Depending on what your fitness goal is, a certain gym might be a better fit for you than others (However, any gyms is better than no gym!) If you’re loooking for advice on which gym might be the best fit for your requirements, read on.
1. Overall Best Gym: 24-Hour Fitness
At $20 to $50 a month, 24-Hour Fitness offers something for almost everyone: it’s open 24 hours a day, is spacious with lots of equipment, offers personal training services, group fitness classes, and a workout app with workout plans.
There are different membership levels, and the available amenities depend on which level you subscribe to. Basic amenities include weight machines, cardio equipment, floor equipment, free weights, saunas, studios, locker rooms, and towels. Luxury amenities include classes, pool access, and buddy passes.
2. Best for Gym Goers on a Budget: Planet Fitness
For budget-minded gym goers, you can’t beat Planet Fitness. Monthly memberships range from $10 to $24.99 a month. Planet Fitness is known for its inclusivity policies. For example, the Lunk Alarm sounds when a member engages in unfriendly, intimidating behaviors like dropping weights on the floor, yelling, and grunting. Amenities include ample floor space, barbells, dumbbells, cardio machines, basic weight machines, and free daily fitness training.
3. Best for Frequent Flyers: Anytime Fitness
The features that set Anytime Fitness apart from other fitness centers are all members are given their own key fob to enter the gym any time, without requiring a staff member to let them in, and the more than 4,700 global locations.
This makes Anytime Fitness accessible and convenient for travelers wanting to work out. For approximately $41 a month, members can access kettlebells, boxes, cardio equipment, barbells, dumbbells, weight machines, and yoga mats.
4. Best for Weightlifters: Gold’s Gym
Gold’s gym is an old-school national brand centered on muscle building and heavy lifting. The facilities tend to be older, but the equipment is newer. The pricing varies by location, but the monthly costs fall between $35 and $60.
A monthly membership typically includes heavy dumbbells, squat racks, plates and barbells, weight machines, saunas, steam rooms, pools, personal training, group fitness classes, showers, and lockers. Gold’s Gym is the place for you if you’re a bodybuilder.
5. Best for Lifestyle Integration: Equinox
Equinox is your spot if you want a gym membership with luxury amenities. For approximately $200+ a month (depending on location), members enjoy top-tier equipment, expert instruction, a full-service spa, cold eucalyptus towels, steam rooms, saunas, unlimited group classes, a lifestyle shop, cooking classes given by famous chefs, and much more. Equinox is more than a gym membership; it’s a lifestyle.
6. Best Muscle-Building Machines: LA Fitness
People focused on strength training, and muscle-building workouts will find that LA Fitness offers a wide-ranging selection of machines and free weights for memberships starting at $19.99 a month, depending on your state. While Gold’s Gym is essentially a bodybuilder’s facility, LA Fitness has an expansive cardio section, personal training, pools, saunas, and group fitness classes for everyone.
7. Best for Group Classes: Crunch Fitness
If you prefer various fun fitness class options, check out Crunch Fitness. They offer classes for Pilates, yoga, muscle-sculpting, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and Zumba, to name a few. Crunch Fitness also provides cardio equipment, free weights, and weight machines. The pricing and access to classes vary by location and depend on if you’re attending one of Crunch Fitness’s Signature Clubs.
8. Best for Cross-Training: Orangetheory Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness is distinguished from other gyms because it only offers one-hour resistance training and cardiovascular fitness classes taught by certified fitness professionals.
These structured workouts are ideal for people not necessarily interested in spending a lot of time in a weight room but would be OK with attending a class focusing on various strength and cardio training exercises. Orangetheory Fitness offers three membership options; prices vary based on location.
9. Best for Families: YMCA
The YMCA offers monthly memberships for up to four adults and dependent children ages 26 and under as long as they live at the same address, but this policy may differ based on location. The Y offers something for everyone: youth sports, dance, tennis, pickleball, group exercise classes, nutrition, personal training, swimming, swim lessons, and enhanced Fitness. Membership costs vary by location.
10. Best for Seniors: Snap Fitness
Snap Fitness’s mantra is “exercise your body and mind.” Their inclusive gyms provide a supportive environment that helps members set realistic goals, track progress, and celebrate victories. Snap Fitness offers new member onboarding, group fitness classes, Myzone heart rate monitor, personal training, nutrition consulting, and on-demand fitness classes. Membership costs vary by location.