The ultimate gym comparison: Choose the best gym for you | finder.com
finder US
US
Aus
NZ
UK
US
Aus
NZ
UK
Exclusive Offers
finder.com > Shopping > Wellbeing
Advertiser Disclosure
USFSD-Wellbeing-Gyms-FeaturedImage

The ultimate gym comparison: Helping you choose the right gym

We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But we may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.

There are a lot of gyms out there, but knowing which is the best gym to choose can be hard. We’ve gathered all the information, so you don’t have to.

You’ve decided to join the gym, well done! Now, where do you start?

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.

So, whether you’re after a gym with a wide range of classes, or one that’s open 24 hours, our ultimate gym comparison guide is here to help.

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 annual fee $10/month for a basic membership

$21.99 for a black card membership

 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
Planet Fitness 1,400 + $39.99 annual fee $29.99-$79.99/month Yes Yes Online member center, fitness classes. No reciprocal club usage
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

Top 6 tips before you join a gym

gymcomparison_1
  • 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 gym. Would 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 trials. Don’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 payments. You 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 account. If 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 person. Often 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.
gym_comparison2

Top deals for sporting equipment 2018

Beretta Gear Beretta Gear

Get 10% off your first order

Use coupon at checkout

Show code
Pep Boys Pep Boys

Buy one get one free

expires

Get deal
Pep Boys Pep Boys

Buy one get one 50% off

In Store and Online

expires

Get deal
Amazon Amazon

Get new golf equipment on Amazon

Get the latest golf equipment on Amazon.

Get deal
Walmart Walmart

Shop best selling exercise bikes

Get free shipping and other benefits with Amazon Prime

Get deal
Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

Clare Cribbin

Clare works as the publisher for the shopping team here at finder. Whether you're after the best fashion deals, promo codes for your favourite store or just wanting to know what to buy your brother for his birthday, she has all the knowledge. Feel free to drop her a message.

Was this content helpful to you? No  Yes

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Privacy and Cookies Policy and Terms of Use.
Go to site