# Members-Only Category With a Teaser

> Posts in a chosen category show visitors the first few lines followed by a log-in or sign-up box; logged-in members see the full post.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Memberships](https://wpide.com/library/category/memberships/)
- Tags: members, category, teaser
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/members-only-category-teaser/

## Code

```php
// Category slug that holds members-only posts, and how many words visitors see.
$wpide_members_category = 'members';
$wpide_teaser_words     = 60;

add_filter( 'the_content', function ( $content ) use ( $wpide_members_category, $wpide_teaser_words ) {
    if ( is_user_logged_in() || ! in_the_loop() || ! has_category( $wpide_members_category ) ) {
        return $content;
    }

    $teaser = wp_trim_words( wp_strip_all_tags( strip_shortcodes( get_post_field( 'post_content', get_the_ID() ) ) ), $wpide_teaser_words );
    $box    = '<div class="wpide-teaser-box" style="border:1px solid currentColor;padding:1em 1.25em;margin-top:1.5em;border-radius:6px">'
        . '<p><strong>Keep reading with a free membership.</strong></p><p><a href="' . esc_url( wp_login_url( get_permalink() ) ) . '">Log in</a>';

    if ( get_option( 'users_can_register' ) ) {
        $box .= ' &middot; <a href="' . esc_url( wp_registration_url() ) . '">Create an account</a>';
    }

    return '<p>' . esc_html( $teaser ) . '</p>' . $box . '</p></div>';
}, 1 );

add_filter( 'the_content_feed', function ( $content ) use ( $wpide_members_category ) {
    return has_category( $wpide_members_category ) ? '<p>' . esc_html( get_the_excerpt() ) . '</p>' : $content;
} );
```

## Notes

Set the category slug and teaser length at the top. The teaser is plain text, so images and embeds in the hidden part are never sent to visitors.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Members-Only Category With a Teaser" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/