MembershipWorks vs Web Directory Free (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Directory Plugins top 10: MembershipWorks at #11 and Web Directory Free at #9. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks – Membership, Events & Directory
All-in-one membership, directory, events and donations for organizations. Secure member profiles, renewals, upgrades and limit member only access to c …
Web Directory Free
A searchable business directory for WordPress: categories, locations, custom fields. Google, Mapbox or MapLibre maps. Everything included for free, ex …
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Web Directory Free ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #11 in Directory Plugins.
MembershipWorks has more users: 2,000+ active installs against 300+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: MembershipWorks has 37, Web Directory Free has 20. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
MembershipWorks has more reviews behind its score: 37 against 20.
Web Directory Free was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; MembershipWorks on August 27, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
MembershipWorks
Pick MembershipWorks if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Web Directory Free
Pick Web Directory Free if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
MembershipWorks vs Web Directory Free side by side
| MembershipWorks | Web Directory Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Directory Plugins ranking | #11 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| Reviews | 37 | 20 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 300+ |
| Total downloads | 98,049 | 53,860 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 27, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 20, 2012 | May 23, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MembershipWorks ratings
Web Directory Free 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 MembershipWorks nor Web Directory Free can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Directory Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MembershipWorks vs Web Directory Free: common questions
Is MembershipWorks better than Web Directory Free?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Web Directory Free ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #11 in Directory Plugins.
Which has more users, MembershipWorks or Web Directory Free?
Web Directory Free ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #11 in Directory Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MembershipWorks or Web Directory Free?
MembershipWorks has more users: 2,000+ active installs against 300+.
Are MembershipWorks and Web Directory Free free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MembershipWorks may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Web Directory Free may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MembershipWorks and Web Directory Free
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.