What is WishList Member plugin?
WishList Member is one of the earliest WordPress membership plugins, launched in 2008. It creates protected content areas – members pay or register to access specific posts, pages, categories, or custom post types. WishList Member manages membership levels, content access rules, and integrates with payment processors and email marketing services.
The plugin uses a protection rules approach: define membership levels, then apply rules specifying which levels access which content. WishList Member has broad integration support: PayPal, Stripe, ClickBank, JVZoo, ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and many more – its extensive list reflects years of adding connectors from its large user base. Pricing is 49/year for 1 site, 49/year for unlimited, positioning between MemberPress and cheaper alternatives.
Need Help With WishList Member Setup, Troubleshooting, or Customization?
Need help with WishList Member? Whether you are dealing with errors, broken functionality, styling problems, plugin conflicts, or advanced customization, we can help you fix the issue and get the plugin working properly on your WordPress site.
Get WishList Member Expert HelpKey Features
- Unlimited membership levels
- Content protection for posts pages categories
- PayPal and Stripe integration
- ClickBank and JVZoo integration
- Email service integrations (Mailchimp ActiveCampaign ConvertKit)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Long track record since 2008
- Extensive payment processor integration list including ClickBank and JVZoo
- Flexible content protection rules
Cons
- Interface shows its age compared to modern alternatives
- No free version
Free vs Premium
WishList Member has no free version. $49/year for 1 site or $49/year for unlimited sites. All features included at both tiers – no feature gating between plans.
Common Problems & Fixes
WishList Member is not protecting content - non-members can see protected pages. How do I fix this?
Go to WishList Member → Protection and verify protection rules are saved for the content. Check the membership level is active. If a caching plugin serves cached protected pages to non-members, exclude protected pages from cache and configure the caching plugin to respect membership cookies.
Members cannot log in after I changed my domain. How do I fix this?
Domain changes break membership cookies and redirect rules. After a domain change: update WordPress URL in Settings → General, run search-and-replace on old domain references using Better Search Replace, and reconfigure WishList Member login and registration page URLs in its settings.
WishList Member is sending members to the wrong page after login. How do I configure redirects?
Go to WishList Member → Setup → After Login Redirect. Configure per-membership-level redirect URLs – send basic members to a general dashboard, premium members to exclusive content. Configure After Registration redirect separately from After Login redirect.
Customization & Developer Notes
How do I set up drip content with WishList Member?
In WishList Member → Protection, select a protected post and configure the Days After Registration setting. Set how many days after joining a member can access that content. This creates sequential course or onboarding sequences without additional plugins.
Can WishList Member work with WooCommerce for membership sales?
Yes – go to WishList Member → Integrations → WooCommerce. Create WooCommerce products for each membership tier and map them to WishList Member levels. When a customer purchases, they are automatically added to the corresponding membership level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WishList Member better than MemberPress?
MemberPress has a more modern interface, better reporting, and more native advanced features. WishList Member has broader payment processor support including ClickBank and JVZoo that MemberPress lacks natively. For most new membership sites, MemberPress or Paid Memberships Pro are stronger starting points. WishList Member makes most sense for ClickBank or JVZoo integrations or extending existing WishList Member installations.
How do I cancel a membership in WishList Member without losing member data?
In WishList Member → Members, find the member and edit their record. Remove the membership level from their account without deleting the WordPress user. The user remains in WordPress with their account intact but loses access to protected content.
Does WishList Member support multiple membership levels?
Yes – WishList Member supports unlimited membership levels. Create levels in WishList Member → Levels and assign different content access rules, pricing, and benefits per level. Members can hold multiple levels simultaneously, allowing bundled access or upgrade paths.
Can I migrate from WishList Member to MemberPress?
Migration is possible but requires manual work – exporting member data from WishList Member and importing into MemberPress, then reconfiguring content protection rules in MemberPress. There is no automated migration tool between the two. Plan a transition period where both plugins run in parallel to verify protection rules before fully deactivating WishList Member.