MemberPress vs Paid Memberships Pro (2026): Which Pays Better?
Both are popular paywall & subscription tools. Here is how MemberPress and Paid Memberships Pro stack up on requirements, what you keep, payout terms, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.
MemberPress
WordPress membership plugin: paywalls, subscriptions, courses and drip content with no revenue share.
7.9 /10
Pricing: Paid from $179/mo
Pros
- Complete membership stack on your own WordPress site
- Courses, coupons, corporate accounts and Stripe billing
Cons
- You maintain WordPress and handle tax
- Annual licence
Paid Memberships Pro
Open-source WordPress membership plugin with a free core and paid add-ons.
7.5 /10
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $174/mo
Pros
- Free and open source with a large add-on library
- Flexible levels, gateways and gated content
Cons
- Less polished than MemberPress
- Setup takes configuration
MemberPress vs Paid Memberships Pro at a glance
| MemberPress | Paid Memberships Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 7.9 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | $179/mo | $174/mo |
| Web rank | #116k | #259k |
| Minimum traffic | None | None |
| Revenue share / fee | From $179/year; no per-sale cut | Free core; Plus from $174/year; no per-sale cut |
| Commission | – | – |
| Payout | Via your gateway | Via your gateway |
| Methods served | paywall premium content, memberships subscriptions, paid newsletter, online courses | paywall premium content, memberships subscriptions, paid newsletter, online courses |
| Niches accepted | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | wordpress, membership plugin, paywall | wordpress, open source, membership plugin |
Our pick
MemberPress edges it with a score of 7.9 versus 7.5. MemberPress is the better fit if you value: complete membership stack on your own wordpress site, courses, coupons, corporate accounts and stripe billing. Choose Paid Memberships Pro instead if you need: free and open source with a large add-on library, flexible levels, gateways and gated content.
Other paywall & subscription tools to consider
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