Choosing the best membership software and tools
Building membership websites can be a breeze with the right software, or it can be a long-slog through membership plugins without it. In the fourth chapter of this guide, we look at the tools you can use to create a membership website, including all-in-one solutions, and the different features creators need to make the most of their membership programs.
Before we get into membership software recommendations , it’s important to understand that this is probably the LEAST important section of this guide.
There are plenty of tools out there, and if you follow the strategies and advice above, you’ll set yourself up for success with almost any tool.
So if you’re already using a tool that like, keep using it!
And if you’re not yet setup on a software platform, we suggest committing to picking one without getting analysis paralysis so that you can move on to growing your membership.
The guide below is designed to make your decision as easy as possible.
The best tools for building your membership depend on what features you need .
The good news is that creating a membership is MUCH easier than it used to be, and you don’t need to be tech-savvy to do it.
In the past, creators would need to wire up a whole series of apps and plugins to run their membership websites , like:
Content management systems
Content protection plugins (for password protection)
Web hosting platforms
Sales page generators
Email management tools
Shopping cart widgets
Subscription billing software
It was enough to make any creator break out in a nervous sweat.
Today, there’s a single platform that does all of this for you, with a simple, creator-friendly design that will make building your membership easy.
We know, because we built it 😏
Podia’s community platform makes it easy to:
Build an online community with custom topics
Create and publish your membership content
Keep in touch with your members with email marketing
Offer free and paid membership tiers and monthly/annual billing options
Bundle your other Podia products (like courses and digital downloads) with your membership
Schedule live events like webinars and group coaching sessions
We’re obviously biased, but our 150,000+ other creators aren't. Check out why they chose Podia and why you should, too .
Podia offers a free plan that includes a community.
For a deeper dive on the most popular community and membership platforms for creators, compare the platforms here or check out our community platform buyer's guide .