MemberPress is a powerful all-in-one membership platform.
Members Only is a lightweight Stripe-first membership plugin designed for simple paywalls and subscriptions.
If you’re choosing between them, the decision usually comes down to this:
Do you want a “platform”… or a “paywall”?
Quick verdict
Choose Members Only if:
- You want one membership that unlocks access
- You want to launch fast with Stripe-first setup
- You care about keeping your membership stack simple and performant
Choose MemberPress if:
- You want courses, content dripping, quizzes, or LMS-like workflows
- You need multiple tiers, upsells, and coupon-driven funnels
- You want a plugin that tries to be the “everything” membership platform
Key differences (what matters in real life)
1) Complexity and maintenance
Members Only is intentionally focused. Fewer settings. Fewer “gotchas.”
That matters if you:
- run a small team
- want low support load
- don’t want a plugin that turns into a second job
MemberPress gives you broad capability — but with that comes configuration, edge cases, and a bigger footprint.
2) What you’re selling
Members Only is best when the product is:
- “subscribe to read”
- “subscribe to access the library”
- “members-only portal”
MemberPress is best when the product is:
- a multi-tier membership business
- a course platform
- a membership site with complex promos and rules
3) Stripe flow and conversion
Members Only leans hard into a clean purchase path.
If your growth depends on “visitor → pays → gets access,” simplicity wins.
MemberPress can absolutely convert — but you’ll typically spend more time dialing in the configuration and flows.
Feature comparison checklist
| Need / Preference | Members Only | MemberPress |
|---|---|---|
| Simple “member / not” access | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Yes |
| Multiple membership tiers | ⚠️ Not the focus | ✅ Strong |
| Courses / LMS workflows | ❌ No | ✅ Strong |
| Content dripping | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Coupons / promo funnels | ⚠️ Minimal | ✅ Yes |
| Stripe support | ✅ Stripe-first | ✅ Yes (plus more gateways) |
| “Set it up and forget it” | ✅ Strong | ⚠️ Depends on complexity |
Who MemberPress is perfect for
Pick MemberPress if you’re building a membership platform where you expect:
- lots of tiers
- bundles
- discounts and promotions
- course workflows
- deep member journeys
If that’s your business model, you’ll be happier with a platform built for it.
Who Members Only is perfect for
Pick Members Only if your business model is more like:
- a newspaper paywall
- a creator subscription (one paid tier)
- a resource library membership
- a private portal
If your goal is “launch quickly, keep it fast, keep it manageable,” this is the right shape of tool.
FAQ
Can Members Only do everything MemberPress does?
No — and that’s the point.
Members Only is intentionally focused on simple access control and a clean subscription flow.
What if I need courses later?
If courses are clearly in your roadmap, MemberPress may be a better starting point.
If you’re not sure yet, start simple. Many sites never need the “platform” complexity.
What if I need coupons?
If coupon funnels are a core growth tactic for you, MemberPress is likely a better fit.
Ready to choose the simpler path?
If you want a membership plugin that stays focused and keeps your site fast: