Paid Memberships Pro: How to Add an Ad-Free Membership To Your WordPress Site
If you’re monetizing your blog or publication through ads, you’ve likely run into a familiar dilemma: some of your most loyal readers are the ones most annoyed by intrusive advertising. That was the challenge I faced on Martech Zone. I didn’t want to alienate regular readers, but I still needed a way to support the site financially. The solution? Introduce a simple $10 annual membership using Paid Memberships Pro that removes ads entirely for logged-in users.
Paid Memberships Pro
Paid Memberships Pro made it easy to set up an ad-free membership experience, allowing readers to opt-in for a distraction-free experience while supporting the site. With over 90,000 businesses using Paid Memberships Pro and a decade-plus track record, it’s a mature, well-supported platform with endless flexibility for customizing member experiences.
Once installed, Paid Memberships Pro provided me with the tools to create membership levels, restrict content, allow ad blockers for members (although they didn’t need them), add a daily newsletter subscription, and—most importantly—wrap my advertising scripts so they only display for non-members.
The platform integrates seamlessly with WordPress and includes built-in support for Stripe and PayPal, as well as custom profile fields, registration forms, and content restriction options that extend far beyond paywalls.
Members View
Non-Members View
Here’s how I implemented the ad-free experience using Paid Memberships Pro:
Conditional Ad Display Using PHP
To hide ads from logged-in members, I wrapped my ad code using the the shortcode for membership provided by Paid Memberships Pro.
Header Code
[membership level="0"]
<meta name="google-adsense-account" content="ca-pub-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx">
[/membership]Footer Code
By dynamically executing the footer code, I can utilize any of the optimized offerings, such as sidebar and vignette ads.
[membership level="0"]
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
[/membership]Each Ad Spot
You’ll see additional code in this one to control the alignment of the advertisement as well as hardcoded dimensions so that the CLS isn’t broken on the site by different ad sizes.
[membership level="0"]
<style>
.headerad{width:728px;height:90px;max-width:728px;max-height:90px;overflow:hidden;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}
@media(max-width:767px){.headerad{width:320px;height:100px;max-width:320px;max-height:100px}}
</style>
<div class="aligncenter headerad">
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:100%;height:100%"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-5668074111008717"
data-ad-slot="1024586214"
data-ad-format="fixed"
data-full-width-responsive="false"></ins>
<script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script>
</div>
[/membership]This logic ensures that only non-members (or members of other levels) see ads. It’s clean, straightforward, and doesn’t require modifying your theme deeply.
Why Paid Memberships Pro Was the Right Fit
Paid Memberships Pro stands out because of its adaptability. Whether you’re running a newsletter, community, online course, or, like me, a content-heavy publication, the platform molds to your model, not the other way around. I didn’t have to compromise on design or workflow. It works with Elementor, The Events Calendar, bbPress, Zapier, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and more.
Here are just a few of the core capabilities that make Paid Memberships Pro a comprehensive solution:
- Add-ons: Enhance core functionality with over 60 free and premium add-ons, including Member Directories, Drip Content, Advanced Level Pages, and WooCommerce integrations.
- Content Restriction: Protect posts, pages, categories, or even block-level content in the block editor.
- Customization Tools: Tailor registration forms, profile fields, dashboards, and email templates without touching core code.
- Developer Friendly: 100% open source with extensive hooks, filters, and documentation for advanced customizations.
- Integrations: Connect with platforms like Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp, Zapier, LearnDash, BuddyBoss, and more.
- Membership Levels: Create unlimited tiers with different pricing models—free, one-time, recurring, or trials.
- Reports & Dashboards: Visualize member retention, revenue, and activity through intuitive dashboards and custom reports.
- User Access Management: Restrict access by role, membership level, or even custom capabilities.
With these tools, you can launch a completely customized experience for readers, clients, or learners—and continue refining it as your business grows.
Getting Started with Paid Memberships Pro
Offering an ad-free membership tier with Paid Memberships Pro not only gave my readers a better experience—it gave me a more sustainable revenue path. If you’re looking to provide more value to your audience while creating recurring income, Paid Memberships Pro is the membership engine to build on.
Installing Paid Memberships Pro is as simple as installing any WordPress plugin. Once activated, you’ll be guided through setting up your first membership level, payment gateway, and content restrictions. There’s no lock-in: the core plugin is free and open source, and you can upgrade only if you need advanced features or support.
Use this limited-time introductory offer to get started: Save 50% on your first year of any plan using the coupon code FIRSTYEAR50.
Get Started with Paid Memberships Pro Today!
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