SoloStore → MemberPress alternative
Like SoloStore, MemberPress runs on hosting you control — so this is not an own-it-versus-rent-it argument. It is a renewal argument, and a stack argument.
Be fair about this one: MemberPress is good software and it is self-hosted, exactly like SoloStore. The difference is the invoice. MemberPress is an annual licence: $349.50 for the first year on Growth, then $699 every year after — and the cheap tier, Launch, takes 4.9% of every payment you collect. SoloStore is $497 once, 0% forever, and it is one application rather than WordPress plus a stack of plugins to keep in sync.
Launch is $199.50 to start and $399 to renew. Growth is $349.50 then $699. Your second year costs roughly twice your first, and every year after that matches it.
MemberPress Launch charges 4.9% of every payment on top of the licence fee. On $50,000 of sales that is $2,450 a year — you have to buy up to Growth to reach 0%.
WordPress, a host, MemberPress, a page builder, a forms plugin and whatever runs your funnels. Each updates on its own schedule, and keeping them compatible is your job.
Every number below came off the vendor's own pricing page, checked 5 August 2026.
| MemberPress Growth | SoloStore | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | $349.50 year one, $699 after (Growth) | $497 once |
| Year one | $349.50 + WordPress hosting | $581 all in |
| Every year after | $699 + WordPress hosting | $84 hosting |
| Cut of each payment | 4.9% on Launch · 0% on Growth and Scale | 0% — always |
| Cheapest route to 0% fees | Growth — $699 a year on renewal | included |
| Five-year licence cost | $3,146 on Growth | $497 once |
| What you keep updated | WordPress, the theme and every plugin | one application |
| Runs on hosting you control | Yes | Yes |
| Needs WordPress | Yes | one app |
| Courses built in | Yes | Yes |
| Members' community | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate programme | Yes | No |
| Payments through your own Stripe | Yes | Yes |
| Five-year total | $3,146 + WordPress hosting | $917 |
MemberPress figures are public list prices from memberpress.com/pricing, checked 5 August 2026. SoloStore's total is the one-time licence plus about $7 a month of self-hosting (Railway and Bunny, paid direct). Stripe's processing fee applies on both sides and is excluded.
A comparison page that only flatters itself is an advert. Here is where MemberPress wins.
Stay on MemberPress if your site is already WordPress and you want it to stay that way, if you need affiliates or the deeper membership features, or if you would rather pay annually and never think about it. This page is for the person who wants one application instead of a plugin stack, and one payment instead of a renewal.
Two services, no markup, nothing paid to us — and a five-minute setup with no code and no terminal.
Not sure what self-hosting means in practice? Watch the five-minute setup video — it is the entire process, start to finish.
Other questions? Shoot me an email — matt@mattgiaro.com