MemberDash offers four distinct membership types that control how content is accessed and who can see it. You’ll encounter these options during the onboarding process or when creating a new membership via MemberDash > Memberships > Add New. Each membership type serves a specific purpose and can help you tailor the membership experience to your site’s needs.
Membership Types Overview
1. Standard Membership
The Standard Membership is the most commonly used option and can support:
- Recurring Payments: Subscription-based access.
- One-Time Payment for Permanent Access: Lifetime access.
- One-Time Payment for Finite Access: Membership for a limited time (e.g., 30 days).
- One-Time Payment for Date-Limited Access: Membership valid between specific calendar dates.
- Free Membership: No payment required.
Use case: Ideal for providing immediate, full access to protected content.
2. Dripped Content Membership
The Dripped Content Membership allows you to release content gradually over time at intervals you define.
- Commonly paired with Recurring Payments to keep users subscribed as new content becomes available.
- Useful for online courses, membership sites with tiered content delivery, or structured learning paths.
Use case: Perfect for subscription-based learning or phased content releases.
3. Guest Membership
The Guest Membership is automatically available on all MemberDash sites and there can only be one.
- It controls content visibility for site visitors who are not logged in.
- Useful for:
- Previewing content
- Displaying special offers
- Encouraging users to sign up for paid memberships
Use case: Target and engage anonymous visitors.
4. Default Membership
The Default Membership is designed for logged-in users who do not have any active paid memberships. Like the Guest Membership, each site can only have one Default Membership.
- Helpful for sites using:
- LearnDash
- WooCommerce
- GiveWP
These platforms may create WordPress users who have not yet purchased a membership.
- Content protected by the Default Membership Protection Rule is visible only to:
- Logged-in users without any active paid memberships.
Use case: Show starter content or introductory offers to free users without exposing premium member content.
Conclusion
Choosing the right membership type is key to creating a strategic membership experience that supports your needs. Whether you want to offer instant access, timed content delivery, guest previews, or special content for unpaid users, MemberDash’s flexible membership types give you full control over who sees what, and when.
