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Best Membership Site Tools in 2026

Membership and course platforms

  • 49 tools evaluated
  • 10 top picks
Key Takeaways
  • Stan Store is our overall pick for membership sites in 2026. Overall pick: Paid pricing not published. Rated 4.7/5 across G2 and Trustpilot (2,171 ratings, Sep 2026).
  • We evaluated 49 membership sites tools to create this ranking.

Membership site tools (MemberPress, Circle, Mighty Networks, Kajabi, Patreon, Substack) cover paid-subscription content with community + content + payment. The right pick depends on whether community matters more than content, and where you want to own the audience.

10 top membership site tools compared

Membership site tools compared on our take, starting price (cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of October 2026), average user rating with each review site's own score, and the hidden cost to watch for.
Stan Store logo
Stan Store
Best overallPrice: Contact sales4.7 across G2 and Trustpilot Trustpilot 4.7 · G2 5.0
MemberPress logo
MemberPress
Most affordablePrice: $16.63/mo4.7 across G2 and Capterra Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.6
Mighty Networks logo
Mighty Networks
Price: $41/mo4.5 on G2 G2 4.5Watch out: Transaction fees (3% to 1%) on sales
Thinkific logo
Thinkific
Price: $36/mo4.5 across G2 and Capterra G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.4Watch out: 10,000 student limit on Basic/Start/Grow means Plus (custom pricing) is required at scale
LearnWorlds logo
LearnWorlds
Price: $24/mo4.7 on G2 G2 4.7
Exercise.com logo
Exercise.com
Price: Not published4.7 across G2 and Capterra Capterra 4.7 · G2 4.7
Wild Apricot logo
Wild Apricot
Price: Not published4.2 across G2 and Capterra Capterra 4.4 · G2 3.8Watch out: Add-ons like text messaging cost extra
Circle logo
Circle
Price: $89/mo4.2 across Trustpilot and G2 G2 4.5 · Trustpilot 3.8Watch out: Potential for higher fees on Enterprise tier (0.5% mentioned)
Uscreen logo
Uscreen
Highest ratedPrice: $49/mo4.8 across G2 and Capterra Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.7Watch out: 10% fee on one-time sales for Starter
Teachable logo
Teachable
Price: $39/mo3.7 across SourceForge, Trustpilot, G2 and more Trustpilot 3.1 · Capterra 4.3Watch out: 7.5% transaction fee on Starter plan

Membership Sites pricing compared

Membership Sites pricing, as of October 2026
Stan StoreCheapest paid plan: Not publishedFree plan: NoBilling: Not published
MemberPressCheapest paid plan: Launch, $16.63/mo (billed yearly)Free plan: NoBilling: Billed yearly
Mighty NetworksCheapest paid plan: Community, $41/moFree plan: NoBilling: Billed monthly
ThinkificCheapest paid plan: Basic, $36/moFree plan: NoBilling: Billed monthly
LearnWorldsCheapest paid plan: Starter, $24/moFree plan: NoBilling: Billed monthly
Exercise.comCheapest paid plan: Not publishedFree plan: NoBilling: Not published
Wild ApricotCheapest paid plan: Not publishedFree plan: NoBilling: Not published
CircleCheapest paid plan: Professional, $89/moFree plan: NoBilling: Billed monthly
UscreenCheapest paid plan: Starter, $49/moFree plan: NoBilling: Billed monthly
TeachableCheapest paid plan: Starter, $39/mo (billed yearly)Free plan: NoBilling: Billed yearly

Toolradar pricing data, last verified October 2026. Prices are the cheapest paid plan converted to a monthly figure; "Not published" means the vendor publishes no price for a self-serve paid plan. 7 of 10 tools publish a paid price; median cheapest paid plan $39/mo.

Toolradar data

The membership site tools market in numbers

Toolradar data: Toolradar tracks 49 membership site tools as of October 15, 2026. 33% of the membership site tools on Toolradar are free, freemium or open source. Toolradar re-checked the pricing of 86% of membership site tools in the last 90 days. Toolradar aggregates 12,749 public user reviews (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and other review sites) across 42 rated membership site tools. The most cross-shopped membership site tool is Mighty Networks, listed as an alternative to 51 other tools on Toolradar. The most compared membership site tool on Toolradar over the last 90 days is Ghost, with 261 side-by-side comparisons. Computed from the Toolradar catalog and on-site activity.

  • 49 membership site tools tracked
  • 33% are free, freemium or open source
  • 86% of prices re-checked in the last 90 days
  • 12,749 public user reviews aggregated across 42 rated tools
Most cross-shopped membership site tools on Toolradar, as of October 2026 Listed as an alternative to the most other tools on Toolradar
Rank Tool Listed as an alternative to
1 Mighty Networks 51 tools
2 Circle 46 tools
3 Thinkific 43 tools
Most compared membership site tools on Toolradar, last 90 days to October 2026 Side-by-side comparisons by visitors, last 90 days
Rank Tool Comparisons
1 Ghost 261
2 Patreon 214
3 Circle 188

Source and method: live membership site tools statistics

How the top membership site tools compare

None of the 10 membership site tools listed here has a free plan, reflecting the enterprise-grade capabilities in this space. When evaluating ROI, compare the dated pricing table below against the features you need.

Rankings are computed from G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions. Editorial policy

Top membership site tools

1
Stan Store logo

Your all-in-one creator store to sell digital products, courses, and more.

4.7 /5 across G2 and Trustpilot · 2,171 ratings, Sep 2026

Stan Store is an e-commerce platform designed specifically for creators to sell their digital products, courses, and services directly to their audience. It provides a mobile-first storefront that can be set up quickly, allowing creators to monetize their content and expertise without needing extensive technical knowledge. The platform helps creators generate income by offering features like direct sales of digital downloads, online courses, memberships, and coaching sessions. It simplifies the process of managing products, processing payments, and engaging with customers, making it easier for creators to focus on content creation while building a sustainable business. Stan Store is ideal for influencers, educators, artists, and anyone looking to turn their audience into customers by selling digital goods and services directly from their link-in-bio or other social media profiles.

  • Pro: Creator store
  • Pro: Easy setup
  • Pro: Good for links
  • Con: Limited features
  • Con: Transaction fees
Good value

Stan Store's pricing is fair for its target audience.

2
MemberPress logo

Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress

4.7 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 644 ratings, Sep 2026

MemberPress is a WordPress membership plugin for selling memberships, courses, and digital downloads. Features content protection and payment integration.

MemberPress screenshot
  • Pro: Comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress.
  • Pro: Easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills.
  • Pro: Extensive content access control (paywalling) for various content types, including posts, pages, and custom post types.
  • Con: Transaction fees are applied to the lowest-tier plan (Launch), which can reduce profit margins.
  • Con: Some advanced features like the complete Easy Affiliate™ Platform, full API access, and Amazon S3 integration are only available on the highest-tier plan (Scale).
Good value

MemberPress offers a tiered pricing structure that, while initially appearing high, provides significant value for dedicated membership site owners.

3
Mighty Networks logo

Community platform for creators and brands

4.5 /5 on G2 · 769 ratings, Sep 2026

Mighty Networks builds communities where members learn and connect. Courses, events, and discussion-community platforms for creators and organizations. The features support learning communities. The customization creates identity. The monetization is built in. Creators building learning communities choose Mighty Networks for course-integrated community.

  • Pro: Community focused
  • Pro: Native apps
  • Pro: Course features
  • Con: Expensive
  • Con: Complex pricing
Good value

Mighty Networks' pricing is on the higher side compared to some market alternatives, especially for creators just starting out.

Watch out

Transaction fees (3% to 1%) on sales

4
Thinkific logo

Turn your knowledge into income with an easy-to-use course platform

4.5 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 612 ratings, Sep 2026

Thinkific is a platform for creating and selling online courses. Drag-and-drop course builder requires no technical skills. Host video, quizzes, downloads, and live lessons. Customizable landing pages and checkout optimize sales. Community features build student engagement. Student progress tracking and completion certificates. The course platform that lets experts turn knowledge into income.

  • Pro: No transaction fees
  • Pro: Good free tier
  • Pro: Customizable
  • Con: Limited marketing tools
  • Con: Support response times
Good value

Thinkific is well-positioned for course creators who want 0% transaction fees.

Watch out

10,000 student limit on Basic/Start/Grow means Plus (custom pricing) is required at scale

5
LearnWorlds logo

Online course platform for creators

4.7 /5 on G2 · 389 ratings, Sep 2026

LearnWorlds creates online course platforms. Customizable schools, interactive content, and built-in commerce-course creation for serious educators. The customization is extensive. The interactivity is supported. The business features are complete. Course creators wanting professional platforms choose LearnWorlds for branded learning experiences.

  • Pro: Course platform
  • Pro: Good customization
  • Pro: White-label option
  • Con: Learning curve
  • Con: Transaction fees some plans
Good value

LearnWorlds' pricing is generally fair, offering a good range of features across its tiers.

6
Exercise.com logo

All-in-one fitness business software to manage, market, and monetize your fitness services and community.

4.7 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 358 ratings, Sep 2026

Exercise.com is a comprehensive fitness business software platform designed to help gyms, personal trainers, fitness influencers, and other fitness professionals grow their revenue and streamline operations. It provides a unified solution for managing clients, scheduling, payments, and delivering custom-branded fitness experiences. The platform enables businesses to create and sell workout plans and videos online, leveraging an intuitive workout plan creator and an extensive exercise library. It supports various monetization strategies, including online training, livestreaming, on-demand content, challenges, and digital product sales. With features like custom-branded apps, CRM, marketing automations, and robust reporting, Exercise.com empowers fitness businesses to engage members, attract new leads, and scale their digital and in-person offerings. It also handles critical backend functions such as payment processing, invoicing, and staff commissions, ensuring secure and efficient financial management.

Exercise.com screenshot
  • Pro: Offers a fully integrated solution, eliminating the need for multiple disparate tools.
  • Pro: Provides custom-branded apps for a professional and unified client experience.
  • Pro: Includes robust tools for creating, selling, and delivering diverse fitness content (plans, videos, challenges).
  • Con: Specific pricing details are not publicly available, requiring a demo booking.
  • Con: The extensive feature set might have a learning curve for new users.
7
Wild Apricot logo

Membership management software

4.2 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 602 ratings, Sep 2026

Wild Apricot is a cloud-based membership management platform built for nonprofits, associations, clubs, and chambers of commerce. It combines a member database with automated renewals, event registration, email campaigns, a drag-and-drop website builder, online payments, donation management, and an online store-all in one system. With mobile apps for both admins and members, 1,600+ third-party integrations, and PCI Level 1 compliant payment processing, Wild Apricot serves 15,000+ organizations and has been rated a top membership management software for multiple consecutive years.

Wild Apricot screenshot
  • Pro: True all-in-one for membership orgs: database, events, email, website, and payments
  • Pro: Automated renewals reduce manual work and improve retention
  • Pro: A generous evaluation period with no credit card required
  • Con: Contact-based pricing can get expensive for large organizations
  • Con: Website builder is functional but limited compared to dedicated platforms
Good value

It's best suited for small to medium-sized non-profits and associations prioritizing an all-in-one solution.

Watch out

Add-ons like text messaging cost extra

8
Circle logo

Circle

Paid

Community platform for creators and brands

4.2 /5 across Trustpilot and G2 · 599 ratings, Sep 2026

Circle is a community platform for creators and businesses to build online communities with courses, discussions, events, and memberships. Features include live streams, gamification, and custom branding.

  • Pro: All-in-one community solution
  • Pro: Good course features
  • Pro: Modern interface
  • Con: No free tier
  • Con: Can get expensive
Good value

Circle's pricing is on the higher side compared to some community platforms, especially starting at $89/month for the Professional tier.

Watch out

Potential for higher fees on Enterprise tier (0.5% mentioned)

9
Uscreen logo

Turn your video content into a thriving subscription business with an all-in-one platform.

4.8 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 224 ratings, Sep 2026

Uscreen is an all-in-one video membership platform designed for creators, coaches, educators, media companies, and influencers to build and monetize their video content. It enables users to create a branded streaming platform, offer video subscriptions, and foster a community around their content. The platform combines video hosting, live streaming, and community features across various devices, including custom mobile and TV apps, without requiring any coding. Uscreen helps creators establish a consistent revenue stream by offering flexible monetization tools like subscriptions, free trials, and one-off sales. It provides a Netflix-style video catalog for easy content discovery, integrated community spaces for member engagement, and direct live streaming capabilities. The platform also includes marketing tools, analytics for performance optimization, and dedicated support for setting up and growing a successful membership business.

Uscreen screenshot
  • Pro: Comprehensive platform for video monetization and community.
  • Pro: No coding required for custom mobile and TV apps.
  • Pro: Strong focus on audience ownership and recurring revenue.
  • Con: Community features are only available on higher-tier plans (Pro/Plus/Custom).
  • Con: Transaction fees apply to one-time sales across all plans.
Fair value

Uscreen's pricing is on the higher side compared to some market alternatives, especially for the Starter tier at $49/month with a 100 subscriber limit and 10% transaction fee.

Watch out

10% fee on one-time sales for Starter

10
Teachable logo

Create and sell online courses

3.7 /5 across SourceForge, Trustpilot, G2 and more · 1,066 ratings, Sep 2026

Teachable is an online course platform for creators and entrepreneurs. Create courses with videos, quizzes, and coaching sessions. Sales pages and checkout convert visitors to students. Native email marketing nurtures leads and students. Affiliate marketing tools expand reach. Analytics reveal what content resonates. Over 100,000 creators use Teachable to teach what they know.

  • Pro: Easy course builder
  • Pro: Good student experience
  • Pro: Multiple payment options
  • Con: Transaction fees on starter
  • Con: Limited customization
Fair value

Teachable's pricing is on the higher side, especially for beginners.

Watch out

7.5% transaction fee on Starter plan

Why other membership site tools didn't make our top 10

We evaluated 49 tools in this category and these 20 ranked 11 through 30. They're solid options that fell short on one or two axes (review depth, pricing transparency, feature parity), but worth a look if the leaders don't fit your stack or budget.

Popular membership sites comparisons

See how the leading membership site tools stack up head-to-head.

Compare all 49 membership site tools side by side

Pricing breakdowns for membership site tools

Real plans and the hidden costs for each tool.

Browse all membership sites tools

49 tools
Vimeo OTT logo
Vimeo OTT
Launch and monetize your own video streaming service with a comprehensive OTT platform.
Free plan · Web, iOS, Android
Heartbeat logo
Heartbeat
The community-first platform to monetize your audience with courses, events, and discussions.
Paid · Web
AccessAlly logo
AccessAlly
WordPress membership and LMS plugin
Paid · Web
RecTrac logo
RecTrac
Comprehensive recreation management software for parks, recreation, and community organizations.
Free plan
Skool logo
Skool
Discover and create communities with courses, community features, and a calendar, all in one place.
Free plan · Web
Invision Community logo
Invision Community
Community platform and forum software
Paid
ClassPass logo
ClassPass
Access a global network of fitness studios, gyms, and wellness experiences with one membership.
Free plan
Substack logo
Substack
Newsletter platform for writers
Free plan · Web
Payhip logo
Payhip
Sell digital products and memberships
Free plan
Cobot logo
Cobot
Intuitive coworking management software to operate your space and grow your community.
Paid · Web, iOS, Android
Whop logo
Whop
Sell communities, courses, and digital products with built-in automation
Free plan · Web
VineSpring logo
VineSpring
E-commerce and club management platform for wineries and craft beverage producers.
Free plan
MatSync logo
MatSync
Manage gym operations, track progress, and get paid
Free plan · iOS, Android
Punchpass logo
Punchpass
Simplify studio management with easy scheduling, booking, and payment processing for wellness businesses.
Paid · Web
Ruzuku logo
Ruzuku
Easily create, sell, and manage online courses, memberships, and digital products with built-in community features.
100% free · Web
Coworks logo
Coworks
Space management software for coworking and flexible workspaces, delighting members and empowering managers.
Paid · Web
Zenamu logo
Zenamu
Streamline class bookings, payments, and client management for fitness and wellness businesses.
Free plan · Web, iOS, Android
Habu logo
Habu
Simplified workspace software for managing successful coworking spaces.
Paid · Web
Ko-fi logo
Ko-fi
Empower creators to earn income directly from their fans through tips, memberships, and sales.
Free plan · Web

Showing the top 19 of 49. Filter to narrow down.

How to choose membership site software

  1. Match tool to product

    Newsletter-led: Substack, beehiiv, ConvertKit. Course-led: Kajabi, Thinkific. Community-led: Circle, Mighty Networks. WordPress-native: MemberPress, Memberful. Patreon for creator-fan transactions. Each fits different business models.

  2. Audit payment + tax handling

    Subscription billing, dunning, sales tax (especially internationally) is non-trivial. Platforms with Stripe Tax integration or built-in tax handling save real work. Don't roll your own subscription billing.

  3. Plan for ownership and lock-in

    Substack/Patreon own the relationship; you can't easily export. Self-hosted (MemberPress on WordPress) keeps full ownership. Match to how much you care about portability.

Honorable mentions

Tools that didn't crack the headline list but deserve a look depending on what you optimize for.

  • Ghost logo
    Ghost Best self-hostable paid newsletter + membership

    Ghost combines paid newsletters with member management. Self-hostable, open-source, growing alternative to Substack for creators who want ownership.

Best Membership Sites for

How we ranked these membership site tools

We rank by real-world signal: G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions (volume and recency). Pricing is re-checked and the ranking refreshed monthly.

Tools evaluated
49
With free plan
29%
Last updated
October 2026

Toolradar Research

The data behind membership site tools

First-party analyses built from our full catalog, methodology published.

All Toolradar research

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best membership sites tool in 2026?

Based on our analysis of 49 membership sites tools, Stan Store is our overall membership sites pick. The next tools on the list are MemberPress, Mighty Networks, Thinkific. Rankings use G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions.

What are the top 3 membership sites tools?

The top 3 membership sites tools in 2026, ranked by Toolradar, are: 1) Stan Store, Your all-in-one creator store to sell digital products, courses, and more. 2) MemberPress, Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress. 3) Mighty Networks, Community platform for creators and brands.

Are there free membership sites tools?

None of the 10 membership sites tools on this page has a free plan in our pricing data; many offer free trials. Check individual tool pages on Toolradar for current pricing. Among the 49 membership sites tools we rank, 14 have a free plan.

How do I choose the right membership sites tool?

Start by defining your team size, budget, and must-have features. Stan Store is our overall membership sites pick. Compare all 49 options side by side on Toolradar.

Cite this page: Toolradar, "Best Membership Site Tools in 2026", updated October 2026, https://toolradar.com/best/membership-sites

Membership Sites statistics catalog size, ratings and pricing data, updated monthly

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