Most of WordPress’s membership plugins are very easy to install. In most cases, you simply upload the plugin to the plugins folder and then activate it from the administration panel.
Many plugin developers also provide comprehensive documentation to walk you through any issues you may encounter.
As for the admin UI, I prefer plugins that adhere to the native taste of WordPress, but not all plugins do that. I have included screenshots of each plugin below.
You can click on the name of the product below to view its full review.
s2Member
The s2Member framework, which is 100% free, is available from WordPress.org. So, you can search for it and install it from within your admin dashboard. The Pro module of s2Member is also easy to install. After purchasing and downloading the Pro module, FTP it to your wp-content/plugins folder or use the WordPress plugin uploader to get it there. (Note: don't try to activate it, you'll just get an error message if you do.)
The admin settings UI of s2Member borrows the colors and shades of WordPress native UI, but it utilizes its own layout and visual elements. In my experience, though, it is very well organized and easy to use.
Other parts of s2Member UI integrate with existing WordPress screens. For example, if you scroll down to the bottom of a user profile, you'll find a bunch of new fields that s2Member added. These fields blend in very well.
WishList Member
Once you download WishList Member, installation is quite simple. Upload the zip folder with either FTP or WordPress plugin uploader and activate the plugin. After that, you'll see a top-level menu for the plugin, click on it and you'll be asked to enter your license key and email address to be able to start using the plugin. That's all there is to it.
The admin UI of WishList is excellent. It is nicely organized and intuitive to use. It borrows as much as possible from WordPress native UI.
Unfortunately, the plugin has to contact the servers of WishList every time you access your admin dashboard. So, it is always dependent on WishList servers being up and running.
Digital Access Pass
DAP works with or without WordPress. So, in essence, it is not a WordPress plugin, but a standalone membership script. Being a standalone script rather than a plugin has its downsides, still.
Take a look at this video to see how DAP is installed and activated. Basically, you upload DAP to your root directory like standalone script and then install a WordPress-DAP integration plugin. Then activate the script using your license key. Then schedule cron jobs from your hosting control panel.
This is clearly not the streamlined installation process that WordPress users are accustomed to, so the DAP team provides a free installation service with every purchase.
As for the admin UI, when you're interacting with DAP in WordPress admin dashboard, you're doing it through an iframe to root.com/dap/admin/. So, DAP admin UI is nothing like WordPress native UI and it's definitely not an improvement. To get a feel of what I'm talking about, take a look at the screenshots below.
Some developers or site flippers may care about having an easy to use UI for their clients, but many people couldn't care less about a pretty UI—all they want is something that works and DAP does work!
Screenshot: DAP admin homepage
Screenshot: DAP product/level management screen
eMember
eMember is very easy to install. Only upload & activate—no need for a license key or such.
The admin UI of eMember does not look native to WordPress, but it is simple and usable.
Magic Members
The Magic Members plugin is sent in as a zip file which can conveniently be uploaded with WordPress plugin uploader. After activation, you'll have to enter the email address that you used to purchase the plugin in order to begin using it.
Many aspects of Magic Members' admin UI can be considered eye candy. Luckily, it doesn't sacrifice function for aesthetics. The interface is neatly laid out and well organized. It doesn't conform to WordPress native taste but it is still pretty and useful.
Paid Memberships Pro
The full version of this plugin is always available from WordPress.org, so installation is easy, just use the "Add Plugin" feature of your admin dashboard.
The admin UI of Paid Memberships Pro couldn't get any cleaner. It feels very native to WordPress.
There isn't anything bad that I could say about either the installation process or the admin UI.
WPMU DEV Membership
Membership is properly packaged in a zip folder that plays well with WordPress built-in plugin uploader. So, you can just install it from there. It's simply a matter of uploading and activating—no license key or other steps required.
Once activated, you'll see Membership's menu at the very top of WordPress admin sidebar, even on top of the dashboard home button. It's an interesting placement. I guess its purpose is to emphasize that the plugin transforms the entire nature of your WordPress site.
Membership's UI is very similar to WordPress native UI, so you'll feel right at home when you're using it.
MemberWing
A trial version of MemberWing can be downloaded from MemberWing.com for free. You just upload it and activate it, and you're set.
When you're ready to upgrade to the full version, you buy the license (from the same website) and validate it within MemberWing's admin area.
The installation process of MemberWing is smooth. The same cannot be said about its admin UI, which is made of tables and the colors of the rainbow. The cells of these tables are stuffed with tiny text that's difficult to read. Take a look at the screenshots.
Screenshot: MemberWing 3rd-party software integration
Screenshot: MemberWing settings for digital download protection
Your Members
Your Members is easy to install, just upload and activate. But before you can begin using the plugin, you'll have to install your license by simply providing the email address that you used to purchase the plugin.
The admin UI is not a native WordPress UI. Some elements are discolored, misaligned, or otherwise have visual glitches. However, after you've gotten used to the admin UI of Your Members, you'll find that it is practical. You can reach most screens with just one or two clicks.
wp-Member
The installation process of wp-Member is cumbersome. You download a zip file which cannot be uploaded through the WordPress plugin uploader. Instead, you have to unzip the file and FTP the resulting directory to your wp-content/plugins folder, which can take several minutes.
Additionally, the plugin's source code is obfuscated with ionCube, so it requires that you have the ionCube PHP decoder installed on your server (most hosts have ionCube installed and activated by default).
Once uploaded and activated, you'll have to enter your license key in a field that's hidden in the plugins menu of the WordPress admin dashboard. When that's done, you'll finally see a top level menu through which you can interact with wp-Member.
The admin UI does not conform to the native WordPress UI, but it's very neutral and usable.
