FAQ / Aide

What does WPProfileEngine actually do?

WPProfileEngine turns a standard WordPress site into a full membership platform. It adds four core systems: (1) a Role Engine to create unlimited custom membership tiers, (2) a Field Builder to add custom fields to registration and profile pages, (3) a Paywall to restrict any content to specific roles, and (4) Stripe integration to accept one-time or recurring subscription payments — with automatic role assignment when a payment succeeds.

Is WPProfileEngine free?

The core plugin is free and includes: creating up to 3 custom roles, up to 10 profile fields, page/post restriction, a basic member directory, and email notifications. The Pro version (paid) removes all limits and adds Stripe payments, recurring subscriptions, auto role assignment via webhooks, field visibility per role, advanced member directory filters, CSV export, and priority support.

What are the minimum requirements?

WordPress 6.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher. Any standard web host (Apache or Nginx) works. For Stripe payments you need HTTPS (SSL certificate) on your domain — virtually all modern hosts provide this for free via Let's Encrypt.

Does it work with my theme and page builder?

Yes. WPProfileEngine uses native WordPress hooks and standard WP user meta. It works with any theme — Astra, Kadence, Divi, Elementor, Bricks, GeneratePress, etc. The shortcodes and Gutenberg blocks work inside any page builder. Tested with Elementor, Divi, Oxygen, and Bricks.

How many custom roles can I create?

Unlimited in Pro. The free version allows up to 3 custom roles in addition to the standard WordPress roles (Subscriber, Contributor, Author, Editor, Administrator). Each role can have its own set of capabilities, and you can clone any existing role to speed up setup.

Can I assign a role to a user manually from the admin?

Yes. Go to Users → All Users, click on a user, and select any role from the Role dropdown — including your custom WPProfileEngine roles. You can also bulk-assign roles from the Members dashboard using the bulk action dropdown.

What happens to a user's role when their subscription expires?

When a Stripe subscription is cancelled or a payment fails, a webhook fires and WPProfileEngine automatically removes the paid role and restores the user to the default role (Subscriber, or a custom free tier you define). This happens in real time — no cron job delays.

What types of custom fields are supported?

WPProfileEngine supports 20+ field types: text, number, email, URL, phone, textarea, select (dropdown), multi-select, radio buttons, checkboxes, date picker, date-of-birth (with age display), file upload, profile photo/avatar, color picker, range/slider, and hidden (admin-only). All field values are stored as standard WordPress user meta.

Where do custom fields appear on the front end?

Fields appear in two places: (1) the registration form — visible to new users signing up, and (2) the profile edit page — where logged-in users can update their information. You choose which fields appear where, and whether they are required or optional. Fields also appear in the admin user profile.

Can I show different fields to different roles?

Yes. In the field settings you can configure visibility per role. For example, a "Company Name" field only shows for Business members, while "Date of Birth" is visible to all. This works for both the registration form and the profile edit page.

Can I create a photo/avatar upload field for dating profiles?

Yes. The profile photo field handles upload, resizing, and cropping in the browser before saving. Images are stored in wp-content/uploads like any other WordPress media. You control the dimensions, accepted file types (JPEG, PNG, WebP), and max upload size. Multiple photo fields are supported for galleries.

How do I restrict a page to Premium members only?

In the WordPress block editor, open the WPProfileEngine panel in the sidebar. Select which role(s) are allowed to access the content. Non-authorized visitors see a customizable message or get redirected to a login/upgrade page. You can set a global default redirect or configure it per page.

Can I show a teaser to free visitors before the paywall?

Yes. Use the [wpe_restrict] shortcode or the "Restrict from here" Gutenberg block to mark where the paywall begins. Everything above the marker is visible to everyone; everything below is gated. You can add a customizable upgrade CTA block after the paywall marker.

Does gated content get hidden in the HTML source?

Yes — when using Gutenberg block visibility, hidden blocks are not rendered in the DOM. They are never sent to the browser. The [wpe_show]/[wpe_hide] shortcodes also suppress output server-side, not just via CSS. This ensures gated content is never accessible via browser dev tools or cURL.

Can I restrict WooCommerce products or custom post types?

Yes. WPProfileEngine can restrict any registered post type, including WooCommerce products, portfolios, events, or any CPT. You can also restrict WooCommerce product categories, so an entire product line is available only to a specific membership tier.

How do I set up Stripe payments?

Go to WPProfileEngine → Settings → Payments. Enter your Stripe Publishable Key and Secret Key (found in your Stripe Dashboard → Developers → API Keys). Then go to Subscription Plans, create a plan, and enter the Stripe Price ID from your Stripe product. Set which role to assign on success. Finally, configure the Stripe webhook endpoint (Settings → Payments → Webhook URL) in your Stripe dashboard to handle subscription events.

Does it support recurring subscriptions?

Yes. Monthly and annual (or any interval) subscriptions are fully supported via Stripe. Create a recurring price in Stripe and map it to a role in WPProfileEngine. The plugin listens for Stripe webhook events (invoice.paid, customer.subscription.deleted, payment_intent.payment_failed) to keep role assignments in sync automatically.

Can I offer a free trial before billing?

Yes. When creating a subscription plan in WPProfileEngine, set a trial period in days. This maps directly to Stripe's built-in trial_period_days. Users get the paid role immediately during the trial and are only charged after the trial ends. If they cancel before the trial ends, the role is revoked.

What payment methods does Stripe support?

Stripe Checkout supports 30+ payment methods depending on your country: Visa/Mastercard/Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA Direct Debit, iDEAL, Bancontact, Sofort, Klarna, and more. You enable them in your Stripe Dashboard — no code changes needed in WPProfileEngine.

Can users upgrade or downgrade their plan?

Yes. Users can switch plans from their account page. Upgrades are prorated by Stripe — the user pays only for the remaining period. Downgrades take effect at the end of the current billing period. Role changes happen automatically via webhook when the billing change is processed.

How do I display the member directory?

Use the [wpe_members] shortcode on any page, or drop in the Members Directory Gutenberg block. The directory is automatically populated from your registered members. You configure which fields are shown, which are searchable/filterable, and whether non-logged-in visitors can see the directory.

Can I restrict the member directory to logged-in users only?

Yes. In the shortcode: [wpe_members require_login="yes"]. You can also restrict the page itself to a specific role using the standard WPProfileEngine page restriction so only paying members can browse the directory — common for dating sites.

What features are free vs. Pro?

Free: up to 3 custom roles, up to 10 profile fields, page/post restriction, basic member directory, welcome email. Pro (paid): unlimited roles & fields, field visibility per role, Stripe one-time & subscription payments, auto role assignment/revoke via webhooks, multiple payment plans, trial periods, advanced directory filters, CSV export, REST API, Gutenberg block visibility, priority email support, and lifetime updates (with lifetime plan).

How do I activate my Pro license?

After purchasing, you receive a license key by email. In WordPress, go to WPProfileEngine → License, paste the key, and click Activate. The plugin verifies the key with wpprofileengine.com and unlocks all Pro features immediately.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans. Contact support within 30 days of purchase for a full refund — no questions asked.