MemberPress Review – Features, pricing and more.

MemberPress is a paid membership plugin for WordPress. It suits people who want to run paid communities, online courses, or content paywalls without a pile of separate tools. It covers subscriptions, paywalls, and gated podcasts in one package. No extra LMS plugin required. It works well for professional associations, newsletters with member-only archives, and similar sites that monetize exclusive content.

Getting started requires a self-hosted WordPress site on PHP 7.4 or newer, an SSL certificate for secure payments, and a supported payment gateway. Check the current requirements before installing. Out of the box, it includes access rules to control who sees content, subscription management, coupons to drive sales, reports on member activity, a simple course builder, and integrations with common email services and page builders.

There are a few limits to note. MemberPress doesn’t sell lifetime licenses. When a license expires, dashboard access to settings and updates stops until renewal. The site keeps serving existing membership rules during that time. This review covers real setup experiences, clear pricing breakdowns, feature highlights compared with alternatives, and feedback from users.

What MemberPress is and how its core features work

MemberPress controls access on a WordPress site by membership. Think of a private club. Different memberships issue different keys, and “Rules” decide who gets in to which content based on their plan. Paid communities and course sites stay organized and run on autopilot.

Core pieces keep everything tight. Memberships are the products people buy. Rules decide who sees which pages or posts. Groups bundle pricing options and upgrades in one view. Coupons add discounts to boost sign-ups. Courses let site owners build lessons inside WordPress. Reminders send automated emails about renewals and updates.

Access covers more than blog posts or static pages. MemberPress protects categories, tags, and custom post types like portfolios or events. It locks downloadable files. It even hides parts of a page with shortcodes or block-level controls. Restrictions run at the PHP level on the server, so turning off JavaScript won’t bypass a paywall.

Add-ons extend what it can do. Integrations connect to email marketing tools, bbPress forums, community features, and popular page builders. It also supports secure file delivery from Amazon S3.

On performance, each protected page request checks a visitor’s permissions before showing restricted content. The check is fast and doesn’t add noticeable delay. It works with common caching setups, and it skips cached versions when a member needs fresh, personalized content.

How to set up MemberPress on WordPress step by step

Getting MemberPress set up on WordPress goes fast when the steps are lined up. Upload the plugin, activate the license, then let the onboarding wizard create core pages like Pricing and Account automatically.

1. Upload the premium ZIP file in WordPress under Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
2. Activate MemberPress after the upload finishes.
3. Paste the license key in MemberPress settings to enable updates and support.
4. Run the onboarding wizard. It builds Pricing, Account, Thank You, and Login pages for you.

Next, set up payments. Stripe gets approved fast and connects through OAuth for a secure link. Test mode keeps real charges off while everything gets checked.

1. Go to MemberPress > Settings > Payments.
2. Toggle on Stripe first.
3. Connect the Stripe account through the OAuth prompts in the dashboard. No manual API keys.
4. Switch between test mode and live mode based on readiness for real payments.
5. Confirm webhooks so payment events sync back to MemberPress right away.

Before adding memberships or rules, confirm a few settings so nothing breaks later. Pick the right currency for the primary audience. Set tax or VAT options to match local laws. Write unauthorized access messages or redirects with SEO-friendly wording so search engines don’t index protected content. Check permissions on account pages so members get in, and guests stay out.

Memberships drive what people buy. Price, billing cycle, trials, and expiration shape the experience and revenue model.

1. Open MemberPress > Memberships > Add New Membership.
2. Use a clear title that matches value or level (for example, “Premium Access”).
3. Choose pricing: one-time fee or a recurring subscription with a monthly or yearly interval.
4. Offer a trial period if it fits the offer.
5. Set an expiration if access ends after a set time, or leave it open-ended.

Rules decide who sees which content based on active memberships. Entire categories or specific posts stay private, and drip schedules release lessons over time.

1. Go to MemberPress > Rules > Add New Rule.
2. To protect all posts in a “Premium” category, set Content & Access to Category equals Premium.
3. For page-level protection, select individual pages instead of categories.
4. Use drip by adding delays such as “Release this lesson 7 days after signup.”
5. Apply partial protection in Gutenberg with the provided shortcodes to hide only certain sections.

Now run sanity tests before inviting paying customers. Create a cheap Stripe product and walk through the flow end to end to confirm email, access, and billing all line up.

1. Create a $0.10 product in Stripe to simulate purchases with minimal cost.
2. Buy that test product with Stripe test card numbers while MemberPress stays in test mode.
3. Check that email receipts arrive from Stripe and any automated membership emails send as expected.
4. Confirm the purchased membership grants the right access immediately after checkout.
5. Test cancel paths so access ends right away when a subscription is canceled or expires.

This hands-on test routine surfaces configuration issues early, so launch day feels calm instead of chaotic.

Content paywalls and access rules you can build with MemberPress

Site owners can lock content in precise ways, so only the right people see it. A single post or page, whole categories or tags, and custom post types like portfolios or events all fall under protection. Files and direct URLs get covered as well. Regex support helps match patterns of URLs, which is handy for large groups of links. Drip schedules release material on a timeline, and expiration removes access when memberships end.

Rules cover common cases and more advanced needs:

• Single posts or pages
• Categories and tags
• Custom post types (like courses or portfolios)
• File downloads and specific URLs
• Regex-based URL matching for complex protections
• Drip schedules that unlock content after set delays
• Expiration settings that revoke access automatically

When rules overlap, the more specific one takes precedence over the general one. A page-level rule beats a category rule. If a member holds several active subscriptions, access from those plans stacks together unless an Unauthorized Access Override blocks it.

Partial paywalls help preview premium content without giving it all away. Shortcodes such as [mepr-active] show sections only to logged-in members, while [mepr-show] reveals parts based on membership levels right inside posts or pages. Gutenberg users can hide blocks with visibility controls, which makes it easy to place locked snippets inside public articles.

Hard paywalls stop non-members cold before any protected content loads. Metered paywalls – limited free views before a prompt to subscribe – aren’t built in, but extra plugins or custom code can add them alongside the core setup.

Search engines get handled on your terms. Show bots excerpts to keep SEO strong without exposing paid material. RSS feeds stay clean as well when configured to avoid full content.

For sensitive files, pair MemberPress restrictions with private delivery services like Amazon S3. That approach blocks direct link sharing and keeps downloads limited to authorized users.

Payments and membership tiers with gateways, levels, and upgrades

MemberPress works with Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.Net. Availability depends on the plan, since higher tiers add more gateway options. Regional rules still matter. Some countries limit features or need extra verification. Check current plan details and regional support before choosing a gateway.

Subscriptions are flexible. Billing can recur daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. Free trials give new members access before paying. A sign-up fee adds a one-time charge at checkout. Mid-cycle plan changes use proration, so charges or credits stay fair instead of doubling up. Stripe supports on-site checkout with one-click renewals for returning customers, so they don’t re-enter card details.

Taxes and VAT work through built-in settings, but they need careful setup for accuracy, especially across the EU. Enable tax collection, then set rates by location. For EU VAT numbers, connect a validation service or an add-on to capture and verify details during checkout.

Groups help present multiple tiers in one place. Pricing pages show each level with a clear comparison table and a recommended plan. No custom page design required.

Upgrades and downgrades rely on Prorate Credits. When someone switches tiers mid-cycle, the system calculates fair charges or refunds. Members change plans from the Account page, which cuts down on admin work.

Refunds and cancellations sync back to WordPress with Stripe and PayPal webhooks, so records stay in step. Cancellation status updates in MemberPress after action at the gateway or by the customer. Refunds are issued in the payment provider’s dashboard, not in WordPress, to keep financial records accurate.

Built‑in course builder for selling lessons without an LMS

Courses in MemberPress are organized with a built-in builder. Each course has a curriculum with sections and lessons. The drag-and-drop interface lets admins rearrange items fast, so courses match the plan. Members see automatic progress tracking, and lesson completion helps keep momentum.

Course access connects directly to memberships or access rules. Buying a specific membership unlocks the matching course right away. Higher-tier plans bundle several courses, which makes premium offers straightforward.

Quizzes cover basics for quick checks inside lessons. Certificates or deeper quiz tools usually need add-ons or outside plugins. The course builder stays simple when compared to full LMS options like LearnDash or LifterLMS.

Content drip works by days from signup or by calendar date. Pairing drip with automated emails keeps students engaged when new lessons go live.

On the student side, course pages look clean and respond well on phones, tablets, and desktops. Breadcrumbs guide learners through sections, and progress bars show real-time completion. Some advanced LMS features aren’t included, such as question banks or assignment submissions.

Importing lessons from existing WordPress posts or pages fits into this setup. Migrating from another LMS often requires careful mapping for lesson structure and quizzes, and sometimes custom scripts, to align everything correctly.

Key integrations for email, page builders, forums, and media

Email tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and ActiveCampaign connect without fuss. Contacts sync automatically and get tagged by subscription plan. Targeted sequences kick in based on each member’s plan, so follow-ups feel personal and don’t add manual work.

Page building fits into a normal WordPress workflow. Gutenberg blocks are included, and it works with Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi. Rules protect whole template sections at once. Lock a header or footer tied to premium content, and it stays hidden from non-members across the site.

Private communities work well with bbPress, BuddyBoss, or BuddyPress. Membership levels decide who enters which forum areas, turning them into invite-only spaces instead of public boards.

Media gets extra protection. The Amazon S3 integration serves files through temporary links that expire. Old URLs stop working, which helps prevent unwanted sharing without a complex setup.

Podcasters get support through Blubrry PowerPress for members-only feeds behind a paywall. RSS links can still be shared, so creators need to be aware of that risk and plan accordingly.

Automation is covered with webhooks and Zapier. New signups, upgrades, cancellations, and failed payments can trigger outside workflows. CRMs update, Slack roles adjust, and other tasks run on their own once configured.

Pricing and renewals explained with real‑world costs

Annual licenses set pricing based on site count and feature needs. No lifetime option exists, so renewals are required each year for updates, support, and dashboard access. First-year deals often slash the price by 30% to 50%, but these discounts disappear at renewal. Check current rates before buying.

If the license lapses, the site keeps working with current membership rules. No settings changes or new updates until payment clears. That gap gets risky if something breaks or needs a quick fix.

Some higher-end gateways and integrations sit behind premium tiers. Multiple sites, several membership levels, forums, or advanced email connections push costs above the base license.

Here’s what renewals might look like:

A single-site creator using Stripe, courses, and basic email tools will see a jump after year one, though it stays manageable. A small network with multiple levels and forum access pays more due to premium tiers.

Refunds typically run for 14 days for new purchases. Requests go through support, which helps set expectations before checkout.

Extra costs add up. Payment processors in the U.S. usually take around 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. Email providers charge by list size and features. VAT or GST may apply by location. Factor in developer time for custom rules or styling.

These pieces stack quickly when planning a budget for launching or growing a paid membership site.

What users report about MemberPress performance and support

Reviews and real-world feedback paint a clear picture: reliable day to day, with a few pain points that keep coming up. Users praise its Rules for locking down content in flexible ways, which makes permission control feel precise instead of clunky. People like how consistently it protects posts, pages, and courses across different setups.

Renewals draw pushback. Intro discounts look good at first, but the second year hits harder. Response times also slow during peak seasons, so tickets sit longer than users expect.

Creators moving from Patreon report more control. One case stood out: a publisher migrated their entire audience to handle billing directly and stop losing a cut to platform fees. The move tightened WordPress integration and improved branding, avoiding the cookie-cutter look of third-party hubs.

Performance holds up when caching is configured well. Small to mid-size sites run fast. Large membership databases – around 10,000+ users – see slowdowns unless object caching is on and hosting is upgraded. Managed plans or dedicated servers reduce query pileups and keep dashboards responsive.

Support lands in a predictable groove. Simple issues get clear, step-by-step replies via tickets within a reasonable window. When payment gateways misbehave – Stripe or PayPal syncs, missed webhooks – support requests logs or replays, investigates, and resolves. It’s careful work rather than quick fixes, but most admins feel confident once it’s done.

Migration feedback is mixed. CSV imports for members tend to work without drama. Converting legacy PayPal Standard subscriptions into modern Stripe recurring plans takes more care, sometimes manual mapping, to keep billing history intact and avoid broken renewals.

The overall read: dependable for straightforward paywalls and course sales with moderate complexity. Power users push further with light custom code for metered access, bundles, or edge-case rules when the defaults don’t cover a niche need. For most setups, it runs quietly in the background and does the job.

Verdict: Is MemberPress the best WordPress membership plugin for your site?

MemberPress stands out for precise access rules that lock content the right way, a clean Stripe setup for payments, and Groups that create pricing pages quickly. The course builder meets most starter needs without adding unnecessary complexity.

Annual renewals may cause problems for teams. Let a license lapse and the dashboard becomes read-only until renewal. It’s light on advanced LMS tools, so detailed grading or SCORM isn’t available. Metered paywalls require extra setup beyond the default options.

It suits creators who need solid paywalls and recurring billing in WordPress, teachers with straightforward courses, and associations with clear membership tiers. Projects that require enterprise SSO or intensive training features will be better served by a different tool.

Start by listing your must-haves – paywall type, course depth, community features, coupons, VAT rules – and compare them with what’s covered here. Then try it on a staging site with the setup guide to see how everything works together.

Test monthly pricing with Stripe test products first. Verify upgrades and downgrades prorate correctly, and confirm dunning emails go out when payments fail. Launch small: one tier, one course, one rule. Watch the path from checkout to the first lesson, then add more features gradually.

Go in with a clear plan. MemberPress fits many projects, and matching its strengths to your vision avoids surprises.