PublishPress – Permissions is a plugin for advanced WordPress permissions that allows you to customize the viewing, editing, and reading access for all your content. It provides granular control over individual posts, pages, and custom post types beyond the native WordPress core settings. Administrators can decide exactly which roles, users, or custom groups can interact with specific site elements.
WPExclusive members get access to Permissions as part of a full plugin and theme library, with plans starting from $9.99/month. See the full PublishPress collection →
What Is PublishPress – Permissions?
PublishPress – Permissions is developed by PublishPress and is a publishing plugin for WordPress. It is designed to handle complex rights management that the standard WordPress role system cannot accommodate. It belongs to the publishing category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for content managers and editorial teams.
The plugin solves the problem of “all or nothing” access by allowing site owners to restrict or enable content on a per-post or per-term basis. It is built for multi-author blogs, corporate intranets, and membership sites that require strict content silos.
PublishPress – Permissions Features
The feature set is built around providing a professional rights management framework for WordPress content creators.
Granular Content Access
Permissions allows you to customize viewing and editing access for every individual piece of content. You can open any Post, Page, or custom post type and decide which Roles, Groups, or Users can view or edit it. This extends to taxonomies, where you can give very specific permissions to a user role based on a particular category or tag, ensuring users only see what is relevant to them.
Custom User Groups
The plugin enables the creation of custom user groups without the need to create entirely new WordPress roles. This is useful when you want to grant several specific users access to a single post or section. Instead of modifying global role capabilities, you add those users to a group and apply the permissions directly to that group, making administration much cleaner.
Advanced Workflow and Privacy Statuses
Beyond the default Draft and Published statuses, the plugin allows you to design advanced workflows with custom statuses. Each status can have its own unique set of permissions. You can also create privacy statuses, such as a “Premium” status for paying members or a “Staff” status for internal content, ensuring visibility is strictly controlled based on the content’s current state.
Media Library and Teaser Control
Permissions provides detailed control over the Media Library, allowing you to decide who can edit or view specific files. It also includes a teaser feature, which displays a small snippet of unreadable content to the public while keeping the main body protected. This is an effective strategy for conversion and SEO while maintaining content security.
Pricing
Check current pricing on the Permissions sales page — WPExclusive members access it as part of their plan.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PublishPress Individual | $129/year | 1 Site | Pro Features + Support |
| PublishPress Business | $249/year | 5 Sites | Pro Features + Support |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | Permissions + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers Permissions plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
Latest Version
The plugin receives regular updates to maintain compatibility with the latest WordPress releases. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release to ensure members have access to the newest security patches and features.
How to Install
- Download the Permissions .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to the Permissions menu in your dashboard to begin configuring group settings
- Open any Post or Page to find the new Permissions box for per-content access control
Use Cases
Internal Corporate Intranets
Companies can use Permissions to create staff-only pages or departments-specific documentation. By utilizing the privacy statuses, sensitive information can be restricted to specific user groups while remaining hosted on the primary site in the publishing workflow.
Membership and Premium Content Sites
Site owners can display teasers of high-value articles to the general public to drive SEO and interest, while requiring a specific group membership to read the full text. This allows for a flexible paywall-style system without complex membership software.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Developers can deploy Permissions across various client projects to lock down specific dashboard areas or content sections that clients should not modify. A WPExclusive membership makes this cost-effective by allowing unlimited site installations under one subscription.
vs Alternatives
| Feature | Permissions | PublishPress Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Specific Pages | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Edit Posts in Category | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Install/Activate Plugins | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $129/year | $69/year |
| Available on WPExclusive | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Browse the full publishing plugins on WPExclusive →
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Offers content-specific access control that is missing from the WordPress core roles system
- Ability to create custom user groups without modifying the global site-wide roles
- Detailed synchronization features that can automatically link users to specific personal pages
⚠️ Limitations
- The interface can be complex for beginners due to the high number of granular settings
- Does not handle site-wide administrative capabilities like installing plugins (use PublishPress Capabilities for that)
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is PublishPress – Permissions GPL Licensed?
Yes. PublishPress – Permissions is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the same license that governs WordPress itself. GPL gives any user the legal right to use, study, share, and redistribute the software. This is the legal framework that makes WPExclusive’s membership model possible.
WPExclusive distributes 100% original, unmodified files, the same release the developer publishes. No injected code, no alterations, and no security risks.
Get PublishPress – Permissions on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime, giving you PublishPress – Permissions plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full PublishPress collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PublishPress – Permissions do?
PublishPress – Permissions is a content-specific access control plugin. Permissions allows you to define exactly who can see or edit specific posts, pages, and categories based on users, roles, or custom groups.
Is PublishPress – Permissions free?
There is a core version available on WordPress.org, but the Pro features like Media Library access and custom statuses are premium. You can access the Pro version via WPExclusive from $9.99/month.
What is the latest version of PublishPress – Permissions?
The plugin is actively maintained. WPExclusive members always receive the most current release as soon as it is uploaded to our library.
How much does PublishPress – Permissions cost?
Retail pricing starts at $129 per year for a single site. Via WPExclusive, it is included in membership plans from $9.99/month.
Is it legal to use PublishPress – Permissions via WPExclusive?
The plugin is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files, which is fully within GPL terms.
What is the difference between Permissions and Capabilities?
Permissions handles access to specific content like one single page or category. Capabilities handles global site permissions like the ability to install plugins or edit themes.
