Memberful vs. Join It
A smarter alternative to Memberful
Memberful is built for creators selling paid content, such as newsletters, podcasts and paywalled posts, from $49 a month. Join It is all-in-one membership software for clubs, associations and nonprofits: payments, automated renewals, member emails, event registration and Wallet cards, from $29 a month.
Clean, modern interface
Transparent pricing
Integrates with the tools you already use
Here’s what happens when Memberful users switch to Join It
Built to support your workflow, not replace it
Join It offers all the essential membership tools, without forcing you into a closed ecosystem.
Member Timeline
Track key actions across each member’s lifecycle (no CRM degree required).
Useful Integrations
Join It integrates directly with the tools associations use most, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, QuickBooks, plus thousands more through Zapier on every plan.
Custom Checkout Options
Add optional donations, create flexible membership types, and set up one‑time or recurring payments.
Quick, Easy Setup
Get started in minutes. Everything’s self-serve, with fast support if you need help.
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Feature by feature, here’s how it compares
From ease of configuration to total cost of ownership, see why Join It is the smarter, leaner choice.
Join It
Use with your existing website
Join It
Alternative
Custom membership types
Join It
Alternative
Multiple admin access
Join It
Alternative
Custom fields on member profiles
Join It
Alternative
Digital membership cards
Join It
Alternative
Automated renewal emails
Join It
Alternative
Member activity timeline
Join It
Alternative
Event management
Join It
Alternative
Public and private directories
Join It
Alternative
Mailchimp and Zapier integration
Join It
Alternative
Transparent pricing
Join It
Alternative
No onboarding fees
Join It
Alternative
Fast, human support
Join It
Alternative
What sets Join It apart
Membership-first simplicity
Join It
Clean, intuitive, no hidden layers.
Memberful
Rich features, but at a high ongoing cost.
Retain more revenue
Join It
Platform fee from 1.5% to 3%, lower than Memberful's 4.9%
Memberful
You pay 4.9% plus Stripe fees—eating into profits
Digital cards included by default
Join It
QR-enabled cards—free and built-in.
Memberful
You pay 4.9% plus Stripe fees—eating into profits
Integrations ready to go
Join It
Plug-and-play with essential tools.
Memberful
Setup required via settings or API.
How Memberful & Join It are alike
Both unlock gated content, recurring billing, coupon codes, and trials.
Both unlock gated content, recurring billing, coupon codes, and trials.
Both offer dashboards, payment processing, email management, and analytics.
Both offer dashboards, payment processing, email management, and analytics.
Both serve creators—but only Join It offers that experience without long-term cost leakage.
Both serve creators—but only Join It offers that experience without long-term cost leakage.
Join It vs Memberful pricing
Join It
Starting at
$29
/mo
Transparent, all-inclusive pricing
Platform fee from 1.5% to 3%, lower than Memberful's 4.9%
Includes digital cards, integrations, and core features
30-day free trial—no card required
Starting at
$49
/mo
/yr
Transaction fee of 4.9% applies on all sales
Includes unlimited members, coupon codes, API access, referrals, analytics, and custom branding
Requires Stripe, with additional processing fees that can add up
What is the best Memberful alternative for organizations, clubs, and associations?
Join It is a strong Memberful alternative for organizations that need to manage members, dues, renewals, events, and member records rather than sell creator subscriptions or paid content.
How does Join It compare to Memberful for non-creator membership programs?
Memberful is built around creator monetization and content access, while Join It is built around managing an organization’s members and member lifecycle.
Can I migrate from Memberful to Join It?
Yes. Organizations can move from Memberful to Join It by exporting member or subscriber data and importing it into Join It’s member database, with bulk import included for free on every Join It plan.
Real people. Exceptional support.
Clubs, associations and nonprofits in 40+ countries run their membership on Join It — and tell us about it in public.
“We have tripled our membership since using Join It. All our records are in one place, while automated emails, renewals, payments and receipts save us so much time.”
“I now know of only 2 membership management companies — Join It and others. I'm normally reserved on reviews but this one deserves more than my normal polite comments. Exceptional experience.”
“Join It has rescued us from WildApricot. This company understands the modern world. They integrate with the best technologies. And they excel in service, knowing that's the best way to serve their bottom line.”
Try Join It and see the difference
No pressure. No credit card. Just modern membership software that works the way you do.
Memberful vs Join It: how to choose
The short answer: Memberful, part of Patreon, suits creators and publishers selling newsletters, podcasts and paywalled content. Join It suits clubs, associations and nonprofits whose members join for belonging and benefits. As of October 2026, Memberful's Standard plan costs $49 a month plus a 4.9% transaction fee. Join It suits small teams that want membership, renewals and payments running within days. Event registration and targeted member emails are built in, and direct integrations with tools like Mailchimp and QuickBooks add more when you need it. Plans are published, start from $29 a month, and come with a 30-day free trial.
What is Memberful built for?
Memberful started in 2013 and was acquired by Patreon in 2018. It serves podcasters, writers, independent newsrooms and other creators who want to sell memberships on their own site rather than on a third-party platform. Its strengths are paid newsletters, private podcast feeds, a WordPress plugin for paywalled content, and integrations with email tools such as Mailchimp, Kit and ActiveCampaign. Community features come through Discord or Discourse.
How much does Memberful cost?
As of October 2026, Memberful's Standard plan costs $49 a month plus a 4.9% transaction fee on every payment, with Stripe's processing fees on top. Members are unlimited and you can cancel at any time.
Join It's platform fee is lower on every plan. Plans start at $29 a month on Starter (3% platform fee). Total, at $99 a month (2%), adds digital membership cards, member check-in, a member directory and API access, and Extra, at $199 a month (1.5%), adds custom domains and a dedicated account manager. Plans are month to month, Stripe's processing fees apply, and there are no setup fees. Annual billing saves 10%, and nonprofits get an additional 10% off. See full pricing.
Is Memberful cheaper than Join It?
No. Memberful costs $49 a month plus a 4.9% fee on every payment, on top of Stripe's processing fees. Join It starts at $29 a month, and its platform fee of 1.5% to 3% is lower than Memberful's on every plan.
When is Join It the better choice?
Join It is the better choice for clubs, associations and nonprofits that need events, membership cards, a member directory and lower transaction fees than Memberful's 4.9%.
- You're a club, association or nonprofit, and your members join for belonging and benefits rather than content.
- Your members meet in person. On the Total plan and above, members carry a branded card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet that shows live status, and staff can check them in with any phone camera. Memberful doesn't offer membership cards natively.
- You run events. Join It has event registration built in, so registrations sit alongside your member records. Memberful has no event tools.
- You want a member directory, which Memberful doesn't offer.
- You want lower fees on what you collect: 1.5% to 3% on Join It, against 4.9% on Memberful.
- You use QuickBooks, HubSpot or Salesforce. Memberful's integrations center on email tools such as Mailchimp, Kit and ActiveCampaign. Join It sends targeted member emails itself and integrates directly with the tools associations use most, such as QuickBooks, HubSpot and Salesforce, plus thousands more through Zapier on every plan.
When Memberful may be the better fit
Memberful may be a better fit than Join It if you sell paid newsletters, podcasts or articles, if you want to charge for individual articles or a paywall on a WordPress site, or if you're a creator or publisher rather than a member organization.
Can I switch from Memberful to Join It without members re-entering card details?
Yes, if your members already pay through your own Stripe account: Memberful runs on your own Stripe account, so Join It's team can bring your members' existing Stripe subscriptions across and they won't need to re-enter their card details. Start a Join It free trial, set up your membership types and renewal emails, and Join It's team can import your members for you on any plan.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Are members paying for content, or for belonging to our organization?
- Do members need a card for events, venues or partner discounts?
- How much will we pay in fees on a typical year of dues?
Join It is trusted by more than 4,000 membership organizations in 40 countries and has processed over $100 million in membership payments since 2016.
Comparing other options? See all Join It alternatives and comparisons.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026. Memberful pricing and product details are taken from memberful.com and may change. Check their current pricing before making a decision.
