5 Best Membership Website Builders of 2025 with Great Features
Whether you’re a content creator looking to capitalize on your expertise or an entrepreneur aiming to build a passionate following, a membership site is the ultimate solution. When you invest in a quality website builder, you can seamlessly manage user interactions, effortlessly process online payments, and create engaging content that keeps your members coming back for more.
Wix
Squarespace
Shopify
Weebly
WordPress.com
A good website builder is essential for membership websites, as it provides the necessary tools and functionality to create a seamless user experience. It allows you to efficiently manage user signups, control access to exclusive content, secure payment processing, and implement member engagement features.
In a crowded area of builders, we've handpicked the best website builders for membership sites. Discover the ultimate solutions that set these website builders apart from the rest. Each has advantages and allows you to create visually stunning and feature-rich websites that captivate your audience.
What Is a Membership Website?
Imagine having access to an exclusive online club where only members can enjoy unique content, connect with like-minded individuals, and unlock exclusive benefits. That's precisely what a membership website offers.
Simply put, a membership website is an online platform that provides restricted access to certain content or services to registered members only. It's like having a VIP pass to a digital world filled with valuable resources, insider knowledge, and a vibrant community. Membership websites come in various forms, catering to a wide range of interests and purposes.
For instance, you might find membership sites in niches like fitness, education, professional networks, or hobby communities. These sites often offer a combination of free and premium content, allowing visitors to explore some sections while reserving the best features exclusively for paying members.
It's a space for members to engage, learn, network, and benefit from specialized resources catering to their interests. So whether you're seeking expert knowledge, unique experiences, or a supportive community, a membership website is the key to unlocking a world of possibilities.
Best Membership Website Builders
Here are the leading membership website builders that can help you create an interactive website:
- Wix – Best Overall
- Squarespace – Best for Creating Premium Content
- Shopify – Best for Setting Up Membership Stores
- Weebly – Best for Multiple Membership Levels
- WordPress.com – Best for Multiple Membership Plugins
1. Wix
Best Overall Website Builder for Membership Websites
- Create a vibrant community forum
- Seamlessly manage content access based on member privileges
- Benefit from round-the-clock customer care and support
- Storage space is limited
- Advanced logo design options are exclusively available with the Pro and VIP plans
- While displaying prices in multiple currencies is possible, multi-currency checkout is not supported
Wix is the top website builder for membership websites because of its dedicated member's page, which sets it apart from its competitors. Creating and managing sites with Wix becomes a breeze thanks to its user-friendly interface and robust membership features. In addition, the dedicated members-only pages allow seamless access control and interaction, ensuring an immersive experience for site visitors-turned-members.
Wix lets you experience the perfect blend of creativity and functionality, empowering you to bring your vision to life with stunning designs and powerful membership features.
Best Features
Easy User Registration
With easy and efficient user registration, you can simplify the process for your visitors to become registered members. You can create a customized registration form that captures the necessary information from your website visitors, such as name, email address, and any additional details you require. Wix also allows you to set up automated email confirmations or welcome messages with its membership model.
Dedicated Members Only Area
This feature allows you to create an exclusive space within your website where registered members can access unique content and engage with each other. It provides a personalized and secure environment for your community. You can customize the website's layout, choose how members interact with each other, and tailor the content to meet the specific needs of your community.
Member Interaction
With Wix, you can incorporate various elements to encourage member interaction. Forums allow members to share ideas, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations. These can be organized by topic or category. This allows real-time communication between members, fostering immediate and direct interaction through your membership website.
Multiple Integrations
Integrate various third-party tools and services to expand your membership site's functionality. You can integrate popular email marketing platforms to send newsletters or create targeted email campaigns. Integrating customer relationship management (CRM) systems allow you to manage member data, track interactions, and personalize member experiences.
Pricing
- Custom Domain
- 1GB Bandwidth
- 500MB Disk Space
- 24/7 Support
- Free Custom Domain
- No Wix Ads
- 2GB Bandwidth
- 3GB Disk Space
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 10GB Disk Space
- SEO Booster App
- Visitor Analytics App
- Priority Customer Support
- 35GB Disk Space
- Professional Logo
- Lead-Capture Forms
Read more Wix Pricing or beautiful examples of Wix
Wix has four plans to choose from.
Combo: This plan, with its 2 GB bandwidth, 3 GB disk space, and no ads, is ideal for individuals and small businesses looking to create a website with basic features and no advertising distractions.
Unlimited: This plan offers unlimited bandwidth and a visitor analytics app, making it suitable for membership websites with high traffic and needing advanced analytics insights to grow their community.
Pro: Wix's Pro plan, featuring online branding tools and 50 GB of disk space, is perfect for site owners aiming to establish a professional online presence with ample storage for their exclusive content.
VIP: The VIP plan, offering priority support and the ability to showcase and stream videos online for 5 hours, caters to owners seeking top-tier assistance.
Dive into the world of memberships with Wix's easy-to-use website builder, offering a range of powerful features and a risk-free 14-day money-back guarantee.
2. Squarespace
Top Membership Website Builder for Creating Premium Content
- Membership-specific templates with stunning design
- Multilingual capabilities for global reach
- No transaction fees with Commerce Basic and Advanced plans
- Subscription to member areas is required for creating a membership site
- Relatively higher monthly pricing
- Limited selection of payment gateways
Squarespace's powerful membership features, like content access control and flexible management, make it perfect for showcasing members-only content. Elevate your membership website to new heights of sophistication and engagement with Squarespace's unrivaled customization options. With its intuitive interface and stunning templates, you can effortlessly create visually captivating platforms.
With Squarespace, you can effortlessly transform your vision into a polished online presence by benefiting from a seamless blend of aesthetics and functionality.
Best Features
Automated Member Onboarding
With this membership model feature, you can set up welcome emails, personalized messages, and tutorials that guide members through the key features, benefits, and resources of your existing website. This automated process ensures that every new member receives a consistent and informative introduction, saving time and effort. You can also automatically assign membership levels or unlock special bonuses for new members.
Content Access Control
Have complete control over what content is available to specific members or groups within your membership site with this feature. You can designate certain pages, sections, or even individual pieces of content as members-only, restricting access to non-members. This ensures that you can offer exclusive content, resources, or services to your members, enhancing the value of their membership. It also extends to other site elements, such as navigation menus, sidebar widgets, and member directories.
Drip Content Release
This membership builder lets you strategically schedule content delivery to your members at predefined intervals. Instead of overwhelming members with a large amount of information in advance, you can create a steady and controlled flow of content that keeps members engaged and curious. This feature is handy for online courses, educational resources, tutorials, or membership sites offering exclusive content sequentially.
Private Community Forums
Create dedicated spaces within your membership website with forums. Here members can engage in private discussions, share insights, and connect with like-minded individuals. You can control access to the forums, ensuring only registered members can participate in the discussions. It also allows you to set up multiple forums based on specific topics, interests, or the membership model, allowing for targeted discussions.
Pricing
- Mobile-Friendly Websites
- 100+ Templates
- Free Custom Domain
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 2 Contributors
- Ecommerce Functionality
- Unlimited Products
- 3% Transaction Fees
- Custom Code (CSS & JS)
- Unlimited Contributors
- 0% Transaction Fees
- Point of Sale
- On-site Checkout
- Product Reviews
- Facebook and Instagram Selling
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Advanced Shipping
- Advanced Discounts
- Subscription Selling
- Commerce APIs
Read More Squarespace pricing or Squarespace ecommerce examples
Squarespace presents a selection of four website builder plans to consider.
Personal: The Squarespace Personal plan, with mobile-friendly templates, unlimited bandwidth, and up to 2 contributors, is perfect for individuals starting a membership website with basic needs and a small team.
Business: With eCommerce functionality, unlimited products, and contributors, the Squarespace Business plan empowers membership site owners to monetize content and sell memberships with a larger team.
Commerce Basic: With 0% transaction fees, on-site checkout, and integration with Facebook and Instagram selling, the Squarespace Commerce Basic plan maximizes revenue for membership sites selling products directly.
Commerce Advanced: Maximize sales and customer retention with the Squarespace Commerce Advanced plan. Benefit from automated abandoned cart emails, subscription selling, and free shipping for orders tailored for a membership website.
In order to build a subscription-based website with Squarespace, you'll need to subscribe to one of their Member Areas plans in addition to your website plan.
Starter ($108 per year): The Starter plan caters to those with a smaller, niche community, offering one Member Area and a transaction fee of 7%.
Core ($216 per year): For businesses expanding their website, the Core plan may be ideal. It provides up to three dedicated membership areas, cuts transaction fees to 4%, and includes an additional 20 hours of video storage.
Pro ($420 per year): The Pro plan is tailored to businesses nurturing a large and engaged community. It allows for up to 10 member areas, includes an impressive 50 hours of additional video storage, and charges only a minimal 1% transaction fee.
Explore the versatile world of membership sites with Squarespace, a reliable builder offering an attractive 14-day free trial to kickstart your venture.
3. Shopify
Top Membership Website Builder for Setting up Membership Stores
- Dedicated members-only area for exclusive access to content
- Multi-channel selling, including Facebook integration
- Automatic tax calculation tools for seamless financial management
- Additional costs for certain apps
- No dedicated membership site templates are available
- Higher monthly pricing
This membership website builder makes setting up stores a breeze, allowing site owners to curate members-only content and products. In addition, the platform's user-friendly interface, extensive app ecosystem, and robust e-commerce tools provide everything needed to create a successful membership website.
Unlock the full potential of your membership website with Shopify, the leading membership builder known for its powerful e-commerce tools and seamless membership store setup.
Best Features
Membership Store Setup
Shopify provides a user-friendly interface and intuitive tools that streamline setting up and managing memberships. This feature enables you to create different subscription levels with variable pricing, access privileges, and benefits. You can define the content and products exclusive to each membership level, ensuring a personalized experience for your members.
Member-Only Discounts
This membership platform allows you to create unique discount codes accessible only to your registered members. You can define the discount value, expiration date, and specific products or collections to which the discount applies. This level of customization enables you to tailor the discounts to your membership community's preferences and buying patterns. Exclusive discounts can be an added benefit that attracts members to join your community.
Engagement Tracking
Get access to data and metrics to measure member interaction, content consumption, and the performance of your membership website. You can track key metrics such as member logins, page views, time spent on the site, and specific content accessed by members. You can identify your members' trends, patterns, and preferences by analyzing engagement data. This information helps you understand what content resonates most with your audience and allows you to tailor your offerings accordingly.
Integrated Marketing Tools
With built-in email marketing capabilities, you can engage your members through targeted emails and newsletters. The abandoned cart recovery feature ensures potential sales are recovered by sending automated follow-up emails. Shopify's SEO optimization features enhance the discoverability of your entire membership website. With these integrated marketing tools, you can attract, engage, and retain members and optimize your site's performance.
Pricing
- 100+ Templates
- Unlimited Products
- International Commerce
- 24/7 Support
- Shopify POS
- Ecommerce Automations
- up to 88% Shipping Discounts
- Standard Analytics Reports
- 5 Staff Accounts
- 1% Fees for 3rd Party Payments
- 0.5% Fees for 3rd Party Payments
- Lower Credit Card Fees
- 15 Staff Accounts
- Advanced Analytics Reports
- Duties and Import Taxes
Read More Shopify pricing or successful Shopify stores
Shopify offers a selection of three plans to cater to your specific needs and requirements.
Basic: The Basic plan, with international commerce capabilities, 100+ templates, and unlimited product listings, is perfect for a membership website seeking global reach and versatile product offerings.
Shopify: The plan offers e-commerce automation, up to 88% shipping discounts, and 5 staff accounts, streamlining operations and saving costs.
Advanced: The Advanced plan, with lower credit card fees, advanced analytics reporting, and 0.5% fees for third-party payments, caters to a membership website seeking cost savings, deep insights, and flexible payment options.
Start your membership site journey with Shopify, offering a convenient 3-day free trial to get your e-commerce dreams off the ground.
4. Weebly
Best Membership Website Builder with Multiple Membership Levels
- Build a dedicated members-only area on your existing site
- Choose from over 300+ apps in the Weebly app center
- Enjoy free SSL security for enhanced site protection
- Square ads removal is available with Professional and Performance plans only
- No phone support is provided for Free and Personal plans
- No dedicated templates for membership sites
With Weebly, you can easily create a membership site thanks to its intuitive interface and extensive functionality. The standout feature is its support for multiple membership tiers, allowing you to offer diverse tiers of access and benefits to your members. Whether starting a community, providing exclusive access to content, or running an e-learning platform, Weebly's flexibility and membership tiers make it the go-to choice for building a thriving membership site.
Weebly empowers you to create customizable membership pages and grow your customer base with its user-friendly membership website builder.
Best Features
Secure Member Login
Weebly ensures that member login information is securely transmitted and stored. The secure member login feature also allows you to set up two-factor authentication and email verification.
Member-Only Products
This membership site platform allows you to designate specific products as “member-only,” creating a sense of exclusivity and value for your members. These products can be premium members-only content, limited edition items, or unique offerings unavailable to the general public. It also provides flexibility in managing these exclusive offerings. You can easily set pricing, inventory levels, and product availability specifically for your members. These membership programs make Weebly the best membership site software.
Member Communication Tools
With the built-in communication tools, you can send targeted emails, newsletters, or announcements directly to your members. This ensures they stay informed about new members-only content, updates, and exclusive offers. Additionally, you can easily segment your member list based on criteria like membership level or interests, allowing you to create personalized email marketing campaigns tailored to specific member groups.
Analytics and Reporting Tools
These comprehensive analytics and reporting tools track key metrics related to member engagement, site traffic, and conversion rates. You can access data on page views, visitor demographics, popular content, and member behavior patterns. The analytics dashboard presents these metrics in a user-friendly format, making it easy to interpret and analyze the data. Additionally, Weebly's reporting tools enable you to generate customized reports for your membership website.
Pricing
- 60+ Mobile-Friendly Templates
- Sell Unlimited Products
- SEO Tools
- Chat & Email Support
- No Weebly Ads
- Free Domain
- Unlimited Storage
- Phone Support
- PayPal Payments
- Request Reviews via Email
- Abandoned Cart Recovery Emails
- Priority Support
Read More: Weebly pricing
Weebly offers four plans for you to select from.
Free: The Free membership site plan is ideal for basic needs, offering unlimited items and inventory management capabilities without any cost.
Personal: The Personal plan offers 60+ mobile-friendly templates, SEO tools, and the ability to connect a custom domain, ensuring a professional online presence.
Professional: The plan is perfect for membership sites desiring an ad-free experience, unlimited storage, and phone support for comprehensive assistance.
Performance: The plan features PayPal payments, abandoned cart recovery emails, and priority support, ensuring a seamless membership experience.
Kickstart your membership site for free with Weebly, an intuitive membership website platform designed for all your online membership needs.
5. WordPress.com
Leading Membership Website Builder with Multiple Membership Plugins
- Wide selection of plugins is available
- Unlimited pages and user scalability
- You can add custom CSS code
- Restricted storage space
- Plugin installation is not available with the Free, Personal, or Premium plans
- Real-time backups unavailable in basic plans
WordPress.com offers a wide range of membership plugins allowing you to create and manage memberships effortlessly. Whether you aim to monetize your content or foster a vibrant member community, WordPress.com's diverse collection of plugins ensures you can find the perfect fit for your site's needs. In addition, the platform's user-friendly interface and extensive customization options enhance the membership site creation process.
WordPress empowers you to create dynamic and customizable membership websites, making it an ideal choice for individuals, businesses, and organizations.
Best Features
Role-Based Permissions
You can create a hierarchical structure within your membership site by defining roles and permissions. Role-based permissions provide flexibility in managing member interactions and contributions. You can allow certain members to create and publish content, while others may have limited access to specific areas or functionalities. Members can contribute, collaborate, and engage with the site according to their designated roles, enhancing the overall experience.
Discussion Boards
Set up multiple discussion boards or topic-specific forums within your membership site. Your members can initiate and participate in discussions, ask questions, provide feedback, and share their thoughts on relevant topics. It also includes moderation options, allowing you to manage and monitor the discussions happening within your membership site. You can set rules, moderate comments, and ensure that the discussions remain respectful and on-topic.
Learning Management System Integration
WordPress integrates seamlessly with popular LMS plugins. You can easily organize course materials, create lesson modules, and set up quizzes or assessments within your subscription website. It also enables you to offer various enrollment options, including free or paid memberships, one-time purchases, or subscription-based access to online courses. In addition, you can access comprehensive reporting and analytics tools with LMS integration in WordPress.
Affiliate Programs
WordPress offers various affiliate marketing plugins. You can invite members or external affiliates to promote your membership site through these plugins. In turn, they can earn commissions on referred sales or signups. Affiliates can share referral links or unique tracking codes to drive traffic and conversions, expanding your reach and attracting new members. Moreover, these plugins integrate seamlessly with payment systems, ensuring smooth commission payouts and tracking. The integration of these affiliate programs makes WordPress one of the best membership website platforms.
Pricing
- Lots of Free Themes
- 24/7 Email Support
- 6GB Storage
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- No Ads
- Premium Themes
- 24/7 Chat Support
- 13GB Storage
- Add Custom CSS
- WordAds Monetization
- Install Plugins & Themes
- Built-in SEO Tools
- 200GB Storage
- Stronger Security & Performance
- Integrated Elastic On-Site Search
- Unlimited Products
- Inventory Management
- Frictionless Checkout
- Top Shipping Carriers
- Accept Payments in 60+ Countries
WordPress.com offers a selection of five plans to cater to your specific needs.
Personal: The plan provides 24/7 email support, 6GB storage, and an ad-free experience, ensuring a professional and seamless membership website.
Premium: Designed for subscription websites, the plan provides access to premium themes, the ability to add custom CSS, and WordAds monetization, enabling you to create a distinct and profitable online community.
Business: WordPress's Business Plan, with its built-in SEO tools, robust security, and generous 200GB storage, is a perfect fit for a subscription website requiring advanced features and high storage needs.
Commerce: The plan allows you to add unlimited products, manage inventory, and accept debit or credit card payments in over 60 countries, enabling seamless membership e-commerce operations.
Experience WordPress.com's versatility with its free plan for membership websites, offering a comprehensive platform to bring your community together.
What a Good Website Builder for Membership Sites Should Include
Certain essential elements should be considered when choosing a dedicated membership website builder. From powerful membership management tools to robust analytics and reporting capabilities, find out what features make a website builder stand out for membership site success.
- Membership Management: The best membership website builders should allow you to create different membership levels or tiers, control access to exclusive content, and manage member registrations, logins, and profiles.
- Content Restriction: It should provide options to restrict access to specific content, such as articles, videos, downloads, or forums. Only authorized members can view and engage with premium or members-only material.
- Payment Integration: Seamless integration with popular payment gateways is crucial for processing member subscriptions or payments. Membership website builders should also support various payment options, such as recurring payments, one-time payments, or a free trial.
- Communication Tools: The best membership website builders should offer tools like built-in email marketing, newsletters, or messaging systems. These tools will allow you to send your members targeted announcements or updates.
- Integrations: The membership builder should offer integrations with third-party tools or plugins to enhance your membership site's functionality. This allows you to extend features like analytics, SEO optimization, e-commerce, learning management systems (LMS), or community forums, improving member engagement and site performance.
- Analytics and Reporting: Accurate analytics and reporting tools are essential for understanding your membership site's performance, member engagement, and growth. Membership website builders should provide comprehensive analytics that tracks key metrics like website traffic, member registrations, retention rates, conversion rates, and revenue generated.
- Security and Privacy: Protecting member data is paramount. The membership website platform should provide built-in security measures, such as SSL encryption, secure login systems, and data protection compliance, ensuring a safe and trustworthy environment for your members.
FAQs
To create a website, you can follow these steps:
– Choose a membership website platform that fits your needs.
– Set up membership levels and define access permissions for each level.
– Create compelling and exclusive content for your members.
– Enable member registration and login functionality on your website.
– Integrate a secure payment system for accepting member subscriptions.
– Customize the website design and branding.
– Test your website thoroughly before launching it.
– Continuously engage with your members, provide value, and nurture your community.
To create a membership website for free, you can follow these steps:
– Choose a website builder or membership website platform that offers a free trial, like Squarespace or Shopify.
– Set up membership levels and determine the features or content available for members.
– Configure the member registration and login process.
– Customize your website's design and layout to align with your brand.
Yes, membership sites have the potential to generate revenue. You can monetize your membership site in various ways by offering members valuable content, exclusive resources, or premium services.
Some common revenue streams include:
– Paid membership subscriptions for recurring payments
– One-time fees for access to specific content
– Selling online courses or digital products
– Offering premium features or add-ons
– Running advertisements or sponsorships.
Your revenue depends on factors like the quality of your offerings, the size of your member base, and effective marketing strategies.
Start Building Your Membership Site
In the journey to build your ideal membership site, these top-rated website builders are your best allies. Each platform brings unique strengths to the table, so find the one that resonates with your vision and start building your membership site today.
Wix
Squarespace
Shopify
Weebly
WordPress.com
When looking for the best website builders for membership websites, you can take a look at some of our in-depth guides:
- Wix vs. Squarespace
- Wix vs. Weebly
- Shopify Review
- Best Wix Websites
- Best Squarespace Websites
- Best Shopify Stores
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Martin Luenendonk
Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.
This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.