MemberMatters
MemberMatters is open-source membership, billing, payment, and access-control software for makerspaces and community groups.
What MemberMatters is
MemberMatters is open-source membership, billing, payment, and access-control software for makerspaces and community groups. Organizations run their own instance using Docker on Linux, with a mounted volume for the database and other data. Members can register, log in, maintain profiles, and manage recurring Stripe credit-card payments through self-service billing. Administrators can manually activate accounts for people without a Stripe subscription. Access tools include permission checks, swipe audit logs, and automatic swipe-card deactivation when payments are overdue. Its firmware supports ESP32 devices connected to RFID readers and outputs such as door strikes or tool interlocks. Listed integrations include Canvas or Moodle, Trello, SendGrid or Postmark, Twilio, and Discord; single sign-on supports OIDC and the Discourse protocol. The web application supports major browsers, mobile use, and dark mode. A site can build an Electron kiosk for sign-in and sign-out, but precompiled downloads are unavailable. Production deployments should use HTTPS behind a reverse proxy, and a valid Postmark API key is required for the software to function correctly. The repository uses the MIT license.
Good
- Member profiles and administration tools are included.
- Supports recurring Stripe payments and manual activation.
- Access controls include swipe audits and overdue-card deactivation.
- ESP32 firmware can connect to RFID readers and door hardware.
- Mobile use and dark mode are supported.
Watch out
- Organizations must host and maintain their own instance.
- A valid Postmark API key is required.
- Kiosk app binaries are not available to download.
- Production use should be behind HTTPS and a reverse proxy.
Who it suits
MemberMatters suits makerspaces and community groups that want to manage memberships, recurring billing, and physical access in an instance they host themselves. It may fit organizations using ESP32-based access hardware or the listed integrations.
Verdict
MemberMatters combines member management, billing, and access control for organizations prepared to self-host. Check the Postmark requirement and deployment guidance before choosing it.
The facts
Each one read from MemberMatters's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access control
- Its access control features include permission checks, swipe audit logs, and automatic swipe card deactivation for overdue payments.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Access hardware
- Its access control firmware supports ESP32 devices and can connect to RFID readers and outputs such as door strikes or tool interlocks.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The documentation says MemberMatters supports running in Docker on Linux and provides a Docker image to download.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Email requirement
- A valid Postmark API key is required for MemberMatters to function correctly, including signups and MemberBucks actions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Hosting model
- Organizations run their own instance using a Docker image and mount a volume for the database and other data.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project lists integrations with Stripe, Canvas or Moodle, Trello, SendGrid or Postmark, Twilio and Discord.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project lists makerspaces and community groups as its intended users and names several makerspaces that use or trial it.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository lists the project under the MIT license.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Member accounts
- It supports member registration, login and profiles, with an admin interface for managing the system.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Member management
- It includes member registration, login, profiles, and an admin interface for managing the system.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Messaging
- It integrates with SendGrid or Postmark for email and Twilio for SMS notifications.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Payments
- It supports recurring credit card membership payments through Stripe and self-service billing for members.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MemberMatters is an open source membership, billing, access control and payments solution for makerspaces and community groups.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- The deployment guide recommends putting the instance behind a reverse proxy and says production use should always use HTTPS.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report vulnerabilities privately by email and lists version 2.x as supported and version 1.x as unsupported.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security setup
- The documentation says production instances should run behind HTTPS and describes using a reverse proxy.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Single sign-on
- It provides single sign-on support for OIDC and the Discourse protocol.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README says the project focuses limited resources on features and bug fixes and invites users to open an issue with suggestions.checked 11 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser and mobile support
- The project says it supports major browsers, mobile use and dark mode.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Kiosk
- A kiosk mode can be built as an Electron app, but the project says it does not offer precompiled binaries for download.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Kiosk mode
- An Electron kiosk app can be built for site sign-in and sign-out, but the project says it does not offer precompiled binaries for download.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Brisbane, Australiachecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Membership billing
- It supports recurring credit card membership payments through Stripe, self-service billing, and manual account activation for members without a Stripe subscription.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Subscription billing
- recurringchecked 20 Sep 2026
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