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
- 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.
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