Step 1: measure guest versus member
Open the same page in two browser profiles, one logged out and one logged in with a synthetic member account. In developer tools, note the time to first byte for the HTML document. If the guest page returns in a fraction of a second and the member page takes several seconds, the difference is uncached server work. If both are slow, the problem is not specific to members.
Also check whether the delay is the page itself or something embedded, such as a video player or external script. A slow third-party embed is not a hosting problem.
Step 2: apply MemberPress's cache exclusions
MemberPress's caching guide lists the default slugs to exclude: /thank-you, /account, /login and /register, plus /unauthorized for access redirects and /mepr for internal operations such as webhooks and PayPal IPN. Add /coaching if CoachKit is active and /mpdl if MemberPress Downloads is active. If you renamed any of these pages, exclude your actual slugs.
Host-level caches need the same exclusions. MemberPress notes that Kinsta Cache is installed by default and exclusions must be requested from Kinsta support; on SiteGround some Stripe webhook and PayPal IPN URLs may need .htaccess exclusions; on Cloudways excluded URLs may also need excluding from Varnish. Its hosting page also says object caching and Varnish should be disabled so MemberPress works properly.
| Cache plugin | Logged-in setting MemberPress points to |
|---|---|
| W3 Total Cache | Check 'Don't cache pages for logged in users' |
| WP Super Cache | Set 'Disable caching for logged in visitors' (recommended) |
| WP-Optimize | Disable 'Serve cached pages to logged in users' |
| WP Fastest Cache | Enable the option not to show cached pages to logged-in users |
| FlyingPress | Ensure 'Cache logged-in' is not checked |
| LiteSpeed Cache | Guide says to turn 'Cache Logged-in Users' and 'Cache Login Page' off, while noting some customers leave it on |
| WP Rocket | User Cache add-on creates separate cache per user; otherwise logged-in pages are uncached |
Step 3: read the symptom
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do before buying hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Members see someone else's name or wrong access | Cached member page | Fix exclusions now; this is a correctness bug, not a speed issue |
| Guest fast, member slow, all the time | Slow uncached PHP: a plugin, query or theme | Profile the request; disable plugins one at a time on staging |
| Member pages slow only during launches or classes | PHP threads or CPU saturated | Ask the host for thread/CPU graphs during the busy window |
| Checkout or renewals fail intermittently | Webhook or IPN URL being cached or blocked | Confirm /mepr and payment callbacks bypass every cache layer |
| Only the video is slow | External player or CDN | Investigate the video service, not the web host |
When moving hosts is justified
Move when exclusions are correct, the slow plugin is fixed or unavoidable, and your host's graphs show you are hitting a capacity limit during busy periods that your current plan cannot raise affordably. For reference, Kinsta lists 2 PHP threads on its $35/month Single 35k plan and 4 on the $50/month Single 65k plan; ask any candidate for the equivalent number and how much more costs.
MemberPress lists Kinsta, WP Engine, SiteGround, DigitalOcean and several others as recommended hosts, and says GoDaddy Managed WordPress Hosting is not supported. That is a compatibility list, not a performance ranking.
Retest with two memberships
- Create two synthetic accounts on different membership levels.
- Confirm each sees only its own lessons, account details and checkout state.
- Log out and confirm the public page still loads from cache.
- Run a sandbox purchase and confirm the thank-you page and access grant.
- Record each change so you can reverse it. We have not reproduced your slowdown; these are diagnostic steps drawn from vendor documentation.
Questions before you decide
Should I disable all caching for MemberPress?
No. Keep page caching for public pages and exclude the MemberPress routes and logged-in users as your cache plugin's MemberPress instructions describe. MemberPress's hosting page does say object caching and Varnish should be disabled for it to work properly.
Will migrating fix slow logged-in pages?
Only if the cause is server capacity. If a plugin or query is slow, it will be slow on the new host too. Measure first, then ask the new host to show more PHP capacity on the same workload.
Does Kinsta need special setup for MemberPress?
MemberPress says Kinsta Cache is installed by default, exclusions must be requested from Kinsta support, and caching plugins such as W3TC or WP Rocket should not be used on Kinsta.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- MemberPress: caching configuration by plugin and host Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- MemberPress: what web hosting works best with MemberPress Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kinsta: PHP threads, memory limit and per-plan thread counts Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kinsta: WordPress hosting plans and pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.