WishList Member has been protecting WordPress content since 2008. The setup process has evolved but the core workflow remains consistent: create levels, protect content, connect payments. Here is how to get your membership site working.
Step 1: Purchase and Install
WishList Member requires a purchase from wishlistmember.com ($149/year for 1 site). Download the plugin ZIP and install via WordPress → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. Enter your license key in WishList Member → Setup → License.
Step 2: Create Membership Levels
Go to WishList Member → Levels → Add New Level. Create your first membership level. Configure:
- Level Name — what members see (e.g. “Gold Member”, “Monthly Access”)
- After Registration URL — where to send members after they join
- After Login URL — where to redirect members when they log in
- After Cancel URL — where to send members after cancellation
Create all your membership tiers before setting up protection rules.
Step 3: Connect Payment Integration
Go to WishList Member → Setup → Integrations → Payment Providers. Connect Stripe or PayPal. WishList Member handles the connection between payment and membership — when someone pays through your connected payment provider, they are automatically added to the corresponding membership level.
Prefer to have someone handle the setup? Describe what you need and get a free estimate — no obligation.
Step 4: Protect Content
Protection rules determine who sees what. Two approaches:
Per-post protection: Edit any post or page, find the “WishList Member” meta box in the sidebar. Select which levels can access this content. Non-members see a customisable message or redirect.
Bulk protection: Go to WishList Member → Protection. Apply rules to entire categories, tags, or post types at once — more efficient for large content libraries.
Step 5: Connect Email Service
Go to WishList Member → Setup → Integrations → Email Providers. Connect your email service (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign). Configure which email list members join when they register for each membership level. Members can be added to different lists based on their level — segment your email list by membership tier.
Step 6: Test the Full Journey
Create a test account and go through the full member journey: register, pay (use test mode in Stripe/PayPal), verify membership level is assigned, access protected content, check email was added to correct list. Fix any issues before launching.