ClassPass, a monthly membership program for booking classes at fitness studios and salons and spas, became famous for allowing health-conscious people to book unlimited classes for a relatively low cost. Unfortunately, the service discontinued its unlimited plan seven years ago, and boutique fitness fans mourn the loss to this day. But while the days of unlimited sweat are over, ClassPass’ remaining plans make regular trips to the studio more affordable.
Whether the monthly fee is worth it to you will depend on factors like how often you book classes and where you live. If you want a breakdown of what you’ll pay for membership, read on.
How much does ClassPass cost?
ClassPass fees vary by location, so there’s no easy answer as to how much it will cost.
For those unfamiliar with the current ClassPass model, the service operates on a credit system. You pay a monthly membership fee and accumulate a certain number of credits that you can use to book seats at boutique fitness classes, gyms, salons, and more. This means that the number of classes you can take per month on a particular plan depends on the number of credits required for the classes you select. There are six main options: buy a pack of eight credits per month ($19 and up), 26 credits per month, 43 credits per month, 80 credits per month, 100 credits per month, and 150 credits per month.
To give you a rough idea of how much ClassPass costs, here are the prices for each membership level in three U.S. cities.
new york:
8 credits for $19 per month
$55 for 26 credits per month
$89 for 43 credits per month
$159 for 80 credits per month
Philadelphia:
8 credits for $19 per month
21 credits per month for $45
$69 for 33 credits per month
$119 for 58 credits per month
Atlanta:
8 credits for $19 per month
$55 for 25 credits per month
$79 for 38 credits per month
$129 for 63 credits per month
If you’re running low on credits for a given month and don’t want to upgrade your membership, you can purchase add-on credits to use that month via a top-up (which lets you buy exactly how many credits you need, usually for a few dollars per credit) or an add-on pack (which lets you buy as many credits as you choose, for a one-time cost). Any unused credits can be carried over to the next month.
How many ClassPass credits do I need for a class?
To determine which membership level is right for you, you need to know what types of classes or bookings you’ll primarily use it for and how many credits you’ll need for them.
The number of credits needed to book a reservation depends on several factors, including the type of reservation, location, popularity and time, says Gina Ecernio, public relations director for ClassPass. “For example, a lunchtime yoga class in New York City may be a few credits cheaper than the same yoga class at 7:30 a.m. or 6 p.m.”
Typically, classes cost around 3-15 credits. For those who live in areas with a higher cost of living, a Pilates class would cost roughly 10-20 credits, an open gym would cost 3-6 credits, and a HIIT class would cost around 10 credits, according to a recent Reddit thread. However, in other areas with a lower cost of living, classes may require fewer credits. According to Ecernio, beauty and wellness appointments (which include everything from acupuncture to cryotherapy to manicures) usually cost more credits than fitness classes.
It’s also important to understand all the ways you can use your ClassPass credits beyond boutique classes, because there are some amazing savings opportunities — some plans combine credits with gym memberships, for example (you can get unlimited access to your local Blink Fitness gym for 23 credits per month).
Is a ClassPass membership worth it?
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Joining ClassPass is free and you can cancel your membership at any time. The company offers a two-week free trial, but if you don’t cancel after two weeks, it will automatically convert to a membership. This allows you to try out ClassPass to get an idea of the availability and credit requirements of your favorite classes and decide if a membership is worth it.
If you want to weigh the pros and cons before creating an account, there are a few factors to keep in mind: You’re more likely to feel like ClassPass is worth your money if:
- You’re not a staunch supporter of the studio. You can often get a discount if you buy a pack of multiple classes directly from the studio, so instead of buying expensive individual classes on a regular basis and bouncing between studios, signing up for a service like ClassPass can be a better deal.
- There is some flexibility regarding timing. Or you’re ready to set a reminder to secure a class at a popular fitness studio during peak hours. “ClassPass helps studios sell their available slots for their classes, so there are a limited number of available slots per class,” says Ecernio. “A great tip to remember is to book as early as possible and during off-peak hours.”
- Take at least one class per month. Considering the typical cost of boutique fitness classes, you can expect to pay less per class with ClassPass, even at the lowest membership level.
- You live in a densely populated area. If you live in a remote area, there may be fewer or no attractive fitness studios available on ClassPass.
The easiest way to find out how much you’ll pay for ClassPass is to enter your zip code on the company’s site and compare plans in your area. Depending on which plan you choose, your monthly fee could be less than the price of an Erewhon smoothie or it could run into triple digits. Either way, your day-to-day costs and regular expenses will help you decide whether the fee is worth it for you.
Renee Cherry is a POPSUGAR contributor specializing in beauty and wellness. Her articles have appeared in publications such as Shape, Women’s Health, Glamour, and Well+Good.
