What is the Best Gym Membership for You?

Let’s be honest. Paying for a gym membership you won’t use is a waste of money. So it’s not enough to do a quick Google search for “best gym” and sign up as fast as possible. You need to conduct some initial research to find the membership that best fits your lifestyle and fitness goals.

To help you make the best choice, let’s unpack some features and benefits of gym memberships, plus some important factors to consider when finding the best gym membership for you. 

And if you need a little extra help, Planet Fitness is here for you! Find a club near you for support and expert guidance. 

What is a Gym Membership?

A gym membership provides you with regular access to a gym instead of paying for entry every time you work out.

Gym memberships come with a payment plan that’s usually a monthly or annual fee. Some gyms include strict contracts instead of flexible options when you want to update or renew your plan, so keep your eyes open! 

With a gym membership, you gain access to gym facilities and equipment, as well as membership perks the gym may offer. These may include fitness classes and training programs or even massage chairs and discounts on your favorite brands. Although, depending on the gym, those features could cost extra. 

Every gym will offer different types of memberships with varying benefits, so be sure to ask around to understand which options are available in your area.

Benefits of Having a Gym Membership

Listen, this isn’t a marketing pitch. It’s science! Gym memberships have a TON to offer your daily life beyond your actual experience at the gym.

 Here are some of our favorites:

• Increased Motivation: If you’re paying for a gym membership, you’ll want to use it. A gym membership can motivate you to schedule regular workouts and keep you on track to get the most out of what you’re paying for.
• Improved Physical Health: With consistent motivation to exercise regularly,  you’ll strengthen muscles and bones, improve cardiovascular health, and live a longer, healthier life.
• Improved Mental Health: It’s not just physical! With that gym membership motivation, your consistent exercise can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Professional Guidance: There’s only so much free information you can find online. With a gym membership, you can meet with fitness professionals to get expert answers to your most specific exercise questions. 
• Finding Community: A 2022 study found that working out with others provides more motivation than working out alone. A gym membership can help you harness that motivation through regular group fitness classes or meeting folks with similar exercise goals to make future fitness friends. 

Common Features of Gym Memberships

Most gyms offer a variety of services and amenities with their memberships. Picking the features that are most valuable to your fitness journey will help you find the best gym to join for your lifestyle.

Gym Access (Local & While Traveling) 

Your gym membership needs will depend on factors like location, hours, and group accessibility.

Don’t want to mess up the fitness routine you’ve worked so hard to build when traveling for work or visiting friends & family? Then a gym membership with access to multiple locations might work better for you. 

Got a busy schedule and prefer to exercise in the early morning or late at night? You might prefer a gym with 24/7 access. 

Maybe your weekdays are completely booked with work, school, or family, and getting to the gym during the week is nearly impossible. If that’s the case, maybe a weekends-only membership would suit you better. Or, perhaps, a membership that is fully flexible, with round-the-clock hours and no-commitment contracts, as well as affordable, so that it doesn’t break the bank.

It’s all about finding the best fitness membership for your schedule. 

Personal or Group Fitness Sessions

And if exercising solo doesn’t sound fun, bring a friend! Some gym memberships (like the PF Black Card®) include perks that let you bring friends or family members with you for free. 

Having people to meet at the gym provides additional motivation and accountability to exercise. A gym membership may also give you access to trainers for personalized sessions. Or, if you prefer to exercise with other people with similar workout interests, you might want a gym membership with a group class package. 

Planet Fitness has great options through our PE@PF small-group training program, which provides members of all fitness levels with the opportunity to learn how to use individual machines and equipment safely and effectively.

Locker & Shower Use

Most gym memberships come with access to a locker room and showers. Because let’s be real—working out is a sweaty business! The last thing you want to worry about while trying to get in the zone is where to put your stuff and how you're going to get clean afterward.

Look for a gym that gives you a simple solution for hygiene and a secure place to store your personal belongings while exercising. And if it’s your first time in a locker room and don’t quite know the etiquette, we’ve got you covered with a few quick tips.

Machines & Free Weights

The best gym to join needs to actually have the equipment you want to use. So, the best fitness membership for you ultimately reflects the needs of your unique workout routine. 

Consider the following:

• Focusing on cardio? You need a gym membership with access to machines like treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes.
• Want to build strength? Make sure you’ve got access to equipment like free weights, weight machines, and cable systems available at your gym. 
• More interested in functional training? Find a gym with kettlebells, medicine balls, and resistance bands. 

Want to see what a PF membership gives you access to? Compare your options here or even take a virtual tour.

Finding the Best Gym Membership for You

There are an infinite number of factors to consider when determining the best gym membership for you. And that can get a little intimidating. 

Now that you’re familiar with what gyms typically offer, let’s unpack a few more factors to keep in mind:

Beginner-Friendly Gyms

Not all gyms are welcoming to newcomers. So, if you’re new to working out, you’ll want to look at the culture of the gyms you’re considering.  A welcoming and non-intimidating atmosphere where learning is encouraged will motivate you to return for consistent workouts.

Beginner-friendly gyms have training options that reflect that. They’ll offer training, easy-to-follow instructions regarding equipment, and have people available to answer questions if you find yourself lost.

Planet Fitness is built on the foundation of being a Judgement Free Zone®.  We seek to provide a comfortable, safe, and energetic environment where everyone feels accepted and respected. 

Access to Multiple Locations

As mentioned, if you’re a frequent traveler, the best gym membership for you should have access to multiple locations.

A membership with multiple locations makes exercising more convenient whether you’re close to home, working long hours, or trekking around the world.

Affordability

At the end of the day, the cost of a gym membership is a determining factor for most folks. Just remember to review everything that comes with a membership before immediately settling for the cheapest option.

The Right Gym for You

The best gym for you probably isn’t the best gym for everyone, but that’s okay! The truth is you’re not just like everybody else. 

The best gym membership for you is one that helps you stay healthy and live your best life inside and outside the gym. It’s one that you can commit to, meeting your needs in terms of both cost and location.

Planet Fitness offers two highly affordable options with great perks: the Classic membership and our most popular membership, the PF Black Card®—which lets you use all PF amenities like bringing a guest every time you work out, access to premium PF+ workouts & discounts, use of the Black Card Spa® where you can relax in massage chairs & HydroMassage™—and much more!*

But you don’t have to be a paying member—or even leave the room you’re in right now—to enjoy all the FREE exercises the PF App has to offer!

*Services and perks subject to availability and restrictions. State and local restrictions on tanning frequency with PF Black Card® memberships apply. Participating locations only. See club for details.