11 Stunning membership site examples—built on Circle
Membership sites are so much more than a gated space or paywalled content. Done right, they become the home for your brand, your offers, and your community.
But for a long time, that “home” was split—your community lived on Circle, while your website had to live somewhere else. It worked, but it wasn’t seamless. That’s why we built our drag-and-drop Website Builder to bring everything under one roof. Now you can design a beautiful, conversion-optimized site inside Circle that flows straight into your courses, events, and community. And we thought, what better way to celebrate the launch than with a challenge?
We invited our community of 15,000+ community builders to design their own sites, and they showed up in full force 💪🏻 with more than 100 submissions in less than 2 weeks! In fact, it turned out to be our most popular challenge to date. (At this point, we’re considering renaming it the Circle Design Olympics.)
In this article, we’ll share some of the most creative and impactful membership sites from the challenge, showing what Circle’s Website Builder can do. But most importantly, we want to give you fresh ideas you can use to level up your own design.
Let’s jump right in!
How we decided on winners
As you can imagine, with more than 100 submissions, choosing the winners was no small task. This challenge was all about creativity. We wanted to celebrate the very first pages built on Circle and highlight how flexible our Website Builder can be across different use cases.
To make the judging fair, our team scored each website on three things:
- Clarity of messaging – Does the page make its purpose clear and speak directly to the right audience?
- Creative use of Circle’s Website Builder – Did the creator make thoughtful use of blocks, layouts, and navigation to bring vision to life?
- Inspiration factor – Will the page spark new ideas or excitement for other community builders?
From there, we debated (a lot!) before landing on our final list of winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions.
11 membership site examples to draw inspiration from
1. Repped Community (Challenge winner 🏆)
Business model: Membership + community-driven learning
Industry/niche: Technology/career development
It’s only fitting to kick off this list with the winner of our challenge: Repped Community. Built for technologists who don’t quite fit the mold, Repped is a neurodiverse-first, people-powered hub for learning, mentorship, and real support in tech.
They’ve built a beautifully branded site full of personality and purpose—that’s also automatically optimized for a mobile experience. Every detail feels intentional, from the copy to the calls-to-action (CTAs), and it all comes together in a way that is both inviting and clear. We’re not gonna lie, the Repped team knocked it out of the park in so many ways, but two sections stood out in particular:
- How to get started: This section presents an engaging step-by-step overview of what new members can expect. It is clear, practical, and ends with a strong call to action to schedule a meeting, making it easy for prospective members to take that first step.
- Events calendar: Repped also embedded a preview of their upcoming events, giving prospective members a taste of the cadence and value of community life before they even join. It is a simple addition that builds trust and excitement.
✨ Best practice you can try: Show, don’t tell. By making the path forward crystal clear and previewing what is inside, you can help prospective members feel confident about diving in.
2. coCreator Society
Business model: Membership + referral network
Industry/niche: Service providers/entrepreneurship
Second runner-up was coCreator Society, built by Rachel Starr, a Certified Circle Partner and long-time community strategist. Her sales page genuinely wowed our team. It pushes the limits of what’s possible with Circle’s Website Builder and shows just how creative you can get without a complicated tech stack or learning HTML in the wee hours of the night.
As Rachel described on LinkedIn, the build was “creative, a little chaotic (in the best way), and genuinely fun.” That sense of energy and flair comes through in every detail of the page.
Here are two parts that stood out the most:
- The main value prop: Right at the top of the page, Rachel sets the stage with bold, clear messaging. The copy speaks directly to the pain points of service providers and backs it up with carefully chosen stats. This section makes the value of joining coCreator Society impossible to miss.
- Custom ROI calculator: Our favorite feature might just be the custom-built ROI calculator. It allows prospective members to visualize exactly what kind of return they might see from joining. It’s an interactive, persuasive touch that turns curiosity into action.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Treat your landing page as more than a sales pitch—it’s an invitation. Pair clear, data-backed messaging with interactive touches like a calculator or a quiz, helping visitors quantify ROI and model outcomes based on their own inputs, so the value of joining feels concrete and tailored.
Curious to see how Rachel approached building her entire website using Circle? Check out her video tutorial below👇
3. America Unlocked
Business model: Membership + online courses + community support
Industry/niche: Immigration/career advancement
America Unlocked, by founder Sylvia Gorajek, was a finalist in the challenge. Unlike many entries that focused on a single landing page, Sylvia went all in and moved her entire website over to Circle—and the results are outstanding.
The America Unlocked site does a lot of things well, but here are three areas where they really nailed it:
- Hero section: From the bold headline “Unlock your American Dream” to the clear calls to action, this section instantly connects with the reader. The subtle social proof (“500+ stories unlocked”) adds credibility, while the copy makes the community’s mission immediately clear.
- Problem and solution framing: This section breaks down the challenges of navigating the visa process, then positions the community as the obvious solution. The thoughtful use of emojis makes the comparison even more scannable and engaging.
- Multiple CTAs: Throughout the site, Sylvia uses varied calls to action, such as “Join Today,” and “Book a Discovery Call.” While all the roads lead to the membership, each one is framed slightly differently. This helps create multiple entry points for conversion depending on where a visitor is in their journey.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Lean heavily into storytelling to guide conversion. By articulating member pain points and positioning your community as the solution, you can reduce friction and help prospects map their own immediate ROI.
4. Author Ever After
Business model: Membership + coaching + community support
Industry/niche: Romance writing & publishing
Danika Bloom, founder of Author Ever After, designed a landing page that’s as joyful and heartfelt as the community it represents—partially why hers was a finalist in the challenge. Her site radiates warmth and encouragement, making it immediately clear this is a place where romance writers can finally feel supported and seen (and let’s be honest, that kind of genuine welcome is rare online).
Here are our three favorite sections:
- Hero section: Danika chose to feature photos of community members and the books they’ve written right at the top of the page. Paired with the empowering message, “You don’t have to figure this out alone,” it makes the site feel personal and inspiring from the very first scroll. Featuring her published authors also does two things: it shows who her ideal audience is (romance authors), and it highlights the impact the community has already had by celebrating members’ published books.
- Frequently asked questions: We love that her landing page included an FAQ section, which is written in a super conversational and warm tone. But most importantly, it puts potential members at ease by preempting their biggest worries with empathy and clarity.
- Sneak peek of community 🤝 free trial: Danika has also (wisely) allowed people to scroll through her active community right from the “website”—while locking down the actual content for members only. She offers a 7-day free trial to let people unlock and explore the value inside, then offers multiple membership options.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Don’t be afraid to showcase your community front and center. Highlighting real members and answering questions with warmth (instead of stiff, corporate language) creates trust and makes your space feel like home from the get-go.
Plus, with Circle’s Website Builder, you’re able to gate your content while still showing off your space—all in a unified experience—something you won’t find with generic website builders.
5. Sell Your Smarts
Business model: Membership + coaching + tools
Industry/niche: Online education/business growth
John Meese’s sales page for the Sell Your Smarts PRO membership was a finalist exactly because it’s a masterclass in storytelling and conversion design. It’s bold, creative, and brimming with personality—the kind of page that makes you want to keep scrolling (and write down a few notes for your own site).
Here are three things we especially loved:
- Testimonials that pack a punch: John didn’t just drop in a few nice quotes. He built a full social proof engine with both text and video testimonials, each one highlighting key points in a way that’s easy to skim (with some super simple CSS tweaks). Talk about credibility and connection all rolled into one.
- Native AI tools showcased as a perk: John has developed a team of AI agents that members gain access to, and he makes them feel like a real value-add. By showcasing these Circle-native tools right on the sales page, he’s able to position the membership as innovative and forward-thinking, not just another coaching program.
- Embedded course preview: John teaches coaches to sell their smarts—therefore, courses are a massive part of his business. Being able to show the course curriculum on the sales page in an interactive, clickable way (with super-engaging names) could be just the ticket that fence-sitters need to click “buy”. (The preview was built using a styled section from the Website Builder & some AI-generated code.)
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Layer your sales page with social proof and perks. One study found that user reviews can increase trust and drive conversion rates up to 70%.
So, it’s only logical to include plenty of testimonials, ratings, and real customer stories right alongside your offer to remove doubt and nudge visitors toward a confident “yes.”
6. Lake Avenue Academy
Business model: Membership + education + coaching
Industry/niche: Financial literacy & personal wealth building
The team at Lake Avenue Academy (a finalist!) has built a membership site that radiates professionalism and credibility. It’s exactly what you’d want in a space dedicated to financial empowerment. Their community landing page balances clarity with authority, making it easy for prospective members to feel confident about joining.
Here’s what impressed us most:
- Proof points that build trust: Lake Avenue doesn’t just say they can help. They show it with stats, credentials, and results that immediately establish authority. From managing $130M in assets to being recognized as a Top 100 Financial Advisor, every detail reinforces their credibility.
- Membership pricing tiers that work hard: The side-by-side comparison of the Academy and Academy+ plans is clean and persuasive. The design makes the value obvious while also nudging prospective members toward the premium option by spotlighting it as “most popular.” That’s smart, subtle psychology at work.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Credibility isn’t built by big promises, it’s built by proof. Lake Avenue nails it by showing exactly why they’re worth trusting: $130M in assets managed, recognition as a Top 100 Advisor, and clear proof of member results. They top it off with transparent pricing that makes the value of each tier obvious.
Joe Sugarman, an expert in copywriting, called credibility one of the most powerful triggers in copywriting, and this site is a textbook example of how you should use it.
7. ExecFrontline
Business model: Invite-only membership
Industry/niche: Aerospace, aviation, and defense leadership
Nicolaas Pereboom, founder of ExecFrontline, was a finalist in the challenge because he built a landing page that feels bold and confident, just like the leaders it’s designed to attract. The message is clear from the start: this is a trusted space where tomorrow’s aerospace and defense executives can connect, collaborate, and shape the future together.
What makes ExecFrontline stand out is how intentionally it was built. Nicolaas explained that when he evaluated membership platforms, he needed something with “professional structure, flexibility, and scalability”—but also simple enough for an “IT-conservative” aerospace and defense audience to embrace. Circle checked all the boxes with its clean interface, intuitive design, and active creator ecosystem.
Here’s what stood out to us:
- Community preview: Nicolaas included a screenshot of the actual community feed to give prospects a clear idea of what happens inside. Teasers like that work well because they make the community feel alive and accessible, while lowering the barrier for someone who might be unsure about joining.
- A personal founder story: He also shared why he built ExecFrontline—he saw talented professionals struggling in an industry bogged down by outdated systems and red tape. That story lands because it shows he’s been in the trenches and built this community with a clear purpose. It’s always a good idea to include your founder story, as it helps to shift your landing page from a pitch to a mission. And that makes it a whole lot easier for people to picture themselves joining.
- Smart calendar embeds: Due to its invite-only nature, Nicolaas needed a way to vet incoming applicants. While some communities have opted to split communities into free/paid spaces, Nicolaas wanted to meet & greet new members every time, which is why he embedded a Calendly booking form right into the page.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Lean into your personal story to inspire others on a similar path to join you.
As Caroline Mays, founder of Switchblade Lemonade and writer of entrepreneurial biographies writes:
"Consider for a second the people whose work you follow, admire, and trust: What’s so special about them?
You like. the way. they think. Their perspective, mission, voice, and values strike a chord.
They have “authenticity” (whatever that is), and authenticity is hot as hell. It’s also—at the moment—scarce."
8. Shambala
Business model: Membership + community learning
Industry/niche: Film/trailer editing
Shambala, a global hub for movie trailer editors to learn, connect, and grow together, got an honorable mention. Founded by Tom F. Pardo, a seasoned trailer editor with his work tied to HBO, Netflix, and Paramount (👏 talk about leading with instant authority!), the site instantly builds credibility while capturing the camaraderie that freelancers and aspiring editors often miss.
Here’s what we liked:
- Community members’ trailers on display: Shambala highlights real trailers edited by their student members right alongside blockbuster work from industry pros. This not only shows what members are creating inside but also signals to prospects that this is a space where they can get super practical skills.
- Strong testimonials: The landing page also includes authentic voices from both pros and aspiring editors. Testimonials like these act as social proof and give prospective members the final nudge of confidence they need before joining.
- Using Circle features as member benefits: Tom uses Circle features as part of his unique differentiators; he highlights that you can take his courses, conversations, and community “wherever you go” because it’s all on mobile. We actually wish more people did this. Take credit. Make yourself brighter. It’s why you chose Circle. And it’s why we build so much directly for our customers.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Don’t just name features and perks of joining your community. Display actual work examples from your members to truly showcase the transformational power of your space.
9. The Hyve Hamptons
Business model: Membership + in-person & online community
Industry/niche: Women entrepreneurs/creatives/founders
We can’t go without mentioning The Hyve Hamptons, a private community for female founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs across the East End of Long Island, New York. Founded by Kim Lenar-Ehrhardt, a media and brand strategist turned community builder, The Hyve positions itself as more than just networking—it’s about connection with intention, and the site reflects that beautifully.
Smart choices that make this page shine:
- Letting the pictures do the talking: The landing page leans heavily on authentic photography (not random stock images) that puts community members right at the center. These group shots and candid moments perfectly match The Hyve’s mission of women gathering with purpose, and they help prospective members envision themselves in those very rooms.
- A quick, clear explainer video: The Hyve Hamptons also includes a video right on the page, which not only introduces the community but also showcases how it actually works inside Circle. This is a clever move because it lowers the barrier for new prospects. In other words, they instantly understand what they’re joining, where it lives, and how it functions.
- A guest lounge for curious prospects: What a fantastic way to frame a sneak peek into a live community. Kim organized it as a free space that lets people look around (locked) space groups, read the list of benefits of joining, and, more importantly, see member spotlights. This sort of gating/paywall strategy is just the right amount of teasing, comforting, and FOMO-building exercise that undoubtedly will get her new subscriptions.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Hosting in-person events? Take photos and add them to your landing page (Hint: add photo consent to the ticket purchase). Nothing builds trust faster than real faces and real moments.
10. Deep Time Walk Community
Business model: Training + membership community
Industry/niche: Climate education/facilitation
Deep Time Walk Community is yet another top membership website example that brings all the important elements together beautifully. This community, or better said, a global network, empowers people everywhere to get trained as Deep Time Walk facilitators and bring this powerful learning experience into their own contexts. The landing page makes it clear this isn’t just a course, it’s a movement.
What they did well:
- Bilingual landing page: The site is available in both English and French, which is a great idea if your potential audience speaks either of these languages (or if those are your main markets). A simple toggle at the top makes it easy for visitors to switch and immediately feel at home.
- Powerful social proof: Their page also showcases glowing testimonials from facilitators around the world, complete with names, locations, and personal stories. This creates trust and shows new prospects that the training has a real impact.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: If your community reaches across borders, think about making your site bilingual.
11. Moovmoor
Business model: B2B wellness membership & events
Industry/niche: Workplace wellness & fitness
Moovmoor is a workplace wellness platform that helps companies bring people together through movement. Think weekly fitness clubs, one-off pop-up events, and full-blown Super Days that feel like a festival for your team. Their promise is simple: they handle the planning, coaches, and gear—your people just show up, move, and connect.
What grabbed our attention:
- Branding on point: The bright, high-energy colors and visuals spark action in your brain before you even read a word. That’s because our minds connect bold, lively colors with movement and energy, which is exactly what Moovmoor is all about.
- Clear value proposition: Moovmoor nails it with “We plan the action. Just show up.” In one line, you know what they do and what the benefit is for their audience. That’s gold, because if your visitors don’t get it in seconds, they’ll bounce.
✨ Inspiration takeaway: Make sure your branding matches your mission. Colors, fonts, and imagery should all reinforce the type of energy and experience your community promises.
Bet you’re already sketching out your own landing page ideas…
Looking back at these 11 examples, some clear patterns emerge. The strongest membership sites nail their hero section, so the visitors instantly know what your community is about. They also weave in authentic community proof (photos, testimonials, or even event shots), and they guide visitors forward with clear, repeated CTAs.
On top of that, they include sneak peeks into the community platform and lay out different ways to engage to meet prospects at different price points. These are the foundations of a solid membership landing page.
But ultimately, it’s your community and your call. Don’t shy away from sprinkling in unique touches, so your landing page not only attracts the right people but also shows them what makes your space different.
Ready to put these ideas into action? Start building your membership site with Circle's Website Builder today with a free 14-day trial.
FAQs about membership websites
What is a membership site?
A membership site is an online platform where people sign up to access exclusive benefits—usually as part of a community. These can be digital products, personalized coaching, live events, or community spaces for people like them. What sets them apart from other websites is the ongoing exchange of value. Members stick around not just for content, but for connection, accountability, and transformation. For creators, they’re a proven way to build predictable recurring revenue while also deepening relationships with their audience.
What is a community website?
A community website can be the marketing front-end of your community space, or the community space itself. With Circle, you can build both on one platform, where people with shared interests or challenges connect in a structured space.
Depending on your interests and expertise, it could focus on various niches, such as fitness, business growth, education, hobbies, or lifestyle.
Websites in general are an undeniable marketing asset for online businesses because they help creators or brands deepen engagement and create long-term relationships with their audience. At the same time, they’re able to provide members value from peer learning, accountability, and the sense of being part of something bigger.
How to make a community website?
One option is to build a bespoke website from scratch using tools like WordPress or Webflow.
This approach gives you a lot of flexibility in design, but most of the features that communities need, such as discussion forums, member directories, or event spaces, are not included by default. You will often need plugins or a developer to add these functions, which can become both costly and time-consuming.
The other option is to use an all-in-one community platform like Circle. With Circle, you already have tools for discussions, events, and resource hubs built in. Plus, with Circle Website Builder, you can design a professional-looking site without needing to code.
Do membership sites make money?
Yes, membership sites can absolutely make money because they’re built around recurring payments. Instead of selling something once, you create a space where people pay regularly to stay connected and get ongoing value.
The type of revenue you earn depends on what you offer. For example, you can sell access to online courses, live workshops, or recorded training. Or you can focus on private communities with resources, networking opportunities, or expert support. Many membership sites combine these with perks like templates, exclusive events, or group coaching.
The amount you earn comes down to how many people join, what price you set, and how valuable your members feel the experience is. Check out our ROI calculator to find out how you can translate your audience into membership fees.
How long does it take to build a community website?
It depends. If you’re using a generic builder like WordPress, it could take you months. If you want custom components that aren’t available as embeds or plugins, it could also cost you thousands of dollars for both building it and ongoing maintenance.
If you’re building your community—and using Circle’s Website Builder—you could cut down your time, upkeep, and management to the price of a Circle subscription.
In terms of time, here’s what our customers have said about using Circle’s Website Builder:
“It took me a couple of weeks between editing jobs to finish all of this (I did 3 pages out of 5 in two days), and if I had used another software, I think it would have been months in the making.”
— Tom F. Pardo, founder of Shambala
“If I wanted a new landing page, I had to loop in a contractor. It might take weeks, and it never felt fully integrated with my community. [With Circle’s Website Builder], it's so much faster. I can experiment. I can launch things on my own—and everything feels consistent because it's all inside Circle.”
— Tim Slade, founder of The eLearning Designer's Academy
Within days of early access, Tim rebuilt 75% of his site—no developers, no designers, just him.
“I was able to knock out recreating and refreshing our community sales page on Circle during a single weekend, after having hosted it on MailerLite for the past 9 months.”
— Darnell Brown, founder of Forge
