MembershipWorks

Overview

MembershipWorks is a web-based membership system for organizations that want member records, payments, events and member-facing services together. It is a strong fit for groups that need more than dues collection, but its account-based price tiers can make growth costly.

Its central advantage is range: administrators can manage members while offering content, events, directories and other services through a member portal. The trade-off is that pricing is tied to account ceilings, and accounts are needed for sign-in, billing, profiles, transaction history and members-only access.

Key features

Custom fields, member-data search, labels and folders help administrators organize records and email selected groups. The Member Timeline gathers notes, payment history, donations, events, renewals and event registration or attendance, giving staff a consolidated view of member activity.

For members, the system includes restricted content, directories, event calendars and registration, donations, shopping carts, web forms, job boards, announcement boards and classified ads. That breadth suits associations and clubs that provide multiple services; a group seeking only recurring billing may find much of the package unnecessary.

MembershipWorks connects with WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Duda, no-code website systems and other HTML5 sites. Stripe, PayPal and Authorize.net handle single payments and automatic renewals. Xero, QuickBooks desktop and online, and MailChimp are also supported. Organizations syncing multiple MailChimp lists need Premium MailChimp, which costs $9/month.

The maker describes triple data replication, daily backups, layered security, firewalls and administrator access controls. Its terms say customer data is not sold, though it may be shared with service providers for functions such as payments and mailing-list synchronization. One-on-one support and training are included, with service hours Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. US Central Time.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and supports up to 50 accounts. Because accounts are required for several core member functions, that cap is consequential: it is best for a small group, not a larger organization trying to keep staff seats low. There is no free trial, but new accounts have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Paid plans are billed monthly: Up to 300 accounts costs $35 a month; Up to 600 costs $59 a month; Up to 1,200 costs $95 a month; Up to 2,500 costs $145 a month; Up to 5,000 costs $205 a month; and Up to 10,000 costs $259 a month. Choose by the number of accounts the organization needs, not just its current paying membership, since sign-in, profiles and content access also require accounts. The listed member limit is 300 members, so organizations should confirm how that limit applies to their intended account count before committing to a higher tier.

MembershipWorks supports card payments, automated dunning and self-service renewals, useful for organizations managing recurring dues. The pricing model is freemium, with no annual billing term stated for these plans.

Platforms

MembershipWorks runs on the web and integrates with a range of website builders and HTML5 sites, making it relevant to groups that already have a website. Its payment connections support both single transactions and automatic membership renewals.

Who it's for

MembershipWorks is best for associations, clubs and other membership groups that need records, renewals, events and member-facing resources in one system, especially if they will use several of its website tools. Small organizations can start with the 50-account free tier, while larger groups can move to monthly account bands. It is less compelling for organizations that need only billing or whose account needs exceed the stated 300-member limit.

Pros and cons

• Broad membership toolkit: Alongside member management and payments, it covers events, content, directories, donations and classified listings.
• Useful activity record: The Member Timeline brings payment and participation history together with notes and renewals.
• Many site and payment integrations: It can work with several website platforms and supports three named payment providers for renewals and one-off charges.
• Account cap affects the free option: Fifty accounts may be too restrictive when members need sign-in, profiles or protected content.
• Costs scale by account band: Monthly pricing rises from $35 a month at 300 accounts to $259 a month at 10,000.
• No trial: Prospective customers must rely on the 30-day money-back guarantee rather than testing a free trial.

Alternatives

Raklet is worth considering for groups that want mobile apps and a free plan allowing 100 contacts, one admin seat and 1,250 free emails per month; its Essentials plan costs $59 a month.

PushPress may suit organizations looking for Android, iOS and web access with unlimited leads, admins, members and staff on its free plan; that plan charges transaction fees of 4.99% + .30 CC and 2.89% + .30 ACH.

CiviCRM is an alternative for web-based organizations seeking unlimited users and up to 5,000 contacts on its Starter plan at $15 a month.

ChamberMaster is another paid web-based option.

GrowthZone may fit groups that prioritize unlimited members and contacts, with up to two users and 5,000 emails per month on its Starter plan; that plan has custom pricing.

WildApricot is a paid alternative with a free trial and a 100-contact plan at $66 a month.

Fonteva is another paid option for web, iOS and Android.

membermojo offers a free plan and free trial; its 100-member plan costs £50 a year, inclusive of VAT.

Explore more options in Membership Management Software and Membership Billing Software.

Verdict

MembershipWorks is a sensible choice for membership groups that will use its combination of member records, renewals, events and member-facing tools. Its breadth and included support are the main reasons to choose it; the account-based monthly tiers, 50-account free cap and stated 300-member limit are reasons to look elsewhere or confirm fit before scaling.