Membership Rules
Control member access to WordPress content by creating rules that automatically restrict pages and posts based on membership plans and subscription levels.
Last updated on Jul 16, 2026
Would you like to control which members can access specific content on your WordPress site? User Registration & Membership allows you to create membership rules that restrict pages, posts, and other content based on membership plans. Once configured, access is granted or denied automatically based on each member's active subscription — no manual management required.
Prerequisites
Before getting started, make sure you have:
Installed and activated the User Registration & Membership plugin on your WordPress site.
Created at least one membership plan. If you haven't done this yet, refer to the 👉 How to Create a Membership Plan guide first.
Understanding Membership Rules
Membership rules are access control settings that determine which content your members can view based on their membership level. When a visitor without the required membership tries to access restricted content, they'll see a restriction message instead.
Here's a quick overview of how membership rules work:
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Rules per membership | Each membership plan can have exactly one membership rule |
Content targeting | Restrict entire sites, specific pages, posts, custom post types, menu items, files, or URLs |
Access enforcement | Access is granted or denied automatically based on the member's active subscription |
Centralized management | View and manage all rules from User Registration & Membership → Content Rules → Membership Rules |
Creating a Membership Rule
You can create a membership rule in two ways: directly from the membership plan editor, or from the Content Rules dashboard.
Method 1: From the Membership Plan Editor
Go to User Registration & Membership → Memberships from your WordPress dashboard.
Click Edit on an existing membership plan, or click Add New to create one.
In the membership editor, click the Access tab at the top of the page.
Click the Content dropdown and select the type of content you want to restrict (see the Content Types section below for all available options).
After selecting a content type, choose the specific items you want to include in the rule. For example, if you selected Selected Pages, a list of your site's pages will appear — choose which ones to restrict.
Click Save Changes to apply the membership rule.
Method 2: From the Content Rules Dashboard
Go to User Registration & Membership → Content Rules and click the Membership Rules tab.
Click Add Rule.
Select the membership plan this rule applies to.
Configure the rule using the content selection options described below.
Click Save to create the membership rule.
Both methods create the same rule. Changes made in either location are reflected in the other — they are two different views of the same setting.
Content Types
When setting up a membership rule, the Content dropdown lets you choose what type of content to restrict. Here's what each option does:
Content Type | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
Whole Site | Grants or restricts access to your entire website | Free & Pro |
Selected Pages | Restricts access to specific pages you choose | Free & Pro |
Specific Posts | Controls access to individual posts | Free & Pro |
Custom Post Types | Restricts content from custom post types (e.g., portfolios, products) | Pro only |
Menu Items | Controls the visibility of specific navigation menu items | Pro only |
Taxonomies | Restricts content based on categories, tags, or custom taxonomies | Pro only |
Custom URI | Restricts access to specific URL patterns | Pro only |
File Downloads | Controls file access (requires the File Downloads add-on) | Pro only |
Configuring the Restriction Message
When a visitor tries to access restricted content without the required membership, they'll see a restriction message. You can customize this message to explain your membership benefits or encourage visitors to sign up.
To set a global restriction message:
Go to User Registration & Membership → Settings → Content Restriction.
In the Restricted Content Message field, enter the message you want to display to non-members.
Use the Add Media button to include images if needed. The field also supports smart tags, formatting, and links.
Click Save Changes.
If you leave the Restricted Content Message field empty, the plugin will display a default fallback message automatically.
You can also override the global message for a specific membership rule by configuring a custom restriction message within that rule's settings.
Managing Existing Membership Rules
To view all your membership rules, go to User Registration & Membership → Content Rules → Membership Rules. Here, you'll see a list of all rules organized by membership plan.
To edit a rule: Click the rule name or click Edit in the rule's action menu. You can update the content selection, restriction message, or any other setting.
To temporarily disable a rule: Toggle the Status switch to off. The rule will remain saved but won't be enforced until you re-enable it. This is useful for testing or pausing access restrictions without permanently removing them.
To delete a rule: Click Delete in the rule's action menu. This action cannot be undone.
Membership Rules vs. Custom Rules
User Registration & Membership offers two types of content restriction rules. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool for each scenario.
Membership Rules | Custom Rules | |
|---|---|---|
Tied to a membership plan | Yes — one rule per plan | No — standalone rules |
Condition types | Membership-based only | Advanced: user roles, registration dates, email domains, and more |
Logic operators | Not applicable | AND / OR / NOT logic supported |
Availability | Free & Pro | Pro only |
Best for | Straightforward members-only content protection | Complex, multi-condition access control |
For most membership sites, membership rules provide everything you need to protect premium content and manage member access effectively.
Custom rules are evaluated alongside membership rules and can override membership rules when conditions are met. If a custom rule grants or denies access to the same content, it takes precedence. This allows for more granular control when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create multiple membership rules for one membership plan?
No. Each membership plan can have only one membership rule. However, a single rule can restrict multiple types of content at once — for example, specific pages, posts, and menu items can all be included in the same rule.
What happens if a user has multiple active memberships?
If a user holds more than one active membership, they'll have access to all content allowed by any of their membership plans. Access permissions are additive — having multiple memberships only expands what a user can access, never reduces it.
Can the same content be restricted to multiple membership plans?
Yes. To make a piece of content accessible to multiple membership plans, create a separate membership rule for each plan that includes that content. Users with any of those plans will then be able to access it.
Next Steps
After setting up your membership rules, you may want to explore Custom Rules for more advanced access control scenarios — including conditions based on user roles, registration dates, email domains, and complex logic. Custom Rules are available in the Pro plan and can complement or override your membership rules for greater flexibility.