Simple Membership vs WP-Members (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Membership Plugins top 10: Simple Membership at #3 and WP-Members at #6. Simple Membership leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Simple Membership
Simple membership plugin adds membership functionality to your site. Protect members only content using content protection easily.
WP-Members
WP-Members Membership Plugin
The original WordPress membership plugin with content restriction, user login, custom registration fields, user profiles, and more.
Who leads on what
Simple Membership leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Membership Plugins.
WP-Members has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Both are rated 4.6 out of 5 (475 and 272 reviews).
Simple Membership has more reviews behind its score: 475 against 272.
Simple Membership was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; WP-Members on February 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.
Simple Membership
Pick Simple Membership if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP-Members
Pick WP-Members if you want the plugin more sites already run.
Simple Membership vs WP-Members side by side
| Simple Membership | WP-Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Plugins ranking | #3 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 475 | 272 |
| Active installs | 40,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,504,973 | 4,018,853 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 |
| First published | May 30, 2014 | Sep 23, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| 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.
Simple Membership ratings
WP-Members 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 Simple Membership nor WP-Members can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Membership Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Simple Membership vs WP-Members: common questions
Is Simple Membership better than WP-Members?
Simple Membership leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Membership Plugins.
Which has more users, Simple Membership or WP-Members?
Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Membership Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Simple Membership or WP-Members?
WP-Members has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are Simple Membership and WP-Members free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Simple Membership may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP-Members may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Simple Membership and WP-Members
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.