Wild Apricot vs MemberPress: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Wild Apricot and MemberPress comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Wild Apricot is our overall pick for membership sites workflows. Pick MemberPress if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Wild Apricot
Membership management software
Best for you if:
- • All-in-one membership management for nonprofits, associations, and clubs
- • Combines member database, events, email, website builder, payments, and donations
MemberPress
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
Best for you if:
- • MemberPress is a powerful WordPress plugin for creating and managing membership sites, selling online courses, and building communities.
- • It offers extensive content restriction, flexible payment options, and tools for increasing average order value and member engagement.
| At a Glance |  Wild Apricot |  MemberPress |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Paid | $199.50/year/moLaunch |
Best For | Membership Sites | Membership Sites |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Wild Apricot or MemberPress?
Choose Wild Apricot if
Membership management software
- True all-in-one for membership orgs: database, events, email, website, and payments
- Automated renewals reduce manual work and improve retention
- 60-day free trial with no credit card required-generous evaluation period
Choose MemberPress if
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
- Comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress.
- Easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills.
- Extensive content access control (paywalling) for various content types, including posts, pages, and custom post types.
| Feature | Wild Apricot | MemberPress |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.2/5 601 reviews | ★4.7/5 641 reviews |
| Categories | Membership SitesCRM | Membership SitesE-commerce |
In-Depth Analysis
Wild Apricot
Membership management software
Strengths
- +True all-in-one for membership orgs: database, events, email, website, and payments
- +Automated renewals reduce manual work and improve retention
- +60-day free trial with no credit card required-generous evaluation period
- +Rated #1 membership management software six years running
- +Mobile apps for both admin management and member self-service
Weaknesses
- -Contact-based pricing can get expensive for large organizations
- -Website builder is functional but limited compared to dedicated platforms
- -Email editor lacks the sophistication of tools like Mailchimp
- -Limited customization options for the member-facing portal
- -Add-ons like text messaging and job board cost extra
Key features
MemberPress
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
Strengths
- +Comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress.
- +Easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills.
- +Extensive content access control (paywalling) for various content types, including posts, pages, and custom post types.
- +Supports a wide range of payment gateways, including credit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Wallet), PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net.
- +Includes advanced features like content dripping, customizable coupons, order bumps, and bulk membership sales (Corporate Accounts).
Weaknesses
- -Transaction fees are applied to the lowest-tier plan (Launch), which can reduce profit margins.
- -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).
- -While offering extensive features, the sheer number of options might present a learning curve for absolute beginners despite the ease-of-use claims.
Key features
Pricing: Wild Apricot vs MemberPress
| Plan | Wild Apricot | MemberPress |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $199.50/year Launch | |
| Tier 2 | $349.50/year Growth | |
| Tier 3 | $499.50/year Scale | |
| Tier 4 | N/A | |
| Tier 5 | N/A | |
| Tier 6 | N/A | |
| Tier 7 | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Wild Apricot pricing and MemberPress pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Wild Apricot
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Wild Apricot
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Wild Apricot
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are membership sites tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Wild Apricot
- Our pick for this comparison
MemberPress
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.2/5
- Larger review base (641 reviews)
The Bottom Line
Wild Apricot is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wild Apricot or MemberPress better?
Wild Apricot is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Wild Apricot and MemberPress used for?
Wild Apricot: Membership management software. MemberPress: Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress.
What does Wild Apricot cost vs MemberPress?
Wild Apricot is a paid tool. MemberPress is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.