Gym Memberships on a Budget: Tips for Staying Fit Without Overspending

Studies suggest that staying active can be a good way to cut future healthcare costs. (1) However, the prices associated with even the best budget home gym equipment can be too costly for some, and high-priced gym memberships are often barriers to achieving your fitness goals. Thankfully, there are plenty of means to find gym memberships on a budget from taking advantage of key sales events, looking at helpful discounts, and more.

Grabbing a discounted (or even free) gym membership can be accomplishable … if you know where to look. We’ve put our heads together to come up with the following ways to score gym membership deals for all your cardio and strength training needs. Many of these routes require some extra legwork, but in our opinion, the savings are well worth the sweat.

Key Takeaways

• The average cost of a gym membership in the United States totals roughly $58. (2)
• According to studies, 41% of former gymgoers cite membership prices as their reason for cancelling gym memberships. (3)
• Free or low-cost fitness options include public group classes, community centers, and local resources such as public parks. Some healthcare insurance programs also offer discounts or beneficial stipends that can cover gym membership fees.
• You can potentially save on gym memberships by negotiating rates, choosing off-peak hour discounts, utilizing free trial periods, or seeking out discounted packages through employers, educational institutions, or social media promotions. (4)

Free & Low Cost Fitness

A June 2024 report from YouGov states that 41% of former gymgoers cited gym membership costs as their main reason for cancellation. (3) In order to ensure you don’t add to that statistic, it can be beneficial to look at ways to lower that cost, especially if stocking your abode with some of the best home gym machines just isn’t in the cards at this particular moment. 

Health Insurance and Employee Benefits

Make your job work for you! There are many employers that offer benefits you can use toward your local gym membership. These perks can come in the form of monthly or annual stipends or through partnerships between your employer and a recognized chain gym. This can help take the load of a gym membership off your monthly finances, giving you room to spend your paycheck on other fitness needs, like a new pair of the best cross-training shoes.

You can also look at your health insurance package as a means to save on gym access. Some providers can offer monthly or annual reimbursements for gym membership fees, while others may offer discounted gym memberships at select establishments. Your personal plan’s available savings can be found in your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). While each provider differs, we’ve found gym membership-related perks at popular providers such as Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. (5)(6)(7)

Older athletes that get their healthcare coverage through Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Insurance plans can also get in on the savings. Some programs include memberships to programs like SilverSneakers or Silver&Fit, health and fitness membership services specifically designed for older adults. (8)(9)

Gym Memberships Deals

If you’re looking for the cheapest gym memberships, you’re likely to find them at chain establishments as opposed to boutique or specialized training centers. Given their multiple fitness locations, gyms like Planet Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Crunch Fitness, and others can parcel out their operating costs across a larger roster of clients, which, in turn, keeps costs low for each individual athlete. Below are some price breakdowns of popular chain gyms around the nation along with the center’s annual fee, a separate cost that must be paid yearly in addition to your monthly membership.

Some of these affordable gyms also offer amenities, such as swimming pools, basketball courts, tanning beds, and saunas, among others. However, access to such perks may require an increase to your membership cost. Additionally, since these gyms operate multiple locations at once, it’s unlikely that you’ll find the most state-of-the-art equipment or any of the best cardio machines in each center. It’s always wise to take a walkthrough before signing up for your membership to ensure the gym has all the free weights, resistance machines, and cardio equipment your program calls for.

Local and Community Resources

In addition to affordable gym memberships offered through chain establishments, you can also turn to your local community for cheap fitness options. Community centers often offer memberships to local residents, and some establishments like the YMCA even offer extra amenities like child care. (10) This can be useful for active families that may need assistance with little ones as they work and train each day.

Community centers can also offer group fitness classes and training sessions that can be helpful components of your fitness journey. These courses can also be beneficial ways to get involved with your community and meet your neighbors. In my experience, community centers also serve as a great resource for learning about community events, such as intramural sports leagues, running clubs, or seasonal festivals.

Public parks, basketball courts, tracks, and tennis courts can also provide outlets for free physical activity. These fitness locations often operate without any charge and are free for public use during normal daylight hours. Be mindful, though, that access is typically on a first-come, first-served basis.

Discounts

Recent gym membership statistics point out that monthly costs and annual enrollment fees remain a driving factor in how athletes choose which training center to join. (2) However, these costs can be subdued through helpful discount programs for qualifying parties. In our experience, we’ve found discounted gym rates for the following groups, but check with your center of choice to see if they offer any potential savings, too.

• Students
• Educators
• Military Service Members
• First Responders
• Older Athletes (i.e., those classified as “senior citizens”)
• Referrals

Homeowner Associations or Apartment Complexes

If you live in a housing community or apartment complex, you may not need to look far for an affordable gym membership. Some communities have fitness facilities directly on the premises that are open to residents. Access to these fitness clubs may be a separate fee through your HOA or property management or can be already baked into your monthly housing finances.

While these fitness centers can be lacking in terms of strength equipment and cardio machines, especially when compared to larger commercial gyms, the equipment availability is typically enough to support a general training program. You’re likely to find a handful of cable machines, a rack of free weights, and maybe even some of the best commercial treadmills available for your workout needs.

Access to community-run fitness centers can also extend to friends and family, although guest privileges are commonly more restricted than your residential benefits. If you’d like to bring a training partner along to your complex’s training center, be sure to read through your lease agreement to confirm whether a guest pass is required.

Military Gyms

Active and retired members of the armed forces also have access to training centers. Typically found on military bases, these gyms are available to active duty and retired military, but access can also be available to civilian and contracted employees for the United States Department of Defense. Thanks to the military’s vast financial resources, it’s common to find additional amenities like basketball courts, indoor tracks, and racquetball courts in these centers along with your typical cardio equipment, strength-training equipment, and locker rooms.

Free & Low-Cost Alternatives to Gyms

If your budget still doesn’t have a basic membership in the cards or the aforementioned savings methods aren’t working out for you, there are still free and low-cost alternatives to help you stay active. There are plenty of free workout videos online offering unlimited access to guided training. These videos can vary in terms of equipment requirements, though, so we recommend taking a gander at the clips beforehand to see whether your intended session focuses on the best bodyweight workouts or needs some extra gear like resistance bands, free weights, or yoga mats.

Amanda Capritto, certified personal trainer and BarBend expert contributor, adds, “I’d stress the benefits of walking, too, for anyone looking for cheap fitness options. Walking’s health benefits are numerous and profound, including cardiovascular health improvements and reduced anxiety. Plus, it’s a free activity that virtually everyone can take part in.” (11)

If you’re looking for a more digital approach to training, many of the best workout apps offer free trial services that unlock vast libraries of trainer-led workouts and cardio sessions. These apps can also cater to your specific interests with yoga classes, strength training protocols, and more. Again, though, you may need to spend some money on equipment in order to get the most out of these services. Paywalls can also be present for more in-depth features like personal training, unlimited access to workout programs, and more.

Finally, a dedicated home gym can be a great method to avoid future fitness costs. While the upfront price tags on the best power racks, exercise bikes, weight benches, and free weights is more costly than a monthly gym membership, these pieces can soon pay for themselves given the lack of secondary expenses like gas and parking needed to use the gear.

Plus, having a home gym at your disposal can help bolster motivation to work out since you don’t need to travel to get your sweat on or leave your family for a quick session. Of course, you’ll need the proper funds upfront as well as available space for a home gym, so be sure to think through these factors before opting to build your own dedicated fitness oasis.

Budget-Friendly Fitness Tips

From offered discounts and qualifying parties to alternative training center options around your community, healthcare-derived perks, and more, the deals are definitely out there. Below are a few final tips and tricks that could potentially net you some savings in regards to your physical fitness journey.

• Look at chain gyms over boutique centers: Commercial fitness centers with multiple locations can offer lower rates than standalone, boutique gyms given their larger roster of members across different locales. If you’re looking for a cheap, basic membership, these centers could be your best bet.
• Negotiate your membership fees: A little negotiating can go a long way. Speak to your gym’s manager and see if you’re able to receive discounted rates by paying for multiple months upfront. Remember, it never hurts to ask.
• Consider intramural sports: Who said that a gym is necessary to stay active? Take a look at recreational leagues around your community and see if you’re able to find a sport that interests you.
• Research gym prices online and in-person: Some establishments can run online deals that differ from in-person membership rates, and vice versa. Take your time and look up all available prices for your gym of choice before signing on the dotted line.
• Take advantage of gym passes: Like the gym atmosphere but don’t think you’d need a full month’s membership? Consider guest passes or individual exercise class passes that grant you access to the facilities for events you want to attend. These passes can also be a great way to feel out your gym of choice before investing in a full-blown membership.

In Conclusion

If the average $58 cost of gym memberships has you clutching your check book and you’re seeking solutions beyond filling your space with the best cable machines and beyond, fear not. (2) Cheap memberships are available through multiple pathways, including perks through your employer or healthcare provider, local community centers, discounts applicable to certain parties, and more. Plus, you can avoid hefty initiation fees and monthly dues by looking for gym memberships at chain-operated centers rather than boutique training facilities.

When looking for cheap and/or free gym memberships, take your time to ensure you’re covering all bases. Check online and in-person for deals that suit your budget best, and don’t forget to take advantage of trial offers and day passes — these can be excellent for finding out if the gym landscape is right for your fitness needs. The best gym membership is the one you can comfortably afford. With these tips, you could be on the right path to a beneficial agreement that works for everyone.

Gym Memberships on a Budget FAQs

References

1. Duijvestijn, M., de Wit, G. A., van Gils, P. F., & Wendel-Vos, G. C. (2023). Impact of physical activity on healthcare costs: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10239135/
2. Andre, L. (2024, October 24). 87 gym membership statistics you must learn: 2024 cost, demographics, and market share. Financesonline.com. https://financesonline.com/gym-membership-statistics/
3. Dsouza, R. (2024, June 19). US: Why do consumers turn their backs on gym memberships?. YouGov. https://business.yougov.com/content/49804-us-why-do-consumers-turn-their-backs-on-gym-memberships
4. Mansour, S. (2019, January 4). How to save money on a gym membership. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/better/pop-culture/how-save-money-gym-membership-ncna953891
5. Discounts. Aetna. (n.d.). https://www.aetna.com/individuals-families/health-insurance-through-work/discounts.html
6. Fitness deals. Kaiser Permanente. (n.d.). https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/fitness-deals
7. Fitness deals. Blue Cross Blue Shield. (n.d.). https://www.blue365deals.com/offers?category%5Bfitness%5D=fitness
8. Feel happier, healthier and more connected. SilverSneakers. (n.d.). https://tools.silversneakers.com/Learn/HowItWorks
9. Health Plans. Silver&Fit. (n.d.). https://www.silverandfit.com/health-plans
10. Child care. YMCA. (n.d.). https://www.ymca.org/what-we-do/youth-development/child-care
11. Rippe, J. M., Ward, A., Porcari, J. P., & Freedson, P. S. (1988). Walking for health and fitness. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 259(18), 2720. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3282085/

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