SureMembers vs WishList Member
Updated 5 Oct 2026. 25 features compared side by side.
Access-control membership plugin from Brainstorm Force: unlimited memberships and content rules, with selling handled by SureCart or WooCommerce.
Premium WordPress membership plugin with unlimited levels, drip content, CourseCure LMS and 20+ payment-provider integrations.
Choose SureMembers if…
- You need member directory & profiles
- You want to start with a free version
- You want the lower entry price ($69/yr vs $299/yr)
Choose WishList Member if…
- You want the more complete feature set (92/100 vs 88/100)
- You prefer the more widely used option
SureMembers 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.
SureMembers WishList MemberAccess & content6/66/6
Core allows unlimited memberships (access groups).
Unlimited modular membership levels and upgrade paths on all plans.
Protect the whole site, any post type, taxonomies and term archives in Core.
Protect posts, pages, categories and custom post types.
Drip content is a paid-plugin feature, included on every plan.
Drip content scheduling and content archiving included.
Core has the suremembers_restrict shortcode; block-level rules need a paid plan.
Sneak-peek display shows part of protected content to visitors.
Downloads protection for files, videos and PDFs in the paid plugin.
File and folder protection included on every plan.
Core integrations with LearnDash, Tutor LMS and SureDash courses; no own course builder.
Built-in CourseCure LMS plus LearnDash, LifterLMS, Tutor and Sensei integrations.
Payments & billing8/88/8
Payments via SureCart (free, same vendor) or WooCommerce gateways.
Stripe integration with embedded or popup payment forms.
PayPal through SureCart or WooCommerce; no gateway in SureMembers itself.
PayPal is among the built-in payment provider integrations.
Recurring subscriptions handled by SureCart or WooCommerce Subscriptions.
Recurring subscriptions through Stripe plans and other connected providers.
Free or paid trials configured in SureCart.
Trial periods supported via connected payment providers.
Coupons and promotions come from SureCart or WooCommerce.
No native coupon engine; uses the payment provider's coupons (e.g. Stripe coupon field).
Upgrades and downgrades managed by SureCart's customer dashboard.
Prorated level upgrades available through the Stripe integration.
SureCart provides real-time tax/VAT and PDF invoices.
Can let Stripe calculate subscription tax; no own invoicing documented.
Team accounts with configurable seats on Pro and Business plans.
Team accounts included on every plan.
Members & experience5/54/5
No own account page; SureCart's customer dashboard handles billing and plan changes.
Self-serve member dashboard on all plans.
Registration forms via the SureForms integration; no own form builder.
Customisable registration forms included.
Member list shortcode only; no profile pages or searchable directory.
No native directory; profile types can sync with BuddyBoss.
Core integrates with BuddyBoss and SureDash communities.
Official BuddyBoss integration syncs levels with groups and profile types.
Paid plugin sends access-granted, onboarding and password emails; billing emails via SureCart.
Built-in member email notifications.
Integrations & tools6/66/6
Core integration grants memberships from WooCommerce purchases.
WooCommerce works as a payment provider to grant membership levels.
Connect email tools through OttoKit automations (same vendor).
Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Drip, AWeber, MailerLite and more.
Automations via OttoKit; Abilities API and optional MCP server in Core.
Zapier integration plus built-in automation tools.
Core analytics tab shows new members, growth, upcoming expirations and activity.
Admin dashboard with member stats; no in-depth revenue/churn reporting.
Import users via CSV in the paid plugin; no migration tool from other plugins.
Import members from CSV into membership levels.
Abilities API, optional MCP server, WP-CLI and documented filters.
Extensible API included on all plans.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
SureMembers Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Starter | $69 per year, 1 site |
| Pro | $149 per year, 10 sites |
| Business | $199 per year, 100 sites |
| Business Lifetime | $599 lifetime, 100 sites |
WishList Member Premium
| Basic | $299 per year, 1 site |
|---|---|
| Plus | $499 per year, 2 sites |
| Pro | $699 per year, 5 sites |
Downloads trend
SureMembers
413 downloads last week
WishList Member
No WordPress.org download data (premium-only plugin).
Verdict
WishList Member scores higher on our feature checklist (92/100 against 88/100). SureMembers still has the edge on member directory & profiles. Only SureMembers has a free version. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
SureMembers: partial. WishList Member: third-party. Member list shortcode only; no profile pages or searchable directory.
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, SureMembers or WishList Member?
WishList Member scores higher on our feature checklist (92/100 against 88/100). SureMembers still has the edge on member directory & profiles. Only SureMembers has a free version. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
SureMembers 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 SureMembers free?
SureMembers has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $69/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 SureMembers 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.