Paid Memberships Pro requires a WordPress site. Follow these steps to set up your WordPress site and prepare it to install PMPro.

If you already have a WordPress site, you can skip to starting the Initial Setup process here. Paid Memberships Pro can be installed in your existing WordPress site.

Table of contents

WordPress.org: The Open Source Project

Before you start a WordPress site, it is important to understand the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com. While they share the same name, only WordPress.org is a fully-featured, open-source software project that gives you the freedom to create a membership site tailored to your needs.

WordPress.org, also known as “self-hosted WordPress,” is the software that powers over 40% of the web. With a self-hosted WordPress site, you get:

  • Unlimited Customization: Install plugins like Paid Memberships Pro, choose from thousands of themes, and fully control the design and functionality of your site.
  • Content Ownership: Your content is entirely yours—you are not subject to external platform limitations or terms.
  • Scalability: Whether you are just starting out or scaling a high traffic membership site, WordPress.org grows with you.
  • Monetization Freedom: You can monetize your site in any way you choose, from selling memberships to offering digital products.

We do not recommend WordPress.com. WordPress.com is a hosted service that restricts your ability to customize and monetize your site. The features you need for a membership site are only available on premium plans that are more expensive than our recommended hosts, while offering fewer features and lower performance.

WordPress.com’s limitations hinder your ability to scale and adapt as your site grows. You should start a self-hosted WordPress site and avoid WordPress.com entirely.

Step 1: Choose a Hosting Provider

Select a web hosting provider that supports WordPress. Most providers offer a one-click WordPress install to make setup simple. We recommend choosing a beginner-friendly host with built-in tools for domain setup, free backups, and that includes a dedicated SSL certificate.

If you do not know which host to choose, refer to our hosting compatibility guide to help you choose the best option for your membership site.

Some popular hosts that support Paid Memberships Pro include:

Step 2: Register a Domain Name

If you do not already have a domain name, you will need to purchase one.

While many hosting providers include a free domain with your hosting plan, you may be better off registering your domain name independent of your host.

  • Registering your domain independently means you’re not locked into your hosting provider. That means your domain remains under your control, even if you switch hosts.
  • Along with this, a specialized domain registrars often provide better tools for managing your domains and some registrars, like Namecheap, offer low-cost email hosting as well.

Be sure to register the domain name in your name. Do not let your agency or developer register it for you.

Once you’ve registered your domain, you can connect it to your hosting provider by updating your DNS settings. Most hosts provide step-by-step instructions for this process.

Step 3: Install WordPress

If you’ve chosen a host that’s built for running WordPress, your hosting provider will have a tool to install WordPress automatically.

If your host doesn’t pre-install WordPress for you, you can download WordPress from WordPress.org and install it manually. This is not an easy thing to do if you are new to creating websites and involves using SFTP and a basic knowledge of MySQL databases.

Step 4: Access the WordPress Admin

Once your host creates your site, you’ll receive login details to access your WordPress admin dashboard. Some hosts also offer a magic login link via your hosting account dashboard.

Here’s how to log in to your WordPress site using your admin credentials:

  1. Navigate to your website and add the following to the end of your domain: wp-login.php. For example, if you domain name is mustlovedogs.com, you can log in to the admin area by visiting mustlovedogs.com/wp-login.php
  2. Enter your admin account username or email address.
  3. Enter your admin account password.
  4. Click Log In.

You are now logged in to the admin area of your website.

The next step in creating your membership site is to complete the Paid Memberships Pro Initial Setup.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo