If you run an online store with WooCommerce and want to offer exclusive content, gated products, or recurring memberships, you’ll need a reliable solution that does more than just sell products. That’s where WooCommerce Membership Plugins come in. These tools are designed to help you build structured membership systems, restrict access to premium areas of your site, and provide unique benefits to your most loyal customers. Instead of relying solely on one-time purchases, they open the door to recurring revenue, stronger customer relationships, and a more sustainable business model.
Membership plugins can be a game-changer for all types of businesses. Whether you’re launching an online learning platform, running a subscription box service, or offering digital downloads, a good membership plugin allows you to deliver value consistently. They not only control who can view, purchase, or download certain products but also give you the flexibility to create different membership tiers, offer exclusive discounts, and build a thriving community around your brand.
What is a WooCommerce Membership Plugin?
A WooCommerce membership plugin is an extension that allows online store owners to restrict products, content, or entire sections of a website based on user membership levels. By using such a plugin, businesses can create exclusive offerings such as online courses, VIP clubs, premium resources, or subscriber-only deals.
Membership plugins essentially transform a standard WooCommerce store into a powerful subscription-based platform. Instead of one-time transactions, businesses can develop recurring revenue streams and increase customer loyalty by providing ongoing value to members.
Also Read: Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways to Sell Services Online
How to Use WooCommerce Membership Plugins
Getting started with WooCommerce membership plugins doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s a quick guide to follow:
- Choose the right plugin: Select a plugin that matches your business model, whether it’s simple content restriction or advanced membership tiers.
- Install and activate: Add the plugin through your WordPress dashboard and activate it to begin setup.
- Configure membership levels: Define membership tiers, pricing, and access rules for different types of content or products.
- Set up payment gateways: Ensure recurring billing or one-time payments are connected with secure gateways like PayPal or Stripe.
- Restrict content and products: Decide which pages, posts, or products will be available to specific membership levels.
- Test the setup: Run a trial membership to ensure everything works smoothly for new users.
Once configured, membership plugins automate most of the process, giving you more time to focus on creating quality content or products for your members.
Top 10 WooCommerce Membership Plugins
Below is a handpicked list of the best WooCommerce Membership Plugins, each offering unique features and pricing options. Use the table of contents to jump directly to your preferred plugin.
1. WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Memberships is one of the most comprehensive and widely used plugins for membership management within WooCommerce. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce and allows store owners to create flexible membership plans, restrict content, and even drip-feed content over time.
This plugin is designed for both beginners and advanced users, offering a balance of simplicity and power. It works well for subscription-based businesses, e-learning platforms, and content creators looking to monetize their expertise. The plugin also integrates smoothly with WooCommerce Subscriptions for recurring payments.
Key Features:
- Flexible membership tiers and access rules
- Drip content scheduling
- Discounts for members on specific products
- Integration with WooCommerce Subscriptions
Pricing: Starts from $199/year.
2. YITH WooCommerce Membership
YITH WooCommerce Membership provides a user-friendly solution for managing memberships within a WooCommerce store. It offers tools to restrict access to posts, pages, products, and categories, making it ideal for businesses offering exclusive digital products or learning materials.
The plugin’s strength lies in its simplicity and flexibility. You can easily design custom membership plans and link them with WooCommerce products. With YITH, you also get reliable customer support and frequent updates, making it a trusted solution for long-term use.
Key Features:
- Restrict content by category, tag, or individual product
- Create unlimited membership plans
- Integration with other YITH plugins
- Customizable access rules
Pricing: Starts from $149.99/year.
3. Restrict Content Pro
Restrict Content Pro is a premium membership plugin designed for businesses that want full control over restricted content. It offers a simple yet robust system for managing member access while integrating well with WooCommerce for product-based memberships.
With its clean dashboard and reporting tools, it helps store owners track member activity and payments with ease. Developers also love its extensibility, thanks to detailed documentation and plenty of add-ons.
Key Features:
- Unlimited subscription packages
- Discount codes and member management
- Extensive add-on support
- Built-in reporting dashboard
Pricing: Starts from $99/year.
4. Paid Memberships Pro
Paid Memberships Pro is one of the most versatile plugins for building membership-based websites. It supports unlimited membership levels, flexible billing cycles, and detailed reporting. It’s particularly popular for e-learning sites and content creators.
The plugin offers a free version with basic features and a premium upgrade for advanced functionality. It also includes over 65 add-ons, giving you nearly limitless customization options.
Key Features:
- Unlimited membership levels
- 65+ add-ons for customization
- Content dripping and discount codes
- Integration with multiple payment gateways
Pricing: Free (Premium plans from $247/year).
Also Read: Best WooCommerce Customer Upload Plugins
5. MemberPress
MemberPress is a powerful membership and course management plugin that integrates with WooCommerce. Known for its user-friendly setup, it enables businesses to create membership tiers, restrict access, and even sell online courses with ease.
This plugin is suitable for bloggers, educators, and businesses looking for an all-in-one membership and learning management solution. Its rule-based access controls give precise flexibility over content delivery.
Key Features:
- Advanced content access rules
- Built-in course builder
- Coupons and drip content
- Detailed reporting and analytics
Pricing: Starts from $179/year.
6. WishList Member
WishList Member is a reliable membership plugin that’s been around for years. It supports WooCommerce integration and allows site owners to deliver content securely to members with customizable levels.
The plugin is known for its ease of use, especially for those who want to protect digital downloads, premium blog posts, or video content. With multiple integrations, it scales well as your membership site grows.
Key Features:
- Customizable membership levels
- Sequential content delivery
- Easy WooCommerce integration
- Supports 50+ payment gateways
Pricing: Starts from $147/year.
7. S2Member
S2Member is a feature-rich membership plugin that integrates deeply with WordPress and WooCommerce. It comes with advanced capabilities such as role-based access control, custom capabilities, and content restriction.
While it has a learning curve, s2Member is highly customizable, making it a solid choice for developers and businesses seeking detailed control over their membership site.
Key Features:
- Free and pro versions available
- Advanced role and capability control
- One-time and recurring billing options
- Customizable access restrictions
Pricing: Free (Pro starts from $89 one-time).
Also Read: Best WooCommerce Navigation Tools Plugins
8. LearnPress Membership
LearnPress Membership is a dedicated solution for educators and course creators who want to combine e-learning with WooCommerce memberships. It integrates seamlessly with the LearnPress LMS plugin, offering a smooth experience for both students and instructors.
This plugin is especially suitable for schools, online academies, and independent tutors who want to monetize their courses with tiered memberships.
Key Features:
- Integration with LearnPress LMS
- Membership-based course access
- WooCommerce product linking
- Flexible membership tiers
Pricing: Starts from $69/year.
9. Ultimate Member
Ultimate Member is primarily a user profile and community plugin, but offers membership functionality when integrated with WooCommerce. It is perfect for building online communities with exclusive access features.
The plugin stands out for its user-friendly profile management system, which can be extended with membership restrictions for premium content and products.
Key Features:
- Customizable member profiles
- User role restrictions
- WooCommerce integration
- Extendable with premium add-ons
Pricing: Free (Extensions bundle from $249/year).
10. WP Private Content Plus
WP Private Content Plus is a versatile membership plugin that goes beyond simple access control. It allows you to restrict content, create personalized member dashboards, and manage multiple membership levels easily.
This plugin is lightweight yet powerful, making it a great option for websites that need a straightforward membership system without unnecessary complexity.
Key Features:
- Personalized dashboards for members
- Advanced content restriction options
- WooCommerce integration
- Custom shortcodes for flexibility
Pricing: Free (Pro starts from $49/year).
Also Read: How to Speed Up Checkout with Wallet-Style Payments in WooCommerce
Pricing Comparison Table
| Plugin | Key Features | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce Memberships | Flexible tiers, drip content, discounts | $199/yr |
| YITH WooCommerce Membership | Content restriction, unlimited plans | $149.99/yr |
| Restrict Content Pro | Unlimited subscriptions, reports | $99/yr |
| Paid Memberships Pro | Unlimited levels, 65+ add-ons | Free / $247/yr |
| MemberPress | Content rules, course builder | $179/yr |
| WishList Member | Custom levels, 50+ gateways | $147/yr |
| s2Member | Role control, free + pro | Free / $89 one-time |
| LearnPress Membership | LMS integration, WooCommerce link | $69/yr |
| Ultimate Member | User profiles, restrictions | Free / $249/yr |
| WP Private Content Plus | Dashboards, shortcode control | Free / $49/yr |
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right WooCommerce Membership Plugins can transform your online store into a powerful membership site, creating new opportunities for recurring revenue and stronger customer relationships. Each plugin on this list comes with its own strengths, whether it’s WooCommerce Memberships for advanced control, YITH for simplicity, or MemberPress for combining memberships with courses.
Before making a decision, consider your business goals, the type of content or products you want to restrict, and your budget. With the right plugin in place, you’ll be able to provide exclusive value to members, streamline billing, and build a loyal community around your brand.
Whether you’re launching a learning platform, a digital products shop, or a premium community, one of these top 10 plugins will give you the flexibility and features you need to succeed.
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