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Our Top 10 Gym Memberships
- Best Nationwide Accessibility: Planet Fitness
- Best 24-Hour Gym: Anytime Fitness
- Best for Corporate Memberships: LA Fitness
- Best Friends and Family Deal: 24-Hour Fitness
- Best Nonprofit Gym: YMCA
- Best With Group Fitness Classes: YouFit
- Best Design: Blink Fitness
- Best Workout Led by Personal Trainers: Orangetheory Fitness
- Best Basic Membership: Gold’s Gym
- Best Diversity and Inclusion Language: Crunch Fitness
Best Gym Memberships of 2024
Best Nationwide Accessibility
Planet Fitness
5.0
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $10
- Number of facilities nationwide: 2,365
- Offers 24-hour access? No
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best 24-Hour Gym
Anytime Fitness
5.0
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $50.47 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 2,355
- Offers 24-hour access? Yes, at all locations
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best for Corporate Memberships
LA Fitness
4.3
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $39.99
- Number of facilities nationwide: 549
- Offers 24-hour access? No
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best Friends and Family Deal
24-Hour Fitness
4.2
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $31.32 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 276
- Offers 24-hour access? Yes, at some locations
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Why We Picked It
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Best Nonprofit Gym
YMCA
3.8
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $67.33 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 2,558
- Offers 24-hour access? Yes, at some locations
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best With Group Fitness Classes
YouFit
3.6
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $8.32 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 64
- Offers 24-hour access? Yes, at some locations
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best Design
Blink Fitness
3.5
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $18.67 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 105
- Offers 24-hour access? No
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With Our Featured Partners
Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best Workout Led by Personal Trainers
Orangetheory Fitness
3.2
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Cost of basic membership: $99 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 1,300
- Offers 24-hour access? No
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best Basic Membership
Gold’s Gym
3.1
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $41.32 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 220
- Offers 24-hour access? No
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With Our Featured Partners
Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best Diversity and Inclusion Language
Crunch Fitness
3.1
All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
- Basic membership cost: $9.99 on average (varies by location)
- Number of facilities nationwide: 440
- Offers 24-hour access? No
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Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Best Gym Memberships Methodology
To determine the best gym memberships available in the U.S., the Forbes Health editorial team collected data on approximately 20 national fitness chains, evaluating them based on:
- Basic membership cost
- Premium membership cost
- Number of membership options
- Additional fees
- Minimum contract length
- Length of cancellation notice period
- Number of facilities nationwide
- Number of states in which the gym is located
- Validity of basic membership at all locations
- Option to access gyms 24 hours a day
- Access to free Wi-Fi
- Whether live classes are available with basic membership
- Whether livestream or on-demand classes are available with basic membership
- Companion app availability
- Live crowd monitoring
Star ratings were then determined solely by the editorial team.
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What Are the Benefits of a Gym Membership?
Physical exercise of any kind can help prolong one’s life, prevent diseases like cancer and diabetes, and improve mental health, according to research. While a gym membership isn’t necessary to be physically active, belonging to a gym can offer many benefits and help individuals develop and maintain a consistent exercise routine.
Many gyms offer access to trained staff who can provide clarity and guidance regarding how to achieve fitness goals. “With the number of podcasts, YouTube videos and influencers out there today, most people just get way too much conflicting information,” says James Cerbie, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and owner of Rebel Performance, an online training and nutrition coaching company.
Cerbie says a personal trainer or fitness instructor can help limit guesswork around fitness. They can also help maximize one’s health span (how long an individual remains healthy) compared to one’s lifespan (how long an individual lives).
Gym memberships can also provide social connection with friends and communities, bringing people with similar interests and fitness goals together in the same space, says Cerbie.
What to Consider When Choosing a Gym Membership
Choosing a gym with a convenient location can help minimize the friction of building an exercise habit, says Mike T. Nelson, Ph.D. an exercise physiologist in Minneapolis. “It won’t matter if it’s the most amazing gym you’ve ever seen if it’s 40 minutes away and you can’t get there,” he adds.
Next, one should consider their fitness goals, says Cerbie. Do you want to lose weight, build muscle, train for a particular sport, increase flexibility or have fun with others your age? Some gyms support all these goals while others cater to a specific type of gym goer.
The importance of additional considerations, such as class offerings, child care availability, equipment options, gym culture and costs, depend on the individual, says Dr. Nelson. A lack of child care can be a deal breaker for parents with young children. Meanwhile, new gym goers may want to look for clubs with coaching and instruction. Others may want access to a pool or basketball court.
Gym Membership Cost
The average monthly gym membership cost in 2021 was $28.58, according to market research firm Statista[2]Health and Fitness Clubs - statistics and facts. Statistia. Accessed 6/4/2023. . However, prices can range from as low as $10 per month to as high as $300 per month, depending on the location, amenities and services offered.
Also, pay attention to the fine print, advises Dr. Nelson. Are there start-up costs or cancellation fees? The total price of a membership should be clear from the time someone joins and recorded in print. Month-to-month memberships may be a little more expensive than year-long contracts, but if a member’s circ*mstances (such as where they live) change before their contract ends, they may be stuck paying for a membership they can no longer use.
In some cases, buying a pass with a predetermined number of visits may be less expensive than a monthly or long-term membership contract, especially for those who plan to go to the gym just once or twice a week.
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Summary: Compare the Best Gym Memberships of 2024
Product | company_logo | Forbes Health Ratings | forbes_advisor_rating_image | View More | Best for | learn_more_cta_below_text | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planet Fitness | 5.0 | View More | Best Nationwide Accessibility | #planet_fitness_section | |||
Anytime Fitness | 5.0 | View More | Best 24-Hour Gym | #anytime_fitness_section | |||
LA Fitness | 4.3 | View More | Best for Corporate Memberships | #la_fitness_section | |||
24-Hour Fitness | 4.2 | View More | Best Friends and Family Deal | #scrollto_24_hour_fitness_section | |||
YMCA | 3.8 | View More | Best Nonprofit Gym | #ymca_section | |||
YouFit | 3.6 | View More | Best With Group Fitness Classes | #youfit_section | |||
Blink Fitness | 3.5 | View More | Best Design | #blink_fitness_section | |||
Orangetheory Fitness | 3.2 | View More | Best Workout Led by Personal Trainers | #orangetheory_fitness_section | |||
Gold’s Gym | 3.1 | View More | Best Basic Membership | #golds_gym_section | |||
Crunch Fitness | 3.1 | View More | Best Diversity and Inclusion Language | #crunch_fitness_section |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a gym membership worth the cost?
“Your body is the one thing you’re taking with you throughout the remainder of your life, so it’s worthwhile to invest in it to make sure that it stays healthy and operates at a very high level,” says Cerbie. With a wide range of membership prices available, individuals have options when it comes to finding a gym that suits their unique budget and lifestyle.
How do I choose a gym membership?
Several factors may contribute to one’s choice of gym membership. For example, cleanliness and friendliness may be important to one gym goer while the atmosphere, equipment or class selection may be more important to others. Free trials can be helpful, especially to see how crowded a gym is or the availability of equipment during a time one would likely exercise.
Which gym membership is most worth it?
Dr. Nelson and Cerbie say the gym membership most worth the cost is the one you’ll use. There’s limited benefit to joining a gym where you don’t feel welcome or that doesn’t help you accomplish your goals.
Sources
Footnotes
- Gym, Health & Fitness Clubs in the US - Number of Businesses 2004–2029. IBIS World. Accessed 6/3/2023.
- Health and Fitness Clubs - statistics and facts. Statistia. Accessed 6/4/2023.
References
- Focusing on Fitness: Q4 and January Recap. Pacer.ai. Accessed 6/4/2023.
- Gym, Health & Fitness Clubs Industry in the US - Market Research Report. IBIS World. Accessed 6/3/2023.
- Wang Y, Ashokan K. Physical Exercise:. An Overview of Benefits From Psychological Level to Genetics and Beyond. Front Physiol. 2021;12:731858.
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Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circ*mstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.
Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.
Suzie GlassmanContributor
Suzie Glassman is a freelance writer specializing in health, wellness, fitness, mental health and parenting. She's also a part-time fitness and nutrition coach based in Denver, Colorado. Suzie loves breaking down complex scientific information into understandable and actionable advice and is passionate about helping others improve their quality of life. She and her husband are parents to a 12-year-old boy, 10-year-old girl and two rescue dogs.
Meaghan HarmonEditor
Meaghan is an editor and writer who also has experience practicing holistic medicine as an acupuncturist and herbalist. She's passionate about helping individuals live full, healthy and happy lives at every age. Outside of writing and editing for Forbes Health, Meaghan loves practicing yoga, reading and spending time with her family near the ocean in her home state of Maine.
Alena HallEditor
Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.
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