Restrict Content Pro Review 2025: Features, Pros & Cons

You create valuable content, but monetizing it effectively feels like a constant struggle. You know a membership model could be a game-changer for your revenue, but the technical hurdles of protecting your premium work and managing subscribers can be intimidating.

This challenge often leads to patching together multiple tools, resulting in a clunky user experience and potential security gaps. Every moment spent wrestling with technology is a moment you’re not focusing on creating content. It’s frustrating when the thing that’s supposed to generate income becomes a source of technical headaches and lost opportunity.

What if there was a straightforward way to lock your exclusive content, accept payments, and manage members directly within WordPress? This is precisely what Restrict Content Pro offers. It’s a dedicated plugin designed to eliminate the complexity of building a membership site, providing a clear path to generating predictable, recurring revenue from your hard work.

This review will examine its features, pricing, and overall performance to see if it’s the right key to unlock your content’s full potential.

Restrict Content Pro Overview

Restrict Content Pro is a premium WordPress membership plugin that allows website owners to restrict access to specific content and manage paid subscriptions with ease. Originally developed by Pippin Williamson in 2010, it quickly gained traction among WordPress users due to its simplicity, developer-friendliness, and rich features.

In 2020, the plugin was acquired by iThemes, which is part of the StellarWP brand under Liquid Web, a major player in the WordPress ecosystem. Since then, Restrict Content Pro has been actively maintained and updated to stay competitive in the membership plugin space.

The plugin is designed with a clear agenda: to offer a lightweight, secure, and flexible solution for content restriction, membership management, and recurring payments—all within the familiar WordPress dashboard. With a team of approximately 2–10 employees, the company is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, and serves thousands of membership sites across the globe.

Product Name	Restrict Content Pro
Official Website	https://restrictcontentpro.com
Developer	Originally Pippin Williamson, now managed by iThemes / StellarWP
USPs	Clean UI, unlimited membership levels, add-ons, developer-friendly
Category	WordPress Membership Plugin
Integrations	Stripe, PayPal, WooCommerce, Mailchimp, AWeber, LearnDash, AffiliateWP
Best For	Bloggers, course creators, digital product sellers, communities
Support Options	Priority email support, extensive documentation, knowledge base
Documentation	✅ Available for both users and developers
Company HQ	Lansing, Michigan, USA
Team Size	2–10 employees
Starting Price	$99/year for 1 site
Free Version	Yes, with limited features
Alternatives	MemberPress, Paid Memberships Pro, WooCommerce Memberships, MemberMouse
Affiliate Program	✅ Yes
Affiliate Commission	Varies (typically 20–30% recurring or one-time depending on partner terms)
Money-Back Guarantee	✅ 30-day full refund
Licensing Options	Annual + Lifetime license available
Founded	2010

Restrict Content Pro continues to be a trusted solution for creators and businesses that want to monetize their content without relying on bloated platforms. Its clean codebase, excellent support, and solid core features make it a worthy investment for serious membership site builders.

Restrict Content Pro Features

Endless Membership Levels and Subscription Packages

With Restrict Content Pro, you can design an unlimited number of membership levels and subscription plans to suit the requirements of your users.

Unlimited Membership Levels

Restrict Content Pro allows you to create unlimited membership levels—including free, trial, and paid subscriptions. Each level can have unique pricing, access rights, and expiration terms. You can also offer lifetime or recurring plans and enable members to upgrade or downgrade easily from their account dashboards.

Content Restriction Controls

With powerful restriction options, you can lock posts, pages, categories, or even custom post types based on user roles or membership levels. Shortcodes and Gutenberg blocks make it simple to display teaser content or upsell premium memberships within the content.

Integrated Payment Gateways

The plugin integrates with top payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal (Standard, Express, Pro), Braintree, and Authorize.net. It handles recurring billing securely and provides manual payment options as well. Everything is PCI-compliant and designed to protect your members’ payment data.

Discount Codes & Promotions

You can create custom discount codes that offer percentage or flat-rate reductions. Set expiration dates, usage limits, and apply them to specific membership levels. This is ideal for promotional campaigns, seasonal offers, or referral programs.

Member Reporting & Analytics

Restrict Content Pro includes a detailed reporting dashboard where you can track signups, cancellations, earnings, and refunds. Export data to CSV for external reporting or marketing use. Visual reports give you insights into how your membership business is performing.

Frontend Member Dashboard

Give your members full control over their accounts with a customizable frontend dashboard. Members can manage their subscriptions, update billing info, view payment history, or upgrade plans—without ever needing admin intervention.

Content Dripping & Expiration

Using available add-ons, you can schedule content to be released over time (dripping) or expire access after a set period. This is especially useful for online courses or onboarding sequences that require time-based delivery.

Group Memberships

Restrict Content Pro lets you sell group or team accounts, where one account holder can manage multiple users. This is perfect for businesses or educational institutions offering group access to content or courses.

Email Marketing Integrations

Connect Restrict Content Pro with popular email tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, AWeber, and Campaign Monitor. Automatically tag users based on membership status and trigger onboarding or renewal campaigns with ease.

WooCommerce & LMS Integration

The plugin integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce and LearnDash, allowing you to protect products, courses, or bundles using membership levels. You can even restrict checkout options or apply automatic discounts for members.

Powerful Add-ons Library

Restrict Content Pro comes with 30+ pro add-ons that extend its functionality, such as CSV Import/Export, Restriction Timers, EDD Integration, and more. The modular approach keeps your site lean and lets you add only what you need.

Developer Friendly

Developers will love the plugin’s clean codebase, extensive documentation, and over 500 action hooks and filters. It’s built with customization in mind, so you can easily extend it or integrate with other WordPress tools via REST API and custom functions.

Each of these features makes Restrict Content Pro a powerful yet lightweight solution for building a membership site that scales with your business goals. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, you’ll find the toolkit both flexible and reliable.

How to use Restrict Content Pro?

1. Install and turn on the plugin.

Install and activate the plugin from your WordPress admin panel.

2. Create and Add Membership Levels

After the plugin is enabled, you must establish membership tiers. To establish a new membership level, navigate to Restrict > Membership Levels and press the Add New button.

3. Produce Subscription Bundles

You must first construct the membership levels before generating the subscription plans. The cost a user will pay for a membership level will be determined by these packages. A one-time payment or regular payment package can be made.

4. Establish payment gateways.

Payment gateways must be set up once the subscription packages have been created. Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net are just a few of the well-known payment methods that Restrict Content Pro offers.

5. Produce Coupon Codes

For your subscriptions, you may make discount codes as well. This will support your efforts to improve sales and draw in new clients.

6. Content Restrictions

Content restriction is the final phase. You have the option of limiting material by specific pages or posts as well as by entire categories, tags, and other custom taxonomies. You may use this to keep non-members out of your premium content.

Restrict Content Pro Alternatives

While Restrict Content Pro is a powerful and affordable membership plugin, it’s important to explore other options to ensure you’re picking the best fit for your site. Some alternatives offer deeper integrations, enhanced design flexibility, or more advanced automation tools—making them ideal for different business needs.

Here’s a comparison of the most popular Restrict Content Pro alternatives to help you choose the right solution for your membership or subscription-based WordPress website:

Tool	Starting Price	Best For	Key Features	Free Version	Ease of Use	Integrations
MemberPress	$179/year	Online courses, gated content	Content dripping, pricing page builder, LMS support	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	Stripe, PayPal, LearnDash, ConvertKit
Paid Memberships Pro	$0 (core) / $247+	Developers, flexible plans	75+ add-ons, customizable, recurring billing	✅	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	Mailchimp, WooCommerce, Zapier
WooCommerce Memberships	$199/year	WooCommerce shops	Product-based membership access, seamless shop integration	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐	WooCommerce, Subscriptions plugin
Wishlist Member	$149/year	Simple WordPress memberships	One-click content protection, automation triggers	❌	⭐⭐⭐☆	ThriveCart, ClickBank, Zapier
MemberMouse	$199/year	High-end membership sites, advanced metrics	Smart tags, content dripping, split testing	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐	ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, PayPal
s2Member	$0 / $189 (Pro)	Developers, paywall basics	Shortcode-based, payment integrations, simple roles	✅	⭐⭐⭐	Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net

Quick Suggestions

• Want deep LMS integration and easy setup? → MemberPress
• Need a free option with powerful features? → Paid Memberships Pro
• Selling products with membership perks? → WooCommerce Memberships
• Need high-end automation and analytics? → MemberMouse
• Prefer low-cost, shortcode-based control? → s2Member

These alternatives cater to different use cases, so it’s wise to compare them based on features, cost, integrations, and scalability. If you want a lightweight, cost-effective plugin with developer-friendly capabilities, Restrict Content Pro remains one of the best choices.

Restrict Content Pro Pricing

Restrict Content Pro offers flexible pricing plans tailored to meet the needs of individuals, small businesses, and agencies alike. Whether you’re just starting out with a single membership site or managing multiple client projects, RCP provides a variety of plans to match your scale and budget. All premium plans come bundled with 30+ powerful add-ons, access to premium support, and full content restriction capabilities. There’s even a free version available for testing basic functionality—making it easy to get started risk-free.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the available plans, their features, and our top recommendations based on your use case:

Plan	Sites	Annual Price
Free	1	$0
Personal	1	$99/year
Plus	Up to 5	$149/year
Professional	Unlimited	$249/year

• Free: Ideal for testing membership gating, but limited—Stripe charges a 2% fee.
• Personal ($99): Best for solo bloggers or entrepreneurs—includes all Pro features and 34 add‑ons.
• Plus ($149): Suitable for up to 5 sites—great for small agencies or multi-site campaigns.
• Professional ($249): Unlimited sites and full add-on access—a strong pick for agencies or frequent site builders.

Important to note, all subscription plans bundle 34 Pro add‑ons at no extra cost, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best Value Recommendation

• Solo site owners should go with the Personal plan—full features, affordable price.
• Small teams or agencies managing ≤5 sites: Plus plan is ideal.

If you’re establishing a membership business and want full access to all features and extensions, the Personal or Plus plans offer the best balance of cost vs. flexibility. Agencies building multiple sites should invest in the Professional or Ultimate tier.

Restrict Content Pro Use Cases

Restrict Content Pro’s flexibility makes it a valuable tool for a wide range of applications. Here are some common and effective use cases for the plugin:

1. For Bloggers and Content Creators

Create a premium content library. You can publish free articles to attract an audience while placing your most in-depth, high-value posts, tutorials, and case studies behind a paywall. This creates a direct revenue stream from your most loyal readers.

2. For Online Course Providers

While not a full Learning Management System (LMS), Restrict Content Pro is perfect for selling access to video courses, workshops, or text-based educational content. You can create different membership tiers for individual courses or an all-access pass to your entire library. The content dripping feature is especially useful for releasing lessons over time.

3. For Private Communities & Forums

Build a members-only community. By integrating with a forum plugin like bbPress, you can restrict access to discussions, creating a private and safe space for members to connect. This is ideal for mastermind groups, coaching clients, or niche hobbyist communities.

4. For Digital Magazines & News Sites

Implement a metered paywall similar to major news outlets. You can allow non-members to view a certain number of free articles per month before requiring them to purchase a subscription. This model balances free access to attract readers with monetization for your premium journalism.

5. For Members-Only Stores

If you run a WooCommerce store, you can use Restrict Content Pro to create a members-only shopping experience. This could include offering exclusive products, providing members-only discounts, or granting early access to new product launches.

6. For Service-Based Businesses

Offer tiered support or a resource hub for your clients. A web design agency, for instance, could offer a basic support plan with access to a knowledge base and a premium plan that includes video tutorials and priority support, all managed through different membership levels.

Restrict Content Pro User Reviews

Overall Impressions

Restrict Content Pro earns a strong 4.4‑out‑of‑5 average rating across ~65 user reviews. It’s praised for its lightweight functionality, ease of use, and powerful customization options.

What Users Love

• Lightweight & Flexible “I love how lightweight this software is… a great solution.” – Will D., Owner/CEO
• Easy Membership Management “I like the general structure… ability to customize it to suit your needs.”
• Comprehensive Reporting & Payment Integration
  Users appreciate seamless payment gateway integrations and strong reporting dashboards.
• Excellent Core Features “It is complete. It really has everything you need to run a full membership site… intuitive.” – Verified User

Challenges & Limitations

• Initial Setup & Usability
  Some find setup overwhelming, especially for non-technical users. “It is confusing and hard to use… a LOT of steps to get things running.” – Jennifer K.
• Support Inconsistencies
  Since acquisition, several users report slower or unresponsive support. “Buggy: user memberships getting cancelled… terrible support… can take weeks or months.”
• UI Customization Limits
  Basic sign-up page layouts may require developer tweaks for styling. “Limited layout of sign up forms… had to bring in a dev to code these.”
• Payment/Expiry Sync Issues
  A few users mention occasional Stripe-sync errors that charge canceled subscriptions.

Community Insights (Reddit)

On Reddit, some users express concerns post-acquisition:

“…I certainly don’t feel like I’ve received any meaningful support… any of the issues I’ve raised… were addressed.”

Other users praise its simplicity:

“Yes a membership plugin is what you’re looking for eg… restrict content pro etc.”

Restrict Content Pro is a favorite for developers and small businesses seeking a lean yet powerful membership plugin. It delivers excellent core value, but if you require fully polished UI or ultra-responsive support, some advanced workflows may necessitate customization or exploring higher-tier alternatives.

Restrict Content Pro Customer Support

Effective and accessible customer support is a critical factor when choosing a WordPress plugin for a business-critical function like managing memberships. Restrict Content Pro is backed by the reputation and infrastructure of iThemes, ensuring users have access to professional help when they need it.

Support for Restrict Content Pro is primarily offered through two main channels:

1. Professional Ticket-Based Support:

All customers with an active license have access to a private, ticket-based support system. You can submit a detailed request through the iThemes member dashboard, and their expert support team will assist you. This method is ideal for resolving technical issues, troubleshooting conflicts, or getting specific guidance on plugin features. The iThemes support team is known for being knowledgeable and responsive during their standard operating hours.

2. Extensive Online Documentation:

For those who prefer self-service, Restrict Content Pro offers a comprehensive library of online documentation. This knowledge base includes detailed setup guides, tutorials for specific features, explanations for all settings, and solutions for frequently asked questions. The documentation is well-organized and serves as an excellent first stop for resolving common issues or learning how to get the most out of the plugin.

It is important to note that, like most premium WordPress products, direct phone or live chat support is generally not available. The official ticketed system is the primary channel for personalized assistance, ensuring that all queries are tracked and handled efficiently by the appropriate experts.

What Makes Restrict Content Pro Stand Out?

Restrict Content Pro truly stands head and shoulders above many competitors in terms of its core philosophy and execution. Where other plugins can feel bloated by trying to be an all-in-one solution for courses, forums, and more, this product excels by focusing on one thing: providing a powerful, stable, and intuitive membership experience. Its clean codebase and lightweight nature mean your site remains fast and reliable.

Unlike other offerings, Restrict Content Pro shines with its straightforward setup and management. The superior dashboard is clean and logical, distinguishing it from rivals that often have a steeper learning curve. This commitment to simplicity, combined with robust core features like built-in payment integrations and prorated upgrades, sets a new standard. It’s in a league of its own for creators and businesses who need a dependable, no-fuss solution that simply works, right out of the box.

FAQs

Conclusion

The most crucial query in our assessment of Restrict Content Pro is now: Should you use this plugin to build your membership website?

Restrict Content Pro is a great tool for ensuring that your customers appreciate the work you put into creating your content or providing any other service. It offers you more precise control over your website. In our opinion, Restrict Content Pro is one of the greatest WordPress membership plugins, if not the best.

However, depending on your specific requirements, it’s quite conceivable that a different plugin will make your site more effective. But if you think Restrict Content Pro fits your needs then waste no time, get started; there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.