Building a membership site can feel daunting to those undertaking it for the first time. Our guide and detailed comparison chart of the top 10 membership website builders aims to simplify the process of choosing the right platform. At its most basic function, a membership site prevents nonmembers from seeing what members can login to access. Some platforms focus on helping content creators gate their content or sell courses while other builders excel at membership management for organizations.
Each business has different priorities, whether it’s budget concerns or the need for a specific feature. Whether you end up choosing our platform or a competitor, this guide aims to help you find the best fit for your needs.
In this Guide:
- What are the best membership site builders? (with Comparison Chart)
- What is a membership site?
- How do I create an online membership site?
- The Top 10 membership site platforms
What is the best membership site builder?
| MembershipWorks | WildApricot | Squarespace | Wix | Podia | Memberspace | MemberPress | YourMembership | Subhub | Kajabi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus on member management or subscriptions | Member management | Member management | Subscriptions | Subscriptions | Subscriptions | Subscriptions | Subscriptions | Member management | Subscriptions | Subscriptions |
| Known for | Working with nonprofits, chambers, associations, clubs, groups | Working with clubs and nonprofits | Selling courses | Selling access to services for a limited period (e.g. gym membership) | Selling courses, digital downloads, coaching | Selling digital products | Selling courses | Working with associations | Working with established organizations that are adding membership offerings | Supporting creators in selling online |
| Price per month starts at | $0; paid plans start at $35; pay for hosting elsewhere | $0; paid plans start at $60 | $9 plus transaction fees (not including website fee starting at $23/month) | starts at $27 | $0 with 8% transaction fee; paid plans start at $33 | $0 with 5% transaction fee; pay for hosting elsewhere | $14.96/mo (paid annually); pay for hosting elsewhere | starts at $292 | starts at $27 | starts at $119 |
| Setup Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | varies | $0 | $0 |
| Additional per-transaction charges (beyond payment gateway fees) | $0 | Must use their affiliated payment gateway which has higher fees than some other choices ** | 0-7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Can you pick your own CMS or do you have to use the one they provide? | Choose from WordPress, Weebly, Squarespace, Wix, Duda, WithoutCode, Drupal, Joomla, Spacecraft, HTML5 sites | Use theirs | Use theirs | Use theirs | Use theirs | Choose from WordPress, Weebly, Squarespace, Wix, and more | WordPress | Use theirs | Use theirs | Use theirs |
| Member Directory | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | via Community Box integration | via Formidable Forms integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Member Event Calendar / Event Registration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Calendar requires an integration, but has event registration | No calendar, but has event registration | No | Yes | Yes | No calendar, but has event registration |
| Member Classifieds | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| LMS (Learning Management System) | No | No | Limited LMS features | Limited LMS features | Yes | Limited LMS features | Yes, via an Add On | Yes | Limited LMS features | Some LMS features |
| Content Dripping | No | No | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes |
| Member Job Board | Yes | Yes, but with revenue sharing | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Announcement Board or Member Forum | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Donations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | via PayPal | No | No | Yes | Yes | via PayPal |
| Shopping Cart | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, but not for physical products | Yes, but not for physical products | via WooCommerce | Yes | Yes | Yes, but not for physical products |
| CMS compatibility | WordPress, Weebly, Squarespace, Wix, Duda, WithoutCode, Drupal, Joomla, Spacecraft, HTML5 sites | Custom CMS. Uses iframes to embed widgets on other platforms ***** | Requires their platform | Requires their platform | WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly and others | WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Duda, HTML5 and more | WordPress | Requires their platform | Requires their platform | Requires their platform |
| Key Integrations | MailChimp, Quickbooks Online and Desktop, Xero | Quickbooks Desktop, Make (connects WA to other apps) | Zapier, Dropbox, MailChimp | via third party: ClassPass, MailChimp, MailMunch, Klayvio, Hubspot | Mailchimp, GetResponse, Drip, Aweber, ConvertKit, ActiveCampiagn | Zapier, HubSpot | MailChimp, Zapier, BuddyPress | Quickbooks online, LMS | MailChimp, Vanilla Forum | Aweber, Zapier, ConvertKit, Drip, ActiveCampaign, Segment |
| Payment Gateways | Stripe, Authorize.net, PayPal | Affinipay (Paypal and Authorize.net at an additional cost) | Squarespace Payments, Stripe, PayPal, or Square | WixPayments, Square, Authorize.net, Stripe and many more | Stripe, PayPal (only availabe on certain plan) | Stripe | Stripe, Authorize.net, PayPal | Affinipay, BluePay | Stripe, PayPal | Stripe, PayPal, Kajabi Payments |
| Support | Phone, email, live screen share training | Forum, chat, email | Chat, Email | Ticket, Callback | Chat, email | Email, limited group training | Phone, email | Phone, email | Email, chat; varies by plan | |
| Admin seats on paid plans | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 admins on lowest price plan; unlimited on others | Unlimited | 1 admin seat at their lowest price; additional admins are $20/mo for 1 and $50 for up to 5 | Unlimited | Unknown | Unlimited | Only the origin admin email has access to the Homepage and Course Editor | 1 additional admin seat at their lowest price |
** Wild Apricot adds 20% to its monthly/annual fees if you don’t use their affiliated payment gateway. Nonprofits can often find lower transaction fees with other payment gateways like Stripe, but the 20% fee increase comes into play if you go that route.
***** Iframes offer limited compatibility for Wild Apricot with WordPress, Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace.
What is a membership website?
A membership website means different things to different people. Creators need a membership website that helps them focus on selling subscriptions and subscription revenue. On the other hand, membership organizations looks for a membership site that gets members to join and engage with their group. There are some features that overlap, like the ability to take event registrations, and to sell memberships, but other features like drip content or a member directory may not be of interest to everyone who is building a membership site.
How do I create an online membership site?
- Identify the type of membership site you need — * a site that serves an existing membership organization, or a site to help you gate content and sell subscriptions to access content
- Pick a membership website builder that aligns with the features you need
- Set up your payment gateway (first be sure it is one that integrates with your site builder)
- Build your site. Most membership website builders do not require code knowledge. Modern membership site builders use drag and drop design environment to make it easy.
- Set up any integrations you need
- Announce your new website and promote it to potential members or subscribers
* Some membership websites focus more on content gating with subscriptions that allow access. Other membership sites serve organizations that exist both online and offline and require more features such as a member directory and event registration. It’s important to know the difference as you research options.
Top 10 Membership Site Builders
1. 
MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks enables both new and established membership-based organizations to start taking membership payments quickly. Many membership levels can be created at various price points and with different billing methods. Its features are easily embedded into a variety of website platforms (WordPress, Weebly, Wix, Squarespace, Duda, WithoutCode, and others), so setup and maintenance can require less of a learning curve. Known for enabling those without code knowledge to easily build a membership site. In part that is due to its Texas-based support team who provide free phone, email, and screen share training.
Typical customer: Membership-based organizations that exist online and offline
Cost: Pricing starts at free; first paid level is $35/mo.
Setup Fee: $0
Per-Seat charges: $0; admin seats are unlimited on all paid plans
Additional Transaction-Related Charges: None other than payment gateway charges
Key Features Beyond Memberships: Event calendar and registration, online directory, member only content, donations, forms, job bank, shopping carts, classified ads, announcement boards
Key Integrations: MailChimp, Quickbooks, Xero, Stripe, Authorize.net, PayPal Pro, PayPal Checkout
Support: Free phone, email, and one-on-one screen share training with no seat restrictions on support.
See how MembershipWorks compares to other systems
2. WildApricot
WildApricot has a long track record of providing membership websites to nonprofits and other types of groups. They offer multi-chapter organizations the ability to create a membership website template and clone that site for multiple chapters to use. WildApricot currently offers 12 membership website themes. Some commenters online feel that the themes look a bit dated and less modern than other template choices.
Typical customer: Membership-based organizations that exist online and offline
Cost: Pricing starts at free; first paid level is $60/mo.
Setup Fee: $0
Additional Transaction-Related Charges: Wild Apricot adds 20% to its monthly/annual fees if you don’t use their affiliated payment gateway. Nonprofits can often find lower transaction fees with other payment gateways like Stripe, but the 20% fee increase comes into play if you go that route.
Key Features Beyond Selling Memberships: Online event calendars and registration, directory, member only content, forum, online store, mobile app
Key Integrations: Make, Affinipay, Website Widgets
Support: Chat, email, forums
3. Squarespace Member Areas
Squarespace’s membership site is focused on creators. Squarespace’s Member Areas feature promotes the ability to “Turn your content and expertise into income. Sell membership access to online courses and classes, videos, paid newsletters, communities and more.” Using Squarespace for a membership site isn’t a good idea if you are an established organization that needs to import your current members. That feature isn’t available on Squarespace.
Typical customer: Creators who are starting out with selling online content
Cost: $9 plus transaction fees (not including website fee); up to 7% transaction fees depending upon plan level
Setup Fee: $
Key Features Beyond Membership Sales: Content gating, selling courses, shopping cart
Key Integrations: ConvertKit and some extensions
Support: Chat, email
See a Squarespace Member Areas comparison
4. Wix
Wix membership sites can be used in many ways, but they are typically used by a business to allow its customers access to their own member portal. Members can login to their portal to see and manage their interactions with the business such as appointments and course purchases. It integrates with their Wix Bookings and Wix Store features among others.
Typical customer: Small businesses that need features such as online appointment scheduling and course purchases
Cost: starts at $27
Setup Fee: $0
Key Features Beyond Selling Memberships: Online community forum, member only event registration, some learning management system features, member only content, online store, email marketing
Key Integrations: ClassPass, MailChimp, MailMunch, Klayvio, Hubspot (all via third party integrations; Wix also has its own apps)
Support: Ticket, callback
5. Podia
Podia allows creators to sell downloads, access to community, courses, webinars, workshops, access to coaching through their own membership site. It offers a built-in email marketing platform with email templates. They also have an online creator community where you can communicate with fellow creators to get ideas. Courses can be created within the Podia platform.
Typical customer: Creators whose main business is selling access to content like courses and coaching
Cost:$0 with 8% transaction fee; paid plans start at $33
Per-Seat charges: 1 admin seat at their lowest price; additional admins are $20/mo for 1 and $50 for up to 5 administrators
Additional Transaction-Related Charges: 10% transaction fee on their free plan; lower rates on paid plans
Setup Fee: $0
Key Features of Membership Site: built in course creation features and email marketing system
Key Integrations: Mailchimp, GetResponse, Drip, Aweber, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign
Support: Email, chat
6. MemberSpace
MemberSpace’s primary focus is on access control of website content. It excels at helping solopreneurs post gated course content such as audio, videos, and private content libraries. Note that some integrations will require a paid plan on a 3rd party platform. For example, MemberSpace websites that need to connect to software like MailChimp and Quickbooks will also need to buy a subscription to Zapier.
Typical customer: Creators who seek to monetize their content such as online courses
Cost: $0 with 5% transaction fee; pay for hosting elsewhere or use their builder
Per-Seat charges: not applicable
Additional Transaction-Related Charges: 5% per transaction
Setup Fee: $0
Key features beyond selling memberships: selling access to gated content libraries, podcasts, courses, events
Key Integrations: Email, limited group training
7. MemberPress
MemberPress focuses on monetizing content and provides a built-in learning management system. MemberPress has the capability to allow members to sign up for multiple membership levels at the same time.
Typical customer: Small business/solopreneurs who are selling courses on their WordPress website
Cost: $15/mo (sold annually)
Additional transaction fees: $0
Top additional features beyond membership: built-in LMS, content restriction
Key integrations: MailChimp, Zapier, BuddyPress
Support: Email
8. YourMembership
YourMembership is designed to help existing membership organizations create a membership website for their group. For those that want someone to design their site for them, they offer this service. Essentially they are a one stop shop for just about every aspect of building a membership site. With the requirement to use their content management system, organizations are more locked into their system versus membership systems that allow you to choose from multiple content management systems.
Typical customer: Associations
Cost: starts at $292/month
Setup Fee: varies
Key Features Beyond Membership Management: Online community, event calendar and registration, directory, member only content, online store, mobile event app
Key Integrations: Career center, Learning Management System (LMS)
Support: Email, phone
See a YourMembership comparison
9. Subhub
Typical customer: Businesses selling gated content such as courses
Cost: Starts at $27/month
Per-Seat charges: Only the origin admin email has access to the Homepage and Course Editor
Additional Transaction-Related Charges: $0
Setup Fee: $0
Key Features Beyond Membership Management: Website template, video library, segmented access, online courses, landing pages
Key Integrations: MailChimp, Vanilla Forum
Support: Email, phone
10. Kajabi
Kajabi is known for helping YouTubers and digital entrepreneurs who are looking to monetize their content. They offer sales funnels with pre-written emails that can be optionally customized. They focus on converting leads into members via their website templates and landing pages. Their customers range from online educators and coaches to podcasters, musicians, and public speakers. They set themselves apart by providing 24/7 support.
Typical customer: Creators who want more than the usual built-in marketing features
Cost: Starts at $25/month
Per-Seat charges: unknown
Additional Transaction-Related Charges: $0
Setup Fee: $0
Key Features Beyond Membership Management: Multi-chapter features, member only content, events management, online store, scannable tickets
Key Integrations: Quickbooks
Support: Email, online training (additional fees; $150 for a hour)
Note that pricing and features may change from the information we have gathered here. Providers regularly evolve their product offerings and price points.
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