LearnDash vs MemberPress: Which One Should You Pick?
If you are comparing LearnDash vs MemberPress, the best choice depends on your primary goal.
LearnDash is ideal if you want a dedicated learning management system for creating and selling structured courses with quizzes, progress tracking, and certifications.
MemberPress is best if you want to run a membership site with controlled content access, recurring subscriptions, and community features. Both are powerful WordPress plugins, but each serves a different core purpose.
This guide compares ease of use, features, customization, integrations, pricing, and support to help you decide with confidence.
LearnDash Overview
LearnDash is a premium WordPress plugin that transforms your website into a complete LMS (Learning Management System). It is used by universities, training companies, and course creators who want full control over course design and delivery.
Key highlights:
- Advanced course structure with lessons, topics, and quizzes
- Drip-feed content scheduling
- Certificates and gamification options
- Student progress tracking and reporting
- Payment integrations with PayPal, Stripe, and WooCommerce
LearnDash focuses on education-first functionality, making it a great fit for training programs, coaching platforms, and professional certification courses.
MemberPress Overview
MemberPress is a leading WordPress membership plugin designed for managing paid access to content, products, or services. It is flexible enough to support memberships, gated resources, and digital product subscriptions.
Key highlights:
- Unlimited membership levels
- Powerful access rules for content control
- Built-in subscription management and billing
- Integration with email marketing tools
- Coupon and discount creation
While MemberPress can deliver courses using add-ons or integrations, it is primarily optimized for recurring memberships and content protection.
Ease of Use
Here’s how LearnDash vs MemberPress compares in terms of setup and usability:
| Aspect | LearnDash | MemberPress |
| Setup time | Longer due to course structure setup | Faster, simple membership configuration |
| Learning curve | Moderate to high | Low to moderate |
| Interface design | Feature-rich, course-focused | Streamlined for membership management |
| Best for beginners | No (requires some WordPress experience) | Yes (simple setup process) |
Summary: MemberPress is quicker to launch, but LearnDash’s interface is purpose-built for educators and worth the learning curve if you are course-focused.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LearnDash | MemberPress |
| Course creation tools | Yes, advanced LMS features | Basic with add-ons |
| Quiz builder | Yes, multiple question types | No native support |
| Certificates and badges | Yes | No native support |
| Membership levels | Limited (via integrations) | Unlimited |
| Content dripping | Yes | Yes |
| Payment gateway support | PayPal, Stripe, WooCommerce | PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net |
| Reporting and analytics | Detailed learner tracking | Membership analytics |
| Email marketing integrations | Yes | Yes |
Summary: LearnDash wins for e-learning features, while MemberPress excels in membership flexibility and access control.
Course Customization Options
LearnDash:
- Full control over lesson layouts with page builders like Elementor or Gutenberg
- Custom certificates and badges for branding
- Advanced quiz customization and scoring logic
MemberPress:
- Personalized member dashboards
- Custom access messages for restricted content
- Integration with community tools for tailored experiences
Additional Features and Integrations
Both plugins integrate with third-party tools, but their focus differs:
| Integration Type | LearnDash | MemberPress |
| LMS add-ons | Extensive | Limited |
| WooCommerce integration | Yes | Yes |
| Email marketing | Yes | Yes |
| CRM automation | Via Zapier | Via Zapier |
| Community/forum tools | Via BuddyBoss, bbPress | Via bbPress, BuddyPress |
Plans and Pricing
| Plugin | Starting Price (per year) | Sites Allowed | Core Features Included |
| LearnDash | $199 | 1 site | Full LMS tools, quizzes, certificates |
| MemberPress | $179 | 1 site | Membership management, subscriptions |
Note: Prices are subject to change, and higher tiers allow more sites and advanced features.
Support and Documentation
LearnDash: Offers a detailed knowledge base, video guides, and responsive ticket support. Known for strong documentation tailored to educators.
MemberPress: Provides in-depth articles, tutorials, and email-based support. Has an active user community and frequent product updates.
LearnDash vs MemberPress: Which Should You Choose?
- Choose LearnDash if your main product is structured courses with lessons, quizzes, and certifications.
- Choose MemberPress if you want a membership site with flexible access control and recurring subscriptions.
- Consider using both if you need professional course delivery alongside advanced membership management.
For most course creators, LearnDash delivers a more complete learning experience. For content-based memberships, MemberPress is the simpler, faster option.
You can also have a look at the comparison between LearnDash vs Moddle here.
