BEST PAID SUBSCRIPTION PLUGIN: ProfileGrid

I bought the paid, lifetime license of this, and that isn’t something I do without a lot of research. The free version does most things that people need, but I was building a complex site so I bought the Premium+ bundle. It’s worth it. You can buy individual plugins for specific functionality, if that is all you need.

ProfileGrid plays well with Classic. Many of my self-maintenance clients (content creators) want to keep the Classic WordPress editor, rather than deal with Gutenberg.

Because ProfileGrid is based on Shortcodes, you can add all the different elements how you want, where you want. If I have created a unique content type for a client, I can add the codes to THAT style of page. It plays well with my 24-7Support Suite software, and with WooCommerce, so I can show and hide not just whole pages, but individual paragraph. This gives clients control over who sees what.

ProfileGrid is based on groups. Many sites would just have one group (members), but ProfileGrid lets you manage multiple groups, and delegate management of groups to others. It’s designed for an entire eco-system that evolves and grows.

To me, the future isn’t a teacher/coach training anonymous members. It’s a community that networks and encourages peer-to-peer interactions. It lets fellow members take on a leadership role. And it markets members to each other, and to the world.

ProfileGrid can be used to create a complex member community like this. Contact me if you would like help to brainstorm opportunities.

• Allows Stripe payments.
• Allows additional member fields and questions to qualify your subscribers into groups.
• Subscription submissions are in a separate table. You don’t put your website at risk if you are just collecting email addresses.
• Has free and paid modules that extend functionality.
• Give members the opportunity to have a visible (or hidden) member profile page.
• Give members an opportunity to market themselves to members and the world beyond their profile.
• Includes “friends” and chatting with friends – a little like Slack.
• It’s a bit ugly, but with once-off manual CSS programming it looks professional.

BEST METERED PAYWALL PLUGIN: Leaky Paywall

I only found one free plugin that works the way all the big publications do. It is easier to sell a subscription when it works in a familiar way.

Leaky Paywall is very simple. It measures the number of page the reader clicks on. After a metered number of pages, the person can’t read more until they pay.

• The entire site can be indexed by Google.
• You can demonstrate value to your audience.
• Is it easy to cheat? Can you get past by clearing your cookies? I can’t answer this.
• Cookies won’t be legal in countries that require GDPR (i.e. user permission for cookies)
• The pro version is VERY expensive – and that is where the payment gateways are. But you can use the free version and take payment other ways. Or perhaps you just want an email address.

BEST SMALL MEMBERSHIP WORDPRESS PLUGIN: Ultimate Member

If your income is earned from marketing your members to others (services, dating etc), this is a good choice. Ultimate Member offers user registration and login, role editing, user profiles, a content restriction and best of all, a Members directory.

• Elegant layouts for each member profile
• Members can show off their work, including blog posts.
• Members can be auto-approved, require email activation or be manually approved.
• Suitable for offline payments or an organization that operates in the real world.
• You can create multiple registration forms so each user role has unique questions. So for example you can have different setup questions for cat owners vs dog owners, or agents vs authors.

BEST LARGE MEMBERSHIP WORDPRESS PLUGIN: Paid Membership Pro.

I tried this first, and despite it’s limitations it’s the one I will recommend to clients as an all-in-one solution. It is currently completely open source – so you aren’t locked into ever-increasing annual prices.

Pro: I love the functionality and way they have thought through what a Membership website needs…

Con: … but it is quite ugly (at least on MY theme). I know I shouldn’t care so much about looks, but I do. I think poor design affects credibility, and stops people registering.

Pro: It creates a membership eco-system that does make life easy…

Con: … but you won’t be able to expand beyond what they offer.

What they have is amazing for a free plugin!

• Unlimited restriction of content by category, type, page.
• Unlimited membership level.
• Unlimited members.
• Free extensions for basic courses, events, forums and downloads.
• Includes Stripe, PayPal and Payfast in the free version.
• Free and paid registration.
• Recurring subscriptions.
• Restricts access to WordPress dashboard (security).
• Require a strong password (protects your site and other members).
• Integrates with ConvertKit, Slack, WooCommerce and many more.

The Pro version is affordably priced at $400 per year. It has all you need for a professional membership website – this site can grow with your community.

• Define how many pages a non-member can see until they hit a paywall.
• Schedule content as a “drip feed” based on their membership start date.
• Member Directory and Profile Pages – market your members.
• Free or reduced trial periods, with payment to auto-start when the trial ends.
• Import and Export Members.
• Sophisticated payment options.