The Best Membership for Your Money: YMCA vs. Other Gyms

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If you’re looking to get out of the heat and improve your health this summer, a gym membership might be the answer. Local YMCA organizations provide a variety of programs for people of all ages, from summer camps for kids to fitness classes for older adults and everyone in between.

But is a YMCA really the best value if you’re looking for all the amenities of a fitness facility? Let’s break down the costs for a Y membership compared to other gym and fitness center chains across the U.S.

YMCA of Long Island

For research purposes, we received YMCA full program membership rates for a single adult. The YMCA in Patchogue, NY, costs $70 per month. You can also purchase a program-only membership for $140 for the year, but that does not give you full access to all the amenities.

A Full Facility membership allows you to access YMCA gym facilities and programs at more than 2,600 locations across the U.S., which is a nice benefit if you travel and want to get in a workout on the road with more offerings than a hotel gym typically offers.

Some classes at The YMCA may cost extra. For instance, the Patchogue location offers Advanced Pickleball for $80 for a month during the summer or adult boxing for $160. You can also choose from a variety of group classes, including water activities, included with your full membership.

L.A. Fitness — Bay Shore

For comparison, we chose an L.A. Fitness on Long Island. L.A. Fitness is a national chain of fitness clubs with group classes, spin machines, treadmills, ellipticals, an array of weight training equipment and more.

The location we chose has an indoor pool, racquetball courts, a sauna and a spa, which makes this comparable to the YMCA in terms of offerings. However, it doesn’t offer onsite childcare, although some L.A. Fitness locations offer a Kids Klub during limited hours.

LA Fitness club rates are $40 per month, plus a $75 initiation fee for you and a guest, plus a $59 annual fee. This membership gets you into clubs nationwide. Alternatively, you can pay $45 per month with no initiation fee. You’ll still have to pay the $59 annual fee.

Essentially, a nationwide membership for two people would equal $614 for a year, and a membership for one person, with access to limited clubs in your area beyond your home club, would total $599.

Meanwhile, a YMCA membership for 12 months is $840 with no sign-up fee.

Orangetheory Fitness, West Babylon

Next, we looked at Orangetheory in West Babylon, just slightly west of the L.A. Fitness location. Orangetheory offers unique group fitness with personalized training based on the benefits of high-intensity interval training combined with weight training and aerobics to help boost your metabolism and burn more fat.

But this level of customization in your workout comes at a price. You’ll pay $149 per month the first month and $199 after that as a Premier member with unlimited class access. Alternatively, you can purchase eight classes monthly for $139 per month, or pay $99 per month for four classes. Orangetheory does not have a pool or other amenities, making the YMCA the better deal unless you are interested in this very specific type of training.

That means one year of Orangetheory costs between $1,188 and $1,788, making it nearly twice the cost of the YMCA.

Planet Fitness

An L.A. Fitness competitor, Planet Fitness strives to make weight training and cardio workouts accessible to people of all fitness levels. The clubs offer an array of free weights, machines and cardio equipment including spin cycles, ellipticals and treadmills.

As with the other gyms, prices may vary by location and the gym often has special offers. Planet Fitness locations do not include a pool, but they have hydromassage and tanning. Right now, you can purchase a monthly Black Card, which offers access for you and a friend at any time to any club across the U.S. It costs $30 per month, with a $49 annual fee and $1 startup fee.

Alternatively, the Classic membership provides access to your home club for a startup fee of $29, a $49 annual fee, and $15 per month. Planet Fitness offers group classes, too.

Compared to the YMCA or other alternatives, Planet Fitness provides tremendous value at just $258 to $410. If you split the PF Black Card membership with a friend and commit to working out together, you’ll pay just $210 per year each for access to 2,463 locations.

Bottom Line

The YMCA offers many amenities, access to group fitness classes, and 2,600 locations nationwide for its members. If you’re interested in access to classes you won’t find at most other gyms, the YMCA could be the best choice. However, there are many other, budget-friendly fitness club options to consider if you’re just seeking weight training and cardio equipment.  

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