Freedom251 › Membership Management Software
MemberMatters
What MemberMatters is
MemberMatters is free, open-source membership software for makerspaces and community groups. It can run on site alongside door, interlock, or MemberBucks devices, with a member portal for registration, profile management, and billing self-service. Members can cancel memberships or update credit cards; recurring card payments use Stripe, while MemberBucks payments work on site and in the portal. Access control checks permissions, applies defaults to new members, and records successful and failed swipes. Compatible firmware can remotely unlock, synchronize, reboot, and control doors or tools. The officially supported deployment is a Docker Hub image on an Ubuntu Server LTS host, with AMD64 and ARM64 builds. Docker runs on Linux and mounts local volumes for database and other data. Integrations include Canvas or Moodle, OIDC, Discourse SSO, Twilio SMS, Discord, SendGrid, Postmark, and a space-directory API. Production guidance calls for HTTPS behind a reverse proxy. A valid Postmark API key is required for correct operation, including signup and MemberBucks emails.
Who it suits
It suits makerspaces and community groups needing membership, payments, member communications, and access control. Teams should be comfortable deploying Docker on Linux and configuring required services and networking.
What it does well
- Free, open-source membership software
- Member portal includes self-service billing
- Supports recurring Stripe membership payments
- Logs successful and failed access swipes
- Offers AMD64 and ARM64 Docker builds
What to know first
- Requires a valid Postmark API key
- Kiosk builds have limited profile functionality
- No precompiled kiosk binaries are offered
- Some functions need reliable internet and networking
Verdict
MemberMatters covers membership administration, payments, access permissions, and device control in one project. Its deployment, email, HTTPS, and networking requirements require technical setup before member-facing use.
Facts from MemberMatters's own pages
- Access control
- Its access-control system includes member permission checks, default permissions for new members, and audit logs for successful and failed swipes. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Access control API
- The Door Bump API can temporarily unlock a door and requires an API key to be enabled. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Automated renewals
- Yes · membermatters.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Deployment
- The maker says MemberMatters supports running in Docker on Linux and provides a Docker Hub image. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Email integration
- A valid Postmark API key is required for the software to function correctly, including signup emails. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Email requirement
- A valid Postmark API key is required for MemberMatters to function correctly, including signup and MemberBucks email tasks. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Hardware
- Compatible access-control firmware supports remote unlocking, syncing, and rebooting, and can control doors and tools. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Brisbane, Australia · membermatters.org, 19 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The project says its officially supported deployment is the Docker Hub image on an Ubuntu Server LTS host, with AMD64 and ARM64 builds for each release. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project lists Canvas or Moodle induction courses, OIDC and Discourse SSO, SendGrid or Postmark email, Twilio SMS, and Discord swipe notifications as integrations. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes MemberMatters as intended for makerspaces and community groups and lists makerspaces that use or trial it. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Kiosk
- A kiosk application can be built with Electron, but precompiled binaries are not offered for download. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Kiosk limits
- Kiosk builds have limited profile functionality and are intended for member sign-in and sign-out and basic features. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Member communications
- Yes · membermatters.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Member data
- The Docker setup mounts a local volume for the database and other data. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Member portal
- Members can register, log in, manage profiles, and use self-service billing to cancel memberships or update credit cards. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Networking
- Some parts need reliable networking and internet, and the maker recommends thorough testing before relying on the software. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Other integrations
- Documented integrations include Canvas, Twilio SMS, Discourse SSO, Discord, and a space-directory API. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Payment integration
- Stripe integration can enable a membership plan page for member signups and MemberBucks top-ups. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Payments
- The software supports recurring credit-card membership payments through Stripe and on-site and in-portal Memberbucks payments. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MemberMatters is membership software that can run on site alongside door, interlock, or MemberBucks devices. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker says production deployments should use HTTPS behind a reverse proxy and recommends nginx with Let’s Encrypt. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security setup
- The documentation says production instances should use HTTPS behind a reverse proxy and recommends nginx with Let’s Encrypt. · membermatters.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project says its limited resources focus on features and bug fixes and invites users to open an issue or discussion with suggestions. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where MemberMatters stands on Freedom251
- Membership Management Software#17 of 106
- Nonprofit Membership Management Software#8 of 30