There is no single best fitness club in the USA. The best club is the one you will keep visiting. The CDC says adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week and two days of muscle work, so a gym you enjoy matters more than a fancy one. CDC This is general information and not medical advice. Check with a doctor before starting a new exercise program if you have a health condition.
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Quick comparison
| Gym | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Life Time | Premium clubs and amenities | not listed |
| LA Fitness | Big-box clubs with pools and courts | not listed |
| EōS Fitness | Low cost and many locations | from $9.99 a month |
| Fitness Connection | Big floor, low pressure | not listed |
| Retro Fitness | Simple setup | not listed |
| Blink Fitness (PureGym) | Brand in transition | not listed |
| Rogue Fitness | Buying equipment | not listed |
Life Time
Life Time runs over 190 Athletic Country Club locations across the nation. The company describes its offer as one membership with many ways to move, play, recover and live. Features include personal training, Pilates, group fitness such as GTX, which combines cardio and strength, pickleball courts, hydrotherapy-style luxury amenities, co-working and apartment residences. Its largest markets include Texas and Minnesota.
The chain of athletic country clubs operates in the US and Canada. Chairman and CEO Bahram Akradi founded it, and the first club opened in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Most locations sit in suburban or exurban areas of medium to large metro areas. The word Fitness was dropped from the name in 2017. TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners acquired the company in 2015.
LA Fitness
LA Fitness is run by Fitness International LLC, an American gym chain based in Irvine, California. It was founded in 1984 in Covina, California, and has nearly 700 clubs across the United States and Canada. It bought a large block of clubs from Bally Total Fitness in 2011. It also runs the City Sports Club, Club Studio Fitness and Esporta Fitness brands. Esporta was launched to compete with low-cost gyms like Planet Fitness. Its large club design has full-court basketball, lap pools, racquetball, saunas and steam rooms.
EōS Fitness
EōS Fitness sells three membership tiers. Will Do starts as low as $9.99 a month with ACH autopay and covers the essentials. Will Crush starts as low as $24.99 and adds access to 225+ gym locations, group classes, a cardio movie theater, an indoor pool and a sauna. Will Power starts as low as $29.99 with unlimited access and perks.
Prices include an ACH autopay discount. Taxes, a one-time enrollment fee and an annual fee apply, so read the fine print. The offer is valid on select memberships at select gyms. A 7 day free gym trial is advertised. Amenities include free weights, Olympic weightlifting platforms, strength and cardio equipment, indoor pools, basketball courts, saunas and recovery areas. Amenities vary per location.
Fitness Connection
Fitness Connection uses the slogan Big space. Real equipment. Zero intimidation. It promises a high-quality gym experience without the high price. The site lists spacious gyms, clean spaces, amenities such as a sauna, turf and classes from HIIT to yoga, a mobile app to check in and book classes, a free trial and a $1 down join offer. No club count is given on the page, and no price is listed there either.
Retro Fitness
Retro Fitness lists more than 150 gym locations on its site. It offers cardio and strength equipment, group classes, a mobile app, a free pass and tours. The setup is simple, and the free pass makes a first visit easy.
Planet Fitness is another budget option. Its Classic membership starts at $15 a month plus taxes and fees, with unlimited access to your home club. The PF Black Card starts at $24.99 a month and adds access to any club and a guest. It has locations worldwide and calls itself a Judgement Free Zone. See Planet Fitness for current details.
Blink Fitness and PureGym
Blink Fitness filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 12, 2024, blaming slow sales after COVID-19 and rising costs. In December 2024 it was acquired by PureGym for $121 million, outbidding Planet Fitness in a bankruptcy auction. PureGym began rebranding the gyms the following year. Check the current brand and terms before you sign up. Wikipedia has the Blink Fitness background.
Rogue Fitness
Rogue Fitness is an American manufacturer and distributor of gym equipment based in Columbus, Ohio. Bill Henniger started it in 2007 after he had trouble finding equipment for his CrossFit gym. It makes barbells, plates, racks and kettlebells for CrossFit boxes, home gyms, military, college and pro teams. It is a store and manufacturer, not a gym you join.
How to choose a gym
Use a short checklist before you pay.
- Check location and hours, and visit at the hour you would train.
- Compare price and contract, and ask for fees in writing. Ask about enrollment and annual fees, like the ones EōS lists.
- Look at the equipment you actually plan to use.
- Review classes and extras such as pools, saunas and group fitness.
- Try before you buy with a free trial or day pass, such as the EōS 7 day trial.
Visit at the hour you would train. A quiet gym at noon can be a crowded gym at six.
Bottom line
Pick the club that fits your routine, your budget and your location. Read the contract, confirm a club is open before joining, and start with a trial where you can.
FAQ
What is the best gym chain in the USA?
There is no single best chain. Life Time suits people who want premium amenities, LA Fitness suits people who want big-box clubs, and EōS Fitness suits people who want low prices. The right pick is the one you will keep visiting.
What is the cheapest gym membership?
On the pages in this guide, EōS Will Do starts as low as $9.99 a month with ACH autopay, and Planet Fitness Classic starts at $15 a month plus taxes and fees. Prices change, so check the site.
Can I try a gym before I join?
Yes. EōS advertises a 7 day free gym trial, Fitness Connection lists a free trial, and Retro Fitness offers a free pass and tours.
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