Build membership sites that people pay to join

A membership site restricts access to content, courses, or community features behind a login or paywall. Members pay a one-time fee or recurring subscription to access premium content, forums, courses, or exclusive community areas.

A membership plugin like MemberPress or Paid Memberships Pro for access control and payments, BuddyPress for community features, and a compatible theme like Reign or BuddyX. Add LearnDash if you want to sell courses.

It depends on your niche and value offered. Typical ranges are $5-15 per month for content access, $20-50 for premium communities, and $50-200+ for professional or B2B memberships. Start lower and raise prices as you add value.

Yes, and you should. BuddyPress integrates with membership plugins so you can gate community features behind paid plans. Members who connect with each other have much higher retention rates than content-only subscribers.

Start with your existing audience — email list, social followers, blog readers. Offer a founding member discount, create a free tier to build trust, and focus on one platform where your target audience already gathers.