Private community
Build a private WordPress members-only community
A private members-only community. No LMS, no marketplace, no job board — just BuddyPress feeds, groups, messages, gated to logged-in members. The classic "tribe" community shape.
Stack recipe
What you need to assemble.
Build it in 5 steps
From zero to live community.
Install Reign + BuddyPress
Activate Reign + BuddyPress + Community Bundle. Members get profiles, activity feed, groups, messages.
Gate the entire site
BP Lock or a membership plugin (Paid Memberships Pro / MemberPress) redirects logged-out visitors to a sign-in or sales page.
Set up invitation-only signup
Disable open registration. Use the BP Lock invitation feature or invite-by-email plugins. Quality of members matters more than quantity in private communities.
Build the first ritual
Weekly thread, monthly call, quarterly cohort. Pick one and run it for 90 days. A ritual is what makes a private community feel alive.
Moderation policy
BuddyPress Moderation Pro (in the Community Bundle) gives report + block + mute on every post. Document a 3-line code of conduct + an escalation path before the first conflict happens.
Wbcom in-house plugins
Pair Reign with these in-house add-ons.
Built by the same team that ships Reign. Designed to work natively with the theme + BuddyPress + the kit you pick.
BuddyPress Activity Share Pro
Members reshare activity to other groups + external networks.
BuddyPress Polls
Member polls in groups + activity feed. Engagement compounder.
BuddyPress Reactions
Emoji reactions on activity posts. Lighter than full comments.
BuddyPress Moderation Pro
Report + block + mute on every post and member.
Reign Demo Installer
One-click import of 30+ demo sites. Free with Reign theme.
Wbcom Essential
Free utility plugin bundling small enhancements for BP + Reign.
BuddyPress Check-ins
Daily check-ins build streaks + accountability.
BuddyPress Follow
Follow members + see their activity in a custom feed.
All Wbcom plugins integrate natively with Reign and BuddyPress. Mix in third-party tools (LearnDash, Dokan, MemberPress, etc.) where they fit your build.
FAQ
Common questions.
Should it be free or paid?
Founders who already have audience trust can charge from day 1 (membership tier $19-99/mo). New founders should run free for 60-90 days to prove engagement, then introduce paid tiers.
What is the ideal size?
Dunbar number (~150 active members) is the comfort threshold. Past 150 the community starts feeling less personal. Some private communities grow to 1,000+ members but they shift their format (more groups, more cohorts, less single-feed).
Ship it