The membership business model is booming, with popular membership platforms offering coaches, creators, and educators a choice of powerful tools to build their own engaged communities and generate recurring revenue. However, with so many membership site platforms vying for your attention, choosing the right one can be confusing, and even overwhelming.
In this post I will look at ten of the most popular membership platforms, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision of which one to choose for your own membership program.
Popular Membership Platforms* (2024): Cultivating Your Online Community
• Circle:
Circle stands out for its focus on building online communities. It offers features like group discussions, live events, and member profiles, fostering deeper connections within your membership.
Strengths: Strong community features, mobile-friendly interface, built-in analytics.
Weaknesses: Limited content delivery options compared to some competitors, pricing might be steeper for basic features.
• Kajabi:
Kajabi, one of the top popular membership programs, is a comprehensive platform that caters to course creators and membership site owners alike. It offers robust features for content delivery, marketing automation, and sales funnels.
Strengths: All-in-one solution for online courses and memberships, powerful email marketing tools, sales funnel builder.
Weaknesses: Pricing can be a barrier for entry, some users find the interface complex.
• Kartra:
Kartra positions itself as an all-in-one marketing platform that includes membership site functionality. It offers features for email marketing, landing page creation, and video hosting.
Strengths: Comprehensive marketing suite, video hosting included, built-in helpdesk.
Weaknesses: Membership features may not be as advanced as dedicated platforms, learning curve for beginners.
• MemberVault:
MemberVault is a user-friendly platform specifically designed for membership sites. It offers features for content dripping, access control, and email marketing.
Strengths: Straightforward interface, affordable pricing, focus on content security.
Weaknesses: Limited marketing and sales features compared to all-in-one platforms, may lack advanced customization options.
• Mighty Networks:
When it comes to popular membership platforms, Mighty Networks emphasizes community building, making it ideal for creating online courses with a strong social learning component. It features built-in group discussions, forums, and event management tools.
Strengths: Excellent community features, mobile app options, discussion forums.
Weaknesses: Limited content delivery options beyond video and text, pricing scales based on member count.
• New Zenler:
New Zenler is a relative newcomer, offering a sleek and user-friendly platform specifically designed for creators. It focuses on email marketing and subscriber management, with basic membership site functionality.
Strengths: Simple and intuitive interface, affordable pricing, strong email marketing tools.
Weaknesses: Limited membership features compared to dedicated platforms, new platform with less established track record.
• Podia:
Podia offers a user-friendly platform ideal for selling online courses, digital downloads, and memberships. It provides features for content delivery, email marketing, and coupons.
Strengths: Affordable pricing, good balance of features for courses and memberships, easy-to-use interface.
Weaknesses: Limited customization options, marketing automation features may feel basic.
• Thinkific:
Thinkific is a popular membership platform well-suited for course creators who want to include membership features. It offers features for creating and selling online courses, drip content delivery, and member communities.
Strengths: Easy-to-use course creation tools, drag-and-drop interface, affordable pricing for basic plans.
Weaknesses: Community features might feel basic compared to dedicated platforms, limited customization options for membership sites.
• Squarespace:
Squarespace, known for its website building tools, now offers basic membership site functionality. It integrates seamlessly with existing Squarespace websites and allows for content dripping and access control.
Strengths: Integrates well with existing Squarespace sites, user-friendly interface familiar to Squarespace users.
Weaknesses: Limited membership features compared to dedicated platforms, not ideal for complex membership structures.
• Seachie:
Seachie focuses on creating branded membership communities for coaches and consultants. It features tools for live streams, group coaching calls, and member onboarding sequences, making it one of the most popular membership platforms for coaches, guides, and mentors.
Strengths: Strong features for coaching and consulting businesses, engagement tools for member interaction, built-in video conferencing.
Weaknesses: Limited content delivery options beyond video, may not be suitable for non-coaching membership models.
Honorable Mentions:
• Memberful: Offers a membership plugin for WordPress websites, ideal for those already comfortable with WordPress.
• Patreon: Popular platform for creators to receive recurring support from fans, well-suited for creative content like music or podcasts.
• Uscreen: Video-centric platform with integrated membership functionality, ideal for selling video-based courses or memberships.
Choosing the Right Platform:
Selecting the best membership site platform from such a large array of popular membership platforms depends on your specific needs and priorities. Consider the following factors:
Your Content Format: Do you primarily offer video courses, written content, or a combination of formats? Choose a platform that supports your preferred content delivery methods.
Community Building Focus: How important is fostering a strong member community? Platforms like Circle or Mighty Networks excel in this area.
Marketing and Sales Tools: Do you need robust email marketing functionalities or sales funnel builders? Kajabi or Kartra might be better suited for you.
Technical Expertise: Consider your comfort level with technology. Popular membership platforms like MemberVault or Podia offer user-friendly interfaces, while others might require more technical know-how.
Budget: Membership site platforms offer varying pricing structures. Determine your budget and choose a platform that aligns with your financial resources.
The Ultimate Choice Is Yours
The ideal membership site platform empowers you to build a thriving online community and share your valuable content effectively. By carefully evaluating your needs and exploring the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, you can make an informed decision that sets your membership program on the path to success. Do not hesitate to take advantage of free trials offered by many platforms to get a hands-on feel before making a commitment.
Beyond the Top 10:
The array of available popular membership platforms is constantly evolving. New players are emerging, and existing platforms are adding features and functionalities. Stay informed by following industry blogs and publications to discover platforms that might be a perfect fit for your unique needs.
Remember, the key is to choose a popular membership platform that grows with you and empowers you to deliver exceptional value to your members.
Got questions about a popular membership platform choice? Feel free to reach out to Steve. CLICK HERE.
Need a membership site? Ultimate Virtual Solutions can handle it. CLICK HERE.
Ask your favorite search engine to see how many results for "membership site platforms" there are. CLICK HERE.
* The popular membership platforms discussed in this post are listed alphabetically, and are not ranked in any specific order.
Discover more from Stephen B. Henry
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.