How to Restrict Content in WordPress (And Best Plugins)

Restricting content in WordPress is crucial for websites that offer exclusive access to members, paid subscribers, or specific user groups. Whether you’re running an online course, membership site, or premium blog, controlling who sees your content can enhance user experience and increase revenue. Fortunately, WordPress provides various methods to restrict content, ranging from simple settings to advanced plugins. 

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of restricting content in WordPress. Moreover, we’ll also explore the best WordPress plugins available to help you efficiently manage content visibility on your site!

Why Should You Restrict Content in WordPress?

Restricting content in WordPress offers numerous advantages, and here’s why you should consider it:

• Create Exclusivity: Restricting content creates a sense of exclusivity. It encourages users to sign up or subscribe to access premium material, which can significantly enhance user engagement and loyalty.

• Enhance Security: By limiting access to sensitive or private content, you ensure that only authorized users can view certain pages or posts. This can enhance the overall security of your website.

• Increase Revenue: Gated content, such as paid memberships or subscriptions, can also become a steady revenue stream. By restricting access to valuable content, you can incentivize users to pay for access.

• Improve User Experience: Restricting content allows you to tailor the experience for different user groups. Thus, providing them with relevant content that meets their needs and interests.

• Build a Loyal Community: Offering exclusive content to members or subscribers also helps you build a more loyal and engaged community. Thereby, fostering stronger connections and encouraging repeat visits.

Best WordPress Plugins to Restrict Content in 2024

Restricting content in WordPress is essential for managing membership sites, paid subscriptions, and exclusive content access. With a wide range of plugins available, choosing the right one can significantly enhance your site’s functionality. Here’s a list of the best WordPress plugins to help you restrict content and manage user access.

Restrict Content Pro

Restrict Content Pro is a highly flexible and easy-to-extend content restriction plugin, making it a top choice for WordPress users.

Here are its key features:

• Flexible Content Restriction: Easily restrict content based on membership level, access level, or user roles. This offers precise control over who can access specific content.

• Simple Theme Integration: With easy display options, you can quickly integrate the plugin with your theme without needing CSS skills.

• Customizable with Hooks and Filters: The plugin is packed with action hooks and filters, allowing you to customize its functionality to meet your membership needs.

• Editable Template Files: With editable template files, you can customize the appearance of registration forms, profile editors, and account pages. This ensures the design aligns with your site’s branding.

• Seamless Plugin Integration: Restrict Content Pro integrates effortlessly with other plugins, thanks to its extensive library of action hooks and filters. This makes it highly adaptable to various site requirements.

Pricing: It offers three plans – 1 site for $99/year, 5 sites for $149/year, or Unlimited for $249/year. Take a look at the demo.

MemberPress

MemberPress is a robust membership plugin that also offers powerful content restriction features for WordPress.

Here are its standout features:

• Easy Setup: MemberPress is quick to set up and works seamlessly with any WordPress theme, ensuring smooth integration and a consistent user experience.

• Drip Content: Keep your audience engaged with timed content releases and access expiration. This allows you to control the flow of content and maintain customer interest over time.

• Powerful Access Rules: The plugin provides fine-grained control over who can access specific content. You can restrict access based on membership level or digital product purchase. You can also apply these restrictions to pages, posts, custom post types, categories, tags, and more.

• Single Payment Gateway Integration: MemberPress simplifies payment processing by easily integrating with a single payment gateway, streamlining transactions for your users.

These features make MemberPress an excellent choice for those looking to manage memberships and restrict content in WordPress.

Know more: Best Web Development Services for Membership Sites

Pricing: Select from three plans: Basic at $179.50/year, Plus $269.55/year, or Pro $319.60/year.

Content Control

Content Control is a free WordPress plugin designed to provide ultimate flexibility in content restriction.

Here are its key features:

• Full Content Control: Easily manage and restrict site content access. This gives you the power to control who sees what based on user status, roles, device type, and more.

• Per Block Controls: The plugin offers granular control for Gutenberg and Full Site Editor blocks. This allows you to manage visibility by user roles, device type, and other criteria.

• Responsive Block Controls: It offers customized breakpoints to ensure content visibility adapts seamlessly to different devices.

• Comprehensive Content Restriction: You can restrict access to entire pages, posts, widgets, and even individual blocks based on various factors, such as user roles or device types.

• Membership Tools: Create and manage membership access, offering members-only content to keep your audience engaged and subscribed.

• Seamless Paywall Setup: Implement a paywall with ease, providing content teasers to entice users and prompt them to purchase full access.

• Selective Content Lockdown: Lock down specific content to improve user experiences, ensuring that only the right users can access certain materials.

Pricing: It is free to use. Check out the preview.

Read: Best WordPress Paywall Plugins

Paid Membership Pro

Paid Memberships Pro is a comprehensive WordPress plugin for content restriction, offering extensive options to protect your content.

Here are its key features:

• 100% GPL and Open Source: The plugin is fully open source and GPL-licensed. This gives you the freedom to modify and extend its capabilities.

• Wide Content Restriction: It offers content restriction access to 28 different types of WordPress content, including default pages, single pages, and custom post types.

• Content Dripping: Keep your audience engaged by gradually releasing content over time, ensuring sustained interest and interaction.

• Seamless Integrations: Paid Memberships Pro integrates with popular WordPress plugins, page builders, and third-party services.

Pricing options include: Free core plugin with 29 free Add Ons, Standard at $174/year, Plus $299/year, and Enterprise $5000+.

WP-Members

WP-Members is a free WordPress plugin designed for easy content restriction with customizable and scalable options.

Here are its key features:

• Content Restriction: Easily restrict or hide posts, pages, and custom post types. This allows you to control who can access specific content on your site.

• Menu Item Limitation: Limit menu items to logged-in users, ensuring only authorized users can see certain navigation options.

• Integrated User Management: The plugin integrates user login, registration, and profile management directly into your theme.

• Custom Fields: Create custom registration and profile fields to gather specific user information during sign-up.

• Admin Notifications: Get notified of new user registrations and hold them for admin approval, adding an extra layer of security.

• Automatic Teaser Content: Automatically generate post excerpts to tease content, encouraging users to log in or register for full access.

These features make WP-Members a simple yet powerful solution for WordPress content restriction.

Pricing: Free to download and use.

Find out: How to Boost Your WordPress Membership Site Revenue

ProfilePress

ProfilePress is a modern WordPress plugin that gives you precise control over who can access your content.

Here are its key features:

• Content & Access Restriction: Gain fine-grained control over content visibility. You can restrict access based on your specific protection rules.

• Comprehensive Restriction Options: Easily restrict access to pages, child pages, posts, custom post types, categories, tags, and custom taxonomies. This ensures only the right users can view your content.

• Targeted Upselling: Use powerful targeting tools to upsell subscriptions with the right messaging at the right time and maximize your revenue opportunities.

Pricing: ProfilePress plans include – Standard $129/year for 1 site. Plus $299/year for 3 sites and Agency $499/year for unlimited sites.

SureMembers

SureMembers is a user-friendly WordPress plugin designed to secure and manage content on your site.

Here are its key features:

• Custom Access Rules: Create and enforce custom access rules to control who can view your content. This provides flexibility in managing user access.

• Drip Feed Content: Boost audience engagement by gradually releasing content. This helps maintain interest and subscriptions.

• Flexible Visitor Handling: Decide how to handle visitors who try to access restricted content with options like displaying a login popup for existing members or showing a custom message.

Pricing: Plans for SureMembers include – Pro: $69/year, Business: $99/year, and Agency: $149/year.

WishList Member

WishList Member is a WordPress plugin that offers effortless content protection and membership management.

Here are its key features:

• Simple Setup: The plugin offers an intuitive setup process, allowing you to get started quickly without any technical hassle.

• Complete Content Control: Manage and control who can access your content. This ensures that only the right members see what you want them to.

• Unlimited Membership Levels: Create as many membership levels as you need.

• One-Click Content Protection: Easily protect pages or posts by simply clicking “Protect” in the editor and selecting the membership levels that get access.

Pricing: Plans for Wishlist Member include – Basic $149.50/year, Plus $224.55/year, Pro $279.60/year, and Elite $959.60/year.

Find out: Best WordPress Membership Plugins

Steps on How to Restrict Content in WordPress Via Plugins

While you can opt for any plugin from the list above, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to restrict content in WordPress using the Restrict Content Pro plugin. If you’re using a different plugin, the installation and configuration steps are generally similar.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

First, purchase and download the Restrict Content Pro plugin from the official website. Then, navigate to the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins ⟶ Add New ⟶ Upload the plugin file, and select the restrict-content-pro.zip file to install. Next, click on Activate.

Step 2: Set Up Membership Levels

Go to “Restrict” in the WordPress dashboard and select “Membership Levels.” Create different membership levels based on the access you want to provide, such as free, premium, or VIP.

Step 3: Configure Restriction Settings

Under the “Restrict” tab, select “Settings” to configure global content restriction options. You can specify what happens when non-members attempt to access restricted content, such as showing a custom message or redirecting them to a login page.

Step 4: Restrict Content on Specific Pages or Posts

Scroll down to the “Restrict This Content” section when editing a page or post. Choose the membership level required to access the content. You can restrict the entire page or specific sections within it.

Step 5: Manage Member Subscriptions

Under Restrict ⟶ Members, you can manage all your subscribers, view their membership levels, and handle payments.

Step 6: Monitor Reports and Analytics

Use the built-in reporting tools to track your membership growth, revenue, and content access statistics.

Here’s how the restricted content will be displayed on Live.

Conclusion 

Choosing the right WordPress plugin for content restriction is important for managing user access and protecting valuable content on your website. Whether you need a simple solution or a more comprehensive tool, there are numerous options available. From customizable access rules to seamless integration with other plugins, the right choice can significantly enhance your site’s functionality and user experience. 

Furthermore, setting up content restrictions can be complex, especially for larger or more intricate websites. If you’re unsure about the best approach or need assistance with implementation, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from Seahawk. We will ensure everything is configured correctly and securely. Contact us!