Wix Members Area Setup: Build Memberships, Pricing Plans, and Gated Content
Want to create a members-only section on your website? Looking for ways to sell subscriptions or gate your content? The Wix Members Area can help you do all this and more.
This guide shows you how to set up memberships on your Wix site. You will learn about pricing plans, content gating, and member management. By the end, you will know exactly how to build a thriving membership site.
What Is the Wix Members Area?
The Wix Members Area is a tool that lets visitors join your website as members. Once they join, they can:
- Log in to their own account
- Access special content
- View their subscriptions
- Manage their profile
- Track their purchases
Think of it as a VIP section of your website. Only members can get in.
A Members Area helps you build a community around your site. It creates a reason for people to come back again and again.
Why Use a Members Area?
Here are some great reasons to add a Members Area:
Build Community
Members feel like they belong. They connect with your brand and each other. This builds loyalty over time.
Create Recurring Revenue
Charge for memberships on a monthly or yearly basis. This gives you steady, predictable income.
Offer More Value
Give members something special. Exclusive content, early access, or member-only discounts make membership worthwhile.
Know Your Audience
Collect information about your members. Learn who they are and what they want. Use this to serve them better.
Protect Your Content
Keep your best content for members only. This makes it more valuable and gives people a reason to join.
Getting Started with Wix Members Area
Let us set up your Members Area step by step.
Step 1: Choose Your Wix Plan
First, pick the right plan for your needs:
- Light Plan ($17/month): Basic membership features
- Core Plan ($29/month): Needed for business apps like Bookings
- Business Plan ($39/month): Better for exclusive content and courses
- Business Elite ($159/month): Full features and unlimited storage
If you want to sell memberships, you need at least the Core plan.
Step 2: Add the Members Area App
To add the Members Area to your site:
- Go to your Wix dashboard
- Click "Add Apps"
- Search for "Members Area"
- Click "Add to Site"
The app installs on your website. You will see new options in your dashboard.
Step 3: Set Up Sign Up and Login
Choose how members will join your site:
- Email and password: Classic sign-up method
- Social login: Let people join with Google or Facebook
- Code verification: Send a code to verify new members
You can also decide if anyone can join or if you approve new members first.
Step 4: Customize the Members Area
Make the Members Area match your brand:
- Add your colors and fonts
- Upload your logo
- Write a welcome message
- Choose what members see on their profile
A polished look makes members feel confident in your site.
Setting Up Pricing Plans
Pricing Plans let you sell membership access. Here is how to create them.
Types of Pricing Plans
Wix offers three types of plans:
One-Time Payment Members pay once for lifetime or limited access. Good for:
- Course bundles
- Ebook access
- Lifetime memberships
Recurring Payment Members pay on a schedule (monthly, yearly, etc.). Good for:
- Monthly subscriptions
- Annual memberships
- Ongoing access to content
Free or Trial Plans No payment required. Good for:
- Free tier memberships
- Trial periods before paid plans
- Community building
How to Create a Pricing Plan
Go to your dashboard
Click "Pricing Plans"
Click "Create New Plan"
Fill in the details:
- Plan name
- Description
- Price
- Duration
- What is included
Save your plan
Your plan is now ready for members to purchase.
Pricing Plan Features
You can customize each plan with:
- Custom perks: List what members get
- Limited quantities: Cap how many can join
- Start and end dates: For seasonal offerings
- Cancellation rules: Let members cancel or not
Set up plans that work for your business model.
Content Gating: Making Pages Members-Only
Content gating means restricting who can see certain pages. Only members with the right plan can access them.
How to Gate Content
- Go to your site editor
- Select the page you want to restrict
- Click on page settings
- Find "Who can view this page"
- Choose "Members with a pricing plan"
- Select which plans can access it
Now only paying members can see that page.
What You Can Gate
You can restrict access to many things on your Wix site:
Website Pages Make any page members-only. Create exclusive:
- Tutorial pages
- Resource libraries
- Community pages
- Premium content areas
Blog Posts Gate your best blog content. Options include:
- Specific posts for members only
- Your entire blog for members only
- Some posts free, some members-only
Forum Categories If you have a Wix Forum, create private areas:
- VIP discussion boards
- Member-only Q&A sections
- Exclusive networking spaces
Video Content With Wix Video, you can:
- Create members-only video channels
- Restrict individual videos
- Build video course libraries
Events Give members special access to:
- Exclusive events
- Discounted tickets
- Early registration
Tiered Content Access
Create different levels of membership:
- Free members: Access to basic content
- Standard members: Access to more content
- Premium members: Access to everything
This encourages members to upgrade for more value.
Connecting Pricing Plans to Wix Services
Your pricing plans can work with other Wix apps.
Wix Bookings
Sell memberships that include services:
- Unlimited yoga classes per month
- 5 personal training sessions
- Priority booking for appointments
Members book services as part of their plan.
Wix Events
Offer member perks for events:
- Free entry to member events
- Discounts on event tickets
- Early access to registration
This adds value to your membership.
Wix Blog
Create exclusive blog content:
- Members-only articles
- Behind-the-scenes posts
- Expert tips and guides
Your best content stays for members.
Wix Video
Build video memberships:
- Online course access
- Workout video libraries
- Tutorial collections
Video content is very valuable to members.
Managing Your Members
Once you have members, you need to manage them well.
The Members Dashboard
Your dashboard shows:
- Total member count
- New sign-ups
- Active subscriptions
- Revenue from plans
Keep track of how your membership is doing.
Member Profiles
Each member has a profile with:
- Contact information
- Subscription status
- Purchase history
- Activity on your site
You can view and manage each member's account.
My Subscriptions Page
Members can see their own subscriptions:
- Which plans they have
- When plans expire or renew
- How to cancel if allowed
This self-service saves you time.
Communication with Members
Stay in touch with your members:
- Send welcome emails to new members
- Remind members before renewal
- Alert members about new content
- Share exclusive member news
Good communication keeps members engaged.
Member Engagement Features
Keep your members active and happy.
Member Badges
Reward members with badges:
- "Founding Member" for early joiners
- "Top Contributor" for active members
- "Premium Member" for highest tier
Badges make members feel special.
Activity Feed
Let members see activity on your site:
- New content posted
- Forum discussions
- Community updates
This brings members back to check in.
Member Directory
Help members connect with each other:
- Searchable member list
- Profile information
- Networking options
Community connections add value.
Pricing Your Memberships
Deciding what to charge can be tricky. Here are some tips.
Research Your Market
Look at what others charge:
- Similar membership sites
- Competitors in your niche
- Industry standards
Use this as a starting point.
Consider Your Value
Think about what members get:
- How much content do you offer?
- How often do you add new content?
- What results do members get?
More value means you can charge more.
Start Simple
Begin with one or two plans:
- A basic plan at a lower price
- A premium plan with more perks
You can add more options later.
Test and Adjust
Try different prices and see what works:
- Track how many people sign up
- Listen to member feedback
- Adjust prices over time
Finding the right price takes time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Wix Members Area cost?
The Members Area app is free. But you need a paid Wix plan to accept payments. Plans with payment features start at $29 per month. Wix also charges payment processing fees of about 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.
Can members cancel their own subscriptions?
Yes, if you allow it. You can turn on self-cancellation in your plan settings. Members would then cancel from their My Subscriptions page.
Can I offer a free trial before a paid plan?
Yes. Create a free plan with a set duration. After it ends, members can upgrade to a paid plan. You can also create trial versions of paid plans.
What happens when a subscription expires?
The member loses access to gated content. They can still log in, but they cannot see members-only pages. You can send reminders before expiration.
Can I have different membership levels?
Yes. Create multiple pricing plans with different perks. Gate different content to different plans. Members can upgrade to higher levels for more access.
How do I attract new members?
Some ideas to try:
- Offer a free tier to get people started
- Give existing customers a discount to join
- Show samples of members-only content
- Run limited-time promotions
- Ask current members for referrals
Can members pay annually?
Yes. When creating a recurring plan, you choose the payment schedule. Options include daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly payments.
Tips for a Successful Members Area
Here are ways to make your membership thrive.
Deliver Consistent Value
Add new content regularly. Members should feel like their money is well spent. Set a schedule and stick to it.
Engage with Your Community
Talk to your members. Answer questions. Ask for feedback. Members who feel heard stay longer.
Make Joining Easy
Keep sign-up simple. Do not ask for too much information upfront. Remove barriers to joining.
Show Off Your Best Content
Give visitors a taste of what members get. Preview members-only content. Create FOMO (fear of missing out).
Welcome New Members
Send a warm welcome when someone joins. Tell them what to do first. Help them get value right away.
Getting Help with Setup
Setting up a membership site takes work. If you need help:
- Wix has tutorials and guides
- Wix Support can answer questions
- Wix Partners can build your site for you
A professional can set up everything correctly the first time.
Next Steps
You now know how to set up the Wix Members Area. Here is your action plan:
- Decide what type of membership you want
- Choose the right Wix plan
- Install the Members Area app
- Create your pricing plans
- Gate your best content
- Customize the member experience
- Launch and promote your membership
A well-built membership site creates lasting relationships with your audience. It also creates steady income for your business.
Start building your Members Area today and watch your community grow.