Choosing the right membership site builder is crucial. Whether you’re an educator, entrepreneur, or content creator, the platform you select will influence your site’s design, functionality, and success. In this article, we’ll compare the best membership site builders on the market, focusing on their features, pricing, and more.
What to Consider When Choosing a Membership Site Builder
Before we dive into the comparison, it’s important to understand the key features that should guide your decision:
- Ease of Use: How intuitive is the platform for beginners?
- Customization: Can you tailor the site to fit your brand and needs?
- Content Delivery: How does the platform handle content management and delivery?
- Payment and Subscription Management: What options are available for managing payments and subscriptions?
- Member Management: How easy is it to manage your members and their data?
- Scalability: Will the platform grow with your business?
- Integrations: Does the platform integrate with your existing tools and services?
If you want to read how different features might align with different business needs, explore How to Choose the Best Membership Site Platform for Your Business
Top Membership Site Builders Compared
Let’s explore and compare some of the leading membership site builders, examining their key features, pricing, and who they’re best suited for.
1. Product Builder
Creating and managing digital products is at the heart of many membership sites. Here’s how each platform handles product building:
| Platform | Ease of Use | Product Variety | Customization Options | Templates Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlitly | Easy, intuitive | Courses, Memberships, Digital Products | High, with flexible options | Yes, with drag-and-drop |
| MemberPress | Moderate, WordPress-based | Digital Products, Courses | Limited by WordPress themes | Limited, plugin-dependent |
| Kajabi | Easy, all-in-one | Courses, Podcasts, Webinars | Moderate, brand-focused | Yes, branded templates |
| Teachable | Very Easy, educator-focused | Courses, Workshops | Limited to course format | Yes, course-specific |
| Thinkific | Easy, education-focused | Courses, Memberships | Moderate, education-oriented | Yes, course and membership-focused |
2. Funnels
Sales funnels are critical for converting visitors into paying members. Here’s a comparison of the funnel-building capabilities:
| Platform | Ease of Funnel Creation | Number of Steps | Conversion Tools | Customization Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlitly | Simple, mostly automated | Unlimited, pages, & upsells | Extensive, with emails & analytics | High, supports multiple formats |
| MemberPress | Requires plugins | Depends on plugins | Basic, plugin-based | Limited, WordPress dependent |
| Kajabi | Integrated, easy-to-use | Multiple pre-built funnels | Extensive, includes email marketing | Moderate, brand-focused |
| Teachable | Basic, not core feature | Limited | Basic, focused on upsells | Limited to course selling |
| Thinkific | Moderate, requires setup | Flexible, but requires integration | Basic, upsell focused | Moderate, supports additional tools |
3. Site Builder
A strong site builder is essential for creating a professional-looking membership site. Here’s how the platforms compare:
| Platform | Ease of Use | Design Flexibility | Templates Available | Mobile Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlitly | Very Easy, intuitive | High, with customizable templates | Yes, drag-and-drop | Yes, fully optimized |
| MemberPress | Moderate, WordPress-based | Depends on theme | Limited by WordPress themes | Requires theme optimization |
| Kajabi | Easy, all-in-one | Moderate, brand-focused | Yes, branded Themes | Yes, mobile-first approach |
| Teachable | Easy, course-focused | Limited, education-oriented | Yes, course-specific | Yes, optimized for courses |
| Thinkific | Easy, education-focused | Moderate, education-oriented | Yes, course and membership-focused | Yes, but requires some customization |
4. Email Automation
Email automation is crucial for nurturing leads and engaging with members. Here’s how the platforms stack up:
| Platform | Email Marketing Tools | Automation Capabilities | Segmentation | Integration with Other Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlitly | Built-in | Advanced, with drip | Yes, detailed segmentation | Integrates with major tools like Mailchimp |
| MemberPress | Basic, requires plugins | Limited, plugin-dependent | Yes, with plugin support | Requires third-party tools |
| Kajabi | Integrated, robust | Advanced, with comprehensive triggers | Yes, detailed segmentation | Yes, built-in and third-party |
| Teachable | Basic, focused on students | Limited, course-driven | Basic, limited to courses | Requires third-party integrations |
| Thinkific | Basic, education-focused | Moderate, tied to course actions | Yes, student-focused | Integrates with popular email tools |
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is a critical factor when choosing a membership site builder. Here’s how the platforms compare:
| Platform | Starting Price | Free Trial | Premium Features | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlitly | $29/month | Yes, 14-day | All-in-one features | High, cost-effective |
| MemberPress | $179/year | No | Requires plugins for full features | Moderate, plugin-dependent |
| Kajabi | $149/month | Yes, 14-day | Full-featured, including marketing | Moderate, comprehensive but costly |
| Teachable | $39/month | Yes, 14-day | Focused on courses | Moderate, education-oriented |
| Thinkific | $39/month | Yes, 14-day | Flexible, with tiered plans | High, scalable for educators |
Which Membership Site Builder is Right for You?
Choosing the best membership site builder depends on your specific needs and goals. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- Choose Enlitly if you’re looking for an affordable, all-in-one solution with strong funnel and email automation features.
- Go with MemberPress if you’re a WordPress user seeking advanced customization through plugins.
- Opt for Kajabi if you want a platform that integrates content delivery with powerful marketing tools, including email automation.
- Select Teachable if you’re an educator focused on course delivery with basic funnel and email options.
- Pick Thinkific if you want to engage your students with interactive content and flexible site-building tools.
Explore a more detailed review of Top 5 Membership Site Builder for 2024: A Detailed Review
Conclusion
Selecting the best membership site builder is a critical decision that will impact the success of your online business. By comparing the key features, pricing, and specific needs of your business, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your goals. Whether you’re looking for a cost-effective all-in-one solution like Enlitly, or a more customizable option like MemberPress, this guide provides the insights you need to make the right decision.
Read our comprehensive resource for readers who want to dive deeper into everything about membership sites. – The ultimate guide to membership site platforms