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AccessAlly vs. MemberPress: a comparison

Our fans tell us AccessAlly allows them to earn more from their online courses and membership sites. We think you’ll love AccessAlly’s power features, along with its’ sophisticated interface.

If you’re curious to see how AccessAlly really stacks up to MemberPress, read on!

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Home » MemberPress » AccessAlly vs. MemberPress

How is AccessAlly different from MemberPress?

AccessAlly and MemberPress are both WordPress membership plugins that allow you to take payments directly.

This is where the similarities end, and where the differences begin.

How many plugins and add-ons does it take to run a membership site?

The WordPress approach has always been to stitch together multiple plugins and add-ons to get the functionality you want to achieve, and MemberPress is no different.

MemberPress handles basic payments, content protection, and membership levels, but you need to invest in additional plugins or install one of 23 add-ons to have a fully functioning course or membership website.

For example, if you sell online courses, you’ll need a learning management system for features such as quizzes, assignments or homework, and certifications. An additional plugin is also needed for gamification and affiliate management.

Each new plugin or add-on adds complexity, and in some cases additional costs and headaches to your business because not all plugins are compatible with one another or work together the way you’d expect.

With MemberPress you might need other plugins to do advanced payments and affiliate tracking, deeper integrations with CRMs, a learning management system (LMS), and member directories. MemberPress has recently released a course feature, but it’s not a full-fledged LMS so if you want to add quizzes or use certificates, you’ll still need to invest in an additional plugin.

With AccessAlly, you sign up for one tool that seamlessly handles everything from one-time and subscription payments, affiliate tracking, course creation, LMS functionality, deep integrations with your CRM, and member management. Not to mention no additional plugins or add-ons are needed for gamification, member directories, or bulk course enrollment.

Two devices showing screenshots from PayPal and Stripe

Multiple Currencies, 1-Click upsells, affiliate tracking, all with abandoned cart follow-up

Both AccessAlly and MemberPress integrate with Stripe and PayPal out the box and accept one-time payments or recurring subscriptions with or without a trial period.

With AccessAlly’s order forms you also have built-in affiliate tracking, and shopping cart abandonment functionality so you can recapture lost sales with an abandoned cart email campaign. The order forms are mobile-friendly and customizable with a few clicks, plus they’re available in multiple currencies.

MemberPress doesn’t offer multiple currencies with one site, and 1-click upsells aren’t possible. And you’ll need a 3rd party affiliate plugin like EasyAffiliate to offer affiliate sales.

With AccessAlly you can allow people to switch between one-time payments and subscription plans, offer 1-click upsells and order bumps, and create one-time-use coupons or mass promo codes. Your customers can also update their credit card on file when a card expires or a payment is due through their account dashboard.

MemberPress alternative that offers 2-way integration with your CRM

MemberPress offers add-ons to create a one-way integration with a few email marketing automation platforms or leaves it up to you to figure things out with a Zapier integration. In fact, many of these integrations — including Zapier — aren’t available on their Basic Plan.

AccessAlly was built with an integration-first approach.

In MemberPress, you can enable an integration and then pass the customer’s email address onto a list or apply a tag in your CRM… but you can’t do the finely tuned tagging automation that can trigger a campaign or unlock content in both directions.

With AccessAlly’s deep CRM integration, an action inside the membership site can update your CRM’s automation tags and when someone clicks an email or segments themselves they can see different content inside the members’ area.

This deep 2-way street integration makes for more meaningful member interactions and can increase or reduce the number of emails people get based on their engagement.

30 day list building challenge objective checklist

Built-in learning management system and progress tracking

With MemberPress, you’ve got to purchase an additional Learning Management System (LMS) like LearnDash or WPCourseware if you want to run a modern online course. MemberPress’ course feature allows you to create a course framework with modules and lessons and tracks the % of completion.

AccessAlly Pro comes with its own built-in LMS so you can track member progress, offer quizzes, unlock content, and autogenerate PDF certificates of completion.

You can have members submit homework that you can review and give individual feedback on. You can also add video bookmarks for videos, and trigger advanced follow-up automations in your CRM when someone hasn’t logged in for a while or completed a module.

With AccessAlly, you’ve got the flexibility of a tag-based system, and a beautiful user-friendly front end for students to learn and stay on track.

Looking for an Option with fewer restrictions?

Have full control of your content, members, and their experience on your site.

Spend your time doing what you do best, not struggling with frustrating platform restrictions.

With AccessAlly, you’ve got all of the power and flexibility of WordPress, and there are no limits on your business’ growth potential either.

Get a Free AccessAlly Demo

One client's story about finding a MemberPress alternative...

Ed Berry

Your design makes the best use of WordPress, because your method shows how pages become lessons.

“By stepping through the Course Wizard, even before watching your videos, I understand how your software works. It’s the same way I would have done it if I were designing such software. (I have done a lot of software and database development.)

Your design makes the best use of WordPress, because your method shows how pages become lessons.

One of the best features in AccessAlly is your use of tags and your direct connection to a CRM. I already use Drip and I find your connections are perfect. It would have been a hookup maze for me to accomplish these connections with other tools. You have saved me a whole lot of time by making things simple.”

– Ed Berry

Focus on course creation and dripped content automation

MemberPress treats all content on your membership site the same: so if you want to organize a course structure with modules and lessons, you’re on your own.

From the get-go, AccessAlly’s Offerings Wizard does all the heavy lifting for you. When you create a new online course, membership program, team center, or affiliate center setup AccessAlly creates all the tags, pages, and setup that you need.

Then you can add your modules, lessons, course content, or anything else you’d like to add to your offerings.

For dripped content, MemberPress allows you to set the schedule and select the pages to unlock along with the emails you might want to send from inside WordPress. It’s hard to see visually where people are in a sequence or course. This is where a CRM or marketing automation system comes in handy — but for some popular CRMs, including ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit, you’ll need their Plus Plan or better. 

On the other hand, AccessAlly automatically syncs with your CRM, like ActiveCampaign or Keap. Find out if AccessAlly integrates with your system.

AccessAlly uses the power of your CRM’s automation campaigns so you can easily see where people are as they progress through a dripped course, and even allows you to pause or segment people automatically.

Laptop with screenshot of AccessAlly Custom Operations Feature - WordPress Gamification Plugin

Cross-selling Dashboards, Gamification points, and automation

If you want to set up a member dashboard that shows members what they have access to and how they can purchase more, with MemberPress you’re out of luck. That’s where AccessAlly’s cross-selling dashboards and gamification features come in.

AccessAlly makes it possible to create gamified credit systems, where members can earn points for completing quizzes, sharing on social media, or for being a paid member in good standing. Members can redeem points for bonus content, services, unlock additional courses or other goodies.

Plus, AccessAlly makes it easy to do all of the automation your heart desires: follow-up with members who haven’t logged in for a while, and you can even conditionally display different content on a page based on whether someone has a specific tag or not.

MemberPress doesn’t have any gamification functionality.

Styled member directories, and fully integrated CRM member profiles

AccessAlly began as a course delivery platform, but it has since developed into a full-fledged membership plugin for WordPress where the focus is on providing the best experience for members.

That means you can create beautiful, searchable member directories, sorted by your marketing automation platform tags. This allows members to opt-in or out of your member directory, and even makes it possible for you to sell a premium listing.

You can display these member directories publicly or protect them for members-only. And with AccessAlly’s editable profiles, a member can update their name, email, address, and password… or any other custom field you’ve set up inside of your marketing automation platform, such as bios, industry, or location.

Everything is synced between your membership site and your CRM, so there’s no manual work required on your end, and there won’t be any missing information when you look up a contact. You can even display gamification points or course progress in a directory.

MemberPress offers no member directory.

Screenshot of affiliate leaderboard example

Individual expiring coupons and gorgeous affiliate centers

MemberPress allows you to create expiring coupons and set limits on redemption, but if you want to run evergreen promotions you’ll need to purchase another scarcity-style plugin.

With AccessAlly you can create any number of coupons, including ones that are uniquely generated for each person and set to expire after a set time or on a specific date. This makes it easy to create an evergreen sales funnel.

You can also display all of the affiliate stats and links that you need to offer to your affiliates, by building a beautiful affiliate dashboard right inside of your AccessAlly membership site. Affiliates are regular members, they just have an additional tag to give them access to their promotional tools. Your affiliates don’t have to be members to have access to the affiliate center you create within your AccessAlly setup.

A client shares their experience: AccessAlly vs. MemberPress

Natasha Holland

Brand New To WordPress And Scaling With Team Licensing

I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to the AccessAlly team. I’ve gone from not knowing what Learning Management System to buy to having 2 of our courses on AccessAlly with Ontraport going live this morning! And they look better than ever!

For anyone out there not yet sure whether to go for it, I would say DO! We came from a Squarespace site with Mailchimp, and I knew absolutely nothing about WordPress (still don’t really), a CRM system or AccessAlly, and have done all the work myself with really fast and solid support from the AccessAlly team. I can’t sing everyone’s praises highly enough.

Oh, and by the way, our two relaunched courses on our new AccessAlly platform? Clients just love it, and we’ve just won a MAJOR UK consultancy/accountant contract to do team licensing… in no small part thanks to the platform we can now offer.

– Natasha Holland, GraphicChange.com

Looking for something that integrates both ways?

Marketing automation tools are here to stay.

Use your marketing automation tool to power your course and membership program by taking advantage of AccessAlly’s deep 2-way street integration.

It’s built to help you sell more, teach better, and engage with your students longer.

Get a Free AccessAlly Demo
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your workflow on AccessAlly vs. MemberPress:

AccessAlly logo
  1. Set up your WordPress site with your favorite customizable theme
  2. Install the AccessAlly plugin on your WordPress membership site
  3. Run through the AccessAlly onboarding wizard to integrate with your CRM and select payment settings
  4. Create your first offering with the Offerings Wizard and add your content
  5. Create emails in your CRM or in AccessAlly
membership plugin comparison of AccessAlly and MemberPress
  1. Install the WordPress plugin on your membership site.
  2. Research, purchase and install an additional plugin integration for your email marketing system (if there is one)
  3. Research, purchase and install additional WordPress plugins or integrations for advanced course features, an order forms plugin, member directory plugin, and/or an advanced affiliate program management plugin.
  4. Create membership levels and WordPress pages or custom post types one at a time.
  5. Manually create menus for your membership site.
  6. Customize the look and feel of the built-in emails that MemberPress sends
  7. Start adding content to your membership site

See How AccessAlly and MemberPress Features Compare

We’re a digital marketing software company built by marketers and software engineers. With our particular background and expertise, we’ve designed AccessAlly to give you everything you need in an easy to use, powerful package.

Software Feature AccessAlly logo checkmark
AccessAlly
MemberPress
MemberPress
Protected course content AccessAlly logo checkmark MemberPress
Built-in Recurring Stripe and PayPal payments AccessAlly logo checkmark MemberPress
Course builder for modules, lessons, and topics AccessAlly logo checkmark MemberPress
Automatically creates tags, pages, and menus AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Deep 2-Way Integration with Infusionsoft, Ontraport, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and Drip AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Multiple currencies, automated expiring coupons, and order bumps AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Cart abandonment automation AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Progress tracking, and progress-based unlocking content AccessAlly logo checkmark MemberPress
Multiple types of quizzes, and auto generated certificates of completion AccessAlly logo checkmark MemberPress
Course Licensing with Teams or Umbrella Accounts AccessAlly logo checkmark With add-ons
Searchable member directories and editable custom fields through profiles AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Gamification where members can earn points, and activity-based automation, login tracking AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Media player, video bookmarks, tagging automation on quizzes AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Cross-selling dashboards, with 1-click upsells AccessAlly logo checkmark  
Built-in affiliate tracking with multiple tiers, links, and reporting AccessAlly logo checkmark With add-ons
Software FeatureAccessAllyMemberPress
Protected course contentIncluded checkmarkIncluded checkmark
Built-in Recurring Stripe and PayPal paymentsIncluded checkmarkIncluded checkmark
Course builder for modules, lessons, and topicsIncluded checkmarkIncluded checkmark
Automatically creates tags, pages, and menusIncluded checkmark
Deep 2-Way Integration with Infusionsoft, Ontraport, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and DripIncluded checkmark
Multiple currencies, automated expiring coupons, and order bumpsIncluded checkmark
Cart abandonment automationIncluded checkmark
Progress tracking, and progress-based unlocking contentIncluded checkmarkIncluded checkmark
Multiple types of quizzes, and auto generated certificates of completionIncluded checkmark
Course Licensing with Teams or Umbrella AccountsIncluded checkmarkWith add-ons
Searchable member directories and editable custom fields through profilesIncluded checkmark
Gamification where members can earn points, and activity-based automation, login trackingIncluded checkmark
Media player, video bookmarks, tagging automation on quizzesIncluded checkmark
Cross-selling dashboards, with 1-click upsellsIncluded checkmark
Built-in affiliate tracking with multiple tiers, links, and reportingIncluded checkmarkWith add-ons

The true cost of MemberPress

When choosing a course or membership platform, looking at MemberPress vs. AccessAlly pricing boxes can be deceiving.

With MemberPress, which only handles membership permissions, you’ll need to add on an LMS, and possibly more advanced order forms and Zapier integration to work with your CRM.

Your business needs likely go beyond simply gating content, so with MemberPress you’ll end up adding additional tools (each with an added cost!) to make things work the way you need them to.

AccessAlly Pro comes in at a fraction of the price, with no add-ons required.

Should I use AccessAlly or MemberPress?

MemberPress might be right for you if...

    • You have a simple recurring membership you want to run, and don’t plan to offer any online courses
    • You don’t need deep integration with your CRM or prefer not to follow up differently with people based on their actions in your membership site
    • You’re comfortable with the “more plugins and add-ons” philosophy and maintaining them all
    • You have an existing payment system that integrates, or you’re fine with a very basic option without 1-click upsells, abandoned cart follow-up, or multiple currencies

AccessAlly might be right for you if...

    • You want everything to work seamlessly from one end to the other (payments, courses, and memberships) with as few plugins as possible
    • You’re looking to create an amazing customer experience, that’s functional, profitable, and helps you stand out in the marketplace
    • You know keeping your client information centralized inside your CRM will help you scale

Marketers all over the world are loving AccessAlly

Photo of Kathryn

AccessAlly Really Is The Best On The Market!

“When I was planning a complete rebrand of my program the e-Course Launch Formula I looked at pretty much everything on the market as I had some very specific needs.

The reason I chose AccessAlly was because it integrates seamlessly with Infusionsoft, has some awesome learning management functionality like checklists and also has the potential to become a membership hub for my business with multiple programs in the one place.

I’ve used other Infusionsoft specific platforms but this really is the best on the market. My team has also successfully added a great membership directory for my students to find and connect with potential affiliates and contributors for their e-Course. I am so glad that I picked AccessAlly and my students are over the moon at what it offers for their learning experience!”

– Kathryn Hocking, KathrynHocking.com

Petri Goldman

My Clients Absolutely Love It And I Do Too!

I’ve tried a TON of different membership softwares and AccessAlly is by far and away the best-looking, most functional and most strategic one.

I was so fed up with my last membership site because the user-interface was terrible for my clients (and it didn’t look good, which bothered my over-achieving perfectionist self).

Now, I’ve gotten an unbelievable amount of customer feedback from my clients telling me how much they absolutely love it… and I do too!

– Amanda Goldman-Petri, MarketLikeANerd.com

Migrating from MemberPress to AccessAlly is easy

With the AccessAlly migration wizard, you can take an existing WordPress membership site and convert existing members easily.

Similarly, you can also import members directly from your marketing automation platform, and AccessAlly’s migration wizard will ensure all of your members have the right tags and permissions.

Then you can run through the Offerings Wizard to import existing course content, and you’ll be ready to showcase your new members area.

Continue your search for the right solution

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