Simple Membership vs ProfilePress (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 ProfilePress at #9. ProfilePress 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.
ProfilePress
Paid Membership Plugin, Ecommerce, User Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content – ProfilePress
Setup paid membership, accept payment, sell subscription & digital product, paywall, create login & registration form, user profile & member directory
Who leads on what
ProfilePress leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Membership Plugins.
ProfilePress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Simple Membership is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 475 reviews, against 3.1 from 938 reviews.
ProfilePress has more reviews behind its score: 938 against 475.
ProfilePress was updated more recently, on September 5, 2026; Simple Membership on August 31, 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 or the review score matters most to you.
ProfilePress
Pick ProfilePress if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Simple Membership vs ProfilePress side by side
| Simple Membership | ProfilePress | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Plugins ranking | #3 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 3.1 |
| Reviews | 475 | 938 |
| Active installs | 40,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,504,973 | 15,466,659 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Sep 5, 2026 |
| First published | May 30, 2014 | Jan 14, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Simple Membership ratings
ProfilePress 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 ProfilePress can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Membership Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Simple Membership vs ProfilePress: common questions
Is Simple Membership better than ProfilePress?
ProfilePress 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 #9 in Membership Plugins.
Which has more users, Simple Membership or ProfilePress?
Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Membership Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Simple Membership or ProfilePress?
ProfilePress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are Simple Membership and ProfilePress free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Simple Membership may also sell a paid version or add-ons. ProfilePress is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Simple Membership and ProfilePress
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- Simple Membership vs WP-Members
- Simple Membership vs User Frontend
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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.