Plugin
Updated
UM Groups
UM Groups is an extension plugin made by Ultimate Member that lets your members create and join groups built around shared interests, topics or activities. It adds group posting, privacy options, invitations and moderation tools to a site already running the core membership plugin.
Install this firstPlease install the activated version of Ultimate Member Core Plugin from here before installing the Add-ons
Go to product- Version
- 2.5.1
- Released
- May 13, 2026
- Developer
- Ultimate Member
- Type
- WordPress plugin
- Licence
- GPL
- Included in
- Every plan, or $0.79 a year on its own
What’s new in UM Groups 2.5.1
Version 2.5.1 · May 13, 2026
Latest
- ImprovedRefactored group create/update forms.
- ImprovedImproved avatar upload handling with better mime type filtering.
- ImprovedEnhanced security with better input sanitization and validation.
- ImprovedDeprecated unused variables and cleaned up formatting for better maintainability.
- ImprovedRemoved the ability for users to change the group role (group manager role) itself.
- FixedMisplaced nl2br calls to preserve content formatting. Moved the nl2br function call to ensure proper formatting of post content after embedding and auto-embedding processes.
- FixedAdded User ID to the user card data for proper user actions in the members/invites group tabs.
- ChangedTemplates required update: discussion/legacy/single.php, discussion/new.php, discussion/single.php, tabs/avatar.php, tabs/single-group-tabs.php, create-group-form.php.
What it does
A membership site often has plenty of registered users but no easy way for them to gather around a specific topic. This extension solves that by letting members start their own groups or join existing ones. Inside each group, members can post content and hold discussions, while group creators decide whether the group is public, private or hidden. That makes it a good fit for niche forums, educational platforms and membership sites that want smaller communities inside the larger one.
The extension works on top of existing user profiles, so groups can appear right on a member's profile or on any page through a shortcode. Categories and tags keep groups organized by topic, and group images give each one its own look. Administrators keep control over membership, posts and invitations. You can choose who may invite new people, from group admins and moderators to all members, and you can require posts to be reviewed and approved before they appear in a group.
Best for
- Membership sites built on Ultimate Member
- Niche forums and interest-based online communities
- Educational platforms that want study or class groups
Features
User-created groups
Members can create their own groups based on interests, topics or activities, and other users can find and join groups that already exist on the site.
Posting inside groups
Group members can publish posts within their groups, giving each community a dedicated space for discussion and sharing content with people who joined for the same topic.
Public, private or hidden groups
Group creators choose a privacy setting of public, private or hidden, which controls who can see the group and who is able to join it.
Admin moderation controls
Administrators can manage group members, posts and activity, so they stay in control of what happens across every group on the site.
Post review and approval
Post moderation lets you review and approve content before it becomes visible within a group, which helps keep discussions on topic and respectful.
Invitation permissions
You decide who can invite newcomers to a group: only group admins, moderators as well, or every member of the group.
Categories, tags and images
Groups can be sorted with categories and tags so members find relevant topics, and each group can have its own image on its profile.
Profile and shortcode display
Groups can be shown directly on user profiles or placed on any page with a shortcode, giving members quick access to the groups they belong to.
UM Groups older versions
- 2.5.0Dec 23, 20254 new, 13 improvements, 4 fixes, 6 removals, 2 changes
- 2.4.9Apr 4, 20252 fixes
- 2.4.8Jan 23, 20252 improvements, 1 fix, 1 change
- 2.4.7Nov 22, 2024
- 2.4.6Oct 3, 2024
- 2.4.5Feb 24, 2024
- 2.4.4Jan 16, 2024
- 2.4.3Dec 13, 2023
- 2.4.2Oct 15, 2023
- 2.4.1Sep 4, 2023
Members and buyers of this product can download older versions.
15 older versions in all. If you need one that is not listed, ask support.
Questions about UM Groups
Do I need Ultimate Member for this to work?
Yes. This is an extension for the core membership plugin. It works with existing member profiles and shortcodes, so you need that plugin running on your site before adding groups.
Can I keep some groups private?
Yes. Each group can be set as public, private or hidden. The setting controls who can view the group and who can join, so you can run open communities alongside invite-only or unlisted groups.
Can I stop members from posting anything they want in a group?
You can turn on post moderation, which means posts are reviewed and approved before they become public within the group. Administrators can also manage members, posts and activity across groups.
Who is allowed to invite new people to a group?
That is up to you. Invitation permissions can be limited to group admins, extended to moderators, or opened to all members of the group, depending on how you want groups to grow.
Is UM Groups free?
The code of UM Groups is licensed under the GPL, so anyone may use, change and share it. GPL Feast is a paid service: a plan or a single purchase gives you the download and automatic updates. The developer's own support, licence key and online services are not included.
Which version of UM Groups is this?
Version 2.5.1, released May 13, 2026. New versions appear here when the developer publishes them, and members get them as automatic updates.
How do I update UM Groups?
Install the free GPL Feast Updater on your site and connect it with your API key. It installs new versions of UM Groups automatically and keeps a backup, so you can roll back.
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