How to Use Paid Memberships Pro for Free (Without Hidden Fees)

⚠️ Important Update – July 2025

As of Paid Memberships Pro version 3.5, the developers have removed the filter that our PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster plugin relied on to eliminate the 2% Stripe Connect application fee – see: https://www.paidmembershipspro.com/pmpro-update-3-5/#h-changes-to-stripe-application-fees

This filter had been publicly documented and available since 2021, but PMPro has now hardcoded the fee and made it non-editable unless you:

• Purchase a PMPro Premium license, or
• Switch to using your own Stripe Restricted API keys (instead of using PMPro’s Stripe Connect integration).

Unfortunately, due to this change, our plugin will no longer work if you update to PMPro v3.5 or higher. We recommend switching to your own Stripe keys to avoid the ongoing 2% fee. PMPro provides documentation on how to do that here.

We are disappointed by this shift, which limits flexibility for users and forces recurring fees unless you adopt workarounds. If you need help with this transition, contact us here.

Paid Memberships Pro (PMP) is one of the most popular free membership plugins for WordPress. It offers a robust set of features that allow site owners to create membership levels, restrict content, and manage subscriptions – all without needing to pay for the premium version. However, there’s a hidden cost that many users don’t realise: if you use Stripe as your payment gateway, PMP charges an additional 2% transaction fee on every payment you receive.

While this fee is meant to support the development of the plugin, it can add up quickly, especially for businesses processing large volumes of transactions. Thankfully, there’s a way to remove this fee while still benefiting from all of PMP’s free features. In this article, we’ll explore how you can maximise the free version of Paid Memberships Pro and eliminate unnecessary transaction fees using the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster plugin.

Why Choose Paid Memberships Pro?

PMP has long been a favourite among WordPress users looking for a reliable and flexible membership solution. Here are some of its standout features:

• Unlimited Membership Levels – Create as many membership tiers as you need.
• Content Restriction – Control access to pages, posts, categories, and custom post types.
• Flexible Payment Integrations – Supports Stripe, PayPal, and other payment gateways.
• Email Notifications – Automate member communications.
• Reports & Analytics – Track membership sign-ups, payments, and engagement.

All of this is available in the free version, making PMP an attractive choice for many website owners.

The Hidden Cost: Stripe’s Additional 2% Fee

Many users assume that because PMP is free, they can run a membership site without any hidden costs. However, if you’re using Stripe to process payments through PMP’s Stripe Connect interface, the plugin automatically charges an extra 2% on every transaction. This fee goes directly to Stranger Studios, the developers of PMP.

For example:

• If you process £1,000 in membership payments per month, PMP takes £20.
• If you scale to £10,000 per month, PMP’s fee increases to £200.
• Over a year, that’s £2,400 in additional costs – just for using Stripe!

While this fee doesn’t apply to PMP’s premium users (who pay for a license), it’s a significant cost for those relying on the free version. Luckily, there’s an easy way to remove this fee without upgrading to PMP Pro.

✅ How to Avoid PMPro’s 2% Stripe Connect Fee

Paid Memberships Pro (PMPro) now applies a 2% processing fee if you connect Stripe using their “Connect with Stripe” button. Fortunately, there’s a way around this.

Instead of Stripe Connect, you can connect your site manually using Restricted API Keys, which are supported by PMPro and do not incur the extra fee.

Here’s how to do it:

🔧 Use Stripe Restricted Keys Instead of Stripe Connect

1. Log into your Stripe Dashboard, then go to
   Developers > API Keys
   (https://dashboard.stripe.com/apikeys)
2. Click “Create Restricted Key”
3. On the prompt, choose “Providing this key to another website”
4. Enter the following details:
   • Name: Paid Memberships Pro
   • Website: https://www.paidmembershipspro.com
5. Do not tick the “Customise permissions for this key” checkbox — leave it unchecked
6. Click “Create restricted key” and copy it immediately
   (you won’t be able to view the full key again later)

🧩 Add Your Keys in WordPress

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard
   Memberships > Settings > Payment Gateway
2. Set the Gateway to Stripe
3. Under “Publishable Key”, enter your Standard API publishable key (also found in your Stripe Dashboard)
4. Under “Restricted Key”, paste in the Restricted Key you just created
5. Click Save Settings

That’s it – your site is now connected to Stripe without using Stripe Connect, and without paying the extra 2% fee to Stranger Studios.

⚠️ Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do from our end to remove the 2% fee if you’re using Stripe Connect – we’re at PMPro’s mercy here. But this workaround is officially supported, safe, and takes just a few minutes to set up.

Conclusion: The Best Free Membership Solution for WordPress

Paid Memberships Pro is an excellent free plugin, but the additional Stripe transaction fee makes it costly in the long run. By using the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster plugin, you can keep your PMP setup free and ensure that you keep 100% of your revenue.

For a small, one-time fee, you can eliminate unnecessary charges and make PMP a truly free membership solution.

By controlling your Stripe fees, you’ll ensure that your membership business remains profitable without hidden costs.

Have questions? Drop a comment below or reach out to us for support!