The five CSV files and their order
MemberPress states that each group of data must be imported with a separate CSV file, and that you must install and activate the Importer add-on first. Its add-on page describes importing users, products, subscriptions, transactions, coupons and rules, and lists it among integrations available with a Launch licence.
The columns below come from the templates MemberPress links from its migration overview. Match the headers exactly; MemberPress documents the required columns and, after each import, reports failed rows with a CSV of those rows to fix and re-import.
| File | Template columns | Import when |
|---|---|---|
| Users | username, email, first_name, last_name (username and email required) | First |
| Subscriptions | username, product_id, amount, total, sub_num, payment_method, period, period_type, status, created_at | After users, for recurring memberships |
| Transactions | username, product_id, amount, total, sub_num, payment_method, send_welcome, trans_num, status, created_at, expires_at | After subscriptions |
| Corporate sub-accounts | Separate template | Only if you sell corporate accounts |
| Coupons | type, discount, product_id_0, code, usage_amount | Any time after memberships exist |
What the users import does and does not do
MemberPress says importing a users file only creates WordPress users. It does not grant membership access by itself; access comes from the subscriptions and transactions files. If a username already exists, the import updates that user. The role column defaults to subscriber.
Passwords are the usual surprise. MemberPress says it cannot send passwords through automated email, so if you import new users you should enable the password reset link option. Plan a welcome email that tells members to set a password on the new site, and send it after access is confirmed, not before.
Linking to existing Stripe and PayPal billing
MemberPress's migration overview states that for Stripe it uses the Stripe Subscription ID, the value beginning sub_, for subscription imports. That is what lets MemberPress recognise renewals of a subscription that already exists in your Stripe account. It only works when MemberPress is connected to the same Stripe account that holds those subscriptions.
The MemberPress pages read for this guide do not describe the importer creating subscriptions or charges at Stripe. Treat imported rows as records that point at billing that already exists. If your old platform billed through an account you do not control, there is no sub_ ID to import, and members will need to subscribe again.
PayPal is harder. MemberPress's PayPal migration page says that payment integration is available on its Growth and Scale plans, that some membership plugins tie the PayPal IPN to the subscription, and that IPN messages cannot be forwarded using domain forwarding or page redirects; you need an IPN forwarder instead.
| Your old billing | What to put in the subscription file | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe account you own, staying connected | Existing sub_ ID in sub_num | Low if webhooks move to MemberPress at cutover |
| PayPal subscriptions | Per MemberPress PayPal guidance; IPN forwarder needed | Medium; renewals can be missed |
| Platform-owned payments you cannot access | No existing subscription to link | Members must re-subscribe |
The documented migration sequence
- Set up memberships and gateways in MemberPress, but do not create Rules yet, to avoid conflicts with your existing membership plugin.
- Import users.
- Import subscriptions, then one-time payments and transactions as separate files.
- Test, then create Rules.
- Deactivate the previous membership plugin and test again.
- Switch IPN or webhook URLs to MemberPress.
- Review MemberPress, Subscriptions, Gateway column; if gateway IDs show instead of names, follow MemberPress's linked fix.
A test-import plan that avoids duplicate records
Run the first import with five members who cover your edge cases: one active monthly Stripe subscriber, one annual subscriber, one cancelled member, one one-time buyer and one member with a custom field. Import users, subscriptions and transactions for just those five, then log in as each and confirm what they can see.
Re-imports need care. MemberPress's fix guide says that to update existing subscriptions or transactions you add an id column with the MemberPress record IDs, which requires Importer 1.6.0 or newer, and that leaving an id cell blank creates a new subscription. A careless re-run doubles records.
| Check | Pass condition |
|---|---|
| User count | Users created equals rows in users file minus failures listed |
| Access | Each test member sees exactly the content their membership allows |
| Gateway column | Shows the gateway name, not an ID |
| Renewal | After the next Stripe renewal, a new transaction appears in MemberPress for that member |
| Failures file | Every failed row fixed and re-imported once |
Questions before you decide
Does importing a users CSV give members access?
No. MemberPress says importing a users file only creates WordPress users; membership access comes from the subscriptions and transactions imports.
Which columns are required in the MemberPress users CSV?
MemberPress documents username and email as the required columns; the role column defaults to subscriber if omitted.
How does MemberPress link an imported member to an existing Stripe subscription?
MemberPress states that for Stripe it uses the Stripe Subscription ID, the sub_ value, for subscription imports.
Can I re-import to fix mistakes?
Yes, but MemberPress says you must add an id column with existing record IDs, using Importer 1.6.0 or newer; blank id cells create new subscriptions.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- MemberPress Docs: Migrating overview Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress Docs: Users and data (importing users) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress: Importer add-on Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress: Subscriptions CSV template Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress: Transactions CSV template Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress Docs: How to fix incorrect imports Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress Docs: Migrating existing PayPal subscriptions Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress: Users CSV template Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MemberPress: Coupons CSV template Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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