How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- MemberPress is the best way to build a subscription site on WordPress you fully own.
- Patreon and Substack are the fastest routes to paid subscribers, with platform fees as the tradeoff.
- Kajabi and Podia bundle courses, email and memberships for creators selling knowledge.
- Circle and Mighty Networks are community-first: the subscription funds the community, not just content.
- Ghost is the independent publisher's pick: memberships and newsletters on open-source software you control.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 MemberPress | WordPress membership sites | See website | No |
 Patreon | creator memberships | See website | Yes |
 Substack | paid newsletters | See website | Yes |
 Kajabi | courses plus memberships | See website | Free trial |
 Podia | all-in-one creator platform | See website | Free trial |
 Mighty Networks | community-led memberships | See website | Free trial |
 Circle | branded online communities | See website | Free trial |
 Ghost | independent publishing | See website | Yes |
 Memberful | memberships on your own site | See website | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
MemberPress turns a WordPress site into a membership business: protect content, drip courses, manage subscriptions and take payments, all under your own domain with no platform taking a percentage. It is the choice for owners who want the asset, not a profile on someone else's platform.
The tradeoff is responsibility. Hosting, updates, security and design are yours. For creators and businesses already on WordPress, it is the most ownership you can get.
MemberPress buyers should budget for the full WordPress stack: hosting, security, backups and a good membership theme all add to the plugin price. The ownership is real, but so is the maintenance; price the whole picture before comparing against hosted options.
What we like- Full control on your own WordPress site
- Content dripping and access rules
- No platform revenue cut
Watch out for- You manage WordPress hosting and maintenance
- Design depends on your theme
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Patreon is where creators convert fans into monthly supporters. Set up tiers, post member-only content, and let Patreon handle billing, failed payments and tax paperwork. Discovery brings new patrons you did not find yourself.
The cost is a percentage of everything you earn plus payment fees, and your membership lives on Patreon's platform. For creators prioritizing speed over ownership, it remains unmatched.
Patreon's fee structure deserves a spreadsheet: model your revenue at 100, 1,000 and 10,000 patrons, including payment processing, to see what the platform actually costs at scale. Many creators are surprised by the totals.
What we like- Fastest path to paying supporters
- Built-in audience discovery
- Handles payments and taxes
Watch out for- Platform fees on every pledge
- Limited control over the member experience
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Substack made paid newsletters a business model: write, publish, charge, all in one place. It is free until you have paying subscribers, then takes a cut. The network effect of recommendations between publications drives real growth.
The fee and the platform lock-in are the complaints. Writers who want full control and zero fees graduate to Ghost. Writers who want the simplest path to paid subscribers start here.
Substack's 10% fee is easy to accept at the start and harder to love at scale. Writers should decide in advance at what subscriber count they will migrate to Ghost or a self-hosted option, and keep their email list exportable from day one.
What we like- Start a paid newsletter in minutes
- Free to start, fees only when you earn
- Strong writer ecosystem
Watch out for- 10% platform fee on paid subscriptions
- Limited customization
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Kajabi is the business-in-a-box for knowledge entrepreneurs: build courses, run a membership site, send email campaigns and build landing pages without integrating five tools. The member experience looks professional out of the box.
It is priced as a premium all-in-one, and you trade flexibility for integration. For creators selling courses and memberships as a business, the consolidation is worth it.
Kajabi's all-in-one pricing makes sense when you would otherwise buy three tools: compare it against the combined cost of a course platform, email tool and membership plugin. The consolidation saves integration headaches that have real value.
What we like- Courses, memberships, email and funnels in one platform
- Polished member experience
- Proven for knowledge businesses
Watch out for- Premium pricing
- All-in-one means less best-of-breed flexibility
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Podia is Kajabi's friendlier-priced cousin: sell courses, memberships and digital downloads with built-in email, and keep 100% of revenue on paid plans with no transaction fees. It suits creators who want one tool without the premium price.
Power users eventually want more from each component. For the first years of a creator business, Podia covers everything at a fair price.
Podia's no-transaction-fee promise on paid plans is the detail to verify: confirm exactly which plan removes fees and what payment processing still costs. For creators starting out, the math usually favors Podia over percentage-based platforms.
What we like- Courses, memberships, downloads and email in one
- No transaction fees on paid plans
- Friendlier pricing than Kajabi
Watch out for- Less powerful than best-of-breed tools
- Smaller ecosystem
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Mighty Networks builds the membership around community: discussion feeds, courses, events and member directories in a branded web and mobile experience. It fits creators whose value is the group, not just the content.
No platform creates engagement for you; the tool is only as good as your community management. For cohort courses, coaching programs and fan communities, it is purpose-built.
Mighty Networks trials should focus on engagement mechanics: set up your community structure, invite a test group, and see whether discussion actually happens. The platform provides the space; your programming provides the reason to gather.
What we like- Community, courses and events in one branded space
- Mobile apps under your brand
- Strong engagement tools
Watch out for- Pricing climbs with features
- Community success depends on your effort, not the tool
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Circle is the community layer many membership businesses plug into: discussion spaces, events and member profiles with a polished interface. It integrates with tools like Teachable and Memberful, so the community complements your content platform.
It does not do courses or payments natively, so budget for the stack. For professional communities and creator memberships where discussion is the product, it is the best-built option.
Circle's per-member pricing means costs scale with community size, so model the price at your target membership before committing. The integration story matters too: confirm it connects cleanly with your course or membership platform.
What we like- Clean, modern community platform
- Integrates with course and membership tools
- Good for professional communities
Watch out for- Community-only, needs pairing for courses or payments
- Pricing per member tier
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Ghost is the independent answer to Substack: publish, run paid memberships and send newsletters on open-source software with no platform cut. Host it yourself free or pay for managed hosting. Your subscribers, your data, your brand.
It asks more of you than Substack: setup, theme, email configuration. Publishers who value independence accept the tradeoff gladly.
Ghost's managed hosting removes the technical burden while keeping zero platform fees, which is the sweet spot for most independent publishers. Self-hosting saves money but costs time; value your time honestly when choosing.
What we like- Open-source publishing with memberships and newsletters
- Zero platform fees on revenue
- You own everything
Watch out for- Self-hosting or paid hosting required
- Less hand-holding than Substack
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Memberful, now part of Patreon, bolts memberships onto your existing site: it handles member accounts, payments and renewals while your site stays yours. WordPress integration is straightforward, and it works with static sites too.
Fees stack with Stripe's, so do the math against MemberPress for WordPress sites. For non-WordPress sites that need memberships without rebuilding, it is the clean solution.
Memberful's transaction fees stack with Stripe's, so compare the total against MemberPress for WordPress sites specifically. For non-WordPress sites, the convenience of bolt-on memberships usually justifies the premium.
What we like- Add memberships to any existing website
- Handles payments, accounts and renewals
- Integrates with WordPress and Stripe
Watch out for- Transaction fees on top of Stripe
- Less full-featured than MemberPress for WordPress
Rent on Patreon, Substack or Kajabi when speed matters: you get payments, hosting and discovery handled, and you pay with fees or subscriptions. This is right for testing an idea or for creators who never want to manage technology.
Own with MemberPress, Ghost or Memberful when the membership is a real business asset. You keep all the revenue and control the experience, and you accept the maintenance burden. Most serious membership businesses migrate from rented to owned as they grow.
What to check before you buy
Fees decide the economics: platform percentages, transaction fees, and payment processing stack up. Model your revenue at 100, 1,000 and 10,000 members before choosing.
Then check portability: can you export your member list, content and payment data? Platforms that lock in your subscribers own your business. Test the member experience yourself on mobile before committing, and confirm the content protection actually protects: dripping, tiered access and anti-sharing features.
How we chose
We selected platforms purpose-built for subscription websites: membership plugins, creator platforms, community tools and independent publishing. All nine are live products in 2026. Vendor URLs were corroborated through sibling research files during a browser service outage. No vendor pricing pages were individually verified, so all prices list see website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best platform for a membership website?
MemberPress for WordPress sites you own, Kajabi or Podia for creator businesses, Circle or Mighty Networks for community-led memberships, Ghost for independent publishing.
How much does it cost to run a subscription website?
From free (Patreon, Substack, Ghost self-hosted) to platform fees of around 10% to all-in-one subscriptions of $100+ a month. Model fees against your expected revenue.
Patreon vs Substack: which is better?
Patreon suits creators with tiered memberships and varied content. Substack suits writers selling newsletters. Both take platform fees; both are fast to start.
Can I build a membership site on WordPress?
Yes, with MemberPress or Memberful. You get full ownership and no platform revenue cut, in exchange for managing hosting and maintenance.
Do I need a community for my membership site?
Not necessarily. Content libraries, courses and newsletters work without community. But community increases retention, which is why Circle and Mighty Networks exist.
How do I reduce churn on a subscription site?
Deliver consistent value, engage members, offer annual plans at a discount, and make cancellation a feedback opportunity. The platform matters less than the content and community.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://memberpress.com
- https://patreon.com/
- https://substack.com
- https://kajabi.com
- https://podia.com/
- https://mightynetworks.com/
- https://circle.so
- https://ghost.org
- https://memberful.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.