Being a content creator on the internet is not easy. The competition is fierce, and monetizing one's hard work can be a real challenge. However, a membership platform can change that narrative. 

Membership platforms allow creators to connect with their dedicated supporters and offer them exclusive content or services while receiving steady payments. In this article, we’ll explore what membership platforms are and their benefits and highlight some of the best ones available in the market.

 What Is A Membership Platform?

Membership platforms are online solutions that enable creators to offer exclusive content or services to their dedicated supporters, usually members, in exchange for a recurring payment. 

These platforms empower creators by giving them more control over their content distribution. Creators can set up membership structures, such as multi-tier membership plans that offer different benefits at different price points. They can also tailor their content to each tier, offering exclusive pieces of work to their most dedicated supporters.

Moreover, membership platforms provide a direct line of communication between creators and their fans, giving them more chances to engage and interact. Members can leave feedback and participate in discussions on the creator's platform, building a sense of community that can ultimately drive growth and revenue.

Benefits of a Membership Platform 

Membership platforms offer several benefits to content creators, which make it a must-have tool for all creators who want to monetize their talents. Here are some of the advantages that membership platforms offer:

Recurring Revenue

One of the most significant advantages of membership platforms is that they provide a steady stream of revenue. Instead of relying on one-time purchases, creators can generate a constant income from their subscribers or members. This feature allows creators to have a reliable source of income, which they can use to sustain their operations and invest in content creation.

Better Communication 

Membership platforms offer creators a direct line of communication with their subscribers. Through features like forums, messaging, and even live streams, creators can engage their community and connect with them on a more personal level. This direct line of communication allows creators to understand their audience better and what they like to see more of, leading to more targeted content that resonates with their viewers.

Deeper Connection with Fans 

Membership platforms enable creators to offer exclusive content and perks to their members. This feature allows creators to differentiate themselves from the competition and build a more loyal fanbase. Fans want to feel connected to their favorite creators, and membership platforms provide them with an outlet to express their support and get rewarded for being a part of the community.

Enhanced Control of the Content 

Membership platforms give creators more control over their content. Creators can decide which content is free, which is premium, and which is exclusive to members. This feature allows creators to create different pricing tiers and attract different types of viewers who are willing to pay different amounts for unique content. Moreover, creators can decide how the content is delivered, what format it's in, and how frequently it updates, giving them more control over the content's delivery and experience.

Data and Insights

Membership platforms provide creators with data and analytics about their subscribers. Creators can see which videos are getting more views, which members are the most active, and what their members like and dislike. This data can help creators make informed decisions about their content and tailor it to their subscribers, leading to a more engaging experience for both the creator and their members.

8 Best Membership Platforms for Content Creators

1. Fourthwall 

Fourthwall's Membership platform offers creators an unparalleled all-in-one membership experience. It empowers them with full brand customization and seamless integrations with their homepage and shop. The platform provides access to hundreds of retail-quality products for instant customization, allowing creators to offer exclusive merchandise and promotions to their community. 

With Fourthwall, creators have the flexibility to customize their membership tiers, personalizing their perks and benefits to cater to different supporter levels. This encourages greater engagement and loyalty through exclusive content and time-sensitive offers. The platform also allows users to offer their members a unique experience, including members-only videos, images, polls, Discord channel access, private RSS feeds, and more. 

Supporters can also gain instant access to their members’ area thanks to Fourthwall Mobile Apps, available for iOS and Android. With Mobile Apps, members can receive push notifications whenever you send them a message or release new content on your Fourthwall page. 

Moreover, Fourthwall provides creators the opportunity to unlock new revenue streams while engaging with their audience through features like Twitch gifting, Twitch sub discounts, personalized thank-you videos, and members-only products & promos. 

Pricing: No monthly membership fees. However, Fourthwall does take a 5% flat fee on all membership revenue. 

Pros: 

• Easy-to-use platform
• Customizable membership tiers
• Built-in website builder
• Mobile app enable
• Provides membership perks and discounts
• Ability to sell merchandise
• Personalized thank you videos to your members
• Twitch gifting and sub discounts
• Discord channel access

2. Kajabi 

Kajabi is great for creators looking to sell online courses and membership plans. The platform allows you to build a comprehensive website for your brand, complete with sales and marketing functionalities. 

With Kajabi, creators can create various product types, such as online courses, coaching, and podcasts, while also generating community engagement through features like discussions, live streaming, challenges, and leaderboards. 

The platform offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, including the option for branded membership apps and flexible subscription pricing options, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual billing, along with free trial capabilities and multiple membership tiers.

Pricing: Kajabi is one of the more pricier options, with plans starting at $149 a month. 

Pros: 

• Great sales and marketing tools
• Mobile apps
• Website builder
• Online course builder 

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Customization limits
• Doesn’t handle sales tax
• Tailored for courses and coaching

3. Circle 

Circle empowers creators to build a vibrant community space tailored to their preferences, offering versatile organization through spaces and groups where engaging posts and articles can foster discussion. 

Beyond these fundamental features, Circle provides additional tools to enhance content creation and member interaction. These include a built-in course builder for creating educational content, capabilities for hosting online events, group chats, and live streams, and a member directory that facilitates connections and one-on-one conversations. 

One of Circle's most stand-out features is its Community AI, which assists managers in creating quality content, connecting members with activity scores, and offering automated transcriptions for videos alongside a Circle Bot for quick resource access. 

With free iOS/Android mobile apps and branded membership options, the platform facilitates member accessibility while enabling subscription management with paywalls and easy group switching.

Pricing: Circle’s Basic Plan starts at $49 a month with a 4% transaction fee. However, the plan only allows users up to 100 members. For unlimited members, you need to purchase their Professional Plan for $99 a month.

Pros: 

• Impressive AI tools
• Allows members to connect one-on-one
• Built-in course builder

Cons:

• Transaction fees
• Basic plan limited to 100 members

4. Podia

Podia is ideal for creators who want to create an online storefront with memberships, subscriptions, and digital downloads. The platform offers an intuitive user interface where creators can easily create straightforward online courses incorporating videos, PDFs, and basic quizzes, with a well-designed course player enhancing the learning experience. 

When it comes to membership pricing, creators can set up monthly or annual subscriptions with free trial options and easily create multiple tiers, assigning different community topics, courses, and products accordingly. 

Furthermore, Podia facilitates sales page creation, payment processing, EU VAT charging, and affiliate program management, providing creators with comprehensive tools for monetization and business management.

Pricing: Podia offers a free plan with an 8% transaction fee. Paid plans start at 39% a month.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Affiliate program management
• Handles EU VAT
• Can create courses inside your community

Cons:

• Basic tools and features
• Limited customization
• No mobile app feature 

5. Mighty Networks 

Mighty Networks stands out as an ideal membership platform for creators who prioritize community-centric experiences. The platform offers creators an array of top-notch community tools and features for creating posts, full articles, polls, and questions, organizing communities through spaces and collections, and engaging members with online courses, live events, and group chats. 

Additionally, Mighty Networks provides members with convenient access via free iOS and Android apps, with the option to upgrade to branded community apps supporting in-app purchases. 

In terms of pricing flexibility, creators can set up monthly and annual subscription options, including free trial offerings, and easily establish access levels to regulate member privileges across various spaces and content.

Pricing: The platform’s Community Plan starts at $39 a month with an additional 3% fee off all transactions.

Pros:

• Great community-building tools
• Full branding control
• 14-day free trial offering
• Mobile apps

Cons:

• Transaction fees
• Difficult interface for beginners
• Only uses Stripe for payments

6. MemberSpace

MemberSpace is an easy-to-use membership platform that simplifies the process of adding membership functionality to website builders like Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix. It offers a range of tools and features even in its free plan. 

With MemberSpace, creators can effortlessly create subscription plans and manage recurring payments while also protecting their content and restricting access based on membership tiers. This includes options to offer free access, one-time or recurring payments, payment plans, and free trials with customizable billing dates. 

The platform also makes creating tiers pretty straightforward, allowing creators to set pricing for each tier and select the pages for inclusion. Moreover, MemberSpace offers valuable sales and marketing features such as abandoned cart tracking, failed charge recovery, cancellation alerts, automated upselling, and cancellation workflows, enhancing its appeal as a comprehensive membership platform for creators.

Pricing: It offers a free Startup Plan with a 5% transaction fee on all payments. The Professional Plan costs $49 a month. 

Pros: 

• Easy to use
• Unlimited members on free plan
• Impressive membership management tools

Cons:

• No website builder
• Doesn’t offer LMS features
• Only supports Stripe for payments

7. Patreon 

Best for creators who want to build a recurring revenue stream by offering memberships, subscriptions, and exclusive content. Patreon’s user-friendly interface simplifies membership setup, enabling creators to upload diverse content such as videos, audio files, text, polls, images, live streaming, and links. 

Similar to other membership platforms like Fourthwall, Patreon allows creators to sell merchandise to their audience directly through their Patreon page, further expanding their revenue streams and strengthening their connection with fans.

While Patreon does lack flexibility in pricing, limiting options to monthly or yearly subscriptions with a fixed seven-day trial period, its robust features and community-building tools remain valuable assets for creators seeking direct fan support.

Pricing: There is no monthly fixed cost. However, the platform does include monthly transaction fees from the user's total revenue, ranging from 5% to 12%, depending on the plan.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use platform
• Offers mobile apps
• Creators can sell merchandise

Cons:

• Limited engagement tools
• High transaction fees
• Inflexible pricing options
• Lack of customer support

8. MemberPress

Renowned for its robustness and seamless integration with WordPress plugins, MemberPress empowers creators to curate and manage membership sites, online courses, and subscription-based content effortlessly.

MemberPress' most notable features encompass content protection, enabling restriction of access to specific pages, posts, categories, or lessons, alongside drip content scheduling for gradual release. With its ReadyLaunch™ Page Maker, creators can craft compelling pricing pages using reusable Gutenberg blocks without delving into coding intricacies. 

Moreover, the platform facilitates subscription management, seamlessly handling recurring memberships and subscriptions without the need for additional plugins. Supported by secure payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net, it ensures hassle-free payment processing, while its integrated email automation system streamlines member communication through automatic reminders and notifications. 

Pricing: Their Basic plan is currently $179.50 a year with no monthly or transaction fees.

Pros: 

• Easy-to-use platform
• Content Protection 
• No transaction fees
• Great customer support

Cons:

• Heavily integrated with WordPress
• Some basic features are only available as add-ons
• Might need technical support for plugin issues

Build Your Membership Platform With Fourthwall! 

Fourthwall is a membership platform that offers creators endless possibilities when it comes to creating and monetizing their content.

With Fourthwall, creators can create multiple membership tiers with variable pricing and access levels, control which content is accessible to different membership tiers, and offer exclusive content for higher tiers.

The platform also allows creators to schedule content releases over time, keeping members engaged and coming back for more. With no monthly membership costs, Fourthwall is ideal for creators looking for an all-in-one solution for monetizing their content.