MembershipWorks vs. Join It
A smarter alternative to MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks is a membership system with a hosted WordPress website, directory and events, and no free trial. Join It is all-in-one membership software: automated renewals, member emails, event registration, and Apple and Google Wallet cards with QR check-in, which MembershipWorks doesn’t offer. Try it free for 30 days, no card needed.
Clean, modern interface
Transparent pricing
Integrates with the tools you already use
Here’s what happens when MembershipWorks 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
Transparent pricing
Join It
Alternative
No onboarding fees
Join It
Alternative
Fast, human support
Join It
Alternative
What sets Join It apart
Perfectly focused membership UX
Join It
Tailored, intuitive, and uncluttered.
MembershipWorks
Mighty—but may overwhelm smaller teams with breadth.
One flat rate, always
Join It
No surprises; all features included.
MembershipWorks
Pricing scales with member count, complex to estimate.
Membership cards built-in
Join It
Digital cards included from the start.
MembershipWorks
Has directories—but not modern mobile card tools.
Integrations that just work
Join It
Instant connections without templates or plugins.
MembershipWorks
CMS integration setup, with paid add-ons (Mailchimp Premium).
How MembershipWorks & Join It are alike
Both offer directories, event tools, communications, billing, and CRM features.
Both offer directories, event tools, communications, billing, and CRM features.
Both support admin controls and member self-service.
Both support admin controls and member self-service.
Both serve associations, chambers, and nonprofits effectively.
Both serve associations, chambers, and nonprofits effectively.
Join It vs MembershipWorks pricing
Join It
Starting at
$29
/mo
Plans from $29/month, month to month
Digital membership cards, integrations, timeline—all built-in
30-day free trial—no card required
Starting for
Free(up to 50 members)
/mo
/yr
Paid tiers scale from $35/month (300 members) to $259/month for up to 10,000 accounts
All features included across plans
Costs increase as member counts grow, adding complexity for larger organizations
What is the best MembershipWorks alternative for organizations that need membership operations, not just website tools?
Join It is a strong MembershipWorks alternative for organizations that want a dedicated membership platform for records, dues, renewals, events, and member engagement.
How does Join It compare to MembershipWorks for directories and member records?
MembershipWorks has strong website and directory-style use cases, while Join It is focused on the full member record and the workflows around it.
Can I migrate from MembershipWorks to Join It?
Yes. Organizations can move from MembershipWorks to Join It by exporting member 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.
MembershipWorks vs Join It
The short answer: MembershipWorks costs less per month and takes no fee on payments. Join It is the simpler all-in-one: you can try it with your own members before you pay, renewals and recurring payments run themselves, and members carry their membership card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. MembershipWorks has no free trial, only a refund after you pay. Join It plans start at $29 a month, month to month, with a 30-day free trial and no credit card.
Is Join It an all-in-one platform?
Yes Join It is an all-in-one platform. Here's what's built in: your member database, online joining, recurring payments, automated renewals, member emails and event registration, along with a member portal, a searchable directory, and Apple and Google Wallet cards with QR check-in (on Total and above). Integrations with tools like Mailchimp, Eventbrite, QuickBooks, HubSpot and Salesforce are included on every plan, for when you want them, not because you need them to get the basics working.
MembershipWorks gives you a list of features. Join It gives you a membership that runs itself.
What MembershipWorks' page gets wrong about Join It
MembershipWorks publishes a page comparing itself with Join It. Some of it is out of date or leaves things out:
- "One admin seat at the lowest price." Join It's Starter plan includes three admin seats. Total includes five and Extra includes ten.
- "Losing up to 5.9%" on every purchase. That figure is Join It's Starter plan (3%) plus Stripe's processing fee. The platform fee is 2% on Total and 1.5% on Extra. What MembershipWorks doesn't mention: you can't try MembershipWorks before you pay.
- Integrations: "Eventbrite, Emma, MailChimp, Hubspot, Quickbooks." That's a fraction of the list. Join It also connects to Salesforce, Stripe, Google Sheets, Google Analytics, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix and more, plus thousands of apps through Zapier, all on every plan.
Why choose Join It over MembershipWorks?
- You can try it before you pay. MembershipWorks has no free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee after you've paid. Join It has a 30-day free trial with no credit card, so you can set up your real membership types and renewal emails and import your members first.
- Members carry their card on their phone. MembershipWorks doesn't offer Apple Wallet or Google Wallet cards. Its own round-up of alternatives recommends Join It if you want a digital membership card with a QR code for check-ins. On the Total plan and above, members get a branded card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet that updates when their status changes, and staff can check members in anywhere, at events or partner venues, by scanning with any phone camera.
- Renewals run themselves. Recurring payments and renewal reminders are automatic, so nobody has to chase members or send renewal emails by hand.
- Your tools are connected. MembershipWorks sells its premium Mailchimp sync as a paid add-on. Join It integrates directly with the tools organizations use most on every plan, so your member list, email, events and accounts stay in step.
- Events built in. Join It has built-in event registration. Registrations sit alongside your member records, so there's no second list to manage.
Why do organizations move away from MembershipWorks?
These are the reasons organizations give us, and the themes that come up in MembershipWorks reviews:
- Too much manual work. Organizations tell us that segmenting members, running chapters and sending renewal emails took too much hands-on admin.
- Tools that don't talk to each other. Organizations tell us they were running MembershipWorks, Stripe, Mailchimp and their other tools separately.
- No Wallet cards or QR check-in, which organizations increasingly want at events and partner venues.
What is Join It's support like?
You talk to people who know membership. Join It scores 4.9 for customer service on Capterra, and support is the thing Join It reviewers mention most. Join It's team will also import your members for you on any plan, including during your free trial.
How does MembershipWorks’ pricing compare with Join It?
MembershipWorks charges by the number of accounts in your database, with paid plans from $35 a month, and takes no platform fee on payments. Join It starts at $29 a month, month to month, with a platform fee of 1.5% to 3% depending on your plan.
Join It’s pricing includes:
- A 30-day free trial with no credit card. MembershipWorks doesn’t offer a free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee once you’ve paid.
- Membership cards in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. On Total and above, members carry a branded card that shows their live status, and staff can check them in at the door by scanning it with any phone camera. MembershipWorks doesn’t offer Wallet cards.
- Automated recurring payments and renewal reminders, so members renew on time without anyone chasing them.
- Integrations on every plan, with no paid add-ons. Join It connects directly with Mailchimp, QuickBooks, HubSpot and Salesforce, plus thousands more apps through Zapier. MembershipWorks charges $9 a month for its premium Mailchimp integration.
- Free member import. Join It’s team will import your members for you on any plan, even during your free trial.
Annual billing saves 10%, and nonprofits get an additional 10% off. See full pricing.
Does MembershipWorks offer a free trial?
No. MembershipWorks offers a 30-day money-back guarantee instead, so you pay first and ask for a refund if it doesn't work out. Join It offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card. Bulk import is free on all plans, and Join It's team can do the import for you on any plan, even during your free trial.
Who is MembershipWorks for?
MembershipWorks does more if you want:
- A hosted website built into your membership system.
- A public directory, such as a business directory with maps and location search.
- Classifieds, a job board or a shopping cart in the same system.
If you want membership that runs itself, with cards in members' phones, choose Join It.
Can I switch from MembershipWorks to Join It without members re-entering card details?
Yes, if your members already pay through your own Stripe account: Join It's team can bring their existing Stripe subscriptions across, so they won't need to re-enter their card details. MembershipWorks has no long-term contract, so you can switch whenever you're ready. To switch without disrupting renewals:
- Export your data from MembershipWorks: members, membership levels and renewal dates. Bulk import is free on all Join It plans, and Join It's team can do the import for you on any plan, even during your free trial.
- Rebuild your membership levels and renewal emails in Join It during your free trial.
- Plan how members will set up payments. If you use PayPal or Authorize.net, members will set up card payments with Stripe when they next renew, so time the move before your main renewal period.
- Update the join and renew links on your website.
- Tell your members what's changing, and introduce their new digital membership card.
Questions to ask any membership software vendor
- What will we pay each month at our current size, and at twice our size?
- Can we try it with our own data before we pay?
- Could a volunteer or new board member run it without training?
- Do renewals and recurring payments run automatically?
- How will members prove their membership at events and partner venues?
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 14, 2026. MembershipWorks pricing and product details are taken from membershipworks.com and may change. Check their current pricing before making a decision.
