15 Best WordPress Membership Plugins (Compared) – 2023

March 19, 2022

Are you looking for a way to offer premium content to specific users on your WordPress site? Create a members-only website.

WordPress by default does not offer much functionality for restricting content. This is why we recommend using a membership plugin that lets only authorized users access premium content.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best membership plugins available for WordPress sites so that it’s easier for you to decide on the right one.

Among the 15 best WordPress membership plugins, the LifterLMS is a great starter membership plugin for creating courses with videos. You can turn your WordPress site into an online classroom and easily organize your course materials. The LearnDash LMS is a popular plugin among educators who want to create engaging lessons with quizzes, feedback, and tests.

Every lesson can be turned into an interactive quiz that requires students to apply what they have just learned from watching videos or reading articles in group discussions. The LifterLMS plugin allows you to build a variety of e-learning experiences such as assessments, forums, surveys, flashcards, etc. for your users. It supports many learning formats including video tutorials, self-paced training, and live instructor-led sessions. MemberPress comes with all standard features you would expect from Membership sites like registration forms, shopping carts, private content management, etc. It also includes support for social networking integration including Facebook single sign-on and Twitter OAuth login; built-in sharing options.

The lifterLMS, as well as LearnDash, are great choices for creating courses and teaching. They have many similarities, such as support for paid membership plans and they allow you to create quizzes, tests, forums, etc..The LifterLMS is a free plugin but if you want to unlock the full potential of this plugin, you need to buy the developer license. It is also available in a premium version with extra features.

MemberPress is another choice for creating Membership sites on WordPress. You can easily set up a membership site using MemberPress without any coding knowledge. It comes with built-in social integration which makes it easy for users to sign up or log in using their Facebook account or Twitter handle. An interesting feature that sets MemberPress apart from other plugins is the support for Recurring Payments along with PayPal IPN (Partial Payment Notification). This means that when someone purchases a recurring plan through PayPal, MemberPress will send payment notifications every time it’s due via email instead of sending.

This guide is lengthy and full of great info, so here’s a table of contents:

#1. LifterLMS

#2. LearnDash

#3. Teachable

#4. Master Study LMS

#5. WP Courseware

#6. Sensei LMS

#7. LearnPress

#8. Tutor LMS

#9. Academy LMS

#10. Paid Memberships Pro

#11. MemberPress

#12. WooCommerce Memberships

#13. Restrict Content Pro

#14. S2Member

#15. Sensei Pro LMS

 

#1. LifterLMS

LifterLMS

LifterLMS is one of the best solutions for offering membership content on your WordPress site.

The whole experience at LifterLMS is intuitive, from first setting up to creating your first online course. It features an easy-to-use drag and drop course builder and lets you create engaging online courses with audio, video, image, and text-based content. The plugin offers built-in functionality for selling membership subscriptions on your WordPress site. This way, you can use one plugin to create premium content and apply a members-only pricing model on your WordPress site.

In addition to this, one of the standout features of the plugin is that it seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce, Mailchimp, and Affiliate WP as well. This essentially means you can also set up an online store along with your membership website and use your favorite email marketing tactics to encourage and engage your users.

Pricing – You can use the LifterLMS plugin for free on WordPress or subscribe to the Individual Add-Ons plan that starts at $120+ per year.

#2. LearnDash

LearnDash

LearnDash is an online course creation and membership platform that comes built-in with many content restrictions and content delivery options.

Using LearnDash’s intuitive, drag and drop course builder, you can create professional-looking online courses, even if you’re not very tech-savvy. Other than offering a distraction-free layout, LearnDash also lets you dynamically deliver content on your WordPress site. For instance, you can drip-feed lessons to users or require users to view videos before delivering the next piece of content. This is particularly important for membership site owners who don’t want learners to skip ahead.

LearnDash is not only a great platform for teachers but also works great for your students or audience. You can create discussion forums to keep learners engaged and create a sense of community around your brand. In addition to this, you can also award your audience “points” upon completing courses. This way, your audience can redeem the points they’ve earned to unlock new content. As a result, it encourages more people to register for your membership program and consume premium content.

Pricing – LearnDash’s pricing starts at $159 for the Basic package.

#3. Teachable

Teachable is SaaS service that’s designed to help businesses easily create professional online courses and offer premium content to their audiences.

Although Teachable is not a WordPress plugin, it still integrates seamlessly with any WordPress site. You have access to a powerful course-building tool that’s not only easy to use but also supports advanced functionality to create exactly the type of content your audience likes.

A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP CHEATSHEET
TO CREATING, LAUNCHING & GROWING A SUCCESSFUL MEMBERSHIP WEBSITE

You also have access to built-in analytics and a visual representation of your site’s conversion rates. This is great for measuring the performance of your marketing campaigns and potentially finding bottlenecks to improve the performance of your business. In addition to this, Teachable also lets you offer flexible payment options for your audience. This not only enhances the user experience on your membership site but also encourages new registrations.

Pricing – You can get started on Teachable for free using the core features of the program. However, if you’re looking for something more serious, you can subscribe to the Basic package which starts at $39 per month.

#4. Master Study LMS

Master Study LMS is a professional WordPress membership and learning management plugin designed to help you create and sell premium content.

Master Study LMS is an all-in-one solution for creating engaging online courses and selling membership subscription programs. You can create premium content using the course builder and sell membership products on your WordPress site. Other than being a flexible membership plugin, Master Study LMS also features advanced course creation features such as offering trial courses, adding course bundles, assigning co-instructors, showcasing certificates and badges, and using content-drip to deliver content better to your audience.

Pricing – The Master Study LMS plugin pricing starts at $149.99 for a lifetime subscription for a single site.

#5. WP Courseware

WP Courseware

WP Courseware is one of the more popular and older options for membership plugins for your WordPress site.

It’s very simple to use and features a visual, drag and drop course builder out of the box that’s designed to quickly create engaging online courses for your audience. This not only reduces the time it takes to create a fully-fledged online course but also enhances the user experience on your membership website.

WP Courseware is packed with membership features and pricing options that help you create a professional-looking membership site in minutes. Other than having multiple payment gateways support, you can offer one-time pricing, or let users choose their preferred payment plan when purchasing your membership subscription. Similarly, you can also offer recurring subscriptions, free courses, or let users purchase course bundles at a better price.

Pricing – WP Courseware pricing starts at $129 per year for the Teacher package.

#6. Sensei LMS

Sensei LMS

Sensei LMS is a free yet feature-rich membership plugin designed to help you offer engaging premium content such as online courses, lessons, and quizzes on your WordPress site.

The best part about the plugin is that it’s completely free to use and integrates seamlessly with your existing site’s theme. This is important as you don’t want to ruin the whole design of your brand’s site when offering membership content to your audience. Sensei LMS also features a distraction-free “learning mode”. This way, you can create an enhanced and more immersive learning experience for users on your WordPress site.

Pricing – Sensei LMS is free to download and use on your WordPress site.

#7. LearnPress

LearnPress

LearnPress is a simple, yet powerful membership and LMS plugin for WordPress sites.

LearnPress offers membership features right out of the box where users have access to all content creating and course selling features. This way, you can create engaging courses, manage them, and sell them directly on your WordPress site, all using the same plugin.

It’s a perfect solution for people who want to easily create premium content and sell it on their WordPress sites, without having to touch a single line of code.

Pricing – The LearnPress plugin for WordPress is completely free to use and offers premium add-ons that can be later purchased and added to the functionality of the core plugin.

#8. Tutor LMS

Tutor LMS

Tutor LMS offers a ‘one-off’ solution to creating premium content and selling it to your audience on your WordPress site.

You have access to a user-friendly drag and drop course builder that’s easy to use for all types of users, even non-tech savvy ones. Your audience also has access to a professional-looking student dashboard and a lesson management system on the front-end.

Additionally, the plugin works great with WooCommerce and lets you create attractive-looking membership pages using the Gutenberg editor, an interface most users are already familiar with.

Pricing – Tutor LMS pricing starts at $149 per year for one site.

#9. Academy LMS

Academy LMS

Academy LMS is a premium and professional WordPress membership and LMS plugin.

Other than offering basic course creation features, Academy LMS lets you create multiple types of lesson file types including videos, images, PDF, or DOC files. The best part about the plugin is that it comes with built-in cart functionality for adding multiple courses and membership products at the same time from your WordPress site.

In addition to this, Academy LMS also provides a great way for you to communicate with your audience using the interactive messaging system. This way, you can keep in touch with your audience and help them find solutions to their problems or queries.

Pricing – You can get the Academy LMS plugin for $55 for the regular license.

#10. Paid Memberships Pro

Paid Memberships

Paid Memberships Pro is a WordPress plugin designed to solely help business owners create engaging membership websites.

You have access to all membership features including content restriction controls, membership subscriptions management, offer recurring payments, create custom user registration and custom profile fields, all without having to write a single line of code. In addition to this, the Paid Memberships Pro integrates seamlessly with other WordPress plugins and services such as Mailchimp, Stripe, PayPal, BuddyPress, and Zapier.

Pricing – You can start for free with the Paid Membership Pro plugin or subscribe to the Standard package that starts at $247 per year.

 

#11. MemberPress

MemberPress

MemberPress is an all-in-one membership plugin for WordPress users that makes it easy to transform your current website into a fully-featured WordPress membership site. With the MemberPress plugin, you can create an unlimited amount of memberships (and customize all of them, including the price members, pay, who can become a member, and how long a member’s trial period will last). It also pairs great with plugins like bbPress that encourage your users to interact with one another in forums and discussions. This will help turn your membership site into a thriving online community. Then, you can place your members into groups, control their upgrade paths, and create dynamic pricing pages. It’s easy to send emails to your members as well. For instance, you can use email integration to advertise upcoming events or promote new content from within their inboxes!

Pricing – You can start for free with the MemberPress plugin or subscribe to the Standard package that starts at $149 per year.

#12. WooCommerce Memberships

#12. WooCommerce Memberships

WooCommerce Memberships is an add-on for WooCommerce that lets you limit content so that it’s only available to registered members of your site. Text: The plugin can be used with membership or purchasing clubs and features the ability to create recurring payments, gift subscriptions, one-time payments, limited access to specific products/categories, and more. You can also reward loyalty by offering discounts based on membership level or track purchases using Order Sync Pro. Additionally, there are integration plugins for BuddyPress, bbPress & WordPress Membership which allow you to extend the benefits of your membership site across other parts of your website (e.g., Private Messaging). Text: In WooCommerce Memberships, you can create a purchasing club for your eCommerce store, which means members have to sign up to be in the club before they can make a purchase. You can even make them sign up to get access to purchase exclusive items!

Pricing – You can start with the WooCommerce Memberships plugin or subscribe to the Standard package that starts at $149 single site per year.

#13. Restrict Content Pro

Restrict Content Pro

Restrict Content Pro is a lightweight WordPress membership plugin that’s created by the team that built Easy Digital Downloads. If you feel less confident about setting up your membership site, Restrict Content Pro could help: the plugin offers notes to guide you through the setup pages.

Pricing – You can start with the Restrict Content Pro plugin for $99/year for the Personal plan

#14. S2Member

S2Member

S2Member is the membership plugin that I use on my blog and for several of my client’s websites. It’s one of the most comprehensive plugins available, with features like content dripping, user roles, 1-step registration and checkout, unlimited paid membership levels, affiliate tracking, and more.
Features:

Pricing – You can start with the Restrict Content Pro plugin for $89/year for the starting plan.

 

#15. Sensei Pro LMS

#15. Sensei Pro LMS

Sensei is a WordPress LMS plugin by the makers of WooCommerce and Jetpack. Build engaging online courses in minutes.

Pricing – You can start with the Sensei Pro LMS plugin for $149/year for the one site plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a WordPress membership plugin?

A: A WordPress membership plugin is a tool that allows you to create a membership site, where you can restrict access to certain content or features on your website, and provide exclusive content or benefits to your members. It helps you manage memberships, subscriptions, and payments, and control user access levels.

Q: Why should I use a WordPress membership plugin?

A: Using a WordPress membership plugin can provide several benefits. It allows you to monetize your website by offering premium content or services to your members. It helps you build a community and foster member engagement. It enables you to control and manage user access levels and permissions. It also simplifies the process of managing memberships, subscriptions, and payments.

Q: What are the best WordPress membership plugins?

A: There are several great WordPress membership plugins available. Some of the best ones include MembershipPress, Paid Memberships Pro, MemberPress, Restrict Content Pro, Ultimate Member, WooCommerce Memberships, and s2Member.

Q: Can I use a free WordPress membership plugin?

A: Yes, there are free WordPress membership plugins available that can help you create a basic membership site. However, keep in mind that free plugins may have limitations in terms of features and support. If you have more advanced requirements or need additional features, you may consider investing in a premium membership plugin.

Q: How do I create a membership site with WordPress?

A: To create a membership site with WordPress, you will need to install and activate a WordPress membership plugin. Once activated, you can configure the plugin settings, create membership levels, set up subscription plans, customize access restrictions, and create members-only content. You may also need to integrate a payment gateway to handle member payments.

Q: Are there any WordPress membership plugins that offer both free and paid versions?

A: Yes, some WordPress membership plugins offer both free and paid versions. This allows you to get started with the free version and upgrade to a premium version later if you need more advanced features or support. Examples of membership plugins that offer both free and paid versions include MembershipPress and Paid Memberships Pro.

Q: Can I build a membership site with any WordPress theme?

A: In most cases, you can build a membership site with any WordPress theme. However, some WordPress themes may have built-in compatibility or integration with specific membership plugins, which can make the setup process easier. It’s always a good idea to check the compatibility of the theme with the membership plugin you plan to use.

Q: How many membership levels can I create with a WordPress membership plugin?

A: The number of membership levels you can create with a WordPress membership plugin may vary depending on the plugin you choose. Some plugins allow you to create unlimited membership levels, while others may have limitations. It’s best to check the documentation or features of the specific plugin you are interested in to find out its capabilities.

Q: What are the popular payment gateways supported by WordPress membership plugins?

A: WordPress membership plugins support a wide range of payment gateways. Some popular payment gateways supported by membership plugins include PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, 2Checkout, and WooCommerce Payments.

Q: How do I find the best WordPress membership plugin for my website?

A: To find the best WordPress membership plugin for your website, you should consider your specific requirements, such as the features you need, the level of support you expect, your budget, and the compatibility with your WordPress theme and other plugins. You can read reviews, compare features, and demo the plugins before making a decision.

Conclusion

With so many great options available, choosing the right membership WordPress plugin can be difficult. Ideally, you want to choose the options that best suit your business goals, the budget you’re willing to spend, and your level of tech-savviness.

Do you know of any other great membership plugins for WordPress? Let us know in the comments box below.

 

 

 

 

 

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