Thread

Can anyone recommend a good, simple membership subscription module?  I did a quick search and the pickings are slim, not to mention some reviews that are less than encouraging.

Here is what I need:

Handle payment using PayPal or Authorize.net during the member registration process and automate assigning the new member to a selected member group upon payment success.

Automated recurring payments.

Thanks for any advice!

Roi

I think Membrr is probably your best bet, but the installation is a little fiddly as you also need to install OpenGateway.

Thanks, Andrew.  I agree that it is the best of the lot, but its pretty expensive and, as you pointed out, a bit more complicated than I would like.  Aside from the installation issue, I understand that the client will eventually have to deal with two log ins when making changes.

I was ready to buy CartThrob, (which is essentially the same price and offers a full blown eCommerce solution, but they do not support recurring payments, despite a rather vague reference to the fact that they do or soon will.  Bummer…

Roi, you should check the cartthrob forums as they are currently in beta testing for a subscription add-on for cartthrob.

I don’t know the details of what it does but it may solve your issues.

http://cartthrob.com/forums/viewthread/5053/

Thanks, Euan.  CartThrob was my original choice until I discovered the “beta” status of the subscription bit.  I might be able to postpone until release, but from what I can see on their forum the beta period has been rather lengthy and no release date has been predicted.  Meanwhile, my client is breathing down my neck for a solution to what he perceives to be a simple request.  To make matters worse, he reminds me that there would be no issue here if I had used WordPress as he originally requested.

This is one the biggest frustrations I have with EE.  There are so many common things that are either not available in the basic package or which require pricey addons.

You’re right that when using Membrr you’ll have 2 logins, but once you’re setup the Membrr login is rarely needed. I been using it on a site for a couple of years and generally only use the Membrr login after an upgrade to make sure it’s still breathing. For the hassle free experience you get the price is well worth it. Having said that, I’m a CT Subscriptions beta tester, and I’ll be moving over to it once it’s released and settled in.

Thanks for that, Lee - I am pretty much committed to waiting for CT to release their subscription feature.  Just makes so much more sense.  The fact that you, as a beta tester, are thinking the same makes me feel much more comfortable with that decision!

The requirements you list (Paypal and recurring payments) could be met with the (native) Simple Commerce Module:

http://ellislab.com/expressionengine/user-guide/modules/simple_commerce/index.html#recurring-payments

Thanks!  Have not looked at that in quite a while as it never really met my needs, but looks like it will do the trick in the short term, until CT releases their subscription version.  Still need Authorize.net as a payment gateway, and want to be able to sell other items.

You can sell >1 item using SCM.