Which platform is best for membership sites

Okay, so I’m finally ready to launch my membership site! I’ve been planning this for ages, and now I’m just completely overwhelmed by the number of options out there. I’m specifically looking for a platform that can handle tiered memberships (like, bronze, silver, gold levels with different content for each), recurring payments (obviously!), and ideally something that integrates well with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.

Also, I’m not a tech wizard! So, ease of use is a HUGE factor. I don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out complex coding or integrations. Something relatively intuitive would be fantastic.

My content is mostly video courses, downloadable PDFs, and access to a private community forum. So the platform needs to be able to handle all of that. Ideally, it should also have some options for live streaming or webinars in the future.

I’m looking for recommendations based on actual experience. What platforms have you used, what did you like, what did you hate, and most importantly, why? I’m on a bit of a budget, so free or very affordable options are definitely a plus. Thanks in advance!

Answer

Choosing the "best" platform for a membership site is subjective and depends heavily on your specific needs, technical skills, budget, and the type of content you plan to offer. There’s no single universally "best" option. Instead, there’s a range of excellent platforms each excelling in different areas. Here’s a detailed comparison of popular options:

1. WordPress with Membership Plugins

• Overview: WordPress, a highly flexible and open-source content management system (CMS), forms the foundation. Membership functionality is added through plugins. This approach offers unparalleled customization and control.

• Popular Plugins:

  • MemberPress: A powerful and user-friendly plugin focused on ease of use and profitability. It offers features like drip content, coupon creation, affiliate program integration, and robust reporting. Known for its simplicity in setting up payment gateways and membership levels.
  • Restrict Content Pro: Developed by the team behind Easy Digital Downloads, this plugin is lightweight, developer-friendly, and focuses on core membership features. It integrates well with other WordPress plugins and supports multiple payment gateways. A good option if you want a clean, streamlined experience and plan to customize extensively.
  • LearnDash: Primarily focused on online courses and learning management systems (LMS). It includes features like course creation, quizzes, assignments, gradebooks, and certificates. While it’s great for education, it can be used for other types of membership content as well.
  • WishList Member: One of the oldest and most established membership plugins. It offers a wide range of features and integrations, but its user interface can feel a bit dated compared to newer options.
  • Paid Memberships Pro: A free core plugin with a wide array of premium add-ons for expanded functionality. It’s a good option if you’re on a tight budget and are comfortable with a more modular approach to building your membership site.
  • WooCommerce Memberships: If you already use WooCommerce for selling physical or digital products, this plugin seamlessly integrates membership functionality. It allows you to tie membership benefits to product purchases and offer exclusive product access to members.

• Pros:

  • Extremely Customizable: WordPress offers complete control over design, functionality, and content.
  • Large Community & Support: A vast ecosystem of developers, designers, and users provides extensive support, themes, and plugins.
  • SEO-Friendly: WordPress is inherently well-suited for search engine optimization.
  • Scalability: Can handle membership sites of any size, from small communities to large enterprises.
  • Plugin Ecosystem: Thousands of plugins available for virtually any functionality you need (e.g., email marketing integration, forum integration, social media sharing).
  • Theme Variety: Countless themes (free and paid) available to create a unique and professional look.
  • Content Ownership: You own your data and content.

• Cons:

  • Technical Complexity: Requires some technical knowledge to set up, manage, and maintain, especially when customizing extensively.
  • Security: Requires diligent security measures to protect against hacking.
  • Maintenance: You are responsible for updating WordPress, plugins, and themes to ensure compatibility and security.
  • Cost: While WordPress itself is free, you’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain name, premium themes, and premium plugins.
  • Plugin Compatibility Issues: Conflicts can arise between different plugins.
• Ideal For: Users who want maximum control, customization, and scalability and are comfortable with a moderate level of technical complexity. Good for integrating a membership component into an existing WordPress website.

2. Teachable

• Overview: A platform specifically designed for creating and selling online courses and coaching programs. While focused on education, its features can be adapted for other types of membership content.

• Key Features: Course creation tools (video, text, quizzes), landing page builder, sales page builder, payment processing, student management, analytics.

• Pros:

  • Easy to Use: Intuitive interface for creating and managing courses.
  • Focus on Education: Designed specifically for online learning, with features tailored to course creation and delivery.
  • Marketing Tools: Built-in marketing features like coupons, promotions, and email marketing integration.
  • Payment Processing: Handles payment processing and student subscriptions.
  • Mobile App (for students): Students can access courses on the go.

• Cons:

  • Limited Customization: Less flexibility in terms of design and functionality compared to WordPress.
  • Transaction Fees: Teachable charges transaction fees on some plans.
  • Content Restrictions: Primarily designed for course content; may not be ideal for other types of membership content.
  • Less Control: You are reliant on Teachable’s platform and features.
• Ideal For: Individuals and businesses focused on selling online courses and coaching programs who want a user-friendly platform with built-in marketing and payment processing features.

3. Thinkific

• Overview: Similar to Teachable, Thinkific is a platform dedicated to creating and selling online courses.

• Key Features: Course builder, landing page builder, payment processing, membership features, community features (on some plans), marketing integrations.

• Pros:

  • User-Friendly: Easy to create and manage courses, even for beginners.
  • Flexible Course Delivery: Supports various content formats (video, text, downloads).
  • Membership Options: Offers membership features like private communities and exclusive content.
  • Marketing Tools: Integrates with marketing platforms like Mailchimp and ConvertKit.
  • No Transaction Fees (on some plans): Higher-tier plans offer no transaction fees.

• Cons:

  • Limited Customization: Less design flexibility than WordPress.
  • Pricing: Can be more expensive than some other options, especially for advanced features.
  • Content Focus: Primarily geared towards course creation; may not be suitable for all types of membership content.
• Ideal For: Course creators who want a platform with a strong focus on education, flexible course delivery options, and membership features.

4. Kajabi

• Overview: An all-in-one platform that combines course creation, membership management, email marketing, and website building.

• Key Features: Course builder, landing page builder, website builder, email marketing automation, CRM, payment processing, membership management.

• Pros:

  • All-in-One Solution: Provides a complete suite of tools for creating, marketing, and selling online courses and memberships.
  • Marketing Automation: Robust email marketing and automation features.
  • Website Builder: Allows you to build a professional-looking website without coding.
  • Streamlined Workflow: Integrated tools simplify the process of creating and managing your online business.

• Cons:

  • Expensive: One of the most expensive platforms on the market.
  • Less Flexible than WordPress: Limited customization options compared to WordPress.
  • Lock-in: Moving your content and data to another platform can be challenging.
• Ideal For: Entrepreneurs and businesses who want a comprehensive, all-in-one platform and are willing to pay a premium for convenience and integrated features. Good for creating entire online businesses, not just membership sites.

5. Podia

• Overview: A user-friendly platform that simplifies the process of selling online courses, memberships, and digital downloads.

• Key Features: Course builder, membership platform, digital download sales, email marketing, website builder, payment processing.

• Pros:

  • Easy to Use: Simple and intuitive interface.
  • Affordable: Offers competitive pricing plans.
  • All-in-One: Combines course creation, membership management, and digital product sales.
  • Email Marketing: Includes built-in email marketing features.
  • No Transaction Fees: Podia doesn’t charge transaction fees on any of its plans.

• Cons:

  • Limited Customization: Less design flexibility compared to WordPress.
  • Fewer Features than Kajabi: Lacks some of the advanced marketing automation features of Kajabi.
• Ideal For: Individuals and small businesses who want an easy-to-use and affordable platform for selling online courses, memberships, and digital products.

6. Memberful

• Overview: Memberful is a dedicated membership platform that integrates with existing websites (including WordPress, Squarespace, and Webflow). It focuses on providing robust membership management features.

• Key Features: Membership management, subscription billing, payment processing, content restriction, email marketing integrations, discount codes, affiliate programs.

• Pros:

  • Integrates with Existing Websites: Doesn’t require you to migrate your website to a new platform.
  • Flexible Membership Levels: Supports various membership levels and pricing options.
  • Subscription Management: Robust tools for managing subscriptions and recurring payments.
  • Content Restriction: Easy to restrict access to specific content based on membership level.
  • Payment Options: Supports a range of payment options.

• Cons:

  • Requires an Existing Website: Not a standalone website builder.
  • Less Focus on Course Creation: Primarily a membership management tool, not a course creation platform.
• Ideal For: Users who already have a website and want to add membership functionality without switching platforms. A good option for those who prioritize membership management features over course creation tools.

7. Patreon

• Overview: A platform designed for creators to receive recurring funding from their fans (patrons) in exchange for exclusive content and benefits.

• Key Features: Recurring payments, tiered membership levels, content delivery, community features.

• Pros:

  • Focus on Creator Funding: Specifically designed for artists, musicians, writers, and other creators to generate income from their fanbase.
  • Built-in Community: Provides tools for engaging with patrons and building a community.
  • Easy to Use: Simple platform for setting up membership tiers and delivering content.

• Cons:

  • Platform Dependence: You are reliant on Patreon’s platform and policies.
  • Limited Customization: Less control over branding and design.
  • Fees: Patreon charges a percentage of your earnings.
  • Suitable for Specific Content Types: Best suited for ongoing creative work rather than structured courses.
• Ideal For: Creators who want to monetize their existing audience and provide exclusive content to their fans.

8. Squarespace with Member Areas

• Overview: Squarespace is a user-friendly website builder that also offers membership features through its "Member Areas" functionality.

• Key Features: Website builder, membership management, content restriction, payment processing.

• Pros:

  • Easy to Use: Squarespace is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
  • Professional Design: Offers a range of professionally designed templates.
  • All-in-One: Combines website building and membership features.
  • No Coding Required: Easy to create a website and membership site without coding.

• Cons:

  • Limited Customization: Less flexibility compared to WordPress.
  • Fewer Features: Member Areas functionality is relatively basic compared to dedicated membership platforms.
  • Not Ideal for Complex Memberships: Best suited for simple membership models with limited content tiers.
• Ideal For: Individuals and small businesses who want a simple and visually appealing website with basic membership functionality and don’t require extensive customization.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Platform:

• Your Technical Skills: Are you comfortable with coding and website management, or do you prefer a more user-friendly, no-code platform?
• Your Budget: How much are you willing to spend on platform fees, plugins, themes, and other related expenses?
• Type of Content: Are you primarily offering online courses, digital downloads, exclusive content, or a combination?
• Membership Model: How many membership levels do you plan to offer? What kind of access will each level provide?
• Marketing Needs: Do you need built-in marketing tools, or will you integrate with third-party marketing platforms?
• Scalability: Do you expect your membership site to grow significantly over time?
• Payment Processing: What payment gateways do you want to support?
• Customer Support: What kind of support is offered by the platform?

In summary:

• For maximum customization and control: WordPress with membership plugins is the best option.
• For selling online courses: Teachable and Thinkific are excellent choices.
• For an all-in-one solution: Kajabi provides a comprehensive suite of tools.
• For ease of use and affordability: Podia is a good option.
• For integrating with an existing website: Memberful is a great solution.
• For creators seeking recurring funding: Patreon is designed for this purpose.
• For a simple website with basic membership features: Squarespace with Member Areas is a good option.

It is highly recommended to take advantage of free trials or demos offered by these platforms to test them out and see which one best suits your needs before making a final decision.