Comparison
Far LMS vs MemberPress: honest comparison
MemberPress is a membership plugin with a course builder. Far LMS is an LMS first. This page explains which one fits which kind of business.
In short: MemberPress is a paid WordPress membership plugin with a built-in course builder, sold from $399 a year, and its Launch plan charges a 4.9% fee per payment. Far LMS is an LMS plugin with a free version, subscriptions from the Basic plan and no commission on your sales.
At a glance
| Feature | Far LMS | MemberPress |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes: unlimited sites, one-time Stripe sales, no time limit | No free version listed on its pricing page |
| Price per year (checked November 2026) | Free €0; Basic €290; Pro €590 (founder’s price €390); Agency €1,190. Or monthly: €35, €69, €139 | Launch $399, Growth $699, Scale $999 (list prices) |
| Sites per license | Basic and Pro: 1 site; Agency: up to 10 (Free: unlimited) | Not stated on the pricing page; unlimited members in every plan |
| Subscriptions and memberships | Yes, from Basic | Memberships are its core purpose; see its pricing page |
| Quizzes and certificates | Yes, from Basic (quizzes, assignments, certificates) | Quizzes, assignments, certificates and drip from the Growth plan |
| Payment gateways | Stripe (Payment Links or Checkout) | Launch: Stripe only. Growth: Stripe, PayPal, Square, offline. Scale also lists Authorize.net |
| Commission or fee charged by the vendor | None. Stripe’s own fees apply | Launch: 4.9% per payment; Growth and Scale: 0%. Gateway fees also apply |
| Built-in email marketing and CRM | Yes, in Pro (contacts, campaigns, automations, landing pages) | Not listed on its pricing page |
| Refund guarantee | 30 days | 14 days |
Where MemberPress is stronger
MemberPress is a membership product first, and its pricing page lists unlimited members in every plan. If your main goal is to restrict content, run paid memberships and add some courses, it is a natural fit.
It also offers more payment options on higher plans: Stripe, PayPal, Square and offline payments on Growth, plus Authorize.net on Scale.
MemberPress also appeals to site owners who want one tool for memberships, content restriction and courses. Far LMS is narrower: it is for selling and delivering courses, and it does not try to replace a general membership plugin.
- More gateways than Far LMS, which works only with Stripe.
- Memberships for any kind of content, not only courses.
- Unlimited members on every plan.
- A well-known product with a long track record in WordPress membership sites.
Where Far LMS is stronger
Far LMS is designed around courses: modules, lessons, a virtual classroom, student dashboard and progress. It has a free version, so you can launch before paying anything, and its pricing has no per-payment fee on any plan.
On MemberPress, the cheapest plan charges 4.9% on every successful payment, and the fee disappears only if you upgrade to Growth. With Far LMS, 0% commission applies from the free version up.
The free version of Far LMS includes the virtual classroom with its video player, student dashboard, protected materials, lesson search, resource-library mode and white-label design. Quizzes, drip content and certificates start in Basic, and the CRM and the sales funnel start in Pro. The features page shows the plan of every feature, so you can check it before you install anything.
- Free version with one-time Stripe sales and no time limit.
- No commission on any plan.
- Paid plans start at €290 a year (or €35 a month), against $399 a year for MemberPress Launch.
- Pro adds a CRM, email campaigns, landing pages, a sales funnel and retention tools.
Price and licensing
MemberPress lists Launch at $399, Growth at $699 and Scale at $999 a year (list prices; a discount was running when we checked in November 2026). Launch is limited to Stripe, has no quizzes or assignments, and charges 4.9% per payment. Far LMS lists Basic at €290 a year (or €35 a month), Pro at €590 (€69 a month; founder’s price €390 a year) and Agency at €1,190 (€139 a month), excluding VAT.
MemberPress’s refund window is 14 days; Far LMS’s is 30 days.
Far LMS prices exclude VAT. Check the final amount at checkout, and compare plans on the basis of the features you will really use rather than the entry price alone.
Who should choose which
- Choose MemberPress if you sell memberships to many kinds of content, need PayPal or Square, or want a plugin built for membership sites.
- Choose Far LMS if you teach courses, sell with Stripe and want to start free, with no commission.
- Not sure? Read about selling subscriptions on WordPress or see the Far LMS features.
Frequently asked questions
Is MemberPress an LMS?
It is a membership plugin that includes a course builder, MemberPress Courses. Far LMS is built as an LMS from the start.
Does MemberPress charge a transaction fee?
Its pricing page states a 4.9% fee per successful payment on the Launch plan and 0% on Growth and Scale, in addition to payment processor fees.
Does Far LMS charge a transaction fee?
No. There is no commission on any plan, including the free version. You pay Stripe’s fees.
Is there a free version of MemberPress?
Its pricing page does not list one. Far LMS has a free version with no time limit.
Can I import my MemberPress students into Far LMS?
Far LMS can import students from other membership plugins so they keep their access. Contact us before migrating and we will check your case.
Sources (checked 14 November 2026)
Competitor facts come from the official pages below. Prices are in US dollars, exclude taxes and change often, so check the vendor’s pricing page before you decide. Far LMS facts come from this website.
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