When choosing a gym membership, people usually settle upon two common names. They are Crunch Fitness and Planet Fitness. Both gyms offer low priced membership plans and great variety of training equipment.
The basic concept of a fitness centre is same for both brands, but there are many tiny differences that go unnoticed but can greatly affect one’s opinion.
Deciding on a gym means looking at what you gain and what you might miss out on. Here are the pros and cons for both Planet Fitness and Crunch Fitness, written in simple, clear language.
Planet Fitness
Pros
The basic membership usually costs only around $10 to $15 a month. This is one of the cheapest options you can find.
Planet Fitness Gyms call themselves the “Judgement Free Zone.” The gym aims to make people new to working out feel comfortable.
You will find many treadmills, ellipticals, and other cardio machines. You usually don’t have to wait for a machine.
If you buy the premium Black Card membership, you can bring a guest for free every time. You also get access to massage chairs, tanning beds, and all their locations worldwide.
Many Planet Fitness clubs are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is great for people with unusual work schedules.
Cons
Limited Heavy Lifting is the biggest drawback. They usually do not have squat racks, deadlift platforms, or heavy barbells. Dumbbells often only go up to 50 or 75 pounds.
The “Lunk Alarm” goes off if someone drops weights, grunts loudly, or makes too much noise. This stops serious lifters from pushing themselves.
They offer free basic fitness instruction and circuit training, but they usually do not offer a wide range of popular group classes like Zumba, spin, or yoga.
The gym focuses more on simple strength machines and cardio. This can limit your progress if you want to get very strong using free weights.
You must pay an annual fee and a sign-up fee, which adds to the real cost beyond the low monthly price.
Crunch Fitness
Pros
They offer a huge variety of high-energy, fun group classes, including HIIT, cycling, yoga, and specialty dance classes (usually with a mid-tier or higher membership).
You will find squat racks, lifting platforms, and heavy free weights, plus all the cardio and strength machines. This gym works for both beginners and serious lifters.
They have special areas with equipment like battle ropes, kettlebells, and turf. This is perfect for dynamic and high-intensity workouts.
The gym is known for being loud, high-energy, and fun. People who like a lively vibe feel very motivated here.
They offer a cheap base membership for basic access and higher-level plans that include all the classes and more amenities like tanning or HydroMassage.
Cons of Crunch Fitness
Most Crunch Fitness clubs are not open 24 hours a day. You need to check the specific opening times for your local gym.
If you want to take the popular group classes, you must buy the mid-tier or top-tier membership, not the cheapest base plan.
Because of the lower prices and great classes, Crunch locations often get very busy during peak hours (mornings and evenings).
Things like pools, saunas, and childcare are only available at select “Signature” or “Select” locations, which are usually more expensive.
While the basic plan is cheap, the membership you need to get all the best features (classes, multi-club access) costs more than the top-tier plan at Planet Fitness.
Planet Fitness Membership Plan
| Membership Tier | Typical Monthly Cost | Key Features & Benefits |
| Classic (Base) | $10 to $15 | Unlimited access to your home club only. Access to cardio/strength machines and basic equipment. Free fitness training with certified trainers (PE@PF small group sessions). Free WiFi. |
| PF Black Card (Premium) | $24.99 to $29.99 | ALL Classic benefits, PLUS: Use of Any Planet Fitness Worldwide. Bring a guest for FREE every time. Unlimited use of Massage Chairs, HydroMassage, and Tanning. Discounted cooler drinks. Access to the Black Card Spa (amenities vary by location). |
2. Crunch Fitness Membership Plans
Crunch Fitness typically offers three membership tiers. Access to group classes is the main feature that separates their plans. Like Planet Fitness, prices vary by club location.
| Membership Tier | Typical Monthly Cost | Key Features & Benefits |
| Base (Essentials) | $9.99 to $15 | Unlimited access to your home club only. Access to cardio, strength machines, and general free weights. Locker rooms and showers. Crunch One Kickoff (initial training session). |
| Peak (Value) | $20 to $25 | ALL Base benefits, PLUS: Access to all standard Crunch locations. Unlimited Group Fitness Classes (Zumba, Body Sculpt, etc.). Guest Privileges (bring a guest, often limited). Access to the HIITZone (high-intensity training area). |
| Peak Results (Premium) | $29.99 to $35 | ALL Peak benefits, PLUS: Bring a guest ANYTIME. Advanced HIIT Classes & Ride (Spin) Classes. Unlimited Tanning, HydroMassage, and Total Body Enhancement. Towel service (at some locations). |
