9 Most Affordable Gym Membership Options
Gym memberships can be expensive but they don’t have to be if you take the time to find the gym that’s right for you.
Nationwide gyms are appealing because many offer access to all locations. A local gym might be a better deal if you don’t travel much. Specialty gyms like Earth Treks offer climbing facilities as well as workout equipment and drop-in classes. Local CrossFit boxes are an option, too.
Most gyms offer day passes and occasional visitors may get a better value from them than a monthly membership. Long-term commitments are cheaper than month-to-month memberships if you’re in for the long haul.
Stores like Costco and apps like Groupon offer gym membership deals for new members. Many gyms offer discounts to students, seniors, military personnel, and others, so ask before you sign up. Take advantage of the free trials gyms offer.
Gyms are often independent franchises, so costs may vary from city to city. This list features nine nationwide gyms that have the most affordable and competitive rates.
1. YMCA
Your YMCA and other local rec centers have first-rate gym facilities and other benefits for a lower cost than other gyms. Many have pools, too, which is something other gyms may not offer. The YMCA has nationwide membership so if you’re traveling you can hit up a local Y anywhere.
2. Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness bills itself as a Judgement Free Zone and the gym for everyone. Their basic membership plan is $10 per month, which includes 24/7 access to your home gym and free fitness training classes. Black Card membership costs $21.99 per month, with access to all 1,700 U.S. locations, free guest passes, and more. Planet Fitness often has deals on first-time memberships.
3. Gold’s Gym
This iconic gym offers some serious fitness training. Membership costs vary by location but can be as low as $9.99 per month. There are enrollment fees, however. Gold’s Gym offers a free pass so you can try them out before you decide to join. Alongside the fitness equipment, Gold’s offers a variety of classes, boot camps, and personal training.
4. 24 Hour Fitness
24 Hour Fitness offers a seven-day free trial. Along with 24/7 gym access, they feature personal training, studio classes, a custom workout app, and childcare. The membership fees vary by location but average about $49.99 per month for one person, but that rate gets lower with family plans. There are initiation fees, too, that are lowest around the first of the year.
5. Anytime Fitness
At Anytime Fitness, you can hit up the gym anytime! With over 2,000 locations in the United States and Canada and nearly 4,500 gyms worldwide, you’ll always have access. They offer a seven-day free trial and have classes and personal training, as well as a fitness app. The average cost is between $30 and $45 per month, plus enrollment fees, depending on your location and the membership option you choose.
6. LA Fitness
A membership at LA Fitness gives you more than just gym equipment. You get Pilates and yoga classes as well as studio classes and personal training. Basketball and racquetball courts, heated pools, and childcare are also options at their 600 locations throughout the United States and Canada. LA Fitness has flat-rate memberships with a $99 initiation fee. It costs $24.99 per month for access to your home gym and $29.99 per month for access to all gyms.
7. Snap Fitness
You’ll find a unique approach to fitness with an emphasis on HIIT workouts at Snap Fitness. Membership costs vary by location but average $49.99 for a single membership, with family plans that reduce the rate per person. Access to 2,000 locations worldwide is included.
8. Crunch Fitness
Crunch Fitness offers a free one-day pass to try out their gym. The average cost for membership starts at $49.99 per month but varies by location, and they have an annual fee. Higher levels of membership have more perks but cost more. Some classes cost extra and there are restrictions on which clubs you may visit, depending on your membership level.
9. World Gym
All 215 World Gym locations are local franchises tailored to the unique fitness demands of each community, but they want everyone to feel welcome. They offer personal training and group classes and feature a women’s-only workout area. Memberships vary by location but average about $55 per month with a $99 enrollment fee or longer-commitment memberships with no enrollment fee.