Build a Membership Website — Best Platforms and Tools

Membership websites let you charge users for access to exclusive content, courses, communities, or services. Whether you're building a paid newsletter, an online course platform, or a members-only community, choosing the right platform is critical. This guide compares the best options.

WordPress + MemberPress (Best for Full Control)

WordPress with MemberPress is the most powerful membership solution. MemberPress handles member management, content protection, subscription billing, and access control. You create levels (Free, Premium, Pro), protect specific content, and set up recurring payments via Stripe or PayPal.

MemberPress costs $179/year for the Basic plan. Add Wishlist Member ($99/year) or Paid Memberships Pro (free with paid add-ons) for alternatives. You also need hosting ($10-30/month) and a domain. This is the most flexible but requires more setup effort.

Wix Members Area (Best for Beginners)

Wix offers built-in membership features through Wix Members Area. You can create member-only pages, set up login/registration, manage member levels, and integrate with Wix Payments for subscriptions. It's much simpler than WordPress/MemberPress but has limitations.

Wix Members Area is included with Business and Unlimited plans ($27/month+). You can create up to 5 membership levels, restrict content by level, and set up recurring payments. It's ideal for small membership sites with straightforward needs.

Squarespace Member Areas

Squarespace Member Areas let you create gated content on any Squarespace site. You can offer free or paid memberships, manage subscriber tiers, and integrate with Stripe for payments. The feature is available on the Business plan ($23/month) and above.

Squarespace's member areas work best for content creators who already have a Squarespace site and want to add a simple membership tier. Advanced features like drip content and complex access rules are limited.

Specialized Membership Platforms

For dedicated membership sites, consider: Teachable (best for online courses with membership), Kajabi (all-in-one platform with courses, membership, and marketing), Circle (community-focused with native membership features), and Patreon (for creator subscriptions with minimal setup).