Creating a membership site on WordPress is one of the smartest ways to monetize your content, build a loyal audience, or even run a digital course. But here’s the catch—Choosing the right membership plugin can feel like trying to pick your favorite ice cream flavor blindfolded.
There are a ton of options out there, and they all promise the same thing: easy setup, smooth user management, and seamless content control. But which ones actually deliver?
In this guide, we’ve put together a detailed look at the 10 best WordPress membership plugins for 2025. We’ll cover what makes each one stand out, their pros and cons, and how much they cost—so you can pick what works best for your site and goals.
10 Best WordPress Membership Plugins in 2025
Before we dive in, here’s a quick glance at the tools we’ll be exploring:
| Plugin Name | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MemberPress | $179.50/year | All-in-one membership solution |
| Thrive Apprentice | $149/year | Online courses & digital learning |
| Restrict Content Pro | $99/year | Lightweight, flexible memberships |
| Paid Memberships Pro | Free (Basic) | Scalable for growing businesses |
| LearnDash | $199/year | Course-based memberships |
| WooCommerce Memberships | $199/year | Ecommerce + memberships |
| Easy Digital Downloads | $99/year | Selling digital products + access |
| MemberMouse | $199/year | High-traffic membership sites |
| S2Member | Free / $89 one-time | Budget-friendly option |
| Wishlist Member | $149/year | Longstanding and feature-rich |
Let’s start breaking them down one by one.
1. MemberPress
If you’ve done any research into membership plugins, chances are you’ve come across MemberPress. And there’s a good reason for that—it’s one of the most well-rounded plugins on the market. Whether you’re starting a course, running a subscription site, or just gating exclusive content, MemberPress makes the setup super straightforward.
It offers powerful access rules, content dripping, and easy integration with email services like MailChimp and ConvertKit. Plus, it works smoothly with major learning management systems (LMS) and payment gateways. Everything from member management to reporting is right there in your WordPress dashboard.
What’s especially nice is that you don’t have to be a tech wizard to use it. The UI is clean, the documentation is thorough, and the team is known for responsive support.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and manage
- Excellent access rules and content dripping
- Integrates with popular email and LMS tools
- Built-in reporting and analytics
- Strong community and support
Cons:
- Slightly higher pricing tier
- No free plan or trial
Price: Starts at $179.50/year
2. Thrive Apprentice
If your main focus is offering online courses, Thrive Apprentice should definitely be on your radar. This plugin blends beautifully with the Thrive Suite ecosystem and turns your WordPress site into a professional-looking course hub.
It lets you create structured lessons, control content access, and even drip lessons over time. And when paired with ThriveCart or WooCommerce, you can start accepting payments instantly. What’s also neat is how customizable the layouts are—you can match the course design to your brand without needing to touch any code.
You’ll especially love this one if you’re a creator who cares about design as much as functionality.
Pros:
- Fantastic course-building experience
- Great design flexibility
- Smooth content dripping options
- Integrates with major payment tools
- Ideal for educators and coaches
Cons:
- Requires Thrive Suite for full access
- Not ideal for non-course sites
Price: Starts at $149/year
3. Restrict Content Pro
Restrict Content Pro is perfect for folks who want something lightweight but powerful. It keeps things clean and simple while offering all the essential membership features like multiple subscription levels, discount codes, and detailed reporting.
It integrates well with PayPal and Stripe, and there are a bunch of handy add-ons for things like email marketing, content dripping, and WooCommerce. The interface is tidy and doesn’t bloat your WordPress dashboard with too many options.
If you value flexibility and want to avoid plugin overload, Restrict Content Pro is a solid pick.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Supports multiple membership tiers
- Offers detailed member reports
- Strong add-on ecosystem
- Easy Stripe/PayPal integration
Cons:
- Lacks built-in course features
- Slight learning curve with add-ons
Price: Starts at $99/year
4. Paid Memberships Pro
What makes Paid Memberships Pro stand out is its free plan, which is surprisingly functional. It lets you dip your toes into building a membership site without committing up front. And when you’re ready to grow, you can unlock advanced features like recurring payments, member dashboards, and content dripping by upgrading.
It’s designed to scale with you. Whether you’re offering exclusive blog content, online courses, or members-only forums, this plugin can handle it. There’s also a large library of add-ons, which gives it a lot of flexibility.
Great for creators, bloggers, and small business owners looking for a plugin that grows with them.
Pros:
- Generous free plan
- Lots of useful add-ons
- Active developer and user community
- Great for content gating and courses
- Clean dashboard and settings
Cons:
- Add-on setup can be time-consuming
- Some advanced features behind paywall
Price: Free (basic) or $247/year for premium
5. LearnDash
When it comes to LMS-style membership sites, LearnDash leads the pack. This plugin is purpose-built for online courses and makes it easy to structure lessons, quizzes, certificates, and even forums.
You can sell individual courses, bundle them into memberships, or drip lessons week by week. It also works with WooCommerce, MemberPress, and Stripe. The interface is a bit more complex than others, but that’s because it’s loaded with features that instructors love.
If education is your main thing, LearnDash could be your best investment.
Pros:
- Top-tier course building tools
- Rich quiz and assessment features
- Supports drip-fed content and badges
- Integrates with WooCommerce and CRM
- Scalable for schools and large academies
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Slightly pricey for new creators
Price: Starts at $199/year
6. WooCommerce Memberships
If your website already runs on WooCommerce, then WooCommerce Memberships is a no-brainer. This plugin brings together the power of e-commerce and gated content access—so you can sell physical or digital products while managing membership access all in one spot.
It works beautifully with WooCommerce Subscriptions (for recurring payments) and lets you restrict content, schedule product access, and create members-only discounts. Whether you’re running an online shop with VIP customers or bundling digital products with exclusive content, it fits in seamlessly.
Pros:
- Perfect for e-commerce-based memberships
- Supports product + content bundles
- Clean WooCommerce integration
- Drip content feature included
- Supports coupons and member perks
Cons:
- Requires WooCommerce setup
- Subscription features cost extra
Price: Starts at $199/year
7. Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) + Recurring Payments
If you’re selling digital products like eBooks, music, software, or courses, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a popular choice—and when you add the Recurring Payments add-on, it becomes a powerful membership tool, too.
You can create access levels based on purchases, deliver gated content, and manage recurring billing smoothly. EDD is known for its ease of use and integrates well with payment gateways, email tools, and even software licensing.
This is perfect for creators who sell downloadable content and want to add membership-style access to it.
Pros:
- Ideal for selling digital goods
- Easy setup and lightweight
- Strong extension ecosystem
- Supports multiple payment gateways
- Reliable recurring billing
Cons:
- Add-ons increase cost quickly
- Not suited for course-style content
Price: Starts at $99/year
8. MemberMouse
MemberMouse is built for scale. It’s a robust plugin designed for high-traffic membership sites that want serious control over everything—from upsells and checkout optimization to smart content protection and detailed member analytics.
It includes features like one-click upsells, trial offers, and split testing. And while it’s technically a plugin, it works more like a hosted solution inside WordPress, which makes it very stable but less flexible when it comes to deep customizations.
It’s best for entrepreneurs running established businesses with lots of members and advanced marketing needs.
Pros:
- Packed with advanced features
- Great for high-volume businesses
- Built-in split testing and upsells
- Detailed member management
- Stable performance
Cons:
- Not beginner-friendly
- Limited customization options
Price: Starts at $199/year
9. S2Member
If you’re looking for a free yet feature-packed membership plugin, S2Member might surprise you. It’s been around for a while and still holds up with solid core features like content restriction, custom user roles, and support for PayPal.
The interface isn’t the sleekest, and the setup might take a bit longer, but it’s incredibly flexible—especially for developers who want to get under the hood. There’s also a Pro version for added payment options and automation features.
Pros:
- Free version available
- Detailed access control
- Developer-friendly with customization
- One-time Pro version purchase
- Works well with PayPal
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Dated interface
Price: Free / Pro from $89 (one-time)
10. Wishlist Member
Wishlist Member has been around for over a decade, and that kind of longevity says something. It’s trusted by a lot of long-time WordPress users for its reliability and versatility.
It supports unlimited membership levels and content dripping and integrates with WooCommerce, LMS plugins, and payment gateways. Setup is straightforward, and you don’t need to install a ton of third-party add-ons to get started.
This is a great option if you’re looking for something established and feature-rich without needing to code.
Pros:
- Long-standing reputation
- Supports unlimited membership levels
- Built-in content dripping
- Works with many WordPress tools
- Stable and reliable
Cons:
- Slightly older UI
- Some learning curve for beginners
Price: Starts at $149/year
How to Choose The Best WordPress Membership Plugin?
Here’s how to simplify the decision-making process:
1. Define your goals.
Are you selling courses? Gating blog content? Offering community access? Your purpose will help narrow your options.
2. Think about scalability.
Choose a plugin that grows with you. Some are perfect for small blogs, others for large e-learning platforms.
3. Check integrations.
Do you use MailChimp, Stripe, or WooCommerce? Make sure your plugin works smoothly with your existing tools.
4. Look at user-friendliness.
Not everyone wants to fiddle with code. Go for a clean dashboard if you value ease of use.
5. Understand pricing.
Free is great, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Balance your budget with your must-have features.
Read Next:
Conclusion: MemberPress Is The Best WordPress Membership Plugin
Running a membership site in 2025 is easier than ever—but only if you’re using the right plugin. Whether you need something simple like Restrict Content Pro, course-focused like Thrive Apprentice, or all-in-one like MemberPress, there’s an option out there that’ll fit like a glove.
Just remember: Pick the tool that fits your specific needs, not necessarily the one with the most features. A good plugin should make your life easier, not more complicated.
Need help choosing between a few options? Let me know, and I can help you compare them side by side.
