7 Budget Friendly Gyms Ranked by What a Full Year Really Costs
A good gym doesn't have to cost much, as long as you count every fee before you sign.
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A good gym doesn’t have to cost much, as long as you count every fee before you sign.
Budget friendly gyms charge $10 to $25 a month, according to The Penny Hoarder.
The average gym? About $50 to $60 a month.
But the sticker price isn’t the whole story, because almost every chain adds an annual fee.
So I ranked 7 budget gyms by what one full year really costs: 12 months of the basic rate plus the annual fee. Each pick comes with its price, its fee and the free trial you can use first.
Here’s a quick way to pick:
- The lowest total for a full year belongs to YouFit Gyms (#1), at $169.87.
- Travel a lot or work odd hours? Anytime Fitness (#6) is open around the clock.
- If a pool and sauna matter more than price, look at LA Fitness (#5).
- In a small town, Planet Fitness (#3) is your safest bet, since it’s in all 50 states.
The 7 Budget Friendly Gyms at a Glance
Every row links to the gym’s official site, ranked by what a first year costs.
The 7 gyms side by side
How We Ranked These Budget Friendly Gyms
These picks were judged on published prices, not on hands-on testing:
- First-year cost. 12 months of the basic rate plus the annual fee, the one number that sorts the list.
- Reach. How many locations and states each chain covers.
- What the base tier includes. Cardio machines, dumbbells and other strength training gear, plus classes, pools or 24/7 access.
- A free way to try it. A guest pass or trial before you sign anything.
Prices below come from The Penny Hoarder’s January 2026 comparison and, for Planet Fitness, NerdWallet’s August 2026 update. One-time initiation fees are left out because they change by club and promotion.
Chains with no citable 2026 price, such as Gold’s Gym, and premium studios like Equinox or Orangetheory Fitness didn’t make the list.
The 7 Budget Friendly Gyms Reviewed
Each review follows the table’s order: who the gym suits, what it costs and the one catch to know.
1. YouFit Gyms [Best for the Lowest First-Year Cost]
YouFit Gyms is the cheapest year of gym access on this list.
The Penny Hoarder’s table lists a $9.99 basic membership with a $49.99 annual fee, so 12 months comes to $169.87.
That’s $10 less than 24 Hour Fitness for the same monthly rate, because YouFit’s yearly fee is lower.
One thing has changed since January: YouFit now bills dues every two weeks, and its site advertises memberships from $5 per payment. That’s about $130 a year in dues, or roughly $180 with the annual fee, so price your own club before you count on the $169.87.
The catch is reach. YouFit runs about 80 locations in 10 states, so plenty of readers won’t have one nearby.
Want classes too? The Premium tier adds group classes and access to more YouFit clubs, and The Penny Hoarder listed it at $24.99 a month.
If you’d bring a workout partner every time, look at Premium+, the tier that includes a free guest with every visit.
| YouFit Gyms at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Cardio, strength and turf areas at your home club |
| 💰Cost | $9.99/mo basic, $49.99 annual fee |
| 📅First Year | $169.87 |
| 🎯Best For | Lifters who just need a barbell and machines |
| 👉First Step | Claim the free guest pass on youfit.com |
2. 24 Hour Fitness [Best Cheap Gym With Pools at Many Clubs]
24 Hour Fitness matches YouFit’s $9.99 monthly price and adds more amenities at many clubs.
The same table lists Silver at $9.99, Gold at $24.99 and Platinum at $39.99 a month, depending on location.
Members pay a $59.99 annual fee, which puts a Silver year at $179.87. Some clubs also charge a one-time initiation fee.
Why pay $10 more a year than YouFit? Many 24 Hour Fitness clubs offer pools, personal training and in-house child care.
Just check your exact club first. The chain listed roughly 300 locations in 11 states in January 2026, but its homepage now shows 235+ locations in 9 states, a 5-day free pass and newer plan names, so confirm today’s rate.
| 24 Hour Fitness at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Cardio, strength and studio classes |
| 💰Cost | $9.99 to $39.99/mo, $59.99 annual fee |
| 📅First Year | $179.87 on Silver |
| 🎯Best For | Families who want a pool or child care |
| 👉First Step | Use the free pass at your nearest club |
3. Planet Fitness [Best for Nationwide Access]
Planet Fitness is the budget gym you’re most likely to find nearby, with clubs in all 50 states and more than 2,900 worldwide.
NerdWallet’s August 2026 update lists two tiers: Classic at $15 and PF Black Card at $24.99 a month.
Both tiers add an annual fee of $49. So a Classic year costs $229.00, and a Black Card year costs $348.88.
The Black Card is the upgrade that pays off if you travel. It opens any Planet Fitness location and lets you bring one guest each visit.
Watch the exit terms before you join. NerdWallet says you may have to commit for 12 months, and leaving early costs a $58 buyout fee.
| Planet Fitness at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Cardio and strength training equipment at one home club |
| 💰Cost | $15/mo Classic, $24.99/mo Black Card, $49 annual fee |
| 📅First Year | $229.00 on Classic |
| 🎯Best For | Beginners and small-town members |
| 👉First Step | Search your ZIP on planetfitness.com |
4. Crunch Fitness [Best for Classes on a Budget]
Crunch Fitness costs more for the year than Planet Fitness but gives you more room to grow into classes.
The Penny Hoarder’s table lists a $19.99 basic membership and an $89 annual fee, so a year runs $328.88.
Prices move a lot by club, though. Base memberships range from $9.99 to $19.99 a month, and annual fees vary by location too.
At $9.99 with the same $89 fee, your first year drops to $208.88. So if your local Crunch charges $9.99, it beats Planet Fitness for the year by about $20.
Crunch runs 490+ locations across 41 states, second only to Planet Fitness’s 50 states on this list.
| Crunch Fitness at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Equipment floor on Base, classes on higher tiers |
| 💰Cost | $9.99 to $19.99/mo Base, $89 annual fee in the table |
| 📅First Year | $328.88 at $19.99 |
| 🎯Best For | People who want group classes later |
| 👉First Step | Book the free one-day trial on crunch.com |
5. LA Fitness [Best for Pools, Saunas and Courts]
LA Fitness is the full-service pick for readers who want a pool more than the lowest price.
The Penny Hoarder lists $29.99 to $39.99 a month with a $69 annual fee, so a year starts at $428.88.
That’s about $259 more than YouFit for the year. In return, its clubs include group fitness classes, indoor heated pools, whirlpool spas and saunas.
Some clubs add basketball and racquetball courts. LA Fitness runs about 550 locations in 27 states, and Signature or Premier clubs can cost more than the base range.
| LA Fitness at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Classes, heated pool, spa and sauna |
| 💰Cost | $29.99 to $39.99/mo, $69 annual fee |
| 📅First Year | $428.88 at $29.99 |
| 🎯Best For | Swimmers and sauna fans |
| 👉First Step | Request the free trial at lafitness.com |
6. Anytime Fitness [Best for 24/7 Access]
Anytime Fitness is the pick for night-shift workers and travelers, because its gyms are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The company’s own FAQ, as quoted by The Penny Hoarder, puts the average U.S. membership at $53 a month.
Add the $49.99 annual fee and an average year costs $685.99. That’s the highest total here, so treat it as a convenience buy, not a bargain.
The average hides a spread, since prices vary by location and promotion. Your club may land under $53, and members also pay one-time initiation and key activation fees.
With access to 6,000+ gyms, according to its homepage, it’s the biggest network on this list.
| Anytime Fitness at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Gym access at any hour, every day |
| 💰Cost | $53/mo average, $49.99 annual fee |
| 📅First Year | $685.99 at the average rate |
| 🎯Best For | Shift workers and frequent travelers |
| 👉First Step | Grab the free trial pass, good for 1 or 7 days depending on the club |
7. YMCA [Best Non-Chain Option]
The YMCA is the community option for readers who don’t want a chain gym at all.
The Penny Hoarder suggests joining your local YMCA if none of the chains suits you.
The Y says it has locations in more than 10,000 neighborhoods across the country, so there’s a good chance one is close.
It ranks last only because neither price source lists a YMCA rate. One phone call to your local branch gets you the number.
Here’s what to say:
What’s your monthly rate for one adult, is there a joining fee, and do you offer reduced rates based on income?
Multiply the monthly rate by 12 and add the joining fee, and you can compare it with every gym in the table.
| YMCA at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 🏋What You Get | Varies by branch, so ask what's included |
| 💰Cost | Set by each branch |
| 📅First Year | Ask your local Y |
| 🎯Best For | Anyone who prefers a local, non-chain gym |
| 👉First Step | Call the nearest branch and ask the question above |
What Budget Friendly Gyms Really Cost in a Year
Budget friendly gyms such as YouFit Gyms and Anytime Fitness cost $169.87 to $685.99 for a first year, once you add each chain’s annual fee to 12 months of its basic rate. Compare that with a $50 to $60 average gym, which runs $600 to $720 a year before any fees.
So picking YouFit over an average $50 gym saves about $430 in year one.
Fees to Ask About Before You Sign
The monthly rate is just one line on your bill. Ask about these too:
- Annual fee. $49 to $89 a year on this list, billed once a year.
- Initiation fee. A one-time charge at some 24 Hour Fitness clubs and other chains, sometimes waived during a promotion.
- Buyout or early-exit fee. $58 at Planet Fitness if you leave before your commitment ends.
- Key activation fee. A one-time charge at Anytime Fitness clubs.
Add every one of them to your first-year number before you choose.
How to Try a Budget Gym Free Before Joining
Five budget gym chains offer a free trial or pass before you join, from one day at Crunch Fitness to as many as seven at Anytime Fitness. Use it to test the gym at the hour you’ll actually go.
Here’s how the trials lined up in The Penny Hoarder’s January 2026 guide:
- Anytime Fitness: free 7-day pass, though its site now says 1 or 7 days depending on the club.
- YouFit Gyms, 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness: free 3-day pass or trial, and 24 Hour Fitness now advertises 5 days.
- Crunch Fitness: free 1-day trial.
Show up at your real workout time and count the free squat racks, dumbbells and treadmills. If you’d wait for every machine, keep looking.
How to Cancel a Cheap Gym Membership Without Extra Fees
Canceling a cheap gym membership without extra fees comes down to timing. At Planet Fitness, NerdWallet says you must give notice at least seven business days before your billing date, or you pay another month.
To skip the next $49 annual fee, NerdWallet says to cancel by the 25th of the month before it’s due.
Most Planet Fitness clubs want you to cancel in person, though a few allow mail or online. So before you join any gym, ask one question:
How do I cancel, and how much notice do you need?
A gym is only one of your monthly charges, and money saving apps can flag the subscriptions you forgot about.
Ways to Pay Even Less for a Budget Gym
Budget gym members can pay even less through referral credits and employer perks. Planet Fitness gives a free month for each friend who joins, up to 3 referral credits a year, according to NerdWallet.
Each move takes one conversation or a few minutes online:
- Refer friends. Three referrals can cover 3 months of a $15 Classic plan, worth $45.
- Check work perks. Some Walmart employees may qualify for gym memberships as low as $2.50 per paycheck, per The Penny Hoarder.
- Pay from checking. Many Planet Fitness branches only take checking-account payments, so set that up before you go in.
- Ask about age and service discounts. Ask the desk whether your club matches the discounts for people 55 and up or the deals for military members other businesses offer.
Want your workouts to pay you back? A few apps that pay you to exercise can offset part of a $10 membership, and step-tracking apps reward the walks you’d take anyway.
Is $25 a Month a Lot for a Gym?
$25 a month is not a lot for a gym. It sits at the top of the $10 to $25 range The Penny Hoarder calls cheap, and well under the $50 to $60 average.
At $25, a year costs $300 before fees. That’s roughly what Planet Fitness’s PF Black Card costs at $24.99.
So if a $25 gym gives you classes, guest privileges or multi-club access, it’s still a budget price.
A gym you stop using is the real waste, so check your budget for other hidden money wasters while you’re at it. If you’d rather skip the gym entirely, there are plenty of free hobbies that keep you active, and your food budget can stretch too with cheap sources of protein.
Key Takeaways
- Count the annual fee. Almost every chain adds one, from $49 to $89 a year on this list.
- YouFit Gyms has the cheapest year. $169.87 on The Penny Hoarder's numbers, with 24 Hour Fitness close behind at $179.87.
- Planet Fitness is the easiest to find. It's in all 50 states, and the Classic plan costs $229 for a year.
- Pay more only for what you'll use. LA Fitness adds pools and saunas, and Anytime Fitness adds 24/7 access.
- Try before you sign. Use the free pass at your real workout time, and ask how to cancel first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest gym I can join?
YouFit Gyms is the cheapest gym to join for a full year on this list, at about $169.87: a $9.99 basic monthly rate plus a $49.99 annual fee, per The Penny Hoarder’s January 2026 table. 24 Hour Fitness is close behind at $179.87, so check which one has a club near you.
What gym is $15 a month?
Planet Fitness is the best-known $15 gym: its Classic membership costs $15 a month for one home club, according to NerdWallet in August 2026. Add the $49 annual fee and a year costs $229.
Is Planet Fitness still $10 a month?
No, Planet Fitness’s Classic membership now starts at $15 a month, not $10, according to NerdWallet’s August 2026 update. The PF Black Card costs $24.99 a month, and both tiers add a $49 annual fee.
Which budget gym has a pool?
LA Fitness is the budget gym on this list most known for pools: The Penny Hoarder says its clubs include indoor heated pools, whirlpool spas and saunas, from $29.99 a month. Many 24 Hour Fitness clubs offer pools too, so check the amenities page for your exact club.
Which budget gym has the most locations?
Anytime Fitness has the most locations of these budget gyms, with access to 6,000+ gyms according to its homepage. Planet Fitness has more than 2,900 worldwide, per NerdWallet, and its PF Black Card covers every club for $24.99 a month.
Is a cheap gym membership worth it?
A cheap gym membership is worth it if you go often enough to beat your other options: at YouFit’s $9.99 rate, eight visits a month works out to about $1.25 each. Use the free trial first, since most of these chains offer one to seven days.
The Bottom Line
YouFit Gyms gives you the cheapest year of gym access among these budget friendly gyms, at $169.87, with 24 Hour Fitness close behind. But the best budget gym is the one near you that you’ll actually use.
So this week, book the free trial at the 2 closest gyms on this list and go at your normal workout time.
Jason is a personal finance expert and the founder of Frugal For Less. He has spent over a decade researching and testing hundreds of money making apps, survey sites, and savings strategies to help readers earn more and keep more of their hard-earned cash.
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