Top 6 WordPress plugins for creating the ultimate client portal 

If you’re in a client-facing business, clarity is key to success. But what happens when emails get lost in the shuffle or calls go unanswered? Thankfully, there’s a better way to communicate, collaborate, and share assets with your clients. A client portal is the perfect solution. But can you create a client portal in WordPress?

Absolutely! WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) out there, but it doesn’t offer a built-in client portal function. Instead, you’ll need a WordPress plugin for client portals. Plugins make it easy to create a custom and feature-rich portal in no time, even if you don’t know how to code.

Let’s explore what a client portal is, why you might need one, and the best client portal plugins to choose from today.

What’s a client portal in WordPress?

A client portal is a secure and private section of your WordPress website. Here, clients can access vital communications, documents, and other resources. And since these portals require a login, all your assets remain confidential. Think of it as a centralized hub for all your client-related activities. Client portals streamline communication, heighten collaboration, and increase customer satisfaction. 

Popular ways to use a WordPress plugin for your client portal

Client portals are popular among agencies, freelancers, consultants, and creatives, but any business with repeat customers will find unique benefits to adding a client portal to their website.

If you’re wondering why and how you may use a client portal, here are a few examples:

• Document and file sharing
  Share everything from contracts and proposals to document-based deliverables and images. Files stay in one place, enhancing both security and convenience.
  
• Financial management
  A portal is the perfect place for your clients to manage their subscriptions, billing, and invoices. They can also add or change their credit card and address details instead of emailing your support team.
  
• Project management and collaboration
  Clients can check your progress, review drafts, and offer feedback in a centralized location for total clarity.
  
• Customer support
  Allow customers to submit tickets and track their reported issues to cut down on confusion and inbox overload.
  
• Premium content delivery
  Digital content creators can lock exclusive content behind a portal wall and grant access to premium members only.

Your business may have its own unique use case for a portal — the options are endless. But first, you have to decide which WordPress client portal plugin is right for you.

1. GravityView

Premium/free: Starts at $129/year.

Typical users: Consultants, agencies, small businesses, nonprofits, and beyond.

Demo: Try the full-site demo here, including a membership directory, document library, and invoice collection.

Searching for the best WordPress plugin to build your client portal? Look no further than GravityView. GravityView is a robust add-on to Gravity Forms—the most powerful form-building plugin for WordPress. It enables you to transform data captured via web forms into a wide range of front-end apps, including client portals!

You’ll need Gravity Forms, the User Registration add-on and GravityView to get started. From there, you can create a client portal using a library of preset layouts and templates. GravityView offers a drag-and-drop interface and supports functionalities perfect for client portals, including user access control and data sharing like file uploads and exports.

Create user profiles, document libraries, support desk systems, ecommerce profiles for order tracking, and many more types of client portals with GravityView. It’s all accessible from the front-end, so clients never need to log into your WordPress dashboard. (Learn more about how to create a client portal here!)

This plugin is a great choice for any client-facing user, from consultants to nonprofits and hiring managers. And of course, if you’re already using Gravity Forms, then GravityView is a no-brainer!

Since GravityView is a versatile tool, your options aren’t limited to client portals. If you’re looking for bang-for-buck, GravityView is the ultimate solution for all your web app requirements—no need to use multiple plugins to build out your WordPress site.

2. Client Portal

Premium/free: Starts at $199/year.

Typical users: Agencies, law firms, accountants, schools, and consultants.

Demo: View a live portal demo here. 

The name says it all! Client Portal is a premium WordPress plugin for creating simple yet polished client portals. It makes keeping track of deliverables easier than ever, offering a one-stop-shop with built-in security. You can even white label this plugin to make it your own—or to match each client’s branding.

Create as many portals as you like, whether you want one per client or one per individual project. Your client portals can be password restricted or accessible to the public. 

Client Portal supports documents, videos, images, calendars, Google Sheets, Trello boards, and more. Both you and your clients have the ability to upload files. You’ll also have the option to add a client to your portal or allow them to self-register. And with email notifications, all parties stay informed of document or portal updates.

As mentioned, this plugin is for client portals, so if your needs stop there, it will take you far! But if your needs are more versatile, you may want a multifaceted solution like GravityView.

3. WP Customer Area

Premium/free: Free plugin with premium add-ons. Discounts available for bulk add-on purchases.

Typical users: Small businesses and tech-savvy freelancers.

Demo: No demo available, but since it’s free there’s no risk in downloading and trying it out.

WP Customer Area is a free WordPress plugin for client portals. It allows you to assign pages and files to certain users, who access these resources through a secure log in.

This is a nice solution if you have straightforward needs and you’re on a budget. Down the line, you can expand the plugin’s functionality by purchasing individual add-ons. However, the prices can add up, so you may find it more cost-effective to choose a premium plugin if you want a feature-rich option. Still, flexibility is a great perk and makes WP Customer Area a customizable tool.

With add-ons, you can include features like built-in conversations with clients, project management tracking, payment gateways, additional owner types and file attachment options, and even invoicing. WP Customer Area can be as simple or as complex as you’d like.

This plugin is developer friendly, but you don’t need to know how to code to use it. However, managing lots of add-ons may be challenging if you’re not well-versed in WordPress functionality. 

4. Armember

Premium/free: Free version available; Premium plans start at $69/year.

Typical users: Membership communities, subscription sites, and educational programs.

Demo: View live demos here.

Armember is a feature-packed membership plugin for WordPress. It’s ideal if you offer a variety of levels of paid content for premium members, boasting multiple tiers, recurring billing, and even free trials. But since it has so many features, Armember is also suitable for client portals.

Armember includes a form builder with custom fields for account creation and logins, password resets, and more. To give clients free access to resources like documents or images, you can use the free or infinite membership tiers.

Getting started is a breeze with the Membership Setup Wizard! The free version of this plugin is powerful enough for many users, even supporting PayPal gateways and modules like a live form editor, form security, and content access rules. Those interested in more advanced features—like pay-per-post, drip content, or third-party integrations—will need a premium plan. 

Armember is versatile, but most of its features are best suited for membership sites. If you need something simple, like a document library, Armember may be too robust for your client portal needs. But at least it leaves room for growth!

5. MemberPress

Premium/free: Plans start at $179.50/year.

Typical users: Digital creators, educators, and paid membership sites.

Demo: Free demo available here.

MemberPress is another option for both client portals and membership sites. This plugin allows you to password protect content, whether that’s paid premium content or client files like contracts and deliverables.

MemberPress is user-friendly and integrates with a variety of tools, including payment gateways, email marketing services, CRMs, and WooCommerce. It supports coupons, drip content, and automated subscription billing.

MemberPress is a fantastic solution for coaches and creators. You can establish memberships across several tiers to control who sees what, with either one-time or recurring billing.

If paid content isn’t suitable for your business model, MemberPress offers free memberships for your clients. All they have to do is log in to access applicable files and content. You can control what every member sees by restricting files and deliverables for each individual client. 

Create a client portal in WordPress today!

Say goodbye to buried emails, crossed wires, and confusing resource management. WordPress plugins for client portals consolidate all your assets in one location.

The above six plugins are all great options, depending on your needs. If your business includes premium memberships with content tiers, try Armember or MemberPress. But if you’re strictly looking for a client portal, focus on GravityView, Client Portal, SuiteDash, and WP Customer Area.

In our book, GravityView is the winner. It boasts everything from affordable pricing to versatile applications. No need to use several plugins when you’ve got a single solution that handles it all! Even better, every app created with GravityView is on the front-end of your WordPress site.

Get started with GravityView today by exploring our live demo. Try out Gravity Forms, GravityView, and more add-ons for free for seven days—and see the benefits for yourself.