MemberPress is a membership plugin for WordPress that lets you create membership sites, restrict content, sell subscriptions, and manage members — all from a single, well-designed interface. You create membership levels with different pricing, configure content restriction rules, and accept payments through Stripe and PayPal with automatic recurring billing. The plugin supports coupon codes, free trials, and content dripping. MemberPress integrates with popular LMS plugins like LearnDash and LifterLMS, affiliate plugins like AffiliateWP, and email marketing services like Mailchimp and ConvertKit. For creating a paid membership site, MemberPress is the most polished and developer-friendly option, competing with Paid Memberships Pro and Restrict Content Pro.
The plugin uses a rule-based access system where membership levels are associated with content access rules. Rules can be set globally, per post type, per category, or per individual post, with fine-grained control over which content each level can access.
Competitive Features
- Content restriction — restrict access to posts, pages, custom post types, categories, and tags by membership level
- Subscription management — recurring billing with Stripe and PayPal, including trial periods and coupons
- Drip content — schedule content release based on time since signup or specific dates
- Coupons — create discount codes with percentage or fixed discounts, expiration dates, and usage limits
- LMS integration — works with LearnDash, LifterLMS, and Tutor LMS for course-based membership sites
- Affiliate integration — works with AffiliateWP for member referrals and commission tracking
- Developer API — extensive hooks, filters, and shortcodes for custom membership implementations
Key Features
- Membership levels — unlimited levels with custom pricing, billing cycles, and access rules
- Content access rules — restrict by membership level, user role, or individual user with AND/OR conditions
- Payment management — view, edit, cancel, and refund subscriptions from the admin panel
- Email notifications — customizable emails for welcome, payment confirmation, expiring, and expired memberships
- Reports — revenue, membership signup, and content access reports with date range filtering
- Shortcodes —
[mepr-membership-registration-link],[mepr-show],[mepr-hide], and more for inline content control - REST API — full CRUD for memberships, subscriptions, transactions, and rules
Comparison with Competitors
MemberPress vs Paid Memberships Pro
| Aspect | MemberPress | Paid Memberships Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Content dripping | Yes (built-in) | Add-on |
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net |
| Developer API | Extensive | Extensive |
| Add-on ecosystem | Large | 50+ add-ons |
Bottom line: MemberPress has a more polished admin interface and built-in content dripping. Paid Memberships Pro offers a free version and a more extensive add-on library.
MemberPress vs Restrict Content Pro
| Aspect | MemberPress | Restrict Content Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Content dripping | Yes | Yes |
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal | Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net |
| Reports | Yes (revenue + signups) | Yes (revenue + growth) |
| LMS integration | Yes (LearnDash, etc.) | Limited |
Bottom line: Restrict Content Pro is more affordable and offers Authorize.net support. MemberPress has better LMS integration and a more polished admin experience.
Recommended Stack: MemberPress handles memberships and content restriction. For online courses alongside your membership site, integrate with LearnDash using the official MemberPress add-on.
Official Changelog (3 Last Versions)
MemberPress is a premium plugin not listed on WordPress.org.
Version 1.11.0
Release Date: August 12, 2026
- New content dripping scheduler with flexible time-based and date-based rules
- Added Stripe payment element with Apple Pay and Google Pay support
- Fixed subscription renewal handling for PayPal recurring payments
Version 1.10.5
Release Date: July 5, 2026
- Enhanced coupon management with per-level and per-plan restrictions
- Added revenue reports with date range filtering and CSV export
- Improved email notification system with conditional content
Version 1.10.0
Release Date: June 8, 2026
- New member management dashboard with subscription activity timeline
- Added REST API endpoints for full membership CRUD operations
- Performance optimization for sites with 100,000+ members
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MemberPress support recurring payments?
Yes. MemberPress supports recurring subscriptions through Stripe and PayPal with automatic billing, trial periods, and coupon support.
Can I drip content to members?
Yes. MemberPress includes built-in content dripping where you schedule content release based on the time since a member signed up. You can set daily, weekly, or monthly release schedules.
How does content restriction work?
MemberPress uses a rule-based system where you create access rules and associate them with membership levels. Rules can restrict content by post type, category, tag, or individual post, with both global and per-content settings.
Does MemberPress work with LearnDash?
Yes. MemberPress has an official integration with LearnDash that lets you restrict course access by membership level, sell courses as part of a membership package, and manage course enrollments from the MemberPress dashboard.
What payment gateways does MemberPress support?
MemberPress supports Stripe and PayPal for recurring payments, with additional gateways available through third-party integrations.
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