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The ultimate gym comparison

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Helping you choose the right gym.

There are so many gyms to choose from. Choosing the best gym for you will depend on what you want to get out of your gym experience. Some people want to join for the classes, whereas others just want a wide array of equipment to choose from.

When you go to some franchised gym websites, it’s hard to actually know whether there’s a joining fee, or what the weekly cost will be. Don’t worry, we’ve gathered all the information for you so that you can see what each gym offers and whether it suits your needs.

Compare popular gyms:

Gym Number of gyms Joining fee? Cost 24 hours? Classes Facilities (varies by club) Cons
Anytime Fitness 3,000 + $49.99 + $35 key fob $33.99/month Yes No Private showers, 24-hour security, free WiFi No classes and less equipment
Planet Fitness 1,400 + Varying fee $10 – $21.99/month Yes Yes Hydromassage, tanning, spray tanning, massage chairs, free WiFi, free haircuts for black card members Very busy at peak times
Gold’s Gym 700 + $149 $29.99/month No Yes More weight training equipment, personalized guidance, personal trainers, online member center Body builder vibes
YMCA 2,700 + $50/month average No Yes Yes Community oriented fitness, lots of classes, reciprocal usage across the US Must use your home club at least 50% of the time
Equinox Fitness Clubs 48 Varies $130/month No Yes Highly trained class instructors, best classes available, boutique experience Pricey
Snap Fitness 2000 + $99 $34.95/month Yes No 24 hour access, showers Can’t freely use any other club
Spectrum Athletic Clubs 23 Varies $99/month for a family No Yes Family oriented fitness Limited locations
YogaWorks 23 $0 $112/month No Yes Luxe experience, the Starbucks of yoga gyms Limited locations, pricey

Compare home gym equipment:

Top 6 tips before you join a gym

  • Make sure you check the location of the clubs.If the gym you want to join is closer to your home or work, you’re more likely to keep going. There is no point joining a gym that you have to travel an hour to get to, let’s be realistic.
  • Think about what you want to get out of the gymWould you like to attend classes or are you motivated enough to keep going with your own routines? Choose the gym that fits in with what you want to do at the gym.
  • Use the free trialsDon’t be scared to walk into a gym and get a 7-day trial. This is going to be the best way for you to find out if the gym offers you what you want. Also going to a gym during your trial at your regular workout hours is a great way of finding out if the gym is going to be too busy at your preferred times.
  • Make sure you can afford the weekly paymentsYou don’t want to sign yourself into a yearly contract and then find out you can’t afford to eat for the rest of the month! No one wants that. And canceling your contract can be costly.
  • Freeze your accountIf you know you’re going away for a few months and won’t be using the gym, look into whether they offer the ability to freeze your account. Most gyms will freeze your account for 8 weeks (often reducing the total payment to a few dollars a week, or maybe even zero), but worth checking first.
  • Sign up to a gym in personOften when you actually sit with someone in a gym, they can offer you a few free personal training sessions or a reduced price. There is no harm in asking. They may even be running a promo that you don’t know about.

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Michael Bowley

Michael Bowley is a finder shopping expert with a nose for the best deals and a knack for selecting the right gift for any occasion. He loves working for finder because every day brings a totally new and fun challenge.

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