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

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 maximize 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 Remove PMP’s Stripe Transaction Fee

To stop PMP from charging an additional 2% on Stripe transactions, you need to modify the way the plugin handles payment processing. PMP allows developers to adjust this fee using a small code snippet. However, not everyone is comfortable editing WordPress code or creating a custom plugin.

That’s why we created the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster plugin—a simple, plug-and-play solution that removes the extra transaction fee automatically.

Introducing the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster Plugin

The PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster plugin is designed for site owners who want to keep their PMP setup free while eliminating unnecessary fees.

Key Benefits:

• Instantly Removes PMP’s 2% Stripe Fee – Keep 100% of your earnings.
• Easy to Use – No coding required.
• One-Time Purchase – Unlike PMP’s premium version, this is a one-time fee.
• Works Seamlessly with PMP – No conflicts with other PMP features.

Instead of losing revenue every month, you can invest in this plugin once and eliminate the recurring Stripe fee forever.

👉 Get the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster Plugin Now

Setting Up Your PMP Membership Site Without Extra Fees

Once you’ve installed Paid Memberships Pro and removed the extra Stripe fee, you’ll have a fully functional membership site without any hidden costs. Here’s how to set it up properly:

Step 1: Install Paid Memberships Pro

Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard and search for Paid Memberships Pro. Click Install Now and activate the plugin.

Step 2: Configure Your Membership Levels

Navigate to Memberships > Membership Levels and create different tiers based on your pricing structure.

Step 3: Connect to Stripe (Without Extra Fees)

1. Go to Memberships > Payment Settings.
2. Select Stripe as your payment gateway.
3. Enter your Stripe API keys.
4. Install the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster plugin to remove the extra 2% fee.

Step 4: Restrict Content for Members

Use PMP’s built-in tools to restrict content based on membership level.

Step 5: Customize Checkout and Email Notifications

Tailor your membership checkout and email communications to enhance the user experience.

Step 6: Launch and Start Earning More

With PMP’s free features and no extra Stripe fees, you now have a powerful membership platform without recurring costs.

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.

👉 Get the PMPro Stripe Fee Adjuster Plugin Today

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!