Paid Memberships Pro vs WishList Member
Updated 5 Oct 2026. 25 features compared side by side.
Open-source WordPress membership plugin with free core, unlimited levels, Stripe/PayPal subscriptions and a large library of free and premium add-ons.
Premium WordPress membership plugin with unlimited levels, drip content, CourseCure LMS and 20+ payment-provider integrations.
Choose Paid Memberships Pro if…
- You need member directory & profiles
- You want to start with a free version
Choose WishList Member if…
- You want the lower entry price ($299/yr vs $499/yr)
- You prefer the more widely used option
Paid Memberships Pro 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.
Paid Memberships Pro WishList MemberAccess & content6/66/6
Unlimited free, one-time or recurring levels in the free core.
Unlimited modular membership levels and upgrade paths on all plans.
Core restricts posts, pages and categories; CPT access via add-ons.
Protect posts, pages, categories and custom post types.
Series drip-feed content is a premium add-on (Standard plan).
Drip content scheduling and content archiving included.
Show excerpts or a teaser of protected content to non-members.
Sneak-peek display shows part of protected content to visitors.
Protected Downloads premium add-on; free Download Monitor integration also available.
File and folder protection included on every plan.
Free Courses for Membership add-on plus LearnDash and LifterLMS integrations.
Built-in CourseCure LMS plus LearnDash, LifterLMS, Tutor and Sensei integrations.
Payments & billing8/88/8
Stripe gateway included in the free core.
Stripe integration with embedded or popup payment forms.
PayPal gateway included in the free core.
PayPal is among the built-in payment provider integrations.
Recurring subscriptions with automatic renewal orders in core.
Recurring subscriptions through Stripe plans and other connected providers.
Free or reduced-price trial periods supported in core.
Trial periods supported via connected payment providers.
Discount codes are a built-in core feature.
No native coupon engine; uses the payment provider's coupons (e.g. Stripe coupon field).
Proration and Delayed Downgrades is a premium add-on.
Prorated level upgrades available through the Stripe integration.
VAT tax is a premium add-on; core shows order invoices, PDF invoices via a partner add-on.
Can let Stripe calculate subscription tax; no own invoicing documented.
Group Accounts premium add-on sells seats under a parent account.
Team accounts included on every plan.
Members & experience5/54/5
Front-end account page with memberships, invoices, billing and cancel.
Self-serve member dashboard on all plans.
User fields per level are built into the core plugin.
Customisable registration forms included.
Member Directory and Profile Pages is a premium add-on.
No native directory; profile types can sync with BuddyBoss.
Free official bbPress and BuddyPress/BuddyBoss integration add-ons.
Official BuddyBoss integration syncs levels with groups and profile types.
Editable templates for confirmations, invoices, expirations and more.
Built-in member email notifications.
Integrations & tools6/66/6
Free official WooCommerce add-on sells levels as products and member discounts.
WooCommerce works as a payment provider to grant membership levels.
Free add-ons for Mailchimp, Kit and other email platforms.
Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Drip, AWeber, MailerLite and more.
Free Zapier webhook automations add-on.
Zapier integration plus built-in automation tools.
Core reports for sales, revenue, signups, cancellations, active members and visits.
Admin dashboard with member stats; no in-depth revenue/churn reporting.
Import Members From CSV is a premium add-on; core exports members to CSV.
Import members from CSV into membership levels.
Open GPL code, 300+ hooks and a REST API in core.
Extensible API included on all plans.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
Paid Memberships Pro Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free | Free per year, Unlimited |
| Standard | $499 per year, 1 site |
| Max | $999 per year, Unlimited |
| Max 2x | $2,999 per year, Unlimited |
WishList Member Premium
| Basic | $299 per year, 1 site |
|---|---|
| Plus | $499 per year, 2 sites |
| Pro | $699 per year, 5 sites |
Verdict
Paid Memberships Pro and WishList Member are closely matched on features (94/100 and 92/100). The differences are in the details: Paid Memberships Pro adds member directory & profiles. Only Paid Memberships Pro has a free version. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
Paid Memberships Pro: via add-on. WishList Member: third-party. Member Directory and Profile Pages is a premium add-on.
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, Paid Memberships Pro or WishList Member?
Paid Memberships Pro and WishList Member are closely matched on features (94/100 and 92/100). The differences are in the details: Paid Memberships Pro adds member directory & profiles. Only Paid Memberships Pro has a free version. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
Paid Memberships Pro 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 Paid Memberships Pro free?
Paid Memberships Pro has a free version. Paid plans start at $499/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 Paid Memberships Pro 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.