Ultimate Member Stripe Integration Guide

Extensions Updated November 18, 2025

Want to monetize your membership site? The Ultimate Member Stripe extension lets you accept payments and manage subscriptions directly through your WordPress site. It’s one of the most popular extensions because it turns Ultimate Member into a complete membership monetization platform.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting up Stripe integration step by step. We’ll cover everything from creating your Stripe account to configuring recurring subscriptions. Let’s get started!

Why Use Stripe with Ultimate Member?

Stripe is one of the most popular payment processors, and for good reason:

  • Secure payment processing
  • Support for subscriptions and one-time payments
  • Global payment methods
  • Mobile-friendly checkout
  • Detailed payment reporting

When combined with Ultimate Member, Stripe lets you create paid membership sites where users pay to access content or features.

Getting Started with Stripe

Before you can integrate Stripe, you’ll need a Stripe account:

Creating a Stripe Account

If you don’t have one yet:

  1. Visit stripe.com and click “Start Now”
  2. Enter your email and create a password
  3. Complete the account setup process
  4. Verify your email address
  5. Add your business information
  6. Connect your bank account

The setup process is straightforward. Stripe will guide you through each step.

Getting Your API Keys

Once your account is set up, you’ll need API keys:

  1. Log into your Stripe dashboard
  2. Go to Developers → API Keys
  3. Copy your Publishable Key and Secret Key
  4. Keep these secure – you’ll need them for the extension

Stripe provides test keys for testing and live keys for production. Use test keys while setting up, then switch to live keys when ready.

Installing the Stripe Extension

Now let’s install the Ultimate Member Stripe extension:

Download the Extension

If you’ve purchased the extension:

  1. Log into your Ultimate Member account
  2. Go to Downloads
  3. Download the Stripe extension zip file

Install and Activate

To install:

  1. Go to WordPress → Plugins → Add New
  2. Click “Upload Plugin”
  3. Choose the Stripe extension zip file
  4. Click “Install Now”
  5. Activate the plugin

Once activated, you’ll see Stripe options in your Ultimate Member settings.

Configuring Stripe Settings

Now let’s configure the extension:

Basic Configuration

Go to Ultimate Member → Settings → Extensions → Stripe and enter:

  • Publishable Key (from Stripe dashboard)
  • Secret Key (from Stripe dashboard)
  • Test Mode (enable for testing)

Make sure to use test keys while setting up, then switch to live keys when ready to accept real payments.

Webhook Configuration

Webhooks let Stripe notify your site about payment events:

  1. In Stripe dashboard, go to Developers → Webhooks
  2. Click “Add Endpoint”
  3. Enter your webhook URL (provided in Ultimate Member settings)
  4. Select events to listen for
  5. Save the webhook
  6. Copy the webhook signing secret to Ultimate Member settings

Webhooks are important – they ensure payment status updates happen automatically.

Creating Payment Plans

Payment plans define what members pay and what they get:

Setting Up Plans

In Ultimate Member → Settings → Extensions → Stripe → Plans:

  1. Click “Add New Plan”
  2. Give your plan a name
  3. Set the price (one-time or recurring)
  4. Choose billing interval (monthly, yearly, etc.)
  5. Assign a user role for this plan
  6. Save your plan

Plan Types

You can create different plan types:

  • One-Time Payment – Single payment for lifetime access
  • Monthly Subscription – Recurring monthly payments
  • Yearly Subscription – Recurring yearly payments
  • Custom Interval – Any billing interval you want

Think about what makes sense for your membership model. Monthly subscriptions are common, but one-time payments work well for courses or lifetime access.

Connecting Plans to Content

Once you have plans set up, connect them to content:

Role-Based Access

When someone purchases a plan, they’re assigned to a specific role. Then you can restrict content to that role:

  1. Create a user role for each plan
  2. Assign the role in plan settings
  3. Restrict content to that role

This creates a seamless flow: payment → role assignment → content access.

Content Restriction

Use Ultimate Member’s content restriction to protect premium content:

  • Restrict pages to specific roles
  • Protect posts by role
  • Create member-only areas

Content restriction works automatically with Stripe-assigned roles.

Payment Pages and Checkout

You need pages where members can purchase plans:

Creating Payment Pages

Create pages for each plan or a general pricing page:

  1. Create a new page
  2. Add plan information and pricing
  3. Add the payment button shortcode
  4. Publish the page

Payment Button Shortcodes

Use shortcodes to add payment buttons:

[um_stripe_button plan_id="123"]

Replace 123 with your plan ID. The button will handle the entire checkout process.

Checkout Process

The checkout process is handled by Stripe:

  • Secure payment form
  • Card validation
  • Payment processing
  • Automatic role assignment
  • Email notifications

Stripe handles all the security and compliance, so you don’t have to worry about storing payment information.

Subscription Management

For recurring subscriptions, members need to manage them:

Member Account Area

Members can manage subscriptions from their account page:

  • View current subscription
  • Update payment method
  • Cancel subscription
  • View payment history

This is handled automatically by the extension – no extra setup needed.

Subscription Lifecycle

Understand how subscriptions work:

  • Active – Member has access
  • Past Due – Payment failed, retrying
  • Canceled – Member canceled, access removed
  • Expired – Subscription ended

The extension handles role changes automatically based on subscription status.

Testing Your Setup

Always test before going live:

Using Test Mode

Stripe provides test cards for testing:

  • Use test API keys
  • Use test card numbers (4242 4242 4242 4242)
  • Test successful payments
  • Test failed payments
  • Test subscription flows

    • Test mode lets you verify everything works without processing real payments.

    What to Test

    Test these scenarios:

    • One-time payment flow
    • Subscription signup
    • Role assignment after payment
    • Content access after payment
    • Subscription cancellation
    • Payment failure handling
    • Webhook processing

    Thorough testing prevents issues with real customers.

    Going Live

    When you’re ready to accept real payments:

    Switch to Live Mode

    1. Get your live API keys from Stripe
    2. Update Ultimate Member settings with live keys
    3. Disable test mode
    4. Update webhook to use live endpoint
    5. Test with a small real payment

    Make sure everything works in live mode before promoting your paid memberships.

    Managing Payments and Subscriptions

    You can manage everything from WordPress:

    Payment Dashboard

    View payments in Ultimate Member → Extensions → Stripe:

    • See all transactions
    • View subscription status
    • Manage refunds
    • Export payment data

    Member Management

    Manage member subscriptions:

    • View member payment history
    • Manually assign plans
    • Cancel subscriptions
    • Issue refunds

    Good payment management helps you provide excellent customer service.

    Common Issues and Solutions

    Here are common Stripe integration issues:

    Payments Not Processing

    If payments fail:

    • Check API keys are correct
    • Verify webhook is configured
    • Check Stripe account status
    • Review error logs

    Roles Not Assigning

    If roles don’t assign after payment:

    • Check plan role settings
    • Verify webhook is working
    • Check user role permissions
    • Test webhook endpoint

    Webhook Issues

    If webhooks don’t work:

    • Verify webhook URL is correct
    • Check webhook signing secret
    • Test webhook endpoint
    • Check server can receive webhooks

    Best Practices

    Tips for successful Stripe integration:

    • Test thoroughly – Use test mode extensively
    • Monitor payments – Check dashboard regularly
    • Handle failures – Set up email notifications
    • Provide support – Help members with payment issues
    • Keep updated – Update extension regularly
    • Backup data – Export payment records

    Advanced Features

    Once comfortable with basics, explore advanced features:

    Coupon Codes

    Create discount codes for promotions:

    • Percentage discounts
    • Fixed amount discounts
    • Limited-time offers
    • Usage limits

    Tax Handling

    Configure tax collection:

    • Automatic tax calculation
    • Manual tax rates
    • Tax by location

    Email Notifications

    Customize payment emails:

    • Payment receipts
    • Subscription confirmations
    • Payment failure notices
    • Renewal reminders

    Next Steps

    Now that Stripe is integrated, consider:

    • Creating multiple pricing tiers
    • Setting up promotional campaigns
    • Integrating with email marketing
    • Adding payment analytics

    Stripe integration opens up many monetization possibilities. Take time to set it up correctly, test thoroughly, and you’ll have a professional payment system that works seamlessly with your membership site.