In my 15 years as a WordPress expert, I‘ve seen membership sites grow enormously in popularity.
And for good reason…
Done right, a membership site allows you to monetize your expertise or content while building lasting relationships with a community of loyal followers.
But with the membrship site space more crowded than ever in 2024, how do you ensure your offering stands out?
One of the best ways is to learn from sites already crushing it.
In this article, I‘ll showcase 18 of today‘s top membership examples, along with key takeaways you can apply to your own membrship strategy.
Let‘s dive in!
Contents
Current Membership Site Statistics
To start, let‘s look at a few statistics that underscore the explosion of membership sites:
- There are over 50,000 sites using WordPress membership plugins alone.
- Total worldwide spending on memberships is projected to reach $87.5 billion by 2025, up from just $13.5 billion in 2020.
- Membership site retention averages 80%, showing members are largely satisfied.
- Top membership sites boast over 1 million paying members.
- The membership model generates 50% higher customer lifetime value (LTV) compared to non-subscriptions.
These numbers signal loud and clear that membership is driving massive value for both site owners and members.
Now let‘s explore 18 stellar examples that help explain this growth.
1. MasterClass
MasterClass partners with celebrities and industry experts to provide online video courses to its members. Courses cover topics like cooking, business, writing, sports, and more. Members gain access to high-quality, engaging educational content.
Key Takeaways:
- Recruit big names and niche experts to create exclusive content
- Produce high-quality video lessons
- Offer courses across diverse interest areas
As of 2022, MasterClass offers over 175 video courses across a wide range of topics. And they leverage big names like Gordon Ramsay, Shonda Rhimes, and Neil deGrasse Tyson to attract members. This winning formula has earned MasterClass over 100 million memberships sold to date.
2. Patreon
Patreon allows creators to offer exclusive benefits and perks to paying members. Creators can offer early access to content, exclusive posts and videos, discounts on merchandise, and more. Members feel connected and invested in their favorite creators.
Key Takeaways:
- Tiered membership levels with different benefits
- Let members get exclusive access and content
- Build direct relationships between creators and fans
Patreon now serves over 200,000 creators who offer perks to over 8 million members. Top Patreon creators make over $100,000 per month thanks to loyal fans. The personal connections and VIP benefits members get make this a standout membership example.
3. Scribd
Scribd operates as a digital library, with members gaining access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, documents, and more. The large catalog appeals to diverse readers. Members can enjoy unlimited reading from anywhere.
Key Takeaways:
- Aggregate content from different sources into one library
- Appeal to readers by offering unlimited, on-demand access
- Provide a mix of formats like ebooks, audiobooks, and documents
As the "Netflix for books," Scribd grants unlimited access to over 1 million titles across genres, plus 60 million documents. With pricing starting at just $11.99 a month, this is an affordable way for bookworms to access a treasure trove of content.
4. Dropbox
Dropbox offers cloud storage as well as features like shared folders, document scanning, and file syncing. Members gain secure access to their files from any device. Higher tiers include more storage space and advanced features.
Key Takeaways:
- Offer core free features to hook users
- Provide paid upgrades like more storage and capabilities
- Enable easy access to files across devices
Dropbox allows both free and paid memberships. But over 700 million users see enough value to pay for premium features like:
- Up to 5TB of secure cloud storage
- File version history and unlimited undo
- Advanced sharing controls and permissions
- E-signing and document tracking
With seamless file access and collaboration, it‘s no wonder Dropbox boasts 15 million paying members.
5. The New York Times
The New York Times allows members full digital access to news articles. Members can browse unlimited content without hitting paywalls. Different tiers include extras like customized news feeds, crossword puzzles, and recipe recommendations.
Key Takeaways:
- Eliminate paywalls andUnlock full access to content
- Personalize the experience throughtools like customized feeds
- Produce high-quality journalism that readers value
The New York Times offers unrestricted access to over 150 years of journalism through its digital membership. Subscribers get ad-free reading and can save and share articles easily. These perks help explain the Times‘ 7 million paying members.
6. Medium
Writers on Medium can offer paid subscriptions, with exclusive member-only content. Readers support writers directly through affordable plans. Writers build intimate relationships with engaged subscribers.
Key Takeaways:
- Let individual creators monetize their own content
- Foster direct creator-to-reader transactions and relationships
- Keep pricing affordable for wider access
Medium boasts over 100 million monthly readers. And writers can offer exclusive articles to subscribers starting at just $5 a month. This reasonable pricing helps writers find paying audiences. Top creators earn up to $100k a month in recurring income.
Skillshare enables members to take online classes in creative fields like design, photography, writing, technology and more. Classes help members develop real-world skills. Premium membership provides unlimited access.
Key Takeaways:
- Offer educational contentcentered around useful skills
- Provide flexibility with self-paced online classes
- Give members the ability to take unlimited classes
With over 38,000 classes across diverse creative skills, Skillshare empowers members to learn at their own pace. For $19 a month, members enjoy:
- Unlimited access to all courses and workshops
- Premium classes from industry experts
- Offline viewing on mobile
- Watch history and progress tracking
8. Calm
Calm focuses on mental fitness, with meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music. Members can reduce anxiety, sleep better, and practice mindfulness. The content library continues growing.
Key Takeaways:
- Address specific needs like better sleep, less stress, and mindfulness
- Expand content offerings to keep users engaged
- Provide audio content people can integrate into daily life
Calm packs its library with over 100 exclusive meditation and sleep programs to reduce stress and improve mental fitness. Features like Daily Calm and Sleep Stories reach 100 million downloads, showing Calm‘s effective formula.
9. Duolingo
Duolingo helps members learn new languages with fun, engaging lessons and exercises. Members set goals and track progress. Paid tiers remove ads and unlock advanced features like offline access.
Key Takeaways:
- Make learning fun and rewarding through gamification
- Cater to diverse learning styles using different exercises
- Enable practice and progress tracking
Duolingo exhibits masterful gamification, encouraging consistent learning through rewards and competitions. The app sees 40 million monthly users across its 38 language courses. Popular paid features include:
- Unlimited hearts for more guesses
- Ability to download lessons for offline access
- Ad-free experience
- Priority support
10. Pocket
Pocket lets members save articles, videos, and more for later access. Content syncs across devices. Premium features include full-text search, unlimited highlights, and permanent library access.
Key Takeaways:
- Solve pain points like article overload and cluttered bookmarks
- Sync saved content seamlessly across devices
- Offer premium features like full-text search and unlimited storage
Pocket‘s seamless saving and syncing capabilities create a personalized content hub for over 30 million registered users. Premium members unlock:
- Search across millions of words from saved content
- Unlimited highlights and annotations
- A permanent library that never expires
For avid readers and researchers, Pocket Premium drives tremendous value.
11. Float
Float focuses on sensory deprivation therapy, with members gaining access to premium floatation pool facilities. Locations provide a unique experience. Memberships include free floats and discounts.
Key Takeaways:
- Offer exclusive access to specialized facilities and experiences
- Provide tiered memberships with differentiated perks and discounts
- Focus on health, recovery and wellness benefits
Float operates over 70 float spa centers globally, providing members unique sensory deprivation experiences unavailable elsewhere. Membership plans include:
- $49 for 1 float per month
- $199 for 4 floats per month
- Additional family member discounts
With special facilities and tiered plans, Float provides a one-of-a-kind membership journey.
12. Ancestry
Ancestry allows members to research genealogy through records, family trees, DNA testing, and more. Members can build family history profiles going back generations. Discounts apply on premium records access.
Key Takeaways:
- Leverage data, records, and DNA to power insights into family history and genealogy
- Enable members to collaboratively build out family trees
- Provide access to premium records and data with membership
Ancestry houses an unrivaled collection of over 30 billion historical records, making it the top resource for uncovering family history. Membership includes:
- Access to 4 billion historical records
- 10% discount on premium record collections
- Expert support for research
With over 3 million paying members, Ancestry shows the value of specialized, data-driven memberships.
13. Envato Elements
Creative professionals can access stock content like photos, graphics, video, audio and more through Envato Elements. Downloads are unlimited. New files get added daily. Members have assets readily available for projects.
Key Takeaways:
- Cater to creatives by providing unlimited stock assets
- Continuously add fresh content to the library
- Offer diverse assets like photos, graphics, video, audio and templates
Envato Elements provides unlimited downloads across a stock library with over 2 million assets. The library sees thousands of new files added weekly across formats like:
- Photos: 1 million+
- Graphics: 500,000+
- Video: 500+ with weekly updates
- Audio: 500,000+ tracks
For creatives, this ever-growing treasure trove drives tremendous ongoing value.
14. Costco
Big box retailer Costco offers members-only warehouse pricing on appliances, groceries, electronics and more. Perks include discounts on gasoline, pharmacy drugs, travel bookings, auto purchases and insurance offerings.
Key Takeaways:
- Provide discounted prices not available to general public
- Layer on additional member benefits like travel deals and photo printing
- Offer business/executive upgrades with additonal rewards
A Costco membership unlocks exclusive perks like:
- 2-30% discounts on popular items from produce to appliances
- Low rx pricing at the Costco pharmacy
- 4% average savings on eligible travel purchases
- Cheap gas at Costco pumps
With over 111 million members globally, Costco remains a top example of discount-driven membership.
15. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime gives members perks like free, fast shipping along with services like Prime Video and Amazon Music. Members get seamless access to Amazon‘s ecosystem of products and media.
Key Takeaways:
- Layer exclusive deals on an already popular ecommerce platform
- Integrate digital media offerings into membership
- Provide convenience through fast, free shipping
Prime unlocks the full potential of Amazon for over 200 million members through perks like:
- Free 1-2 day shipping on over 100 million items
- Unlimited streaming of movies, TV, and music
- Exclusive deals and discounts for members
- Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos
Bundling free shipping with media offerings proves an enticing combo.
16. Headspace
Headspace focuses on mindfulness and meditation, with original video and audio content. Members reduce stress and increase focus. Content caters to beginners and experts alike.
Key Takeaways:
- Curate stellar mindfulness and meditation content
- Appeal to diverse needs with content for beginners and veterans
- Produce original, high-quality audio and video
Headspace packs its platform with meditations, sleepcasts, mindful exercises and more, offering new content daily. Features like guided programs and SOS meditations reach over 100 million members.
17. Udemy
Online learning platform Udemy offers over 100,000 courses taught by real-world experts. Premium membership grants unlimited course access so members can expand skillsets.
Key Takeaways:
- Provide breadth and depth of courses across topics and skill levels
- Enable experts to share knowledge through teaching courses
- Offer flexibility and unlimited access to encourage learning
With 183,000 courses in 75 languages, Udemy lives up to its promise of open access to learning. Premium members enjoy:
- Unlimited access to all course content
- Learning pathology with courses tailored to skill level
- Ability to download courses for offline access
- 20% discount on any course purchases
For lifelong learners, the breadth of content is the big draw.
18. Dollar Shave Club
Dollar Shave Club delivers razors and other personal care products on a recurring schedule. Members get customized product recommendations. Subscriptions come with discounts versus one-time purchases.
Key Takeaways:
- Offer convenience through subscription-based delivery
- Provide personalized recommendations to tailor the experience
- Lower pricing compared to one-off purchases
Dollar Shave Club makes daily routines more convenient for over 3 million members. Membership perks include:
- Customizable subscriptions delivered to your door
- 15-20% retail savings on grooming products
- Members-only sales like $5 Starter Sets + shipping
The recurring convenience, savings, and customization help explain the appeal.
Key Takeaways for Your Own Membership Site
The most successful membership sites solve problems, connect users to exclusive or high-quality content, provide community, and offer discounts and perks that incentivize loyal memberships.
As you build your own membership offering, draw inspiration from those already thriving. Focus on delivering outstanding value to paying members through exclusivity and engagement.
Consider how you can borrow elements from the examples above, like:
- Curating specialized, high-demand content
- Offering tiered membership levels with increasing benefits
- Building an engaged community for members
- Providing tools or services that enhance lifestyles
With insights from today‘s top sites, you‘re that much closer to launching a thriving membership of your own.
