Gate content and membership on Netlify without a paid plan. Also an example of a Netlify contact form with user registration requirement built in.
Netlify offers user account management with Netlify Identity, with content-gating available on pro plans. This is a free alternative that uses Netlify Forms and a Netlify function to gate content until users are approved. Can be used for members only access, or as a platformless "connection request".
Demo site can be viewed as a part of Minimal, Responsive, Pure Javascript, Single Page App