Groups vs Paid Membership Subscriptions (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Membership Plugins top 10: Groups at #10 and Paid Membership Subscriptions at #6. Paid Membership Subscriptions leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Groups
Groups – Memberships and Access Control
Turn your site into a powerful membership solution. Manage members, teams and access to content easily.
Paid Membership Subscriptions
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction
Feature-packed membership plugin for creating subscription plans, adding recurring payments & content restriction on your membership site.
Who leads on what
Paid Membership Subscriptions leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Paid Membership Subscriptions ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Both report 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Groups is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 382 reviews, against 4.7 from 269 reviews.
Groups has more reviews behind its score: 382 against 269.
Paid Membership Subscriptions was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; Groups on September 24, 2026.
Paid Membership Subscriptions was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 33,667 times against 10,792.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Groups
Pick Groups if the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Paid Membership Subscriptions
Pick Paid Membership Subscriptions if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Groups vs Paid Membership Subscriptions side by side
| Groups | Paid Membership Subscriptions | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Plugins ranking | #10 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 382 | 269 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,060,045 | 2,069,958 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 10,792 | 33,667 |
| Last updated | Sep 24, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 12, 2012 | Nov 4, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Groups ratings
Paid Membership Subscriptions ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Groups nor Paid Membership Subscriptions can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Membership Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Groups vs Paid Membership Subscriptions: common questions
Is Groups better than Paid Membership Subscriptions?
Paid Membership Subscriptions leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Paid Membership Subscriptions ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Which has more users, Groups or Paid Membership Subscriptions?
Paid Membership Subscriptions ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Groups or Paid Membership Subscriptions?
Both report 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Groups and Paid Membership Subscriptions free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Paid Membership Subscriptions may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Groups and Paid Membership Subscriptions
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Membership Plugins comparisons
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- Groups vs Ultimate Member
- Groups vs User Registration
- Groups vs WP-Members
- Groups vs ProfilePress
- Members vs Paid Membership Subscriptions
- Paid Membership Subscriptions vs Simple Membership
- Paid Membership Subscriptions vs Simple Membership After Login Redirection
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.