Simple Membership Plugin is a free WordPress plugin for controlling access to posts and pages through member logins. Site owners can create unlimited membership levels, assign content to those levels, and offer free or paid material. The plugin supports both one-time and recurring payments, with PayPal, Stripe, and Braintree named as gateways. Sites can also provide a standalone free trial or a trial period before subscription billing begins. Administrators can review members, access levels, and account status in the dashboard, move members between levels, and choose to approve accounts manually. Customization hooks and an API support creating and updating member accounts. The addon directory includes integrations such as MailChimp, Zapier, bbPress, WooCommerce, ConvertKit, MailerLite, and AWeber, with free and premium addons available. The core plugin has a strong-password setting; a separate two-factor authentication addon is offered. The plugin requires WordPress 6.5 or higher and is listed as compatible with WordPress 7.1. Its maker positions it for small, simple membership sites. WordPress media files remain accessible through direct URLs by default unless extra file protection is used.
Who it is for
It suits WordPress site owners who want to restrict posts or pages by membership level and support free or paid access. It is aimed at small, simple membership websites, with member administration and developer customization tools.
What is good
- Creates unlimited membership access levels.
- Supports one-time and recurring payments.
- Offers standalone trials and pre-subscription trial periods.
- Includes an API and customization hooks.
- Lists integrations including MailChimp, Zapier, and WooCommerce.
What to know first
- WordPress 6.5 or higher is required.
- Uploaded media is publicly accessible by direct URL by default.
- Paid troubleshooting is $39.00 USD per once and excludes customization.
Verdict
Choose Simple Membership Plugin for a small WordPress membership site that needs content levels, payment options, and member controls at no software cost. Look elsewhere if your site needs media files protected by default or if you need support beyond documentation and forum help without a paid troubleshooting ticket.
Get started with Simple Membership Plugin
- Open the Simple Membership Plugin website.
- Download the free WordPress plugin.
- Use it with WordPress 6.5 or higher.
- Create membership access levels and assign posts or pages to them.
- Configure payment or trial options if needed.
What the free plan stops at
The core plugin is free. Paid troubleshooting costs 39.00 USD per once for one issue and excludes customization work; premium addons are separately priced.
Questions about Simple Membership Plugin
Is Simple Membership Plugin free?
Yes. The Core Simple Membership Plugin is free, and a free plan is available.
What does paid troubleshooting cost?
Paid support costs 39.00 USD per once, billed at $39 per ticket for one issue. Customization work is excluded.
Which payment gateways does it name?
The homepage names PayPal, Stripe, and Braintree.
Which platforms does it support?
It is a WordPress plugin, and its listed platforms are API, self-hosted, and web. WordPress 6.5 or higher is required.
Does it offer integrations?
The addon directory lists MailChimp, Zapier, bbPress, WooCommerce, ConvertKit, MailerLite, and AWeber, among others.
How does it handle uploaded media files?
WordPress media files are publicly accessible by direct URL by default. Additional file-protection measures are needed to manage access to static files.
Simple Membership Plugin plans and pricing
All plansCompared on membership site platforms
- Free plan
- Yes
- Content gating
- page
- Subscription billing
- both
