid versions start at $99 per year for one site, ideal for beginners and solo creators.
Key features:
- Analytics and reporting
- Multiple payment options
- User and order tracking
10. WP-Members
WP-Members is a straightforward plugin that restricts content and generates teasers for upcoming posts. You can tailor registration to fit your needs and personally screen and approve every subscriber.
Developers with more experience will find plenty of room to customize WP-Members further. It can feel less intuitive if you’re brand new to WordPress, but it still packs a solid feature set, even though the free version has some limitations.
Key features:
- Custom registration forms
- Teaser content support
- Menu item restriction
- Free spam registration prevention
11. ARMember
ARMember has climbed the membership plugin rankings quickly, largely because you don’t need advanced technical skills to build a members-only site with it. Setting up automatic monthly payment collection takes only a few clicks, and drip-feeding teaser content to keep members engaged is just as easy.
Key features:
- Strong website security options
- Wide range of supported payment methods
- Downgradable membership tiers
- Teaser and drip release features
12. S2Member
S2Member is a free plugin for building a WordPress membership site, though it’s not the friendliest option for beginners. Once you get used to it, you’ll find a surprisingly deep feature set for a free tool.
You can restrict file downloads and media streaming, and the free version supports a four-tier subscription structure with flexible registration options.
Key features:
- Email marketing integration with Mailchimp
- Flexible registration options
- Free to use, with paid Pro add-ons available
13. LearnDash
LearnDash is one of the best-known learning management plugins for WordPress. If you want to sell online courses, this is the plugin most course creators reach for first.
Its drag-and-drop builder lets you create courses on almost any subject, and you can assign work, grade it, and build a community forum around your course content, all from inside WordPress.
LearnDash moved to a feature-based pricing model in 2026. Essentials starts at $259 a year, Pro is $399 a year, and Elite is $599 a year, with every tier including unlimited courses and learners and no per-student fees. LearnDash also offers a hosted option called StellarSites Learning, starting around $29 a month.
Key features:
- Drip educational content
- Integrates with WooCommerce, PayPal, and Zapier
- Course-based forums for building a student community
14. ProfileGrid
ProfileGrid comes in free and paid versions as a WordPress membership plugin and gets updated with new features regularly. It covers most of what you’d expect from a membership plugin, including user profiles, groups, communities, paid memberships, and WooCommerce profiles.
Since it’s built specifically for WordPress, it includes plenty of widgets you can drop into pages or posts. The free version already offers a lot, but a one-time payment of $79 unlocks extras like custom profile tabs, profile labels, profile status, user photos, and restricted menu access.
A lifetime upgrade costs $139 and covers unlimited websites with lifetime updates and support. Individual extensions are also available starting at $39 each.
Key features:
- Free core plugin
- Flexible user groups and profile options
- Mobile-friendly, responsive design
- WooCommerce support
15. Ultimate Member
Ultimate Member is an all-in-one membership and community plugin for WordPress, and it comes with a free version to help you get comfortable before you commit to anything paid.
The plugin covers user management, member directories, and detailed profile settings, making it a solid pick if community features matter as much to you as gated content. There are, of course, other options worth exploring if you want to compare eCommerce subscription tools too.
Key features:
- User profiles and role management
- Custom field support
- Free version available
Which Membership Plugin Should You Choose?
Your budget and your specific goals point you toward the right plugin here. If you already run a WooCommerce store, WooCommerce Memberships is the natural fit. Now, if you’re selling courses, LearnDash is hard to beat. If you’re just getting started and want to test the waters first, Paid Memberships Pro or Paid Membership Subscriptions lets you launch without spending anything upfront.
Match your plugin choice to your niche and your growth plans. A fast, reliable host makes a real difference too, since your membership site needs to stay online and load quickly for paying members. Our Managed WordPress Hosting is built to handle exactly that kind of traffic.
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