ONL Posted September 8, 2021 Posted September 8, 2021 Site URL: http://www.nourishedmag.com Hi all, I am trying to add paid members only pages to an existing site. I have added the member areas add on from Squarespace and trying to figure it out. And, I just stumbled on Sentry login, which, is cheaper. So, I am wondering if anyone has done a comparison and what the pros of using Squarespace's native member areas are ? Also, as part of this paywalled site, I am added a forum hosted on Discourse. Does anyone know how I can disable access to non-paying members or those who have cancelled their membership? Thanks Asha
paul2009 Posted September 9, 2021 Posted September 9, 2021 Some of these third party tools have some great features, many of which are more advanced than Member Areas. They’ve been around for longer and know their target market really well. Member Areas does still have some missing features, but it is the only solution that truly protects text content on pages* with a high level of authentication, so the choice will ultimately depend on your risk appetite. None of the third party tools can truly protect Squarespace on-page content. It’s not technically possible for them to do so. If you need a lightweight privacy shield that’s not protecting any important or personal data (think data protection legislation) then third party solutions may be good enough. They provide what I describe as a ‘chocolate fireguard’; it looks good but the pages are hidden underneath and can be viewed by anyone with a little technical knowledge. Sharing some recipes for a small monthly sum? They may be good enough. Sharing names, addresses and telephone numbers of other members? You need a better solution. *Note that if someone shares the url of an image or attachment, this will be accessible to anyone. Me: I'm Paul, a SQSP user for >18 yrs & Circle Leader since 2017. I value honesty, transparency, diversity and good design ♥. Work: Founder of SF.DIGITAL. We provide high quality original extensions to supercharge your Squarespace website. Content: Views and opinions are my own. Links in my posts may refer to my own SF.DIGITAL products or may be affiliate links. Forum advice is completely free. You can thank me by selecting a feedback emoji. Buying a coffee is generous but optional.
ONL Posted September 9, 2021 Author Posted September 9, 2021 Thanks Paul that is helpful! To be fair, it is also more convenient to go with the Squarespace solution than attempt an integration. A tag on question - I have a Discourse forum linked within the member area. Obviously, anyone who picks up the link to the Discourse can create an account to be part of the forum. So two questions - Is there anyway to prevent non-paid members from accessing the Discourse? If that is not possible, can I split the member area to be part free (for the forum) and the rest paid? Thanks Asha
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