If you are looking to build a membership site, chances are you want to be able to create unlimited numbers of membership levels, have an advanced members management interface that has the ability to search for specific users, edit their registration date, edit their membership levels etc, set subscription lengths for membership levels as well as be able to customize the after login page and import and export members through a CSV file. Let’s not forget that you are also probably looking to sell multiple products and create bundles. Luckily both these plugins handle these kind of features but deciding which is right for you will make all the difference for your and your customers’ ease of use.

Let’s take a walkthrough on the features that will matter when making this decision for you.

Protection
Both plugins offer the option of being able to set and manage vital protection settings within your membership site. You are looking at being able to create unlimited number of both free and paid membership levels, allow partial or complete protection that can be seen from within the members’ area only, allow for sneak peak content to be displayed to non-members. This kind of content preview is important as it can be scanned by Google. If you so wish, you are able to set up ‘drip’ fed membership content at your own discretion. You are also able to use the pay-per-post feature to sell posts individually to customers.

Payment

Payment models are pretty well integrated between both membership platforms. While wishlist allows you to define trial periods, upsells and one-time offers depending on the payment gateway you are using. Wishlist works with the ClickBank’s Pitch and Stripe upsells. You are also able to create discount coupons using a plugin you can get that allows you to sell unlimited numbers of coupons while defining different settings and limitations on those coupons.

DAP gives you the ability to set up one-time offer deals as well as 1 and 2-click upsells when you make use of Paypal standard (in the premium membership) and downsells as well as cross-sells. You are also able to create an unlimited number of coupons and all these features are standard built-in features within DAP and not separate plugins you need to purchase in order to gain access to the specific feature.

Shopping Carts

Wishlist integrates with the following shopping carts:

  • PayPal Standard
  • PayPal Pro
  • ClickBank
  • InfusionSoft
  • Authorize.net
  • Stripe
  • Premium Web Cart
  • JVZoo
  • 2CheckOut
  • SamCart
  • eWay
  • 1ShoppingCart
  • Cydec
  • Pin Payments
  • Recurly
  • Red Oak Cart
  • Sam Cart
  • Ultra Cart

While DAP integrates with the following shopping carts:

  • 1SiteAutomation (1ShoppingCart and all private labels)
  • 2Checkout.com
  • Authorize.net
  • CCBill.com
  • ClickBank for both Subscription Products and One-Time Products for Instant Downloads as well as for Recurring Billing
  • ClickBank PitchPlus (1-Click Upsells)
  • DigiResults
  • DealGuardian
  • e-Junkie
  • Google Checkout
  • Infusionsoft
  • JVZoo
  • Nanacast
  • Ontraport (prev. Office Auto Pilot)
  • Paypal Standard
  • Paypal Sandbox
  • Paypal Website Payments Pro (legacy)
  • Paypal Express Checkout
  • Premium Web Cart
  • Plimus
  • Stripe.com
  • Warrior Plus
  • WorldPay
  • WP eStore storefront plugin
  • Zaxaa

Autoresponders Integration

A pretty vital tool when you have a membership site is how you choose to communicate with the growing list of customers you have signed up to your site. This is done with autoresponders and automations that can be setup to notify or even aid in the member site process.

Wishlist has the following integrations:

  • GetResponse
  • Aweber
  • MailChimp
  • Constant Contact
  • iContact
  • OntraPort
  • Mad Mimi
  • Inspire Email Marketer
  • InfusionSoft
  • MaroPost
  • AutoResponse Plus
  • arpReach
  • Active Campaign

While DAP has the following:

  • Aweber
  • GetResponse
  • 1ShoppingCart’s autoresponder
  • MailChimp
  • SendReach

Affiliate and Forums Integrations

If you are into affiliate marketing, Wishlist has been adapted to most of the more popular affiliate platforms out there which include iDevAffiliate, Affiliate Royale and AffiliateWP

DAP similarly has affiliate integration capability with a built-in affiliate module with many advanced features such as: lifetime commissions, 2-tier commissions, affiliate tracking and more. This affiliate module is available on all DAP plans.

When it comes to setting up a forum inside your membership area Wishlist also complies and is functional with platforms like SimplePress, Vanilla Forums and bbPress (when using the Wishlist bbPress protection plugin).

DAP integrates with the following WordPress-based plugins:

  • vBulletin
  • XenForo
  • WP-Forum
  • bbPress
  • Simple:Press

Costing

Two plans are offered with Wishlist – that being the single license (at $97) and the unlimited licence (at $297). Both of these options offer access to things like support and tutorial videos and documentation. It really just depends on what you are planning to do.

DAP has 3 one-time plans ranging from $167 – $497 as well as a monthly plan (at $39.99). The monthly plan comes with all the features while the one-time plans (depending on which you choose) can offer less but again, this really does all come down to what you need to achieve.

Conclusion

Both of these membership platforms are able to offer you a really good array of features in terms of their settings and integrations but comparing them can be pretty interesting as they are different from a user perspective. However, saying this, it is important to keep in mind that the core functionality, features and overall effectiveness comes down to the same thing albeit in a different way. The final decision all comes down to how you wish to setup and manage your membership site rather than what the core features are in their individual context. In other words, you need to identify what it is you are trying to get done and see which platform best serves that need as well as how user friendly it is to manage.

Always remember that the platform you choose in the end if supportive of all the features and settings you will need in order to build and ultimately manage your own membership site.