Features
New Member Limits Add Flexible Usage Controls
MemberGate now gives site owners more control over how members use selected features and resources with the new Member Limits system.
Member Limits allow you to set a maximum number of times a member can perform a particular action during a defined period. Limits can begin with a site-wide allowance and then be customized for Plan Levels, individual Member Plans, or even specific members.
Set Limits Based on Time
Rather than applying one permanent limit, Member Limits can control usage within a specific period.
For example, a limit might apply by day, month, year, or follow the timing associated with a member's billing period. Once the applicable period resets, the member can begin using the available allowance again.
This gives site owners much more flexibility when creating plans where certain resources or actions should be available in controlled amounts.
Download Limits Are Available Now
The first implementation of Member Limits is download limiting.
Site owners can control how many downloads a member is allowed during the configured period. This can be useful for sites offering downloadable resources, documents, training materials, files, or other content where unlimited downloading may not be appropriate for every membership plan.
For example, a site might allow members to download up to 10 files during each billing period.
Customize Limits at Multiple Levels
A site-wide limit does not have to apply equally to every member. Member Limits can be customized at several levels, allowing more specific limits to override the site's default allowance.
You can create limits for:
- Site - Establish a default limit for all members.
- Plan Level - Set a different limit for a group of related Member Plans.
- Member Plan - Create a limit for one specific membership plan.
- Individual Member - Override the limit for a specific member.
For example, a site could begin with a limit of 10 downloads per billing period. Members on plans grouped under a Gold Plan Level could receive 20 downloads, while members on a particular plan could receive 50.
If one individual member needs a different allowance, that member can be given their own limit, including unlimited access.
Member Limit Plan Limit Plan Level Limit Site Limit
MemberGate uses the most specific limit available for the logged-in member.
Use Plan Levels to Manage Related Plans
Plan Level Limits can be especially helpful when several membership plans provide the same access but use different billing schedules.
For example, monthly, semi-yearly, and annual Premium plans could all belong to a Premium Plan Level. Instead of configuring the same limit separately for each plan, you can create one limit for the entire Premium group.
Designed to Go Beyond Downloads
Member Limits were built as a broader system rather than as a download-only feature.
While downloads are the first supported use, the same concept can potentially be applied to other actions and resources throughout MemberGate.
If there is something on your site that you would like to limit by quantity and time period, let us know. Feedback from MemberGate site owners will help determine where Member Limits are expanded next.
More Flexibility for Membership Plans
Member Limits give site owners another tool for creating memberships that fit the way their content and services are actually used.
Instead of choosing only between allowing or denying access, selected features can now be offered in measured amounts over time, with different allowances for the entire site, groups of plans, individual plans, or individual members.
That creates more possibilities for differentiating membership levels, controlling resource usage, and adjusting access without having to treat every member the same.