Creating a WordPress member directory helps build an engaging community, allowing you to provide more value to members. If you’re trying to set up a member directory, you can use plugins to make the process easier. Let’s look at 5 top recommended plugins with detailed features and pricing plans.
1. Paid Membership Pro
The Paid Membership Pro plugin allows administrators to create an easy-to-use directory with thousands of member profiles. Using just 2 shortcodes, you can create a professional directory and profile pages.
In addition, it supports groups with similar interests in building private social communities, as well as offering special discounts and product subscriptions.
What makes this plugin so great is the content restriction system. You can lock down standard WordPress content like posts and pages, plus custom post types like forums, products, courses and downloads. You can choose how non-members see restricted content, from excerpts to completely hidden.
Membership management has unlimited membership levels, multi-tiered structures for team or corporate accounts, and custom user fields. The payment system handles free, one-time payments, and recurring subscriptions with different billing periods. Users can choose from multiple payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal and Authorize.net.
For administrators, the plugin detailed reports on sales, revenue, signups, cancellations, and member activity. It includes tools for manually adding members, importing/exporting data, and requiring approval for new signups. Members enjoy a solid frontend experience with login pages, profile management, account dashboards, and directories.
As for the pricing plan, three packages are offered: Standard ($247/year), Plus ($397/year) and Builder ($697/year).
2. PluginsWare
The PluginsWare plugin is another option for creating directory websites. It offers various settings, customizable layouts, filter options, email templates, and other advanced features.
This plugin offers an unlimited number of fields and filter options for customizing the membership form. It also enhances the monetization capability with various features related to WooCommerce integration, subscription plans, and payment gateways.
What makes PluginsWare stand out is how thoroughly it handles directory functionality. Website owners can create complex category structures with multiple levels of organization, perfect for large membership databases. The search system lets visitors filter members by numerous criteria, including custom fields that you define based on your specific needs.
The front-end submission forms make it easy for members to create and manage their own profiles without accessing the WordPress admin area. For site owners looking to generate revenue, the plugin includes options to charge for listings, offer featured placement, and create tiered membership plans with different privileges.
The notification system keeps everyone informed with customizable email templates for important events like new registrations, profile updates, and payment confirmations. The anti-spam features protect your directory from bot submissions using multiple verification methods.
For developers, the plugin offers extensive customization options through templates and hooks, making it adaptable to virtually any directory concept or design requirement.
To use this plugin for a single website, you need to spend $9.99/month, $95.88/year or $288.99 for lifetime use.
3. Ultimate Member
Ultimate Member is a highly extensible and lightweight membership directory builder plugin. With multiple features that allow users to register for membership programs, you can create membership sites and valuable communities.
This plugin is compatible with various themes and extensions to extend the power of the plugin.
With over 200,000 active installations, Ultimate Member stands out for its comprehensive front-end functionality. Users can register, log in, and manage their profiles without ever accessing the WordPress dashboard. The plugin includes flexible registration options where you can decide whether new users are auto-approved, require email activation, or need manual admin approval.
What makes this tool particularly useful is its powerful member directory system. You can filter which user roles appear in directories, control the display of profile information, and offer search options so members can find each other based on specific criteria. The custom fields feature lets you collect exactly the information you need from users, with options for privacy settings that determine who can view each field.
The user roles system gives you complete control over what different types of members can do on your site. For each role, you can set specific permissions regarding admin access, profile editing capabilities, and which content they can view. The access control tools let you restrict content both globally and on individual pages or posts.
It will cost you $249 per year to own the extension pass with all the features and support.
Conclusion
A membership directory is essential for business websites that want to implement their membership plan while also allowing members to find each other. By asking users to sign up and update their profile information, businesses can build a solid connection and provide value to members.
For WordPress, you can choose a suitable plugin from the above list for creating a membership directory depending on your budget and goals.
