Side by side
Paid Memberships Pro vs Steady
Both stand on membership site platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Self-hostedWeb
Paid Memberships Pro combines content restrictions, membership billing and administration for WordPress sites. The free plan provides a self-hosted option, while paid plans add premium add-ons and support.
Visit Paid Memberships Pro Free plan APIWeb
Steady offers publishing and membership tools without a charge before earnings begin. Creators should weigh its commission and additional fees against the lack of custom-domain support.
Visit SteadyThe facts
| Paid Memberships Pro | Steady | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Self-hosted, Web | API, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Standard: $499 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 7 | 1 |
| Maker | Paid Memberships Pro | Steady |
| Website | paidmembershipspro.com | steady.page |
| On membership site platforms | #6 of 85 | #10 of 85 |
Paid Memberships Pro: what it does well
- Create unlimited free or paid membership levels.
- Supports one-time and recurring billing intervals.
- Includes Stripe and PayPal without platform transaction fees.
- Free plan includes 25 free add-ons.
- Core plugin and add-ons are GPLv2 open source.
What to know first
- Payment gateway charges still apply.
- Technical support covers only three recent minor releases.
- Premium purchases’ guarantee covers one payment.
- Paid plans start at $49 a month.
Steady: what it does well
- Publishing and membership tools are included.
- Free until creators start earning.
- Supports recurring subscription billing.
- Can gate access across an entire site.
What to know first
- Takes a 10% commission once creators earn.
- Variable payment-provider fees and VAT also apply.
- Custom domains are not supported.
- Listed platform is web.
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