Membership Site Ideas

Membership sites offer an incredible opportunity to create a sustainable business and curate a community of like-minded people online. Online trends are shaping a future where intimate, curated communities with specific focuses become the norm. Here is an overview of what membership sites are, a brief explanation of different pricing models, and some spotlight site ideas for 2025. 

What is a Membership? 

Membership sites offer a unique kind of online business that specifically focuses on curating a community of engaged members. They often use paid or freemium models to find committed members, who then use that community to achieve their personal goals. For web developers and entrepreneurs looking to develop these kinds of communities, developing a deep understanding of what role it might play in the lives of its members is crucial. 

Broadly, membership sites can fall into a few categories: 

1. Content Access: gating access to materials or content. 
2. Platform Access: gating access to services or software. 
3. Community/Social Access: gating access to interactions with other community members. 

For each of these categories, the role of the membership is to create clear boundaries around people engaging with your website. Often, memberships are tiered, with Free accounts introducing people to your website, and others with paid memberships offering higher levels of access – typically called a “Freemium” model.

When designing a membership site, it is important to consider the flow of users between these different tiers. Free tiers should entice people to become more engaged members, whether that means upgrading their memberships or engaging more with the community. 

Memberships vs Subscriptions

While the term “membership” and “subscription” are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction you must consider when designing your website. For the sake of this article, “subscriptions” will refer to sites that provide access to materials, while “memberships” imply a more interactive kind of relationship. In other words, subscriptions allow you to view content, while memberships give you access to more complex kinds of interactions. 

For example, a website that allows users to pay money to view articles would be considered a subscription site. However, if users are instead allowed to save articles, request topics, and engage with other readers, that would more fall into the category of a “membership” site. Some of the biggest subscription sites are websites like Netflix or new websites, which are predominantly organized around providing users with one-way content 

Of course, these categories are fluid, and many modern subscription sites (such as the New York Times or Netflix) have many interactive features. The core difference is the degree to which users can influence the kinds of content they are seeing. 

Membership Pricing Strategies 

When it comes to figuring out how much to charge for your membership, there are a few main paths to consider. The aim should be to get people in the door and to make sure they see enough value to want to upgrade their membership. One common strategy is to offer different levels – such as "basic," "premium," and "deluxe." This lets you grab people at different price points, and then to encourage them to upgrade later by demonstrating the appeal of more expensive options. Everyone should get something, but the "best" is where you make the most money and give the most value.

Alternatively, a freemium model provides a basic, no-cost entry point to attract a wider audience, subsequently converting a segment to paid premium memberships. Value-based pricing, in contrast, directly links membership cost to the demonstrable benefits and unique advantages members receive. The trick here is to make the free stuff valuable enough to attract people, but not so good that they never feel the need to upgrade. Because of the strong focus on community, the goal of deeper engagement should always be more access to an already-desirable platform – not basic functionality.  

Examples of Membership Sites

Here are some of the best examples of membership sites you can build in 2025. 

Courses

Online courses are one of the most popular kinds of membership sites. The offer is usually fairly simple: become a member of my community and I’ll impart some knowledge on you that would otherwise be challenging to find. The landscape of online course communities is constantly changing, often following larger trends going on in the market. In most cases, marketing online courses to potential customers is a game of identifying what people are interested in, and providing sufficient social proof that you are qualified to teach it.

Typically, online course sites use a “Freemium” model, offering a certain amount of introductory content for free, and then gating more in-depth or advanced content behind a paywall. The membership component often unlocks access to a structured curriculum, downloadable resources, and sometimes even access to a community forum or group where students can interact with each other and the instructor. The best online course sites are able to combine high-quality educational content with a supportive and engaging community, creating a valuable learning experience for their members.

Spotlight Example: Flux Academy 

Why does it work? 

Flux Academy excels both in its specificity and broadness. They’ve identified a large and pressing niche: web development – and offer a wide range of courses through which those skills can be acquired. There is a specific focus on “Student Stories”, the reflections of your peers which will likely help you navigate the learning process. The focus on mentorship also serves to differentiate the site from other faceless online learning courses. In all, this course succeeds by offering more than just some modules to click through. 

Marketplaces

Marketplaces are one of the most enduring types of online communities – particularly niched down marketplaces that pair products with a community around buying and selling that merchandise. The membership aspect of these kinds of sites centers around connecting otherwise disparate market participants in an interface that makes finding what you are looking for easy. The goal should not be to replace generalist marketplaces like Amazon or Alibaba. Find a niche and own it. 

Membership in marketplaces can take many forms, but often revolves around access to either buyers or sellers within that specific niche. For sellers, membership might unlock premium listing features, access to a wider pool of buyers, or marketing and promotional opportunities. For buyers, membership could provide early access to new products, exclusive deals, or a more curated shopping experience. Here is an article describing how to best set up these kinds of marketplaces (with or without a template). 

Spotlight Example: LoveCrafts 

Why does it work? 

LoveCrafts is an incredible example of a niche-specific marketplace and community. On its surface, it is a place where craft people can buy things like yarn and needlepoint. However, after some digging, you start to see its larger emphasis on creating a community of crafty people for whom the nexus of their interest in that activity is LoveCrafts. For example, there are places for people to sell their patterns, show off crafts that they’ve made, and make friends with people who have similar interests. This is what a marketplace-community should be: a place to make purchases, friends, and income. 

Educational communities

If online courses are the pre-packaged snack of online learning, educational communities are the four-course meal. The key difference between these two types of membership sites comes in the integration of their “students” with an ongoing, reciprocal community. The goals of these are to connect co-learners in a platform that is easy to use and which adds to the overall learning experience.

Membership in educational communities often extends beyond just access to course materials. It can include live workshops, Q&A sessions with instructors, access to study groups, and career resources. Furthermore, these communities frequently foster a sense of belonging and peer support that is often missing in more traditional online learning environments. By creating a space for lifelong learning, collaboration, and networking, educational communities aim to provide a more holistic and enriching educational experience for their members. 

Spotlight Example: Superpath

Why does it work? 

This is a great example of an educational community because of how it frames itself: it is not a course, but rather a “supportive, inclusive community”. That framing is key to these kinds of sites. The goal should be to create a space where likeminded (professionally or otherwise) people can learn and grow together. The specific emphasis on networking opportunities drives this point home. 

Blogs 

Blogs have always been around, and they are likely to increase in popularity in the coming years. The concept is fairly simple – building a community around an author or a community of authors who are focused on a single topic or niche. These authors then publish content for that audience, gated through the membership, and offer room for feedback, comments, and further engagement. There exist platforms for publishing written content (such as Substack), but self-hosting blogs can give you more control over how your content looks.  

The membership aspect of blogs often revolves around access to exclusive content, such as in-depth articles, behind-the-scenes insights, or early access to new publications. Beyond content, membership can also unlock community features like private forums, live chats with authors, or even the ability to contribute content themselves. For readers, membership in a blog can represent a deeper engagement with a topic they are passionate about, and a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and the authors they admire.

Spotlight Example: Stratechery 

Why does it work? 

This blog from Ben Thompson is a particularly good example of a self-hosted blog which leans heavily into the community aspects of itself. For example, the Stratechery Plus features prominently on the homepage, providing access to previews of content that his audience is probably interested in. That is the key to a good blog community – understanding your audience (real or potential) and creating content that specifically speaks to them. 

Niche Communities 

A more general kind of membership community might be described as a “niche community”. These are generally created by purveyors of a specific skill or interests in service of others with that same interest. These can function as forums where people of that background can communicate with each other – although more commonly they incorporate aspects of the other kinds of membership sites we’ve described like job boards or courses. The goal of any kind of niche community site should be to function as the premier gathering point for anyone interested in its respective focus. 

Membership in niche communities is often about gaining access to a curated group of individuals who share a specific interest or expertise. This access can unlock opportunities for networking, collaboration, and learning from peers. Furthermore, many niche communities offer exclusive resources, events, or tools that are tailored to the specific needs of their members. By becoming the go-to place for a particular niche, these communities can provide immense value to their members and create a strong sense of belonging.

Spotlight Example: Indie Hackers 

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Why does it work? 

Anyone who has spent some time in the world of solopreneurship or “indie hacking”  probably has heard of Indie Hackers. In terms of curating a niche community, their strength has been in putting borders around what might have otherwise been a disparate group of people starting businesses online. Looking at their homepage today, it offers a full-service community platform, integrating a forum with a newsfeed, newsletter, leaderboard, and more. It is a masterclass in creating a highly-performant niche community online. 

Job Boards

Job boards are a particularly helpful and particularly challenging type of membership site to start. The reality is that hiring is an extremely challenging task for any company. Creating job boards which can integrate seamlessly with the places where jobs are commonly hosted can be a major challenge. However, if you can build an audience of people who are interested in jobs within a certain field – and a commensurate audience of companies looking to hire people into roles in those fields – there is an incredible opportunity to build a highly-performant (and lucrative) business. 

Membership in job boards can be valuable for both job seekers and employers, although the membership models can differ significantly. For job seekers, premium membership might offer features like enhanced profile visibility, priority application status, or access to exclusive job postings. For employers, membership often provides access to a larger pool of qualified candidates, advanced search and filtering tools, and employer branding opportunities. The most effective job board memberships are those that genuinely simplify and improve the hiring process for both sides of the market, creating a win-win scenario. If you’re looking for a starting point for a job board site, check out this template. 

Spotlight Example: Remote.co

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Why does it work? 

Remote.co is a great example of a job board that listened to market trends and responded accordingly. With the explosive growth in remote work after 2020, it positioned itself as possessing a unique catalog of jobs – remote jobs. It created a community around remote work, offering lists of companies, content, and resources. All together, it was able to leverage the community that would naturally form around searching for these jobs into creating something sustainable and helpful as well. 

Micro-SaaS/Tools

It is hard to say exactly what constitutes a SaaS company nowadays. Perhaps the winner of the digital technology race in the 2010s, SaaS has come to define the way that most of us interact with the internet. Within the world of SaaS, you are more likely to encounter B2B SaaS, meaning that the audience of the tool is usually businesses who are more capable of paying large sums of money for access to it. In many cases, SaaS products are a repackaging and redesign of existing API connections, presented in a new and more-desirable way. A good B2B SaaS founder needs to understand with extreme clarity the changes taking place in whatever industry they are trying to build for. 

The kinds of SaaS companies that offer memberships are often those that have a tiered pricing structure, with different membership levels unlocking access to varying features, usage limits, or support. Membership in a SaaS tool can provide access to essential functionalities for businesses of different sizes and needs, scaling as their requirements grow. Furthermore, SaaS memberships often include ongoing updates, maintenance, and customer support, making them a more cost-effective and convenient alternative to traditional software ownership.

H4: Spotlight Example: Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Why does it work? 

Kit (formerly known as ConvertKit) is one of the great success stories of the micro-SaaS world. It niched down early, found a product and a market for that product, and was able to scale it to nearly $40M ARR in 2023. The thing that made this business so successful was its hyper-focus on a specific audience: creators who need email marketing. By owning that very specific niche, it was able to become the predominant provider of that service. 

Consulting/Coaching

Consulting/coaching is often a more one-sided and individualized kind of online business – although integrating community-centric aspects can be an incredible way to drive interest into your services. Coaches and consultants often sit down with people or businesses and walk them through challenges they face. They often operate through tools like Zoom or Notion and require some kind of collaborative back-and-forth through which challenges can be solved. 

Membership for coaches or consultants often comes in the form of access to the coach or consultant themselves – whether through group coaching calls, Q&A sessions, or even one-on-one time. In other cases, membership might provide access to a library of resources, templates, or tools that complement the coaching or consulting services. The goal here is to create a deeper, ongoing relationship with clients and to provide additional value beyond the core service offering.

Spotlight Example: Marie Forleo’s B-School

Why does it work? 

For coaches or consultants, one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal is scarcity. Limited spots and waitlists are an amazing way to stir up interest in you as a coach – and a good way to implicitly provide social proof about what you do. In this particular case, this coaching business aims to make use of and grow the personal brand of its founder (Marie Forleo), and to develop a community of students around it. 

Events & Workshops 

Communities organized around events and workshops are also becoming an increasingly popular kind of membership site. These can be particularly impactful in a world that is increasingly digitally native. While many events and workshops are one-off affairs, building a membership around a series of events or workshops can create a more sustainable and engaged community. This is particularly true for events and workshops that are focused on a specific niche or industry.

The membership aspect of events and workshops often comes down to preferential access and pricing. Members might get discounted tickets, early bird access, or even exclusive events that are not available to the general public. For organizers, membership can provide a predictable revenue stream and a dedicated audience to build events and workshops around.

Spotlight Example: CreativeMornings 

Why does it work? 

CreativeMornings makes clear its intentions: face-to-face community. It is plastered in its homepage subtitle, and “Find Your City” is directly next to the logo. This emphasis on the fact that these are not online events is a great way to build legitimacy around why membership in this community will be unique and constructive. 

Mastermind/Peer Growth Groups 

Mastermind and peer growth groups are a more intimate and often higher-ticket kind of membership site. These groups are typically focused on bringing together a small cohort of individuals who are at a similar stage in their career or business and who are looking to support each other’s growth. The value proposition here is the power of peer-to-peer learning and accountability within a curated and supportive environment.

Membership in these groups by nature should revolve around some application and selection process. Once you find a group of “spiritually-aligned” members, it often revolves around regular meetings – whether weekly or monthly – facilitated discussions, and access to a network of like-minded individuals. They can be incredibly powerful for personal and professional development, providing a space for members to share challenges, celebrate wins, and hold each other accountable to their goals.

Spotlight Example: Dynamite Circle

Why does it work? 

With most sites like this, there needs to be a bit of myth-making, a bit of FOMO, and a lot of inspirational content. This site does all of these things exceptionally well, bolstering the “lifestyle” aspect of their community, and emphasizing the fact that membership is application-only. In all, what Dynamite Circle does is invite people to want to be a part of something impressive and aspirational. 

Tools for Membership Sites 

As you are building these membership sites, tooling can be a huge asset in accelerating the speed at which sites can go up. Here are some of our favorite membership-specific SaaS tools to help you get started as quickly as possible. 

Memberstack 

Of course, we will start here: Memberstack is a really powerful tool if you want to add memberships to a Webflow or Wordpress website. It handles all the tricky membership stuff for you, like user logins, payments, and gated content, without needing to write any code yourself. This makes it great for creators and businesses who want a professional membership system without the complexity of development.

Kajabi 

Kajabi is an all-in-one platform specifically designed for creators who want to sell online courses, memberships, and coaching programs. It includes tools for building your website, creating and hosting your content, marketing your membership, processing payments, and engaging with your members. Kajabi is a good choice if you want a platform that handles almost every aspect of your membership business in one place, especially if your focus is on selling educational content.

Discourse 

For boosting member engagement and community, consider Discourse. It is modern forum software that creates a thriving hub for your members to connect. Discourse integrates well with other websites and can easily become the heart of your member experience. Its rich features foster discussions, knowledge sharing, and a sense of belonging, dramatically improving retention and the perceived value of your membership, especially for sites focused on community interaction. Here’s how to integrate it with Webflow. 

The Future of Memberships 

The future of memberships is being shaped by an interesting tension surfacing within the digital landscape. On one hand, we see the relentless march of automation and AI, promising to personalize and optimize online experiences at scale. This can lead to vast, algorithmically driven communities that are efficient and seemingly tailored, yet often lack genuine human connection. As more of our digital interactions become mediated by AI, a subtle but significant shift is occurring: people are starting to crave something more authentic and human in their online communities.

This craving for genuine connection is driving a powerful trend towards smaller, more intimate membership models. Members are drawn to spaces where they feel truly seen and heard, where conversations are more personal, and where the sense of belonging is rooted in real human relationships, not just AI recommendations. In a digital world increasingly populated by bots and automated content, the future of the internet may move towards more intimate, intentionally curated communities.