What tier is MembershipWorks classified in for association management software?

MembershipWorks is classified as Tier III membership software, designed for small associations with operating budgets up to $2.5 million. It offers all-in-one functionality with good features but less depth than enterprise solutions in areas like advanced financial management.

How much does MembershipWorks cost per month?

MembershipWorks pricing ranges from free for up to 50 members to $259/month for up to 10,000 members. Mid-range plans include $35/month (300 members), $59/month (600 members), and $95/month (1,200 members). No setup fees or transaction charges beyond payment gateway costs.

Does MembershipWorks integrate with my existing website?

Yes, MembershipWorks integrates seamlessly with WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, WithoutCode, Duda, and HTML5 websites through simple copy-paste code snippets. Organizations can keep their existing website without requiring a complete redesign.

What is unique about MembershipWorks customer support?

MembershipWorks includes free phone and email support for all plans, including the free tier. The Dallas-based support team provides one-on-one screen-share training sessions at no additional cost and responds to inquiries typically within minutes to hours.

Who is MembershipWorks best suited for?

MembershipWorks is ideal for small associations with 50-2,500 members, operating budgets under $2.5 million, lean staff or volunteer-run organizations, and those wanting to keep their existing website. It's particularly suited for chambers of commerce, professional associations, networking groups, and nonprofit clubs.

MembershipWorks AMS Software Review

Chad Stewart
3 days ago
11 min read

MembershipWorks AMS Software Review for Association Executives: Budget-Friendly Simplicity

Selecting association management software shouldn't require a PhD in technology or a six-figure budget. For small to mid-sized associations wrestling with spreadsheet chaos, disconnected systems, and limited IT resources, finding a straightforward solution that actually works with your existing website can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Enter MembershipWorks—a Dallas-based membership platform that's been quietly serving over 10,000 organizations since 2011 by focusing on what small associations actually need rather than what enterprise vendors think they should want.

Summary of the MembershipWorks Software

MembershipWorks is a cloud-based membership management platform developed by SourceFound, a Dallas, Texas-based software company founded in 2011 by Karen Kuah, Dennis Boyer, and Aikmeng Kuah [1]. According to CEO Karen Kuah, "Our SaaS offers a reasonably-priced, all-in-one platform with easy setup and seamless integration into most websites" [2]. With a lean team serving more than 10,000 membership organizations globally [3], MembershipWorks has carved out a niche by delivering essential membership features without the complexity—or price tag—of enterprise solutions.

The company's mission centers on helping chambers of commerce, trade associations, professional organizations, networking groups, clubs, societies, and nonprofits streamline their operations without forcing them to abandon their existing websites [4]. This plugin-based approach sets MembershipWorks apart in a market where many vendors require organizations to adopt proprietary website builders or face significant integration headaches.

What is the Purpose Statement of the MembershipWorks Software?

MembershipWorks exists to solve a specific problem that Karen Kuah experienced firsthand: the dysfunction of overly complicated membership systems that small associations can neither afford nor effectively manage [5]. The platform was designed from the ground up as an easy-to-use, cloud-based solution that eliminates common pain points—workplace inefficiencies, member data inconsistencies, enterprise-level pricing, and missing integrations—that plague smaller membership organizations [6].

The core purpose is straightforward: provide small to mid-sized associations with an affordable, all-in-one membership platform that integrates seamlessly with their existing websites, requires minimal technical expertise, and includes genuinely responsive customer support at no additional cost [7].

In an era where many software vendors nickel-and-dime organizations with setup fees, transaction charges, and premium support tiers, MembershipWorks positions itself as the refreshingly transparent alternative.

What Makes MembershipWorks a Fit for the Association Market and Unique?

Three distinguishing characteristics make MembershipWorks particularly relevant for budget-conscious associations:

Website Integration Flexibility: Unlike competitors that force organizations into proprietary website builders, MembershipWorks functions as a true plugin that integrates with WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, WithoutCode, Duda, and HTML5 websites [8]. Organizations simply copy and paste shortcodes or code snippets—no developer required. This means associations can launch membership functionality on their existing site in hours rather than months, avoiding the time and expense of a complete website redesign.
No Hidden Fees Structure: MembershipWorks distinguishes itself through radical pricing transparency. There are no setup fees, no transaction fees beyond what your payment gateway charges, and no premium support tiers [9]. Even organizations on the free plan receive access to phone support—a rarity in the SaaS world. This contrasts sharply with competitors like Wild Apricot, which adds a 20 percent premium to monthly fees if organizations choose not to use their affiliated payment processor [10].
Support-First Philosophy: Every review mentions the same thing: outstanding customer support. The Dallas-based team responds to emails within minutes, offers one-on-one screen-share training sessions at no charge, and answers phones during business hours [11]. For volunteer-run associations with rotating leadership, this level of accessible support can mean the difference between software that gets adopted and software that collects digital dust.
Important Consideration for International Associations: MembershipWorks is purpose-built for primarily English-speaking North American associations. International associations where English serves as the common language can succeed with the platform; those serving non-English-speaking communities should explore alternatives.

Functional Goals of the MembershipWorks AMS Software

MembershipWorks delivers core membership management capabilities organized around five primary functional areas:

Membership Management and CRM: Customizable member database with admin-only or member-accessible fields, advanced search by keywords and custom fields, member timeline showing complete interaction history, automated billing and renewal reminders, member self-service portals, and label/folder-based member segmentation [12].
Event Management: Categorizable event calendar with public and members-only events, one-page checkout to improve registration conversion, tiered pricing for members versus non-members, multiple ticket types per event, automated registration confirmations, and member-generated event capabilities for chapters or committees [13].
Directory and Engagement: Interactive member directory with maps and image galleries, public or members-only access controls, automatic profile updates when members edit their information, member deals marketplace, announcement boards, classified ads, and job boards with optional paid listings [14].
E-Commerce and Donations: Integrated shopping cart for product sales, flexible or fixed-amount donation forms, recurring or one-time payment options, automated payment receipts, integration with Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net payment gateways, and forms system for general data collection [15].
Communications and Content Control: Bulk email to all members or segmented groups, automated welcome emails and renewal reminders, daily membership activity summaries for administrators, members-only content restriction by membership level or label, and integration with MailChimp for advanced email marketing [16].

Where Does MembershipWorks Fit in the Market?

Based on the SmartThoughts Tier Classification Framework [17], MembershipWorks fits squarely in Tier III: Membership Software for small associations with operating budgets up to $2.5 million.

The platform embodies the "Swiss Army knife" approach described in the framework—delivering good all-in-one functionality with less depth than enterprise solutions in areas like advanced financial management, complex CRM workflows, and extensive customization options [18]. For example, MembershipWorks doesn't include built-in accounting software or learning management system capabilities, focusing instead on core membership, events, and engagement features that small associations actually use daily.

Ideal Client Profile:

Associations with operating budgets likely under $2.5 million, small and lean staff (often 1-5 people or volunteer-run), existing websites they want to keep, limited technical resources, and a need for straightforward membership management without enterprise complexity.

Market Positioning: MembershipWorks competes somewhat with the likes of Wild Apricot and MemberPlanet,two leading players in the specialized segment of the Tier III market. Many AMS vendors initially began at Tier IV (as a plugin only) and later transitioned into the more competitive Tier III domain.

Compared to Wild Apricot, MembershipWorks offers lower pricing ($35-$259/month versus Wild Apricot's $60-$900/month), better website integration flexibility, no premium for using third-party payment gateways, and included phone support [19].

Compared to MemberPlanet, MembershipWorks provides a simpler pricing structure and emphasizes ease of implementation, though MemberPlanet offers more robust fundraising tools and unlimited member counts at each tier [20].

The platform would not be suitable for large national or international associations (Tier I) requiring sophisticated business process automation, extensive API integrations, or complex member hierarchies, nor for growing mid-market associations (Tier II) that need deeper financial management or learning management system capabilities.

What are the Investment Costs For MembershipWorks?

MembershipWorks employs transparent, member-count-based pricing without setup fees or transaction charges beyond payment gateway costs:

Free Plan: Up to 50 member accounts with access to membership management, online payments, members-only content, and member directory. Limited features exclude event calendar, forms, donations, shopping cart, job boards, and multiple administrators [21].

Paid Plans (monthly pricing):

Up to 300 members: $35/month
Up to 600 members: $59/month
Up to 1,200 members: $95/month
Up to 2,500 members: $145/month
Up to 5,000 members: $205/month
Up to 10,000 members: $259/month [22]

Additional Costs to Consider:

Payment gateway fees (Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net standard rates—typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
Premium MailChimp Integration add-on: $9/month (optional, for managing multiple mailing lists)
Website hosting: $10-$30/month (if using platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or Weebly)
Domain name registration: $9-$15 annually [23]

What's Included: All paid plans include all MembershipWorks features, one-on-one support and training, phone and email support, unlimited administrators on paid plans, 30-day money-back guarantee, and ability to cancel anytime [24].

In the end, it is recommended to contact the software vendor directly for the latest pricing information, as software pricing evolves and custom quotes may be available for organizations with more than 10,000 members or unique requirements.

MembershipWorks AMS pricing — As of 10/12/2025 (See vendor for details)

What are the Peer Reviews and Unique Feature Insights?

Verified peer reviews across multiple platforms reveal consistent themes about MembershipWorks' strengths and limitations:

Positive Feedback (Capterra, 4.6/5 stars):

When I found the plugin, I was shocked at finding the perfect fit for our membership. It is super easy to use and the help that I received was top notch and I do mean that, they are such a great company to work with. I have also found that some things we wanted to add they have been more than accommodating in designing it to fit our needs. We have a small chamber in a very active historic town that needed to move into the future with our website. Kuah and Karen were the best when it came to getting us up and running. Our membership will benefit from the new site for years to come. Quote from Website of Vendor

"Assuming MemberFindMe is another name for MembershipWorks, we are very satisfied... It offers all the functions and features we need, and some we hadn't thought of, but will definitely explore and make use of... I must say that I have never come across such an outstanding support service! MembershipWorks must be commended for it: support staff replies almost instantly to email queries, at almost any time of the day or night" [25].

"As a long time user of MembershipWorks, we regularly look to see if it still fits our needs... The answer is always yes. Renewals etc. need so little admin time, that we can focus on adding value for members and not have to worry about the system" [26].

"With the assistance of your customer service representative, I was able to create events that previously our company web designer did for us. I had so many questions and they were able to walk me through, step by step by email and virtually" [27].

G2 Reviews (4.0/5 stars) highlight the platform's membership management capabilities:

"MembershipWorks is unique kind of software that maintains all the directories of all the members... It helps us in knowing who all are active users and who are non-active employees in the company. We mostly schedule important meetings with the help of this tool" [28].

Common Criticisms:

"No direct access to the member database to perform edits. Only provides database downloads from whatever is in the database at a given time" [29].

"Not a huge fan of WordPress which is used for site management. We have multiple chapters that use it for their chapter information and it's difficult for them to navigate" [30] (Note: MembershipWorks integrates with multiple platforms beyond WordPress).

"The pricing structure can be costly for new Canadian nonprofits due to currency exchange rates" [31].

Unique Features Highlighted in Reviews:

Member Timeline showing complete interaction history at a glance
Location-based directory search by zip code, city, or state—a feature many competitors lack [32]
Ability to charge different event ticket prices based on membership status and levels
Flexibility to allow members to add their own events to calendars for chapter or committee management
Daily email summaries of membership activity for administrators [33]

The review consensus reveals a platform that excels at customer support and ease of use while making acceptable tradeoffs in advanced customization and direct database access to maintain simplicity and affordability.

Analyst Expert Analysis and Reasoning On MembershipWorks

MembershipWorks occupies a valuable but specific niche in the association management software ecosystem. After analyzing the platform's positioning, capabilities, and market feedback, several key insights emerge:

The Right Tool for the Right Job: This is not software trying to be everything to everyone—and that's precisely its strength. Small associations drowning in spreadsheets or volunteer-run organizations without IT staff will find MembershipWorks refreshingly straightforward. The platform succeeds by accepting its limitations and delivering excellence within its intended scope rather than attempting to compete with enterprise solutions on features it doesn't need to offer.

Support as Competitive Advantage: In a software market saturated with chatbots, ticket systems, and premium support tiers, MembershipWorks' commitment to accessible human support creates genuine differentiation. For associations with rotating volunteer leadership or limited technical expertise, knowing they can pick up the phone and talk to someone who actually answers represents tangible value that transcends feature lists.

Website Integration Philosophy: The decision to function as a true plugin rather than forcing organizations into a proprietary website builder demonstrates customer-centric product thinking. Most small associations already have websites they've invested in—content, design, SEO optimization, member familiarity. MembershipWorks acknowledges this reality rather than requiring organizations to start over, significantly reducing adoption friction and time-to-value.

Pricing Transparency Matters: The absence of setup fees, transaction premiums, and support charges isn't just a pricing strategy—it's a philosophical statement about how software vendors should treat small nonprofits. When budgets are tight and every dollar matters, knowing exactly what something costs without hidden surprises builds the trust necessary for long-term partnerships.

Strategic Limitations: The platform's constraints are primarily in areas where small associations have limited needs anyway. Most Tier III organizations don't require sophisticated financial management beyond basic accounts receivable, extensive business process automation, or complex API integrations with dozens of third-party systems. MembershipWorks rightly prioritizes depth in membership management, events, and engagement over breadth in peripheral functionality.

Scalability Considerations: Organizations should recognize that MembershipWorks is designed for a certain range of member numbers and operational complexity. Associations expecting to expand rapidly beyond 5,000 members or to develop greater operational sophistication might eventually find the platform insufficient. Nonetheless, the absence of long-term contracts and the ease of exporting data allow organizations to transition when needed, without being tied to an unsuitable solution.

Market Position Stability: With 14 years of experience, hundreds of customers, and consistently positive reviews, MembershipWorks has proven its resilience in a competitive market. The company's emphasis on a specific market segment instead of pursuing every opportunity indicates strategic discipline. Nonetheless, as with any small vendor, associations should include succession planning and data portability in their due diligence.

Product Roadmap and Innovation: Based on available information, MembershipWorks appears to prioritize stability and incremental improvement over aggressive feature expansion. For small associations, this conservative approach reduces disruption and learning curves. Organizations seeking cutting-edge features like artificial intelligence-powered member engagement or sophisticated marketing automation may find the platform's pace of innovation too measured, though such capabilities often represent complexity rather than value for Tier III organizations.

Geographic and Linguistic Boundaries: MembershipWorks' English-only interface and limited currency flexibility reveal its strategic focus on the North American market. This isn't a flaw—it's a deliberate design choice that enables simplicity and support quality by avoiding the complexity of internationalization. However, associations should recognize these boundaries when evaluating fit. An international professional association where English serves as the lingua franca can succeed with MembershipWorks; a multilingual community organization serving diverse populations cannot. Understanding whether you're inside or outside these boundaries is essential to making the right selection.

The Bottom Line: MembershipWorks succeeds by serving small associations exceptionally well rather than attempting to serve all associations adequately. For the right organization—budget-conscious, seeking simplicity, wanting to keep their existing website, and valuing responsive support—this platform delivers outstanding value. For organizations outside this profile, particularly those with enterprise requirements or mid-market aspirations, the software's intentional limitations make it the wrong choice regardless of price.

Are you an Association Executive working without a consultant and seeking the best-fit membership management solution for your organization?

MembershipWorks offers a free plan to test the platform, and qualified associations can schedule a conversation to discuss whether this solution aligns with your needs. For organizations requiring deeper analysis across multiple AMS options, SmartThoughts provides comprehensive software selection services to reduce risk and accelerate your decision-making process. Learn more at smartthoughts.net/software-selection-services-nonprofits.