Paid Memberships Pro Pay by Check Addon: worth it for offline dues

Paid Memberships Pro Pay by Check Addon is a narrow tool that solves a real operational problem. It adds a manual payment gateway to Paid Memberships Pro, letting members choose options such as a check, bank transfer, cash, Venmo, or another payment method that you describe in the instructions. The label is configurable, so the feature is not limited to literal paper checks.

The important part is the approval workflow. A member can complete checkout, but the first order is created with a pending status and the member does not receive the membership benefits immediately. An administrator or Membership Manager must later mark the order as paid or successful. Only then does PMPro activate access to protected content. That is the right default for offline payments: it prevents somebody from selecting “pay by check” and instantly receiving a paid membership without anyone confirming the money arrived.

Where it is genuinely strong

The addon is stronger than a simple “pay later” workaround because it connects the payment status to membership access. It also provides per-level controls: manual payment can be allowed as an option, made the only payment method, or disabled for particular membership levels. You can configure renewal notices, missed-payment reminders, and cancellation timing for each level. The documentation also lists three ways to mark an order paid, including a quick action from the Orders list, and supports notes for recording details such as a check number.

Its email handling is useful for organizations that need a paper-trail-style process. The addon provides separate templates for a pending payment notice, an admin notification, and a missed-payment reminder. The May 2026 development changelog records version 1.1.7 and specifically notes updated email-template syntax and corrected order variables, which suggests the addon is still being maintained rather than abandoned.

Where it is weak or annoying

This is still a manual process. The addon does not verify a bank transfer, reconcile a payment, chase unpaid invoices intelligently, or remove the administrator from renewal work. Every offline renewal creates another pending order that someone must review. Existing members may also retain access during a grace period after a missed payment; PMPro documents setting the cancellation value to 0 if you want that grace period removed.

The other drawback is packaging. Pay by Check is listed as a premium PMPro addon and requires a valid PMPro license type, so the real cost is the PMPro plan that unlocks it rather than a standalone purchase. If all your customers pay by card, PMPro’s bundled Stripe gateway is the more sensible route and this addon adds little.

How it compares

Compared with MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro, this is not a reason by itself to switch membership platforms; it is a specialized extension for sites already committed to PMPro. Compared with WooCommerce Memberships, it is the cleaner choice when membership access and offline dues matter more than orders, products, tax, and fulfillment. For a club, association, or local organization already running PMPro, it is a worthwhile upgrade. For a modern subscription business seeking automated online billing, skip it.