Is A Month-to-Month Gym Membership Right for You?

June 12, 2023

When you sign up with a gym, you’re making a commitment to yourself to do what it takes to improve your health. With most gyms, however, this commitment also comes with the pressure to choose a longer-term contract that may or may not work with your lifestyle. For some, contract memberships of a year or more can help them stay dedicated to working out. Other people prefer a less restrictive month-to-month gym membership.

Without having experienced each type of membership, however, it can be challenging to know which might work best for you. Do you need the added commitment of a year-long contract to ensure you go to the gym as often as you want? Are you expecting life changes like a move or a new job that may drastically change your availability?

To help you decide what type of membership to choose, we’ve compiled a straightforward list of what to expect from a month-to-month gym membership. Also, we made sure to include the things to look for in any gym, regardless of how long you plan on being a member. Finally, we’ll walk you through how to maximize the value of your membership and leave no benefits on the table.

Crunch’s group fitness classes and personal trainers promote a culture of fun with no judgments. It is an environment built for all types of individuals with various goals. Find a Crunch gym near you to try our free trial membership, or join Crunch now.

Month-to-Month Memberships: Key Benefits

Compared to a longer contract membership, a month-to-month membership offers clear differences and specific advantages. Even though both membership types may come with access to the same facilities and equipment, a monthly contract may provide some quality-of-life improvements depending on your preferences.

Freedom

Whereas gym memberships with an annual fee lock you into their terms for a full year, a month-to-month contract allows you to suspend or cancel your membership whenever you need. If you plan on moving or traveling, this flexibility could save you hundreds of dollars over the duration of your gym membership.

Transparency

When you commit to an annual membership, you may leave yourself open to rate increases or additional fees common with some big-box gyms. While Crunch Fitness dedicates itself to pricing transparency regardless of membership length, agreeing to a year-long membership with another gym could be more costly than you expect.

Less Commitment

When juggling a crowded schedule, a monthly membership is a perfect way to gauge whether you can fit regular gym sessions into your day-to-day life. Rather than committing to substantial annual fees for a membership you may or may not use, trying a gym like Crunch Fitness for one month at a time can free you from stressful financial commitments.

What to Look for In Any Gym Membership

No matter if you opt for a month-to-month membership or an annual contract, your gym of choice should always offer certain benefits and resources. When choosing a gym, make sure they invest in things like:

High-Quality Exercise Equipment

First and foremost, your gym needs to supply the free weights, cardio and strength equipment, and facilities you need to reach your fitness goals. Before any other consideration, this quality is an absolute must. At Crunch Fitness, for instance, we reinvest a large portion of your monthly fees into buying and maintaining the best strength training equipment and cardio machines the fitness industry has to offer.

Group Classes

Even if you only attend cycle classes or a HIIT session once every few months, the option to mix up your workout routine with fun, guided exercise can make a world of difference. And, while most chain gyms offer some level of group fitness options, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than the best.

Membership Flexibility

Not all monthly plans are created equal, and it’s best to find a gym with a wide range of membership options and packages. Crunch Fitness offers Base, Peak, and Peak Results memberships, each with its own balance of price and perks, to give you all the options you could want.

The Right Environment

In order to get the most from your time in the gym, you need to find a place that offers the right mix of motivation and comfort. At Crunch, for instance, our first priority is building a no judgments atmosphere that also helps push you further than you could go alone.

Remember that no matter how good a gym’s equipment may be or how competitively they price their memberships, none of it matters if you don’t feel at home when you walk in the door.

How to Get the Most Value From a Monthly Membership

Even with the most affordable gym memberships, there are still ways to maximize the value you get from your monthly fees. By using the tips below, you can turn a good deal into the best deal possible.

Go More Often

No matter how often you work out at Crunch Fitness, your monthly fees never change. That means that the more often you go, the more value you get from your membership. To maximize your return on investment, consider going to the gym more often and using as many amenities and offers as possible.

Attend Classes

At Crunch Fitness, we pride ourselves on providing some of the best group fitness classes available. With a Peak membership, this means consistent group classes to keep you motivated and your workouts fresh. Peak Results members enjoy even greater value, with unlimited access to every group fitness class our gyms have to offer.

Try Personal Training

Even if you only schedule a single session, working with a personal trainer can drastically improve your performance in the gym. Regardless of your membership package, Crunch Fitness’s personal trainers will help you design a custom workout routine, show you the ins and outs of our facilities, and push you to achieve your most ambitious fitness goals.

For those interested in free fitness training, we offer a complimentary CrunchOne Kickoff session to all new members.

Bring a Friend

Although guest passes are currently limited to our Peak Results memberships, they’re one of the most valuable perks we offer. If you’re a current Peak Results member with friends or family interested in working out, bring them along, and our staff will treat them like family.

For Basic or Peak members looking to work out with friends, a small increase in monthly fees gives you access to guest passes and an impressive amount of extra benefits.

Limited-Time Offers

Throughout the year, many gyms will offer limited-time deals with added benefits or value. Sometimes, this means free passes to attend group fitness classes or discounted monthly membership costs when referring new members. Other times, this may mean no enrollment fees when starting a new membership.

Regardless, it’s best to keep an eye out for emails and announcements detailing limited-time offers from your gym.

Use the Amenities

In the fitness industry, many facilities offer amenities and services to help members relax, recover, and reset. At Crunch Fitness, that means things like our massage chairs, tanning services, or streaming online workouts. Crunch Signature club members enjoy upgraded amenities that vary by location, so check with your gym to see everything it has to offer.

No matter where you work out, you get more value from your membership the more amenities you take advantage of, so don’t be afraid to try any offers you encounter!

Are You Ready to Get Started?

Now that you have a better grasp of the advantages of a month-to-month membership, it may be time to take the leap and get started on the next part of your fitness journey. With Crunch, your competitive monthly fees get you all of the tools, resources, and flexibility you need to make real progress–without tying you down.

For members who do prefer a longer contract, we offer up-front savings to double down on our already-low fees. Regardless of which you choose, our top-notch facilities, extensive list of famous group fitness classes, and dedication to a no judgments atmosphere will always be there to help you achieve even the most ambitious fitness goals.