Head-to-head · October 2026
WP-Members Membership Plu… vs WP Vanilla Connect
WP-Members Membership Plugin comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Vanilla Connect.
WP-Members Membership Plugin
The original WordPress membership plugin with content restriction, user login, custom registration fields…
WP Vanilla Connect
WordPress users logon seamlessly via jsConnect and SSO into your Vanilla Forums. Just install jsConnect addon…
| Metric | WP-Members Membership Plu… | WP Vanilla Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 13.6K | 46 |
| Download trend | -42.8% | +35.3% |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4/5 |
| Reviews | 272 | 4 |
| Health score | 74/100 | 27/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 15 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 3.3.2 |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Sep 2009 | Jan 2012 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
WP-Members Membership P…WP Vanilla Connect
Choose WP-Members Membership Plu… if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.6/5 from 272 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose WP Vanilla Connect if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.3 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: authentication login
FAQ
WP-Members Membership Plu… vs WP Vanilla Connect: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Which is better, WP-Members Membership Plugin or WP Vanilla Connect?
WP-Members Membership Plugin comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Vanilla Connect. Choose WP-Members Membership Plugin if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose WP Vanilla Connect if you care most about download trend.
Is WP-Members Membership Plugin more popular than WP Vanilla Connect?
WP-Members Membership Plugin is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for WP Vanilla Connect.
Can I use WP-Members Membership Plugin and WP Vanilla Connect together?
Both plugins cover authentication and login, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are WP-Members Membership Plugin and WP Vanilla Connect free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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