Fit Working Out Into Your Budget With These 7 Cheap Gym Memberships

Getting in shape requires making a decision and a commitment to putting in the work. It also takes an investment — in time and often in money.

Choosing a gym can be a very personal decision. Location might be important to you. You may want a gym you pass on your normal commute so you aren’t forced to travel out of the way.

You might want a large gym where you’re one of many and the attention isn’t on you. Or conversely, you might thrive in a smaller setting where you can form relationships with the trainers and other members.

Need Some Quick Cash to Help Pay for Your Gym Membership?

What Is the Average Cost of a Gym Membership?

Whatever your preferences are, cost is also an important piece of figuring out which is the best gym membership for you. To help make your decision a bit easier, we compiled information from seven national workout chains with cheap gym memberships so you can compare availability, costs and features.

While a cheap gym membership costs between $30 and $60 per month, keep in mind that gyms with more amenities like swimming pools and basketball courts might cost a little extra.

4 Things to Look for When Shopping Cheap Gym Memberships

Belonging to a gym is an ongoing financial commitment. You may be able to sign up during a promotional period that promises no initiation fee or your first month free, but you’ll have to budget for costs throughout the duration of your membership.

1. Watch Out for an Annual Fee or an Enrollment Fee

It’s not uncommon to see monthly gym membership fees that top $50, though we’ve tried to highlight more affordable gym memberships below. In addition, many gyms charge an annual fee and an initiation fee.

2. Read the Fine Print on What Your Monthly Membership Covers

Depending on what’s included in your membership, you may have to pay for added perks beyond access to the exercise equipment, like certain group fitness classes, time with a personal trainer, massages or tanning bed sessions.

3. Check the Duration of Your Contract

Before signing a contract, check to see if your membership locks you down for a certain number of months. If you choose to end your membership before the agreed-upon duration, you’ll likely be charged a penalty.

4. Don’t Skip the Free Trial

Many gyms provide free trials, so be sure to take advantage of those offers to get a better feel for the facilities before signing up. Or if you know someone who is already a member, they may be able to get a guest pass for you.

7 National Chains With Cheap Gym Memberships

Editor’s note: Membership costs were sourced online Dec 28, 2023, and are subject to change. Rates may vary based on location and current promotions. Check with your local gym regarding any restrictions due to COVID-19.

1. 24 Hour Fitness

Where: 24 Hour Fitness has over 275 locations in 11 states — California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.

How Much: Monthly fees vary based on location, starting as low as $9.99 for a Silver membership, $26.99 for a Gold membership and $39.99 for a Platinum membership. Members pay a $49.99 annual fee and may also be subject to a one-time initiation fee.

What’s Included: Gyms include cardio and strength equipment along with studio and cycle classes. Many facilities offer pools, personal training and in-house child care. Members can also get access to digital workouts to complete at home, as well as touch-free check-in and personal fitness plans in the 24GO Fitness App.

Try It: Use this three-day free pass.

2. YouFit Gyms

Where: Youfit Gyms has about 80 locations in 10 states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia.

How Much: The basic membership fee is $9.99 a month. The Premium tier (which includes group exercise classes and unlimited guest privileges) costs $23.99 a month, and the Premium+ membership (which includes a nutrition program) is $36.99 a month. Youfit Health Clubs also offers on-demand workout videos for $4.99 a month. Initiation charges and annual fees vary depending on the membership package, promotions and gym location.

What’s Included: Depending on location, these clubs offer top-of-the-line equipment, free weights, group fitness sessions, personal trainers, cycle class, indoor pickleball courts and saunas. Premium and Premium+ members can also bring a free guest with them anytime, visit any YouFit location and get unlimited access to group classes at select locations — as well as other exclusive offerings.

Try It: Get a free guest pass for three days.

3. Planet Fitness

Where: Planet Fitness has over 2,400+ locations, with gyms in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada.

How Much: Monthly dues are $10 for just one location or $24.99 for a PF Black Card membership, which gives you access to any location. Annual membership fees are $39.

What’s Included: These gyms include cardio and weight training equipment, plus fitness training programs for all members. Many locations are open 24 hours a day. PF Black Card membership allows you to bring a guest with you anytime and get free use of massage chairs and tanning services.

Try It: Find the location nearest you.

4. Crunch Fitness

Where: Crunch Fitness has more than 400 locations of its regular gyms and 28 locations of its Signature gyms (which include more classes, upgraded amenities and more). Its gyms are located in 34 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Canada, Australia, Spain, Portugal and Costa Rica.

How Much: Monthly prices vary by location but can be as low as $9.99 for a Base membership, $21.99 for a Peak membership and $29.99 for a Peak Results membership. Enrollment fees and annual fees also vary depending on location, membership level and special promos.

What’s Included: Depending on what type of membership you choose, you can take advantage of multiple perks, including a training orientation with a fitness expert, group fitness classes, online video workouts, tanning and HydroMassage.

Try It: Try a free one-day trial.

5. LA Fitness

Where: LA Fitness has over 550 locations in 27 states and Canada.

How Much: Monthly fees are $39.99 with a $75 initiation fee and nationwide access or $49.99 with no initiation fee and nationwide access and an annual fee is $49. Prices may be higher at Signature Club and Premier or Premier Plus locations.

What’s Included: Gyms include state-of-the-art equipment and cardio areas, group fitness classes, indoor heated pools, whirlpool spas and saunas. Some have kids clubs, juice bars and basketball and racquetball courts.

Try It: Try a free three-day trial.

6. Anytime Fitness

Where: Anytime Fitness has more than 5,700 locations worldwide, including gyms on five continents.

How Much: Membership prices vary depending on location and current promotions, but according to Anytime Fitness’ FAQ, the average U.S. membership is $41 a month. Members also pay one-time initiation and key activation fees, which vary.

What’s Included: Members have access to cardio machines, weights and strength training equipment, as well as classes and wellness programs. Some locations offer tanning and personal training. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Try It: You can get a free seven-day pass.

7. Blink Fitness

Where: Blink Fitness has 103 locations in nine states, with a concentration of gyms in New York and New Jersey.

How Much: Gym membership prices vary by location. Blink Fitness offers an Orange Plan for single-gym access at $17 a month, a Blue Plan with multistate access at $30 a month and a Green Plan that includes Manhattan gyms at $41 a month.

What’s Included: Members can access cardio, strength and other gym equipment, as well as a one-time free fitness training session. Membership also includes the Blink App, which provides access to over 500 virtual classes and workouts.

Try It: Get a one-day free pass here.

Other Affordable Fitness Options

You don’t have to join a gym to get fit. Consider more creative options like the ones below to tone up and get healthy.

Take Virtual Classes

Beachbody On Demand, which starts at $10 a month, is the most popular of the virtual fitness options, but you can download free fitness apps for every kind of class, from yoga to boxing. You can also explore free virtual workouts on YouTube and Facebook Live.

Work Out at Home

If none of these chain gyms suits your fancy, you could always join your local YMCA or set up a home gym to get your workouts in. You could even make your own fitness gear out of items you have at home — like filling empty water bottles to use as hand weights. Be sure to check out our list of cheap exercise equipment, too.

Head Outdoors

Incorporate fitness into your daily routine by simply walking or running outside. Make use of outdoor fitness equipment at public parks. If you have a pool, get in some laps as cardio when the weather’s nice.

Find Free Classes

You don’t have to pay for a gym membership to find fitness classes. Here are 10 surprising places you can discover free yoga classes from churches to colleges.

Nicole Dow is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Kaz Weida is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Freelancer Dennis Lynch contributed to this report. 

---

---