Best Gym Memberships of 2024 at Easily Accessible Gym Chains

There’s no denying that upon hearing the Equinox name, you’re talking about a luxury gym. Equinox has 108 gyms worldwide and offers everything from top-of-the-line fitness equipment to fitness classes, spas, personal training, studio Pilates and an in-house shop where you can purchase activewear and accessories. Some locations may even offer a juice bar where you can refuel after your workout. When you’re not at the gym, your membership also gives you access to the training app, Equinox Plus, so you have Equinox workouts at your fingertips at all times.

Becoming an Equinox member comes at a price, so it will depend on your budget and equipment preference whether or not it’s right for you. Membership costs vary based on whether you want to visit one or multiple locations. For the purpose of this review, I’ll be using NYC-based prices, but keep in mind that even within NYC Equinox gyms, prices may differ. 

According to the Rockefeller Plaza Equinox location fees, it costs the following:

• Access to Rockefeller Center: $265 per month, 12-month commitment
• All Access to 80+ clubs across the US/Canada, including Rockefeller Center: $315 per month, 12-month commitment
• Destination + Century City (SoCal), except Hudson Yards and E clubs: $385 per month, 12-month commitment

Often, Equinox will have deals during certain times of the year when it waives the initiation fee. You can also pay a visit to the gym first and try it out for free or by purchasing a day pass to see what it’s about before fully committing. 

I tried out Equinox for about a month in the past and found it to be fully equipped with every piece of equipment imaginable. There’s plenty of space to spread out, a dedicated weight training room with enough squat racks and deadlifting platforms, a group fitness studio, a cardio section, a Pilates studio and so much more. In other words, you’ll never be fighting with someone for a space or piece of equipment. 

Staff constantly keeps the gym clean, which is important, especially when you’re sharing equipment with lots of people every day. You also have the option to take various group fitness classes and relax after your workout at the spa, if you’re willing to spend extra since it’s not included in the membership.

If personal training is more up your alley, you’ll be in good hands with the trainers who have to undergo a training program first before working with clients and then have to earn continuing education credits and certifications every so often. For those days you can’t make it to the gym, you also have the option to use the Equinox Plus app, which connects you to classes like SoulCycle, Pure Yoga and Equinox-based classes such as Precision Run and T2. If you aren’t an Equinox member but are interested in the classes, you can sign up for the app for $40 a month. 

As you can tell, Equinox gives you your money’s worth if you become a member and are a dedicated gym goer. If the price is steep for you and you know you’re not the most committed to your fitness, you can always try the app first and see if it’s a gym you’d like to explore. If not, there are plenty of other options that may be a better fit. 

One of the most affordable gyms you can find nationwide is Planet Fitness. This is the ideal gym if you’re: looking to get a quick workout in and don’t mind if it has state-of-the-art equipment or fancy amenities and classes. Planet Fitness prides itself on being accessible to anyone and fitting almost any budget. This includes if you choose to sign up for its PF Black card membership, which gives you access to all the gym locations and allows you to bring a guest anytime. 

I used to be a member of Planet Fitness at one point, and have noticed the price has gone up by $5 for both memberships it offers. Below is a breakdown of the nationwide memberships and what you get with them.

• Classic: $15 per month, Unlimited access to home club, PF app workouts, free in-club fitness training, $1 startup fee, $49 annual fee, no commitment.
• PF Black Card: $30 per month, access to any club, bring a guest for free anytime, PF exclusive workouts on app, free in-club training, free use of HydroMassage, free use of tanning and more. $1 startup fee, $49 annual fee, no commitment.

One thing to consider if you join Planet Fitness is that, like most gyms, there are peak and off-peak times (similar to rush hour in the mornings and evenings), so this may affect your ability to have access to some equipment. For example, Planet Fitness doesn’t have multiple Smith machines, so if you’re looking to use this machine on leg day, you may have to line up ahead of time to use it because it’s a popular machine. The same applies to using weight benches and sometimes dumbbells. Additionally, the gym may feel more crowded during those peak hours because Black Card members do take advantage of bringing in guests. That’s understandable since a workout buddy can be motivating and helpful to assist with some exercises. 

Planet Fitness also has a 30-minute express workout section that is set up so you can get in and out of the gym quickly. Overall, Planet Fitness has the standard equipment you want a gym to have like cardio machines, free weights, cable machines and strength-training machines. There are also showers and locker rooms in case you need a place to store your gym bag or need a space to clean up after your workout. If you plan on showering at the gym, keep in mind that Planet Fitness does not offer towels, so you will need to bring your own towel, shower shoes and toiletries if you have particular preferences. For $15 a month and a space to work out with all the equipment you could need, it’s a price that can’t be beat. 

Anytime Fitness is a franchise that has over 5,000 locations, according to its website. What makes this gym appealing is that it is open 24 hours, which is rare to find these days. It’s a good option to have on hand if you work obscure hours and still want a space where you can work out at any time. This is one of the gyms on this list that I have not had a chance to try out because there aren’t any in my area, but there are plenty across the country and even internationally.

One of the things I noticed upon browsing the Anytime Fitness site is that the membership prices and options seem to vary across the different locations. Anytime allows the owners of the individual franchise location to set their own rates based on club dues, monthly fees and additional charges. Therefore, it was tough to narrow down an exact figure on what to expect membership-wise. To give you an example of what you can expect, I used the information provided for the location in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

• 6-month plan: $616.82 due up front, additional fees may apply
• 12-month plan: $169 down payment, $35 biweekly, additional fees may apply
• 24-month plan: $6 down payment, $33 biweekly, additional fees may apply

As you can see, unless you’re paying for six months upfront, payments come out to about $70 a month for the 12-month plan and $66 a month for the 24-month plan. Additionally, Anytime has a partnership with Apple Fitness Plus, so you’ll have free access to those workouts for three months. 

From what I have gathered based on Anytime’s social media pages and reviews, it offers plenty of fitness equipment. It includes a personal training turf space, a cardio area, strength-training equipment, an exercise bike room, plenty of dumbbells of different weights, kettlebells and more. Keep in mind, that this may be subject to location since some Reddit reviews I came across said not all locations have the same types of equipment. If you decide you want to join this gym, make sure you join a location that has all the fitness equipment you know you’ll use so you get your money’s worth. 

Similar to other gyms on the list, Anytime has showers and locker rooms available to members. If you’re looking to work out with a friend, Anytime allows guests, but it's subject to the location’s guest policy. You can also purchase a day pass if you find yourself near one and want to try it out. It seems like most complaints about the gym have mainly to do with the inconsistent pricing and difficulty in canceling, so it’s important that you feel comfortable and sort out these details with the home club you decide to join. 

F45 Training is a growing franchise that has gained popularity in the boutique fitness space. The Australian-based gym offers a 45-minute, high-intensity, interval-based group training class. Although it isn’t a traditional gym like many of the others on this list, it’s earned a fan base with those who enjoy HIIT classes. It’s even earned the stamp of approval from actor Mark Wahlberg, who is an investor and chief brand officer of the gym franchise. Its popularity also started a partnership with Hyrox, a circuit-style global fitness race. It only seemed natural that F45 and Hyrox are aligned, and the gym offers Hyrox signature workouts for those training for the race. 

I’ve taken a few F45 classes in the past, and although it isn’t my go-to workout, it is a good way to shake up your fitness routine. F45 has four different style workouts that are programmed into its structure. It has cardio, hybrid (combination of resistance training and cardio), resistance and recovery. Each of these classes also has subcategories, so you’ll always be challenged no matter your fitness level. Altogether, there are over 5,000 curated workouts and 45 classes at F45. One thing I noticed from attending F45 classes is that their focus is really on community, and everyone is very friendly and welcoming. If you’ve just moved to a new place and are looking for a gym and to make friends, this may be an ideal fitness studio to consider.

A class can have various stations depending on the focus. For example, I took a West Hollywood class that is a 60-minute, hybrid-style workout and it had 23 stations. There are usually a few instructors per class to assist in case you need modifications or to remind you of the order of the stations because it gets a little hectic once class begins.

Each location has its own membership price, so you would have to find the closest location to you to get a more accurate price point. For this example, I’m using the information from a New York-based F45 studio. 

F45 Long Island City

• 3-day trial must be used within 7 days: $45
• 10 classes expires 2 months from first use: $349
• Drop-in pass: $40
• One-week pass: $80
• 5 classes: $189
• Ikon 14-day pass expires 14 days from first use: $99
• 20 classes: $649
• F45 challenge unlimited expires 45 days from first use: $475
• F45 challenge unlimited month-to-month/weekly: $69
• F45 Limited 4x monthly: $99
• F45 Limited 8x monthly: $196
• F45 2-week sprint/member status expires 14 days from first use: $139

As you can tell, there are various membership options to choose from and prices will vary per location. It gives you the option to decide if you want to periodically take a class or commit to a more robust membership. The number of stations in certain classes might throw some people for a loop and seem intimidating, but the instructors generally do a good job of helping as needed. 

Additionally, there’s the F45 app that comes with your membership. The app serves as your hub to book classes; join challenges; see your stats via LionHeart, the heart rate monitor used in class; complete fitness assessments; and find meal plans/recipes and workouts at your fingertips. If you’re not sure if F45 is right for you, you can always pop in to take a commitment-free class or sign up for the three-day trial. 

Orangetheory Fitness is another franchise gym that is known for its heart rate-based interval training classes. Orangetheory is unique because it looks at five heart rate training zones and has you adjust the level of effort based on what your heart can handle during a workout. It's recommended to wear an OTbeat heart rate monitor, specifically used in Orangetheory classes since the heart rate zones appear on a screen in class. The goal is to remain with an elevated heart rate between 12 to 20 minutes in what it calls the “orange zone.” This means you’re giving 84 to 91% of your max heart rate. Additionally, you want to earn 12 of what Orangetheory calls “splat points” because they tell you the number of minutes you spend in the orange and red zones.

Similar to F45, Orangetheory uses stations that focus on different exercises. The difference is that Orangetheory limits it to three stations, which may be more feasible and easy to follow for most people. I’ve taken Orangetheory a few times and appreciate that it always seems to be easy enough to follow. Maintaining a certain heart rate, though, is a challenge in itself. There were times when I thought I was working out hard enough to be in the orange zone and it turns out I was not. 

Every Orangetheory class has a strength, rowing and treadmill component. That means you will spend some time doing strength-training exercises on the floor, rowing on a rower and running, walking or jogging on a treadmill for an allotted time, and rotating throughout each station during an hour-long class. The workouts will vary per day, so you’ll never get bored.

Prices vary per location, similar to some of the other franchise gyms on the list, but below I listed one as an example of what a membership can cost you. 

Orangetheory Chelsea, New York

• Basic membership: $119 per month, 4 classes monthly, discounted add-on classes
• Elite membership: $199 per month, 8 classes monthly, discounted add-on classes
• Premier membership: $209 first month, $279 month after, unlimited classes

You can also ask about redeeming a free workout when you visit your local Orangetheory Fitness gym. This way you can try out a class and then decide if you’d like to invest in a membership. Some things to consider are that it’s a treadmill-heavy class, so it may not be the right fit for you if you have knee or other injuries that can keep you from running. The instructors can help you modify, but it might feel limiting if you’re trying to earn splat points. If you aren’t a fan of looking at data while working out because it creates extra pressure for you, Orangetheory classes may not be the best option.