ARMember review : The ideal WordPress plugin for members?

Looking for a powerful WordPress plugin to create a members’ area, protect your content and manage your subscribers?

In this article on my review of the ARMember plugin, we analyze one of the most comprehensive tools on the market. From subscriber management to progressive content distribution, ARMember’s many features are seductive… but they also attract criticism. We sift through its strengths, limitations and user feedback to help you decide whether it’s right for your WordPress project.

What is ARMember and who is it for?

ARMember at a glance

ARMember is a WordPress plugin dedicated to the creation and management of members’ areas. It allows you to restrict access to your content, sell subscriptions and automate the distribution of modules or lessons (drip content).

Designed to be an all-in-one solution, it combines in a single tool what other plugins require in paid extensions: user management, payment gateways, marketing integrations and custom forms.

Thanks to its intuitive interface, even non-technical users can set up a complete membership site without coding. Its rich functionality makes it a popular choice for content creators, online trainers or community managers.

For which user profiles?

ARMember meets the needs of a wide variety of projects:

• Trainers and course creators: sell training courses, offer progressive content, issue certificates.
• Community managers: create private clubs, secure forums or networks with profiles and internal messaging.
• Premium content publishers: monetize articles, videos or podcasts via subscriptions or pay-per-view.
• Agencies and developers: easily integrate membership management into a customer site, with advanced customization.

💡 The plus: ARMember can suit a solo entrepreneur as well as a complex organization, thanks to its scalable subscription plans and compatibility with all major WordPress page builders.

ARMember’s key features

Comprehensive membership plan management

ARMember lets you create free, paid or trial membership plans. You can offer one-off or recurring payments, manage member statuses and define precise rules after expiration (blocking, switching to a free plan, etc.). This flexibility facilitates the progressive monetization of your audience.

Ultra-precise content restriction

The plugin offers unique granularity: restriction by page, article, category, shortcode or even specific URL. You can create different levels of access (freemium, premium, VIP) and adjust your marketing strategies according to your targets. This is one of ARMember’s strengths when it comes to building a structured, secure member space.

Drip Content

With drip content, you can distribute your modules or content at the pace you choose (e.g. one video per week). This is a major advantage for creators of training and coaching programs, as it keeps members engaged over time while limiting piracy.

Integrated and customizable forms

ARMember includes a drag-and-drop form builder. You can quickly create registration, login or profile forms without coding. Compatible with Elementor, Divi or Gutenberg, it adapts easily to your site’s design.

Payment gateways and integrations

The plugin supports over 20 payment gateways, including PayPal and Stripe. It also connects to marketing tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot, and works with WooCommerce for advanced sales management. So you can automate both billing and customer relations.

Migration tools and compatibility

Thanks to the “Migration & Import Tool addon”, you can transfer your data from other plugins such as MemberPress or Paid Memberships Pro. ARMember also facilitates CSV/XML export to keep your data under control, a real plus for projects already in place.

👉 In summary: ARMember offers natively what many competitors charge in addons, making it a cost-effective and complete solution for WordPress subscription management.

Advantages and disadvantages of ARMember

Like all WordPress plugins, ARMember has undeniable advantages… but also a few limitations to be aware of before committing yourself.

Quick analysis

• Strengths: ARMember impresses with its value for money, flexibility and technical support. It combines in a single tool what other plugins charge for via extensions.
• Weaknesses: license management has tarnished its reputation, and the front-end often requires manual adjustments for professional rendering.

💡 schoolsWP tip: if you’re comfortable with a bit of customization (CSS, design), ARMember remains a solid choice. On the other hand, if commercial transparency is a key criterion, compare with alternatives like SureMembers.

Pricing and licensing policy

Available packages

ARMember offers a lifetime license model, with a single payment based on the number of sites:

• 1 site: $69
• 2 sites: $129
• 10 sites: $299

All premium features are included, as well as 57 free modules and over 21 payment gateways.

⚠️ Please note: technical support and updates are valid for one year only. Paid renewal is required to extend maintenance and support.

Hidden costs and points to watch out for

• The “lifetime license” model is appealing for its budgetary simplicity, but conceals an annual support renewal fee (around $49/year).
• Some users have criticized the forced switch to subscription, despite the initial purchase of a “lifetime” license, as misleading.
• However, the offer remains less expensive than competitors such as MemberPress or Wishlist Member, especially if you manage several sites.

💡 schoolsWP tip: test ARMember with the 14-day guarantee. This allows you to judge the stability and compatibility of your needs without financial risk.

User opinions: between praise and criticism

Opinions on ARMember are divided. While some praise a powerful, flexible plugin, others point the finger at questionable business practices.

Highlights from the reviews

• Responsive technical support: answers within hours, even for complex problems.
• Comprehensive plugin: subscription management, fine-grained restriction, drip content included at no extra cost.
• Intuitive interface: easy to learn, even for beginners.

🟢 Representative positive opinion:

« An extremely powerful plugin, with support always available and efficient. I recommend it for all its native features. »

Most frequently cited weaknesses

• Missing features: Some advanced options offered by competitors are not yet natively integrated.
• Limited support in the free version: Priority support is reserved for premium users, which can slow down problem resolution.
• Bugs on the public interface: CSS must be added to achieve a professional look.

🔴 Representative negative opinion:

« A feature-rich plugin, but some essential options are still missing, which may limit certain complex projects. In addition, free support remains fairly limited. »

Overall analysis

Despite its critics, ARMember retains a loyal community. Many users feel that its technical strengths compensate for its commercial weaknesses. For those looking for an affordable, feature-rich plugin, it remains a serious option.

👉 schoolsWP tip: before committing yourself, test the trial version and consult several customer feedbacks to validate whether ARMember really matches your expectations.

ARMember vs. other plugins

Choosing a membership plugin isn’t limited to a list of features: you need to compare ease of use, sales policy and value for money. Here’s how ARMember stacks up against its main competitors.

ARMember vs MemberPress

• MemberPress is renowned for its stability and clear documentation.
• ARMember stands out for its more affordable price and native functionalities (drip content, forms) included without paid extensions.
• On the other hand, MemberPress offers greater commercial transparency and better integration with LMSs.

👉 Ideal if you want a reliable plugin with no nasty surprises: MemberPress.

ARMember vs Paid Memberships Pro (PMP)

• PMP offers a free but limited version. Most features require paid add-ons.
• ARMember integrates these functions by default, which reduces the overall cost.
• In terms of design, PMP is more rigid, whereas ARMember allows greater customization with builders (Elementor, Divi).

👉 For a low-budget project, ARMember may be more interesting than PMP.

When is ARMember the best choice?

ARMember is particularly suitable if :

• You want an all-in-one solution without the need for multiple add-ons.
• You’re looking for an affordable plugin to quickly launch your members’ area.
• You’re ready to handle a few CSS tweaks to improve user experience.

💡 Boxed advice schoolsWP:

• If your priority is simplicity and transparency, go for MemberPress.
• If you’re looking for an attractive price and lots of native functionality, ARMember is a solid choice.
• For a complex e-learning project, consider LearnDash + a membership plugin.

Alternatives to ARMember

While ARMember offers a comprehensive and affordable solution, it’s not always the ideal choice for your needs. Here are some popular alternatives to consider.

Wishlist Member

• Historical plugin, reliable and very stable.
• Solid functionality for managing memberships, but less modern interface.
• Suitable for projects that focus on durability and ease of use.

MemberPress

• The market benchmark, renowned for its reliability and comprehensive ecosystem.
• Ideal for professional projects requiring advanced recurring payment management.
• More expensive than ARMember, but no licensing controversy.

Paid Memberships Pro (PMP)

• Free version available, perfect for testing a membership project.
• Advanced features available via premium addons.
• Suitable for small budgets, but may cost more than ARMember in the long run.

BuddyBoss

• Complete solution if you want to build a private social network or interactive community.
• Includes advanced user profiles, groups, forums, gamification.
• Less focused on subscription management than on the community dimension.

When to avoid ARMember?

ARMember may not be the best choice if :

• You’re looking for a solution without any CSS customization.
• You value commercial transparency over price.
• You need long-term support included at no extra cost.

👉 schoolsWP tip: if you’re just starting out and want a cost-effective, feature-rich solution, ARMember is still relevant. If you’re managing a large-scale project or are sensitive to the supplier’s reputation, MemberPress or BuddyBoss are the best choice.

Our verdict on ARMember

ARMember is a powerful and versatile WordPress plugin, with a wealth of functions: subscription management, advanced content restriction, native drip content and numerous integrations (payments, CRM, page builders). It ticks all the boxes for creating a professional members’ area without multiplying the number of extensions.

However, its commercial grey areas (lifetime license controversy, support limited to one year) slightly tarnish its image. What’s more, the user interface often requires a few CSS tweaks to achieve optimal rendering.

What I think of this WordPress extension for members

• ✅ Ideal for: entrepreneurs, trainers, community builders or agencies looking for a comprehensive and affordable plugin.
• ⚠️ Things to watch out for: license management and front-end technical tweaks.

👉 schoolsWP tip: test ARMember with the 14-day guarantee or the Free version, and weigh its strengths against its limitations before adopting it.

Conclusion

ARMember isn’t perfect, but it’s still one of the most complete WordPress membership plugins on the market for its price. If you’re prepared to live with its limitations, it can become a real ally in monetizing your content and developing your community.

🎯 Still hesitating? Compare ARMember with its alternatives, test its trial version, and make an informed decision.