Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On is a membership management extension that gives site administrators the ability to approve or deny membership applications. It ensures only qualified individuals gain access to premium content by holding registrations in a pending state until manual review. This add-on is essential for private communities or professional organizations requiring strict member vetting.
WPExclusive members get access to the Approvals Add On as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full Paid Memberships Pro collection →
What Is Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On?
Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On is developed by Paid Memberships Pro and is a membership plugin for WordPress. It belongs to the membership category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for building gated communities. This specific extension addresses the need for moderated enrollment rather than open registration.
The plugin solves the problem of unwanted users or bots gaining instant access to sensitive material. It is designed for site owners who need to verify credentials or professional backgrounds before granting full member privileges.
Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On Features
The core feature set is built around a centralized administrative dashboard where all pending applications are listed for quick processing.
Two-Step Registration Workflow
The plugin supports a complex two-step membership application model. You can set a primary level to require an approved membership from a secondary “application level” before the user can complete the final checkout. This is perfect for membership sites that want to charge an application fee separately from the recurring subscription fee.
Granular Content Restriction
Members pending approval are restricted from viewing members-only content until an admin clicks the approve link. If an application is denied, the user is permanently blocked from restricted areas. This ensures that the “pending” status acts as a true gatekeeper for your site assets.
Automated Email Notifications
The plugin includes five unique email templates including admin notifications for new applications and member alerts for approval or denial. These templates use standard data variables like user login and membership level name. Admins can customize these messages through the WordPress admin email settings to match their brand tone.
Pricing
Check current pricing on the Approvals Add On sales page — WPExclusive members access it as part of their plan.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Memberships Pro Premium | $247/year | 1-5 | Full Add-on Suite |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | Approvals Add On + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers the Approvals Add On plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
Latest Version
The current version is 1.8. The plugin receives regular updates to maintain compatibility with the core Paid Memberships Pro framework. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release.
How to Install
- Download the Approvals Add On .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to Memberships → Membership Levels and edit the level you wish to restrict.
- Locate the Approval Settings heading and select “Yes. Admin must approve new members for this level.”
Use Cases
Professional Societies and Certification Bodies
Verify professional licenses or credentials before allowing a member to access proprietary membership resources or directories. This maintains the integrity of the organization.
Exclusive Networking Groups
Curate a high-quality community by manually vetting each applicant to ensure they meet specific criteria or have been referred by existing members.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Agencies can deploy this workflow across multiple client projects without purchasing individual licenses for every domain. A WPExclusive membership makes this cost-effective for large-scale development.
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Centralized dashboard for processing all applications from one screen.
- Flexible two-step models allowing for separate application and membership fees.
- Comprehensive notification system keeps both admins and applicants informed of status changes.
⚠️ Limitations
- It does not automatically refund initial payments if an application is denied; refunds must be handled manually.
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On GPL Licensed?
Yes. Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On 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, no security risks.
Get Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full Paid Memberships Pro collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On do?
Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On is a membership plugin used to create an application-based registration system. The Approvals Add On allows administrators to review, approve, or deny membership requests before access to restricted content is granted.
Is Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On free?
This is a premium extension. While a basic version of the core plugin is available on WordPress.org, the Approvals Add On requires a premium license or a WPExclusive membership starting from $9.99/month.
What is the latest version of Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On?
The current version is 1.8. The plugin is actively maintained — WPExclusive members always receive the most current release.
How much does Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On cost?
Retail pricing is included in PMPro plans starting at $247/year. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month.
Is it legal to use Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On via WPExclusive?
The plugin is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
Can I charge an application fee with Paid Memberships Pro – Approvals Add On?
Yes, the plugin supports a two-step process where you can charge a fee on an application level and then charge the actual membership subscription once the user has been approved.
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