Documentation
This is where you find answers — whether you’re setting up Benecaster for the first time, configuring a specific subscription plugin, troubleshooting a feed issue, or building a custom integration.
Setup guides, feature references, troubleshooting walkthroughs, and a full developer API reference are all here. New to Benecaster? Start with the three pages below. Looking for something specific? Use the sections on this page or the search above.
Start Here
New to Benecaster? These three pages get you from zero to first subscriber.
- Getting Started — What Benecaster is and how the pieces fit together
- Installation — Download, install, and activate the plugin
- Setup Wizard — Connect your subscription plugin, configure your first show, and verify the subscriber journey end to end
Setup Guides
Step-by-step configuration for each supported subscription plugin.
- MemberPress
- Paid Memberships Pro
- Restrict Content Pro
- WooCommerce Subscriptions
- Built-in Membership — Stripe-native subscriptions with no third-party plugin required
Built-in Features
What Benecaster does out of the box, with no add-ons — one page per feature area.
- Shows — One plugin, multiple shows, separate feeds and subscriber lists
- Episodes — Creating and publishing episodes, episode types, access rules, artwork and notes
- Subscribers — How subscriber accounts, tokens, and feed access work
- Private Feeds — Authenticated RSS, feed URL formats, caching, and supported apps
- Emails — Transactional email overview, merge tags, customization, SMTP setup
- Analytics — Download tracking, episode analytics, and the analytics dashboard
- Tier Mapping — Connect subscription levels to Benecaster tiers
- Listener Support — Accept listener donations and display supporter walls
Playbooks
Start from what you’re trying to do. These guides can cross several features and often offer more than one way to get there.
- Mailing Something to Your Subscribers — Ways to collect mailing addresses when your membership includes something physical
- Setting Up Early Access Tiers — Let subscribers hear each episode first, and everyone else after a delay
- Running a Podcast Network — The decisions to make before you run several shows under one banner
- QR Codes for Live Shows and Events — Turn a poster, merch table or slide into a signup
- Dynamic Ad Insertion with Benecaster — Swap the ads in your episodes without re-uploading audio
Add-ons
Extend Benecaster with paid add-ons — what each one does and how to install it.
- Installing Add-ons — License activation and update management for add-ons
- Add-ons Overview — What each add-on does and which plan includes it
Migration
Moving from another platform? These guides cover import, feed redirection, and subscriber transition.
Troubleshooting
Something not working? Start here for feeds, membership connections, licenses, and episode access.
- General Troubleshooting
- Feed Access Problems
- Bridge Connection Issues
- License Problems
- Wrong Episodes Appearing in Feed
Reference
Look-up pages for settings, shortcodes, merge tags, compatibility, and the command line.
- Shortcodes
- Settings Reference
- Email Merge Tags
- Compatibility Matrix
- System Requirements
- WP-CLI Reference
Developer Documentation
Benecaster exposes a documented extension API — hooks, filters, shortcodes, and classes — designed for teams building custom integrations and add-ons.
- Developer Overview
- Hooks & Actions
- Filters
- Shortcodes — Developer Reference
- PHP Classes Reference
- Public Functions
- REST API Overview
- Recipes — Practical code examples combining multiple hooks