ARMember vs WishList Member
Updated 5 Oct 2026. 25 features compared side by side.
All-in-one WordPress membership plugin with a free Lite edition and paid plans bundling 60+ add-ons, 22+ gateways, drip, courses and community.
Premium WordPress membership plugin with unlimited levels, drip content, CourseCure LMS and 20+ payment-provider integrations.
Choose ARMember if…
- You need member directory & profiles
- You want the more complete feature set (100/100 vs 92/100)
- You want to start with a free version
- You want the lower entry price ($89/yr vs $299/yr)
Choose WishList Member if…
- Marketers and course creators who want flexible content protection paired with the payment cart they already use
ARMember includes 1 feature that WishList Member lacks, including Member directory & profiles. Both include 24 of the 25 features we track.
At a glance
Feature comparison
Click a screenshot to see both plugins side by side.
ARMember WishList MemberAccess & content6/66/6
Unlimited membership plans in Lite and all paid tiers.
Unlimited modular membership levels and upgrade paths on all plans.
Content access rules for posts, pages and other content in Lite.
Protect posts, pages, categories and custom post types.
Drip/scheduled content is premium-only.
Drip content scheduling and content archiving included.
Lite includes a Gutenberg block restriction plus builder-level restrictions.
Sneak-peek display shows part of protected content to visitors.
Digital Download module for protected files.
File and folder protection included on every plan.
Online Courses module with lessons, quizzes and certificates; also a $59 add-on.
Built-in CourseCure LMS plus LearnDash, LifterLMS, Tutor and Sensei integrations.
Payments & billing8/88/8
Stripe is part of the premium gateway set.
Stripe integration with embedded or popup payment forms.
PayPal is one of the two gateways in Lite.
PayPal is among the built-in payment provider integrations.
Recurring subscription plans available, including in Lite.
Recurring subscriptions through Stripe plans and other connected providers.
Trial period toggle on recurring plans; vendor says Lite supports free trials.
Trial periods supported via connected payment providers.
Coupon management is a premium built-in add-on.
No native coupon engine; uses the payment provider's coupons (e.g. Stripe coupon field).
Membership proration listed in Standard and above.
Prorated level upgrades available through the Stripe integration.
Tax and invoice handling in premium; PDF creator on Professional.
Can let Stripe calculate subscription tax; no own invoicing documented.
Group/umbrella membership module; also a $59 add-on.
Team accounts included on every plan.
Members & experience5/54/5
Member profile and account pages in Lite; richer Member Panel in premium.
Self-serve member dashboard on all plans.
Live form editor for custom signup and login forms in Lite.
Customisable registration forms included.
Member directories and profiles in Lite; extra templates in premium.
No native directory; profile types can sync with BuddyBoss.
BuddyPress/BuddyBoss integration in premium; own Social Community module on Enterprise.
Official BuddyBoss integration syncs levels with groups and profile types.
Customisable email notification templates.
Built-in member email notifications.
Integrations & tools6/66/6
WooCommerce integration in paid plans; WooCommerce Discount on Enterprise.
WooCommerce works as a payment provider to grant membership levels.
Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, GetResponse, MailerLite, Brevo and more.
Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Drip, AWeber, MailerLite and more.
Zapier module on Professional or as a $39 add-on.
Zapier integration plus built-in automation tools.
Membership and payment analytics in the premium plugin.
Admin dashboard with member stats; no in-depth revenue/churn reporting.
Lite imports/exports users; a free migration and import tool is offered.
Import members from CSV into membership levels.
API Services module for third-party integrations.
Extensible API included on all plans.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
ARMember Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Standard | $89 per year, 1 site |
| Professional | $139 per year, 2 sites |
| Enterprise | $299 per year, 10 sites |
| Standard Lifetime | $229 lifetime, 1 site |
| Professional Lifetime | $379 lifetime, 2 sites |
| Enterprise Lifetime | $599 lifetime, 10 sites |
WishList Member Premium
| Basic | $299 per year, 1 site |
|---|---|
| Plus | $499 per year, 2 sites |
| Pro | $699 per year, 5 sites |
Verdict
ARMember scores higher on our feature checklist (100/100 against 92/100) and includes member directory & profiles that WishList Member does not. Only ARMember has a free version. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
ARMember: included. WishList Member: third-party. Member directories and profiles in Lite; extra templates in premium.
Written from the feature, pricing and install data on this page, not from hands-on testing. How we compare.
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FAQ
Which is better, ARMember or WishList Member?
ARMember scores higher on our feature checklist (100/100 against 92/100) and includes member directory & profiles that WishList Member does not. Only ARMember has a free version. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
ARMember includes 25 of the 25 features we track, against 24 for WishList Member. Feature count is only part of the picture; check which of the differences matter to you.
Is ARMember free?
ARMember has a free version. Paid plans start at $89/yr.
Is WishList Member free?
WishList Member is premium only. Paid plans start at $299/yr.
Feature data last changed 5 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit to ARMember or WishList Member. Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you; it never affects our data or rankings.