Written by Kyle Ustach | BScEcon
Fact checked by Kirsten Yovino, CPT Brookbush Institute
FACT CHECKED
An essential aspect of reaching your fitness goals that is often overlooked is finding the right gym. Now, we get that some people have limited options for various reasons, such as location or membership cost, but if you're able to, correctly choosing the gym that fits your personality and goals has an immeasurable impact on your fitness success.
One of the world's most popular chain fitness clubs is Crunch Fitness, a gym that prides itself on its user-friendly and energetic feel. Crunch Fitness is similar to Planet Fitness, another fitness club chain, in that they both stress the importance of a judgment-free community and positive gym culture at a reasonable price.
We're about to cover everything you need to know before you join Crunch Fitness.
Table of Contents:
- What Is Crunch Fitness?
- Virtual Tour of Crunch Fitness
- Crunch Fitness Cost, Membership Fees, & Locations
- Crunch Fitness Pros vs Cons
- Reddit Opinions & Testimonials About Crunch Fitness
- How To Cancel Crunch Fitness Membership
- FAQs
What Is Crunch Fitness?
Crunch Fitness is a chain of fitness clubs founded by a stockbroker named Doug Levine in 1989. Levine opened the first location in a small studio located in a basement in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. The original location was created with the intention of shaking up the standard gym model by incorporating a more fun, entertaining, and unique approach to fitness.
An important principle that Levine instilled from day one was that Crunch Fitness has a strict "No Judgements" policy. He understood that it can be intimidating for beginners or out-of-shape people who are afraid of being criticized or judged. They slowly attracted people and expanded as people learned of the close-knit and friendly culture combined with unique twists on fitness.
Rather than a typical weight room with the same equipment as every other gym, Crunch Fitness developed innovative group classes, including dance-based workouts, yoga, and HIIT, that encouraged its members to interact and encourage each other.
Crunch has always emphasized having a wide variety of group classes, as they believe they help boost morale and encourage members to interact. Stressing the importance of equality, diversity, and a judgment-free zone led to remarkable expansion as people became dedicated to the culture.
Crunch Fitness hit a few noteworthy milestones in 2022. In February 2022, Crunch Fitness opened its 400th location in San Angelo, Texas, and in June 2022, they achieved their two millionth membership as of 2023. The typical Crunch Fitness location features a standard workout room with all of the top equipment, several group class options, and state-of-the-art locker rooms.
Additional amenities for Crunch Fitness vary by location, but many have additional amenities, such as protein shake bars, HydroTherapy massage chairs, swimming pools, and basketball courts.
Crunch Fitness Virtual Tour
One of the best parts about Crunch Fitness is that several avenues allow you inside access to the gym before ever having to commit. You can view the facilities from your own home by taking a virtual tour (link below) online of a standard Crunch Fitness gym or by following their social media team for unique insight into the daily routines of a location.
The virtual tour offers a glimpse into the typical Crunch Fitness layout, including the cardio area, weight room, strength training machines, and any amenities they may have. Take a look at the White Station Memphis, Tennessee location below. It's important to note that different locations may not look the same, but this will give you a good idea of what to expect.
In addition to the virtual tour on their website, you can also follow their social media accounts for daily live footage that truly captures the energy and encouraging nature of the gym. You can follow them on Instagram, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @CrunchGym, and the official Crunch Fitness Facebook page.
Many locations also have individual accounts for their specific club, so check your local Crunch Fitness's social media. If you prefer to get a feel in person, you can either purchase a one-day pass or sign up for a free trial. The fact that Crunch Fitness offers many ways to explore if you are a good fit for the gym shows how much they care about making you feel comfortable.
Crunch Fitness Membership Review: Types & Fees
The Crunch Fitness membership cost varies based on the three different membership plans that you can choose from. The three Crunch Fitness membership plans are Base Membership, Peak Membership, and Peak Results Membership.
1) Base Crunch Gym Membership:
|
Feature |
Details |
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Price |
Starts at $9.99 per month but can vary by region. |
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Access |
Only at your local club. |
|
Amenities |
Machines color-coded in orange to signify the Power Half-Hour Circuit. |
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Crunch ONE Kickoff: Free one-hour training session with a Punch Crunch personal trainer. |
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Power Half Hour Circuit Training: Unique circuit training program for a full-body workout routine. |
2) Peak Crunch Membership:
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Feature |
Details |
|
Price |
Starts at $21.99 per month but may vary by region. |
|
Access |
Access to 402 Crunch Fitness locations. |
|
Amenities |
Access to cardio, weights, machines, and locker rooms |
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HydroMassage: Beds and lounges with heated water and pressurized jets for muscle and tissue massage. |
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Tanning |
3) Peak Results Membership:
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Feature |
Details |
|
Price |
Starts at $25.99 per month but may vary by region. |
|
Access |
Includes the same benefits as the Peak Crunch Membership, providing access to 402 Crunch Fitness locations. |
|
Amenities |
Access to cardio, weights, machines, and locker rooms |
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Additional access benefits to Crunch Fitness locations |
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Guest Privileges: Ability to bring guests |
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Ride Passes: Access to specialized classes or rides |
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Kid's Crunch Babysitting: Childcare services |
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Advanced HIIT Classes: High-Intensity Interval Training classes |
Which Membership Option Is The Best For You?
The Base Crunch Membership is one the most affordable gym memberships around and is perfect for people of all experience levels seeking a standard gym experience combined with a personalized feel. It also gives users incredible flexibility with their workouts, as they can choose from a wide range of crunch fitness equipment, including machines, free weights, cardio equipment, a circuit routine, or a group class, among other options.
It also gives novice lifters a chance to test out personal training. The Peak Crunch Membership is an excellent option for people who require slightly more amenities than the base membership. Peak Results Memberships seem to target serious athletes and experienced weight lifters of the highest fitness level.
They also have access to more group classes and private sessions with personal trainers.
All three membership options are set up as a monthly recurring payment and include the option to add on personal training sessions and Crunch + Streaming workouts (online workouts). An annual fee of up to $89 plus tax is billed once a year, although the price varies by region and membership level. You can sign up for a free trial on their website, or by following this link.
It may also be helpful to compare Crunch membership costs with some other gyms. Check out our review comparing Anytime Fitness vs Planet Fitness to see what their membership costs are. And for a higher-end gym comparison, check out our Life Time Fitness Review!
Crunch Fitness Locations
One of the best aspects of Crunch Fitness is how widespread they are, with over 400 locations worldwide. Most of the 400-plus locations are in the United States, but Crunch Fitness is also in Puerto Rico, Canada, Spain, Costa Rica, Portugal, and Australia.
In addition to the 400 plus Crunch Fitness locations are an additional 28 locations of Crunch Signature, the premium version of Crunch with larger facilities and enhanced amenities. Crunch Signature locations have all of the exercise equipment and amenities as the Peak Results Membership, plus additional benefits.
The signature version of Crunch Fitness aims to include more amenities, including a more significant number of group classes, dedicated group fitness studios, and full-service locker rooms with saunas and steam rooms. Crunch Signature locations can be found in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and New York City metro areas.
You can choose your Crunch Signature club access to be at only one location, all Crunch Signature locations in your metro area, or all 28 Signature locations nationwide.
Crunch Fitness Benefits
It's important you weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to proceed with a membership. There are tons of perks at Crunch Fitness! Here's what you can look forward to.
1) It's Affordable:
Crunch Fitness prices are very affordable, with memberships starting as low as $9.99 per month. Even the priciest membership that comes with all the perks is only $26, which when compared to wellness health clubs that can easily cost more than $100 per membership, is still very reasonable.
2) There's A Wide Variety of Classes:
Since its origin, Crunch Fitness has always prided itself on its large variety of innovative group classes, including dance-based cardio workouts, yoga, HIIT, and other cardio workouts. If you enjoy a group workout environment, Crunch's wide selection of classes will not disappoint.
3) It's An Encouraging Environment:
Crunch Fitness was founded on the principle of "no judgments" and they have done a remarkable job with this strategy. When you don't have to worry about being judged or criticized, it makes your workout far more comfortable and successful. Members and workers are extremely friendly, encouraging, and helpful.
4) It's Known For Its Cleanliness:
Crunch Fitness has always been known to be one of the cleanest gyms.There are countless online reviews of members highlighting how clean the facilities and all the equipment are. The staff always keeps the weights racked and every area spotless, including machines, locker rooms, and group rooms.
5) There's Plenty Of Exercise Variety:
In addition to having a large variety of group classes, Crunch Fitness has all the equipment you can fathom including free weights, machines, cardio equipment, and medicine balls.
Crunch Fitness encourages its members to try different kinds of exercises and workouts, as long as they are having fun. I recommend picking one of our workout splits, so you have a plan in place for all of their equipment.
Crunch Fitness Cons
Nothing is perfect. Here are the downsides of Crunch Fitness.
1) Locations Are Often Busy:
A common complaint for Crunch Fitness is that they are often overcrowded, especially at peak gym times. There are several reviews online of people citing painfully long wait times. This is likely attributed to the quality of the facilities, considering how affordable the price is.
2) It Comes With An Expensive Annual Fee:
The exact amount of the annual fee could vary by club, but the price goes up $89. Considering memberships are as low as $10 a month, that is a steep additional fee, especially for those on a budget.
3) Not Ideal For Powerlifting/Bodybuilding:
Despite having top equipment and dumbbells that go up to 120 lbs, some bodybuilders and powerlifters have had bad experiences.
Sometimes people can be obnoxious during heavy lifts, especially slamming weights loudly during deadlifts or other lifts. This goes against the Crunch ideology, so it may not be the best gym for heavy lifters.
4) Contract Cancellation Requires 30-Days Notice:
Some people have found the process for canceling your membership to be difficult, considering the 30-day notice requirement. Having said that, this is a pretty common requirement for most gyms. You may find it difficult to find a gym that lets you cancel with no notice.
Comparing Pros & Cons Side By Side
Sometimes the easiest way to review a gym's benefits and downsides is to look at them side by side.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Affordable, starting as low as $9.99 per month |
Overcrowded, especially during peak times |
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Extensive range of innovative group classes |
Additional fee (around $89/year) plus monthly membership |
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Encouraging environment, founded on the principle of "no judgments" |
May not be an ideal setting for heavy lifters |
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Numerous positive online reviews highlighting the spotless facilities |
Requires 30-day notice |
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Diverse array of equipment |
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Crunch Fitness Reviews: Real-Life Redditor Opinions
Regardless of your industry, it is nearly impossible to have only positive reviews. This is true for Crunch Fitness, but most online testimonials are positive. The most common theme with Crunch Fitness reviews is praise for the overall vibe and friendly atmosphere. A Reddit thread titled "Crunch Fitness - any thoughts?" is one of several examples where members complement the environment.
One user stated: "The atmosphere is great. The staff and instructors are friendly and helpful. Their bread and butter are the classes. It's incredibly easy to join a class, all you have to do is show up." (source)
Aside from the positive and bubbly atmosphere, members also praise the variety of available classes. as well as its affordable rate. Another Reddit user commented: "From a noob point of view, Crunch is great. I can find what I need for $10 a month…Machines, weights, mirrors, toilets, lockers are always clean." (source)
Crunch Fitness is among the cleanest fitness facilities you will see, which is even more impressive considering the low membership costs.
While the majority of reviews are positive, there are some people who have bad experiences. One Redditor posted, "I would have to sum it up as a shitty gym with a shitty atmosphere. Couldn't deadlift without getting talked to by the manager…The atmosphere was very swole shaming, much like planet fitness." (source)
While there aren't a ton of supporting claims on heavy lifting by experienced lifters, the most common complaints throughout many Crunch Fitness locations seem to be overcrowding or difficulty canceling your membership.
A Reddit post titled "Crunch Fitness reviews" has several complaints of overcrowding.
One user stated: "Solid gym. Kinda tightly packed but still fine. Biggest complaint (and why I left) was because of how busy it was whenever I would go. Made planning workouts kinda difficult." (source)
Considering you can get the energetic environment, a wide range of class options, and top-notch fitness facilities for only $10 a month, it's no surprise that it's crowded.
For another great perspective, check out this gym review below, in which YouTuber Nathan Jaworski records his experiences as he uses the gym.
How To Cancel Your Crunch Fitness Membership
One of the most common complaints with Crunch Fitness is their cancellation process. Unfortunately, there is no universal cancellation policy because some Crunch Gym locations are independently owned and operated by franchises.
Most clubs have the same general guidelines for canceling.
To cancel a membership, the person must provide their primary facility thirty days' notice before their next billing date, which can be done in two ways. First, you can send a signed and dated written notice of cancellation by registered or certified mail. The second option is to personally deliver a signed and dated written notice of cancellation to the club manager.
Prepaid memberships cannot be canceled and are not subject to a refund.
FAQs
In this section, we will answer some of the most common questions related to a Crunch Fitness membership.
Can I go to any Crunch Fitness location with my membership?
Only members with peak memberships can go to any other locations except for Crunch Signature. Base members are limited to the one location where you register.
How much is a Crunch Fitness membership?
The base plan at Crunch Membership starts as low as $9.99 per month for access to one location. There is also an option for the Peak Crunch Membership starting at $21.99 monthly and Peak Results Membership starting at $25.99 monthly. Prices may vary for all three memberships by region.
How do I cancel my Crunch Fitness membership?
In order to cancel, you have to give the club 30 days' notice in advance of your next billing date. You can do this by sending a signed and dated written notice of cancellation by registered or certified mail or by personally delivering a signed and dated notice of cancellation to the club manager.
Why is Crunch Fitness so Popular?
Crunch Fitness is very popular because it has a reputation for being a fitness center that welcomes people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. They offer many unique group fitness classes, such as dance-based classes, and members are known to be encouraging to others. Aside from the motivating community, membership rates are very affordable, with options for all budgets.
Crunch Fitness Review: Final Takeaways
With so many local and chain fitness options, finding the perfect gym can be more difficult than the actual workout. People who have never experienced a strong, encouraging gym community can't fully appreciate its significance on your fitness journey.
Crunch Fitness has always placed an importance on diversity and it is firmly baked into its DNA along with the "no judgements" mantra. Whether you are a beginner looking for guidance on a workout routine or an experienced fitness enthusiast, Crunch Fitness has something for you. In addition to providing a welcoming atmosphere where people only want to help, it's an affordable gym membership offering a diverse range of equipment and workout options.
Best of all, you can experience this unique culture for as low as $9.99 a month for the base membership, a price nearly impossible to beat considering the amenities. Crunch also offers a Peak Crunch Membership and Peak Results Membership for those looking for all the top amenities at a luxury fitness center. If you are someone seeking a gym where you can become part of a community that will support you on your fitness journey, then Crunch Fitness is the perfect spot.
Our Verdict: For the majority of lifters, regardless of your fitness level or fitness goals and whether you want to lose weight or pack on muscle, Crunch Fitness is a solid choice. Heavy lifters looking for more of a hardcore weight room environment may not love the Crunch Fitness environment.
Interested in seeing how Crunch Fitness stacks up to another popular gym? Check out our article comparing Crunch vs Planet Fitness. You can also compare it to a higher-end gym by reading our Life Time Membership Review.
Kyle Ustach
Author