How to configure memberships and subscriptions on Ghost

intermediate 12 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Configure memberships and subscriptions on Ghost by enabling members in Settings, connecting Stripe for payments, and creating subscription tiers. Ghost's built-in membership system handles user registration, payment processing, and content access control.

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Prerequisites

Ghost site with admin access
Stripe account for payment processing
Basic understanding of membership tiers
Valid SSL certificate on your Ghost site

Step-by-Step Instructions

Enable Members in Ghost Settings

Navigate to Settings → Members in your Ghost admin panel. Toggle on Enable members to activate the membership functionality. Set your Default access to determine who can view your content by default (Public, Members only, or Paid members only). Configure your Subscription access settings to control which content requires paid membership.

Start with 'Public' default access while setting up your membership structure, then adjust once everything is configured.

Connect Stripe for Payment Processing

In Settings → Members, scroll to the Payments section. Click Connect with Stripe and follow the OAuth flow to link your Stripe account. Alternatively, manually enter your Publishable key and Secret key from your Stripe dashboard. Set your Currency and configure Subscription settings including trial periods if desired.

Use Stripe's test mode initially to verify everything works before switching to live payments.

Create Membership Tiers

Go to Settings → Tiers to set up your subscription plans. Click Add tier to create new membership levels. For each tier, configure the Name, Description, Monthly price, Yearly price (with optional discount), and Benefits list. Set the Portal settings to control which tiers appear on your signup forms.

Offer a significant discount (15-20%) for yearly subscriptions to encourage longer commitments.

Configure Member Portal Settings

In Settings → Members, customize the Portal settings section. Choose which Portal buttons to display (Sign up, Subscribe, Account). Customize the Portal page colors and branding to match your site. Configure Free signup options and determine whether to allow Self-signup or require invitations only.

Enable the account portal so members can easily manage their subscriptions and billing information.

Set Up Email Configuration

Navigate to Settings → Email newsletter to configure email settings for member communications. Set up your Mailgun integration or use Ghost's default email service. Configure Newsletter settings including sender name and email address. Set up Member email templates for signup confirmations, subscription receipts, and newsletters.

Test your email configuration by sending yourself a test newsletter before launching memberships.

Create Members-Only Content

When creating or editing posts, use the Post access settings in the post editor. Choose between Public, Members only, Paid-members only, or Specific tiers to control access. For specific tiers, select which membership levels can access the content. Use the Excerpt field to provide a preview for non-members.

Create a mix of free and paid content to give potential subscribers a taste of your premium offerings.

Test the Complete Member Journey

Visit your site in an incognito window and test the complete membership flow. Click Subscribe or Sign up buttons to verify the portal appears correctly. Complete a test subscription using Stripe's test card numbers. Verify that Member-only content is properly gated and accessible after subscription. Test the Account portal for subscription management.

Document the member journey and create a welcome email sequence to onboard new subscribers effectively.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Stripe connection fails or shows errors

Verify your Stripe account is fully activated and not in restricted mode. Check that your API keys are correct and that your Ghost site has a valid SSL certificate. Ensure your Stripe account supports your chosen currency.

Members can't access paid content after subscribing

Check the Post access settings on your content and verify the member's subscription status in Members dashboard. Ensure the subscription payment was successfully processed in your Stripe dashboard and the webhook is properly configured.

Signup portal doesn't appear or looks broken

Clear your browser cache and check Portal settings in Members configuration. Verify that Portal buttons are enabled and the portal preview shows correctly. Check for JavaScript conflicts with your Ghost theme.

Email notifications aren't being sent

Verify your Email newsletter configuration and test your Mailgun integration. Check your email sender domain is properly verified and not blacklisted. Review the Email settings and ensure SMTP credentials are correct if using custom email service.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Ghost website before purchasing.

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