ARMember vs MemberPress
Choosing between these WordPress membership heavyweights is tough. ARMember gives you incredible feature flexibility and comprehensive community tools. MemberPress excels with its simple, integrated LMS for selling online courses.
Robust membership tool with exceptional support.
ARMember provides enterprise-level functionality for comprehensive WordPress membership management. We found the feature set robust, particularly the multi-site support and advanced content dripping options. Overall, we recommend ARMember for established businesses seeking a powerful, reliable solution with stellar customer support.
Pros
- Customer support is prompt, responsive, and highly dedicated to resolving issues.
- Comprehensive, all-in-one feature set with 57+ inbuilt Addons included.
- Flexible monetization models, including proration and Pay Per Post.
- Intuitive, clutter-free administrative back end and easy setup wizard.
Cons
- Image upload functionality for member profiles can be overly restrictive.
- Security protocols sometimes cause “false positives” on uploaded files.
- Free plan has limited support and features only two payment gateways.
Rock-Solid WordPress Membership Leader
MemberPress is a robust solution that simplifies complex membership site management and content monetization within WordPress. We found the combination of its drag-and-drop course builder and powerful content access rules to be highly effective. Overall, it stands out for offering enterprise-level control backed by universally praised customer support.
Pros
- Exceptional, responsive, and detailed technical support.
- Powerful course LMS platform with drag-and-drop functionality.
- User-friendly interface that simplifies content protection for non-coders.
- Reliable performance suitable for long-term content monetization.
Cons
- Transparency issues reported regarding subsequent annual renewal pricing.
- Introductory pricing model requires careful attention to full costs.
- Minor configuration limitations exist for highly customized setups.
AboutARMember
ARMember is a complete, turn-key WordPress Membership Plugin. It streamlines all required features for creating a successful subscription service. This tool supports multidimensional businesses, including those selling online courses, building large communities, offering digital content, or providing corporate training. It gives you symmetrical management features, simplifying the way you monetize your WordPress site. ✅
AboutMemberPress
MemberPress is a complete WordPress plugin that makes building and monetizing your site simple. It serves creators who want to build the perfect membership site, sell online courses, and manage digital downloads. The platform offers extraordinary paywall power using Content Access Rules. This capability lets you customize who sees what content with just the click of a button. It's truly recommended as a great combination of rich features and easy use. ✅
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Online Course Platform
MemberPress includes a robust LMS built in; ARMember requires its highest-cost Enterprise plan.
MemberPress delivers a complete LMS platform right out of the box with all plans. You get a drag-and-drop builder for creating full courses and lessons. This simplifies the process for educators greatly. ARMember requires moving up to the expensive Enterprise plan to unlock the Online Courses addon. This limits LMS functionality for users on Standard or Professional tiers. If your business focuses on education, MemberPress provides better core functionality. This difference is foundational to your platform choice and revenue model. MemberPress makes course selling easy; ARMember makes it an expensive afterthought. MemberPress is the clear winner for educational content monetization.
Pricing Flexibility
ARMember provides creative monetization like Pay Per Post; MemberPress uses standard subscriptions and order bumps.
ARMember champions monetization depth by offering features like Pay Per Post access. This lets you charge members for accessing single pieces of content. ARMember also includes membership proration features on its Standard plan. MemberPress focuses on recurring payments and upsells like Order Bumps at checkout. This maximizes revenue on volume sales. If you need highly specialized access rules not based on subscription hierarchy, ARMember is superior. ARMember gives you more creative ways to charge customers for granular content access.
Ease of Setup
MemberPress uses ReadyLaunch™ for fast, code-free setup; ARMember offers a useful Setup Wizard.
MemberPress makes site launch supremely easy with the ReadyLaunch™ page maker. You can create professional, mobile-responsive pages instantly without touching a line of code. MemberPress prioritizes getting beginners running quickly. ARMember provides an exclusive Setup Wizard that guides users through initial configuration steps. This is helpful but less comprehensive than the code-free page creation MemberPress offers. For non-developers or speed-focused entrepreneurs, MemberPress provides a smoother, faster start.
Payment Gateway Depth
ARMember supports 21+ global gateways; MemberPress focuses on 4 major providers.
ARMember offers extensive global coverage, supporting over 21 payment gateways and processors. This broad integration is available on its Professional and Enterprise tiers. This is vital for serving an international audience base. MemberPress supports 4 major gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net (Pro plan). This covers most markets but lacks the specialized, global diversity of ARMember. If international sales require lesser-known or localized gateways, ARMember is the safer, more robust choice.
Security Features
ARMember focuses on built-in infrastructure protection; MemberPress focuses on content paywall security.
ARMember includes robust internal security features like Brute Force Login Protection. It also offers Captcha-Free Anti-spam to secure registration forms. ARMember reduces the need for many external WordPress security plugins. MemberPress focuses its security on powerful Content Access Rules and paywalling functionality. This ensures only paying members see premium content. Both tools protect your site; ARMember guards the admin backend, and MemberPress guards the content.
Community Integration
ARMember integrates deeply with BuddyPress/Buddyboss; MemberPress treats community as a secondary feature.
ARMember provides seamless, one-click integration with BuddyPress and Buddyboss for advanced forums. This helps foster real peer-to-peer engagement and community loyalty. ARMember also includes ready-to-go user profile and directory templates. MemberPress focuses primarily on the transactional side of content and courses. Community functions are supported but less central to the platform's core design. If building an interactive social network is crucial, ARMember offers superior tools.
ARMember costs between $0 and $299 per year with four plans: Free at $0, Standard Plan at $69, Professional Plan at $129, and Enterprise Plan at $299.
Let's look closely at what each plan tier offers for your WordPress membership site.
Free
Price: $0 per year Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Not explicitly stated Refund Policy: Not applicable Other Features:
- 19+ in-built Addons
- Unlimited Membership Plans
- Includes 2 Payment Gateways (PayPal, Bank Transfer)
- Limited Support
- Unlimited Membership Plans
- 19+ in-built Addons
- 2 Payment Gateways (PayPal, Bank Transfer (Offline))
- Use on 1 Site
- 1 Year Support
- Unlimited Membership Plans
- 57+ In-built Addons
- 5+ Payment Gateways
- Use on 2 Sites
- 1 Year Support
- Unlimited Membership Plans
- 57+ In-built Addons
- 21+ Payment Gateways
- Use on 10 Sites
- 1 Year Support
- Unlimited Membership Plans
- 57+ In-built Addons
- 21+ Payment Gateways
MemberPress costs between $179.50 and $399.50 per year with three plans: Basic at $179.50, Plus at $299.50, and Pro at $399.50.
These annual plans are structured to fit different business sizes and stages.
Basic
Price: $179.50 per year (Introductory) Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Beginners who are getting started with their first membership site Refund Policy: 14-day money-back guarantee Other Features:
- Unlimited Courses, Lessons, and Members
- No transaction fees or monthly fees
- Stripe and PayPal Integration
- Drip Content and Email Automation
- ReadyLaunch™ Page Maker
- Unlimited Members, Courses, and Lessons
- No transaction fees or monthly fees
- Stripe & PayPal Integration
- Drip Content and Email Automation
- Drag & Drop Curriculum Builder
- Everything in Basic
- Unlimited Course Quizzes and Certificates
- Advanced Marketing Integrations (ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Drip)
- Developer Tools (REST API/webhooks)
- Zapier Integration
- Everything in Plus
- Unlimited Course Assignments and Gradebook
- Sell Corporate Accounts and Gifted Memberships
- Order Bumps at Checkout
- Authorize.net and TaxJar Integrations
Pricing Notes
- ARMember offers a permanent Free plan, which MemberPress does not provide for testing core features.
- ARMember's entry paid tier is significantly cheaper at $69/year versus MemberPress's introductory $179.50/year.
- MemberPress uses introductory pricing; renewal costs will be higher than the price listed.
- ARMember provides explicit multi-site licensing (up to 10 sites), useful for agencies and developers.
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
ARMember maintains a favorable user sentiment, primarily driven by exceptional customer support and strong overall value. Users consistently highlight that the support team is responsive and quick, helping to resolve issues effectively and efficiently, even those that are complex or self-inflicted.
Many reviewers note that the system provides specific, robust features—such as time-based content restriction for online courses—that competitors lack. The plugin is frequently praised for its intuitive, clutter-free back end and its reasonable pricing compared to other premium market options.
This is the best membership plugin we have tried. It has a nice interface with no clutter, making it easy to work with and customize. Plus, the price is very reasonable compared to the competition.
Users overwhelmingly praise MemberPress, finding it a powerful, yet user-friendly solution for WordPress membership sites and course creation. Reviewers consistently highlight the platform's seamless integration and ease of use, confirming that launching a site is straightforward, even for non-developers.
The most frequently mentioned positive is the exceptional technical support. Customers describe the team as professional, patient, and incredibly responsive, often resolving complex issues quickly and with detailed, accurate solutions.
The support is as good as it gets. If you’re serious about building a real business, these are the people to turn to. They are professional, fast to respond, and always get right to the point. Outstanding service.
Our Verdict
This comparison pits feature flexibility against built-in simplicity. Both ARMember and MemberPress provide robust membership solutions. The right choice depends entirely on your primary business model. ARMember is the champion of ultimate flexibility and feature depth. It includes 57+ built-in components, making it a true all-in-one suite. Need Pay Per Post monetization or 21+ global payment gateways? ARMember delivers these enterprise features starting at just $69/year. It excels at building community using deep BuddyPress integration. MemberPress is the undisputed king of integrated course creation and ease of use. The built-in LMS and drag-and-drop builder eliminate the need for extra plugins. Its ReadyLaunch™ tool guarantees a professional site setup without touching code. MemberPress also handles corporate accounts and ensures powerful content paywalling. The deciding factor is your content strategy: Learning Management System or extreme feature customization? Choose MemberPress if selling courses is your revenue engine. Select ARMember if you need maximum customization, flexible pricing models, and multi-site licensing options. MemberPress wins for coaches and content creators prioritizing simplicity and an integrated LMS. ARMember is the budget-friendly, feature-packed powerhouse for developers and community builders. Both ARMember and MemberPress provide top-tier tools for serious membership businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which plugin is better for selling online courses?
MemberPress includes a full drag-and-drop Courses LMS built right in. ARMember requires the highest Enterprise plan for specific Online Courses addons. MemberPress is the clear winner for educators.
Is ARMember or MemberPress easier for beginners?
MemberPress is generally easier for true beginners. Its ReadyLaunch™ feature creates professional pages code-free in minutes. ARMember supports a helpful Setup Wizard but requires more configuration time.
Which tool offers the most flexible pricing models (Pay Per Post)?
ARMember offers highly flexible monetization including Pay Per Post access. MemberPress focuses primarily on standard recurring subscriptions and one-time purchases. ARMember provides superior customization in this area.
Is MemberPress worth the higher introductory cost over ARMember?
Only if you need the integrated LMS and value extreme simplicity. MemberPress starts higher at $179.50/year. ARMember starts at $69/year and includes more built-in addons.
How do ARMember's and MemberPress's multi-site capabilities compare?
ARMember clearly defines site limits, covering up to 10 sites on its Enterprise tier. MemberPress focuses on unlimited members and courses, not explicit site limits. ARMember better serves agencies.
Which tool supports more international payment gateways?
ARMember provides support for over 21 payment gateways at its Professional and Enterprise tiers. MemberPress supports 4 major gateways, limiting global payment diversity. ARMember offers broader global coverage.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.