Which Membership Plugin is Right for You?
Introduction
If you’re looking to create a membership site on WordPress, choosing the right plugin is crucial for managing subscriptions, restricting content, and monetizing your site efficiently. Two of the best options available on CodeCanyon are Ultimate Membership Pro and ARMember. Both plugins offer powerful features, but they serve different user needs. This in-depth comparison will help you decide which one is best for your membership site.
What is Ultimate Membership Pro?
Ultimate Membership Pro is one of the most popular and feature-rich membership plugins for WordPress. It allows you to restrict content, create subscription plans, and manage users with ease. It supports multiple membership levels, pay-per-post access, and advanced content dripping to schedule content releases.
This plugin integrates with major payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, allowing you to set up one-time payments or recurring subscriptions. Additionally, it offers WooCommerce integration, so you can restrict product access based on membership levels. Other advanced features include coupon management, social login, email notifications, and integration with email marketing services.
If you need a highly customizable, monetization-focused membership system, Ultimate Membership Pro is a great choice.
What is ARMember?
ARMember is an all-in-one membership plugin that provides simpler user management, content restriction, and subscription handling. Unlike Ultimate Membership Pro, ARMember focuses on ease of use while still providing a comprehensive membership solution.
It features a built-in form builder, allowing you to customize registration forms, login forms, and user profiles without extra plugins. It also includes a drip content system, allowing you to release content gradually to keep members engaged.
ARMember supports multiple payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, along with options for one-time payments, recurring subscriptions, and free trials. The plugin also includes WooCommerce and BuddyPress integration, making it a flexible choice for various membership models.
For users who want a simplified yet powerful membership management system, ARMember is an excellent option.
Feature Comparison
Ease of Use
Ultimate Membership Pro is feature-rich, but it comes with a steeper learning curve due to its advanced customization options. Setting up membership levels, payment plans, and content restriction rules requires some initial configuration.
ARMember, in contrast, is designed for ease of use, with an intuitive interface and drag-and-drop form builder. It’s a great option for beginners who want a quick and hassle-free setup.
If you’re new to membership plugins and want an easy learning curve, ARMember is the better option. If you need more control over customization and monetization, Ultimate Membership Pro is the way to go.
Customization & Flexibility
Ultimate Membership Pro offers more customization options than ARMember. With extensive settings for membership levels, content restriction rules, and payment structures, it’s a great choice for users who want a deeply customizable membership site.
ARMember also offers a good level of customization but focuses on simplicity. While it includes profile customization, content restrictions, and drip-feed content, it lacks some of the advanced monetization features of Ultimate Membership Pro.
For complex membership sites with multiple pricing tiers and advanced access rules, Ultimate Membership Pro is the better choice. For a straightforward membership setup, ARMember works well.
Payment & Subscription Management
Both plugins support one-time payments, recurring subscriptions, and free trials. They integrate with PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, ensuring secure transactions.
Ultimate Membership Pro stands out with more advanced billing options, allowing users to set up customizable subscription models, pay-per-post access, and discounts for early renewals.
ARMember keeps things simple while still offering solid subscription management tools. It provides automated renewals, membership cancellations, and flexible pricing plans.
If you need advanced billing and monetization strategies, Ultimate Membership Pro is the better option. If you prefer a streamlined payment system with basic membership billing, ARMember is sufficient.
WooCommerce Integration
Both plugins integrate well with WooCommerce, allowing you to restrict product purchases based on membership levels.
Ultimate Membership Pro provides better control over product access, allowing dynamic pricing based on membership tiers.
ARMember also integrates with WooCommerce but is less flexible when it comes to customizing access rules.
For users looking to sell memberships alongside eCommerce products, Ultimate Membership Pro offers more control.
Performance & Speed
Since Ultimate Membership Pro offers more features and integrations, it may slow down your website if not optimized correctly. Using caching plugins and a fast hosting provider will help improve performance.
ARMember is lighter and faster since it focuses on essential membership features without too many extras.
If site speed is a priority, ARMember is the better option. If feature richness is more important, Ultimate Membership Pro is worth optimizing.
Pricing & Value for Money
Both plugins require a one-time purchase on CodeCanyon:
- Ultimate Membership Pro: $49
- ARMember: $49
Both plugins offer lifetime updates, making them an excellent investment for long-term use. The value depends on your needs – Ultimate Membership Pro justifies its price with advanced features, while ARMember offers a more beginner-friendly experience at the same cost.
Final Verdict: Which Plugin Should You Choose?
If you need a powerful, feature-rich membership system with advanced content restriction and monetization options, Ultimate Membership Pro is the best choice. It is perfect for online courses, gated content platforms, and high-level membership sites that require flexible subscription models.
If you’re looking for a simpler, user-friendly membership plugin that is lightweight and easy to set up, ARMember is the better option. It’s ideal for small membership communities, digital product subscriptions, and websites that prioritize speed and simplicity.
Choose the plugin that aligns with your website goals and start building your membership site today!
