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Choosing the best gym for you will depend on what you want to get out of your gym experience, be it joining classes, access to a wide array of equipment, or your budget.
So, whether you're after a gym with a wide range of classes or one that offers unrestricted access, our ultimate gym comparison guide is here to help.
Given that all gyms are franchises pricing and opening times may vary from one branch to the next. Also, due to the current COVID restrictions, opening times may differ slightly right now. It's always wise to double-check the fine print with your local workout hotspot before committing to a membership subscription.
Gym | Number of gyms | Joining fee? | Cost | 24 hours? | Classes | Further information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goodlife Health clubs | 85 | $0 | From $15.29 p/w | Some | Yes | Full review |
Fitness First | 61 | $0 | $48 per fortnight | No | Yes | Full review |
Anytime Fitness | 500+ | $99 | $16.98 p/w | Some | Yes | Full review |
Jetts | 250+ | $79 (for fob) + $89 joining fee | $16.95 p/w | Yes | Yes | Full review |
Virgin Active | 11 | $0 on a 12-month contract | $38.50 p/w | No | Yes | Full review |
Plus Fitness | 220+ | $25 | $31.40 per fortnight | Yes | Yes | Full review |
Fitness Playground | 5 | $99 | from $16.95 p/w | Yes | Yes | Full review |
City Gym | 1 (Sydney) | $0 | from $24.94 p/w | No | Yes | Full review |
Fernwood Fitness | 70+ | $199 | $21 p/w | Some | Yes | Full review |
You might prefer an online fitness program - If you'd rather workout at home but you still need structure, you can try out a workout from home program. Read our guides on where to buy gym and fitness equipment for home use:
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 85
Joining fee: $99 plus an Activation Kit fee (which varies according to your club)
Cost per week of membership: From $15.29 p/w. A 12-month membership is the most popular membership option but they also offer month-to-month and 18-month options. Prices can vary from club to club.
24 hours: 75% of Goodlife gyms have 24-hour access
Classes: Yes, there are group fitness classes which vary from each individual gym. The fitseries classes involve high-intensity strength and interval training to level-up your fitness levels. Other classes include Pilates, Barre, Yoga (also, hot yoga), T25, Body pump, Boxing, Zumba, Cycle, Dance and Tai chi.
Facilities: Basic facilities are available for all, including strength and cardio equipment for group and personal training sessions. There are also specific facilities only available at Goodlife such as the 'Emily Skye Ignite' workout class, classes for kids and 'Mum and Bubs'. Selected clubs also have child minding areas and 24/hr access.
Cons: No Goodlife gyms in NSW
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 61
Joining fee: From $0. Varies from one location to another.
Cost of membership? $66 per fortnight (3-month contract) or from $48 per fortnight (18 months). Flexible membership options are available - either 3, 12 or 18-month contracts. Passport and Platinum memberships allow you to access Fitness First's Platinum and/or Passport clubs throughout Australia. Platinum is the most expensive as it gives the choice of access to both types of clubs. Either way, 18-month contracts are the most cost-effective option. If you don't think you'd get enough use for a contract to be worth the expense, you can also choose to pre-pay for a set number of visits - either 10 or 25.
24 hours: No
Classes: Yes, group ones mostly. Freestyle Group Training sessions are designed as a fun, fast and effective workouts (30 minutes each session) for harnessing your body's natural movement. Group Exercises classes take many different forms and include Hot Yoga, Mixed Martial Arts, Gymnastics Strength Training, Boxing and Pilates.
Facilities: (e.g. private showers, steam rooms) - disabled access, ladies-only areas, lounge facilities, creche (extra cost), sauna and steam rooms, swimming pool, towel rental (extra cost) and personal training sessions.
Training facilities include functional training equipment, free and pin-loaded weights, Olympic Lifting Platforms and cardio equipment, although the exact array of equipment may vary depending on your club. HYPOXI sessions are available at some clubs, which is based on low-intensity movement and healthy eating to encourage your body to burn stubborn fat.
Cons: Very busy at peak times
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 500+
Joining fee: $99 and $69.95 for an access card
Cost of membership: From $67.95 per month. Only 12-month contracts are currently available.
24 hours:Most locations offer 24 hour access. Some gyms are slightly restricted due to the COVID-19 crisis at the moment.
Classes: These are free and often of the group variety.
Facilities: 24-hour access and security, private showers, private restrooms, convenient parking. Training facilities include cardio and floor areas. Their equipment at most gyms includes cardio equipment, free weights and functional training equipment.
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 250
Joining fee: $89
Cost per week of membership: From $16.95 p/w but billed every fortnight.
24 hours: Yes
Classes: Most Jetts now offer JSeries high intensity classes, otherwise the gym offers its own variety of classes.
Pros: No lock-in contracts - just pay month by month, 24/7 access
Facilities: free parking (varies). Training facilities at most gyms include cardio equipment, free weights zones, pin-loaded equipment, functional training equipment and stretching zones. Some gyms also have suspension equipment and functional training zones.
Cons: Not as busy during peak times due to 24/7 opening
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 11
Joining fee: $0 on 12-month memberships
Cost of membership: From $38.50 p/w. Long term (around 12 months) and flexible membership options are available. Flexible memberships don't lock you in but generally, work out more expensive than the long term option.
24 hours: No
Classes: Yes. They include Pilates, BodyPump, cycle classes, yoga, Barre, BodyStep, Bums N Bellies AquaFit and Aqua Zumba. There is a wide range of classes to choose from - over 200, to be exact!
Facilities: Hairdryers, hair straighteners, ironing facilities, cafe/lounge/Internet facilities (varies), pool, spa and sauna facilities, cafe and Wi-Fi access, wall climbing, parking (varies). Gym equipment includes PowerPlate and Kinesis and the gym floor has strength, cardio and functional training zones.
Cons: Quite expensive, busy at peak times, parking not available at all gyms
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 220+
Joining fee: $25 and $29.00 for personal access card.
Cost of membership: $31.40 fortnightly.
24 hours: Yes (most locations)
Classes: Yes, mostly of the group variety. Some of the classes are female only. They range from spin classes to boxing and yoga classes.
Facilities: 24-hour access, private restrooms and showers (varies).
Pros: No lock-in contracts, free fitness programs, Membership Timehold if you can't get to the gym for a bit
Cons: Equipment can be quite basic according to members
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 5
Joining fee: $99
Cost per week of membership: From $16.95 p/w
24 hours: Yes
Classes: Yes - over 200 of them every week! These range from yoga to High-Intensity Interval classes and the rather unique CircusFit class. Some of these are group classes.
Facilities: Lockers 24-hour access, showers, lockers, health food cafe (some locations). For training facilities, it ranges from cardio and weight zones and the Olympic Lifting area to their signature Functional Training Zone, complete with fun ways to get stronger and fitter. The MindBody studio offers yoga and Circus Fit, which is pretty unique to them!
Pros: Holistic, fun approach to fitness
Cons: Gym can be noisy in some locations
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 200+
Joining fee: $59 (It can vary)
Cost per week of membership: From $12.95 p/w on a month-to-month basis or from $12.95 p/w on a 12 month plan - however this does vary per club based on location.
24 hours: Yes
Classes: Yes, group ones. Training sessions are of the small group variety.
Facilities: Matrix equipment, individual change rooms, plasma televisions, hairdryers, hair straighteners, ladies only amenities, private showers (varies) and car parking (varies). Gym equipment includes a fully equipped weight area including free weights and pin-loaded machines, functional training equipment, an Olympic Lifting Platform, strength training and a relax and stretch area. Matrix equipment is also available, as are outdoor group classes and spin on-demand classes.
Cons: Not that many classes
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 1 (Sydney)
Joining fee: $0
Cost per week of membership: $29.95 per week for a flexible contract (free from lock ins) or $24.95 per week for a 12-month contract.
24 hours: No
Classes: Yes, including group fitness programs and group PT sessions.
Facilities: juice/coffee bar.
Training equipment includes a floor dedicated to weight training, plus cardio equipment and a corporate studio with yoga and a running club.
Pros: No upfront fees
Cons: One location, must purchase at least 2 weeks membership if you take advantage of their Direct Debit offer for new members, lunchtimes can be busy
Source: Instagram
No of gyms: 70+
Joining fee: $199 plus an Activation Kit fee (which varies according to your club)
Cost per week of membership: From $21 p/w. An 18-month membership is the most cost-effective option but they also offer 12-month membership for $23 p/w and flexible memberships for $27 p/w. Prices can differ from club to club.
24 hours: Some gyms have 24-hour access
Classes: Yes, often group fitness classes, which vary from club to club. Functional Fit classes involve high-intensity interval training and functional movement patterns. Other classes include Pilates, Yoga, Body Attack (high-intensity group exercises), Body Balance (combining Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates), Studio Cycle, Zumba, Step, Circuit Training and Miss Military Boot Camp.
Facilities: creche (varies), towel hire, complimentary breakfast, hairdryers, complimentary toiletries, luxurious change rooms. Training facilities include Cardio and Strength Training areas. Other Fernwood services include club-specific programs and Food Coaching.
Cons: large joining fee
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Hi I’m trying to find a gym in the Beenleigh area that has a low monthly membership no higher than $20 and low to no joining fees?
Hi Kyle,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
On this page you’re looking, as of this writing, there are 3 gyms at no joining fee.
With Virgin Active, it is at $0 joining fee is you sign a 12-month contract while Fitness Playground and City Gym both have no joining fee. I’m afraid that both of them are not available in Beenleigh. I suggest that you scout in the said area to find a fitness centre that suits your needs most.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I am with Fitness Playground at Surry Hills but I only pay $16 or so a week?
Hi Grant,
Thanks for your message and for visiting finder – the leading comparison website & general information service built to give you advice in your buying decision needs. How are you doing today?
The $16.95 / week is a starting rate given by Fitness Playground. Just the same, we’ll contact the branch and update this page accordingly.
Please note that we’re a product comparison website and we hold no affiliation with any company we feature on our site. We provide general information on products to assist you in your buying decision process hence we cannot recommend product / service that is rightfully fit for you.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Nikki
Great Thank you for the follow up Nikki,
I have had my membership for about 6 months I am actually here now and showed this to my club manager and they wanted to know how they could contact you to provide their pricing? Because they don’t believe any member is paying more than $20 something accessing all classes.
Hi Grant,
Thank you for visiting finder, we are a financial comparison website and general information service.
A representative from the Fitness Playground may contact us directly on our pages via chat or email so we can forward their details to our client services team. We do appreciate the feedback and thank you for reaching out.
Cheers,
Joanne