If you have a WordPress website or are considering purchasing one, this MemberPress review is for you. MemberPress is a WordPress plugin, and its main function is to turn your site into a membership website where people pay to access your content.

Interestingly, though, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to MemberPress plugin features. MemberPress offers other ways for you to make money online with your existing website, including online courses and an affiliate program.

However, as you might expect with something offering tons of features, it also comes with a heftier price tag than many other plugins. 

So, is the MemberPress plugin worth it? Let’s dig into the details to find out.

How Does MemberPress Work?

A plugin is software you download to your website for enhanced functions. MemberPress is not only a plugin to set up a membership website. It also allows your site to act as an LMS, or Learning Management System. 

This is simply a more technical way of saying you can host an online course on your website. 

To get MemberPress for your site, you first need to select the pricing plan you need. Once you choose one of the three pricing options, you will have to enter information for your business as well as your payment details. Then you can download the plugin. 

After you have gone through the necessary download steps, you have to go to your WordPress menu, go to the Plugins section, and click “add new.” From there, you will select MemberPress and complete the upload.

To finish the setup process, you’ll follow the steps. This includes copying and pasting the API key you were given when you downloaded the software. 

Once installed, you will pick your payment gateway and start setting up your membership site. MemberPress offers multiple membership levels for your audience, from weekly to yearly and everything in between. 

You can also offer a free trial if you like. This is one of the numerous features you’ll find with the plugin. 

Features of MemberPress

Here are some of the key features that set MemberPress apart from the competition.

No Separate Downloads Required

MemberPress is designed to give you everything you need in one click. Other than the initial setup, you shouldn’t have to download any additional software to use all the features, whether you’re adding membership levels or building an online course.

Easy Setup

MemberPress has made the setup process as simple as possible. If you find yourself getting stuck along the way, you can access the customer service by submitting a ticket online or reading through the multiple help pages.

Subscription Management Through Your Website

The plugin allows your audience members to completely manage their subscriptions through your site. This means they can create, cancel, upgrade, or update through your site without you being involved. 

MemberPress automatically updates your customers’ access based on how they enter their billing information.

Works With Any WordPress Theme

Whether you’re working with a canned theme or a custom one, the plugin should work with any theme.

No Coding Required

If you’re worried you will need to know how to code to set things up, you will be relieved to find out that there is no coding required at all. It’s easy to set up and design custom pricing pages for your members or use ones already created.

Full Access 

You will have total control over your members’ access to your site. MemberPress even allows you to control access down to the page.

You can completely control what pages, posts, categories, and tags your members have access to based on the membership level they have purchased. 

Easily Create Coupons

If you are offering memberships or an online course, then chances are you will need a coupon to offer discounted pricing options at some point. You can create custom coupon codes, including ones with an expiration date. 

Better yet, you can create as many coupon codes as you need. 

Drip Content

You can also create drip content. This means you can schedule what content people see and when you want them to see it. 

Plus, you can set up expiration dates or times for content. 

Detailed Analytics

MemberPress offers a full reports area where you can quickly see and analyze what’s going on with your membership site or online course. 

You will have a detailed view of exactly how members are interacting with your site, how much you’ve sold, and other key metrics. It’s broken down into either monthly or yearly views. 

Email Marketing Integrations

MemberPress offers several email marketing integration options, including AWeber, MailPoet, and Constant Contact. This allows you to easily create and send email campaigns to members who are taking advantage of a free trial or using a paid membership. 

Other Integrations

Depending on the pricing level you choose, you will be able to integrate almost any other service with MemberPress. 

This includes Zapier, which allows you to seamlessly connect other services to MemberPress while sharing data so you can quickly add other services without re-entering a ton of information. 

Add an Affiliate Program

If you have been contemplating offering an affiliate program, you will be glad to know that MemberPress integrates with Easy Affiliate. The Easy Affiliate plugin was written by the same creators as MemberPress, so you can be sure the two will seamlessly work together.

MemberPress Pricing

MemberPress offers three different pricing options. You will pick your plan before you are allowed to download the plugin, so it’s helpful to know what features you’re getting beforehand. 

While you won’t be able to take advantage of a free trial with MemberPress, they do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind. 

Basic

The basic plan, which is currently priced at $179 per year, is designed for beginners and those with only one website. Purchasers of this level have access to unlimited members and courses. 

Other standard features include:

• No transaction or monthly fees
• Stripe & PayPal integration 
• Subscription management 
• Email automation and email marketing integrations
• Drip content 
• Content protection
• Advanced Publisher Paywall
• Use of coupon codes
• Basic add-ons & integrations 
• Standard customer support

Plus

The Plus plan currently costs $224 per year. This plan is targeted at users who have one or two websites, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. 

It includes all the features of the basic plan, plus the following:

• Advanced marketing integrations 
• Sell podcast memberships
• Over 2,000 custom integrations, including Zapier
• Developer tools and advanced customization options
• Priority customer support

Pro

The Pro plan is the most expensive option, currently priced at $299 for the year. It’s geared towards users who are considered more advanced and likely make most of their revenue from memberships. 

It can be used for up to five websites and includes all the features of the Basic and Plus plans, in addition to:

• Selling gifted memberships and corporate accounts
• Tax-Jar integration
• Authorize.net integration
• Two-Factor authentication
• Premium customer support

Pros and Cons

Before you sign up for MemberPress, make sure to evaluate the pros and cons to determine if it’s the right solution for you.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use on a daily basis
• Great value — every pricing level is packed full of features
• Flexible options for creating a membership site exactly how you want
• Tons of integration options 

Cons

• No demo or trial, but there is a 14-day money-back guarantee
• The yearly price could get expensive after several years
• There are complaints about customer service response times

Who Should Use MemberPress?

MemberPress was created so that a wide range of website owners could benefit from this plugin. If you are new to the idea of offering a membership site, then this plugin may be the best option. 

It is easy to set up, and there is no code or customization required. However, if you want to customize various features, such as coupon codes, drip content, or content with an expiration date, you can easily do that with MemberPress.

The Final Word on MemberPress

For website owners who are trying to find a cost-effective way to build a membership site or host an online course, MemberPress is definitely an option worth considering. It could even end up becoming an all-in-one solution for you, depending on your needs. 

While someone who wants to customize a site through CSS or HTML may find this plugin limiting, the average site owner who doesn’t have coding experience will likely find many of the features useful for running a membership site.