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MemberPress vs Paid Memberships Pro

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

WordPress membership and course plugin.

Open-source membership plugin for WordPress.

The verdict

Both MemberPress and Paid Memberships Pro are credible membership tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

MemberPress - WordPress membership and course plugin.

Choose Paid Memberships Pro if you'd rather have a lower starting price (free - $297/yr) and a free plan to start on. Open-source membership plugin for WordPress.

MemberPress vs Paid Memberships Pro: side by side

DimensionMemberPressPaid Memberships Pro
Starting priceFrom $179.95/yrFree - $297/yrWinner
Free planNoYesWinner
Pricing modelSubscriptionFreemium
Best forCreators, Course SellersCreators, Publishers
PlatformsWebWeb
Rating4.4/54.4/5

MemberPress key facts

Vendor
Caseproof
Pricing
Subscription - From $179.95/yr
Free tier
No
Platforms
Web
Best for
Creators, Course Sellers
Editor rating
4.4 / 5
Founded
2013
Headquarters
Lehi, UT

Paid Memberships Pro key facts

Vendor
Stranger Studios
Pricing
Freemium - Free - $297/yr
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web
Best for
Creators, Publishers
Editor rating
4.4 / 5
Founded
2011
Headquarters
Burlington, VT

Frequently asked questions

Is MemberPress better than Paid Memberships Pro?

Neither is universally better - MemberPress edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is MemberPress or Paid Memberships Pro cheaper?

Paid Memberships Pro is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free - $297/yr. MemberPress starts at from $179.95/yr; Paid Memberships Pro starts at free - $297/yr.

Can MemberPress replace Paid Memberships Pro?

Yes for most teams - both are membership tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.

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