Payment Addon for UserPro 3.1.2

After discussing various designs and traffic tools, we're now looking at the functional "plumbing" of a site. The **Payment Addon for UserPro** is a specific extension designed to transform a standard WordPress site into a paid community or membership hub. 

If you are using **UserPro** for your front-end profiles and member directories, this addon is what allows you to "gate" that content behind a paywall. 

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### ## Core Capabilities 

This addon acts as the bridge between your user profiles and their wallets. Its main functions include: 

* **Paid Memberships:** Create specific "levels" (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold) that users must pay for to access. 
* **One-Time or Recurring:** You can set up a flat fee for lifetime access or a subscription model (monthly/yearly). 
* **Role Triggering:** Once a payment is successful, the addon automatically changes the user's WordPress role (e.g., from "Subscriber" to "Premium Member"). 
* **Restricted Content:** You can lock specific pages, posts, or even parts of a profile so only "Paid" users can see them. 

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### ## Supported Gateways 

Most versions of the UserPro Payment Addon support the big three: 

1. **PayPal:** The most common and easiest to set up. 
2. **Stripe:** Ideal for credit card processing and a more "seamless" checkout feel. 
3. **2Checkout:** Often used for international payments where PayPal/Stripe might be limited. 

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### ## Comparison: UserPro vs. Dedicated Membership Plugins 

| Feature | UserPro + Payment Addon | MemberPress / Restrict Content Pro | 
| --- | --- | --- | 
| **Primary Focus** | **User Profiles & Community.** Best for social-style sites. | **Content Protection.** Best for courses or magazines. | 
| **Visuals** | Very "front-end" focused; beautiful profiles. | Often requires more styling to look "social." | 
| **Setup** | Simple if you already use UserPro. | High learning curve, but more powerful "rules." | 

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### ## 3 Tips for a Secure Membership Site 

1. **SSL is Non-Negotiable:** Never take payments without an active SSL certificate (HTTPS). Most gateways won't even function without it. 
2. **Test with "Sandbox Mode":** Before going live, use the PayPal/Stripe "Sandbox" or "Test" mode to ensure the user role actually changes after payment. There’s nothing worse than a customer paying and not getting access. 
3. **Automatic Emails:** Set up the "Welcome" email in UserPro to trigger immediately after payment, providing the user with a link to their new "Premium" content. 

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### ## Technical Checklist 

* **Base Plugin:** You **must** have the main **UserPro** plugin installed first. This is just an "Addon" and won't work alone. 
* **Currency Settings:** Ensure your currency settings in the addon match your PayPal/Stripe account settings to avoid transaction errors. 
* **Not Nulled (Again!):** Since this handles actual money and sensitive customer data, using a pirated version is a massive risk. A "backdoor" in a payment plugin could allow a hacker to intercept your revenue. 

**Are you planning to set up a one-time fee for a directory, or are you looking to build a monthly subscription-based community?**