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Free Plugin by ZEEN101 v2.9.1

IssueM

Create, Organize, and Publish Issues with WordPress

IssueM

The facts

Rating
4.1★ from 13
Active installs
600+
Price
Free
Last updated
28 Aug 2025
Added
Jun 2013
Requires WP
5.6
Tested up to
WP 6.8.8
Downloads
53,319

Our analysis

AI-assisted

IssueM is a WordPress plugin designed for publishers who want to implement an issue-based publishing model online. It allows you to create and manage digital issues, articles, and an attractive archive for past issues, catering to a variety of publication types including magazines and journals.

With features such as article assignment to issues, a customizable table of contents, and the ability to schedule issue launches, IssueM is suitable for publishers looking for a structured and organized way to present their content. It is particularly beneficial for those who prefer a less frantic reading experience for their audience.

Best for: This plugin is best for publishers of magazines, journals, and other periodicals seeking an organised way to publish content online.

What it does well

  • Supports issue-based digital publishing
  • Allows scheduling and automation of issue launches
  • Compatible with any WordPress theme
  • Includes an attractive archive for past issues
  • Free to use

Where it falls short

  • Limited details on specific features and add-ons
  • No information on user support beyond developer commitment

Verdict

IssueM offers a solid solution for those looking to adopt an issue-based publishing approach. Its features are geared towards enhancing the reader's experience while providing flexibility for publishers.

From the developer

ZEEN101's own description of IssueM, lightly tidied.

“…IssueM is a real standout.” — WPMU

IssueM is one of the cornerstones of the leading WordPress platform for publishers.

IssueM turns WordPress into a powerful publishing platform for digital issues. Popular with alumni magazines, trade magazines, news sites, science journals, and other publishers of periodicals, IssueM brings the proven and familiar issue-based publishing model to the web. There are incredible benefits to the issue-based model of publishing:

  1. Publishers love that IssueM’s issue-based digital publishing slows the pace of posting to better suit their existing workflows;
  2. And, readers love the long-format, less-frantic, well-organized reading experience.

IssueM is packed with features—and is gaining more with every release! Upon installation, IssueM allows publishers to:

  • Create issues
  • Create articles and assign articles to particular issues
  • Publish an issue (and all included articles) at one time
  • Display past issues on an attractive “Past Issues” archive page
  • Display a current-issue article list anywhere on the site using a widget
  • Allow readers to search for content across all issues
  • Select featured articles to be displayed in a rotating article showcase
  • Use WordPress’s scheduling ability to schedule and automate the launch of an issue
  • Present issues with an attractive ready-to-go (yet customizable) issue table of contents page

Some other benefits:
* IssueM works with any WordPress theme.
* IssueM is backed by the dedicated team of developers and publishers at zeen101.
* IssueM is an active project, with new updates and features released regularly.
* IssueM’s developer, zeen101, is committed to providing stellar support.
* IssueM is free.

Issue-based publishing on the web is gaining steam. More and more traditional publishers are learning that using their print version’s issue-based publication schedule on the web—as opposed to a running stream of content—is not only not a step backwards, but it is a welcome change for readers who are often overwhelmed by streams of content. As this publishing model grows in popularity, so does the IssueM ecosystem. Currently, zeen101 offers the following add-ons and companion plugins to turbocharge and complement IssueM.

  • Leaky Paywall, when paired with IssueM, makes charging for issue subscriptions simple. Sell subscriptions to your content using any schedule (weekly, monthly, annually, etc.) and price you like. Set your “leak level” to define how many articles readers are allowed to view without a subscription for any time period you set. For example, you can allow unsubscribed readers to read 3 articles per month before a subscription is required. Leaky Paywall also allows you to set limits by content type as well. Leaky Paywall is a paid plugin.
  • UniPress brings your IssueM issues to iPhone and Android devices as your publication’s very own app. Build a stronger relationship with your readers by providing them with a dedicated app that they can have in their pocket every day. All your issues, articles, posts, and pages flow into the UniPress app framework that zeen101 will brand as your magazine, set up, and submit to the Apple and Android app stores. It couldn’t be easier. UniPress is available now. (The IssueM integration is currently under development and will be available soon.)
  • The Issue-to-PDF add-on allows publishers to convert their digital issues into PDFs with the click of a button.
  • Want to convert your blog posts into issues? The Issue Migration Tool will migrate any post content you choose into article content, so that you can include it into your IssueM issues. Quickly create a special issue or start an issue based magazine or news site.
  • If you need more power in your search box, the Advanced Issue Search add-on allows your readers to comb through your content in a way that isn’t possible with the standard WordPress content search.

Read the full description on the official page →

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