Free passes and trials are perfect for trying out a gym before committing to a monthly or annual membership plan.
However, not every gym has one, so we spent a few weeks calling the top gym franchises to ask about their free trials and passes to provide you with the most up-to-date information.
The best gyms with free passes and trials are:
- Snap Fitness
- GoodLife Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- Crunch Fitness
- YouFit
- Planet Fitness
- Gold’s Gym
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Workout Anytime
- Blink Fitness
- World Gym
- Equinox
- YMCA
- F45
In today’s article, I’ll provide some key things to know when you’re searching for free gym passes and other freebies that you can negotiate when you get a free pass at the gym. I’ll also cover the gyms that don’t offer any free trials or passes.
Table of Contents
| Gym | Free Trial | Conditions | Sign Up Online or in the Gym | Drop-In Cost | Buddy Pass | Read Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snap Fitness | One day | – | Both | $5 | Yes | Read full review |
| GoodLife Fitness | One day | Must have a gym tour | Both | $25 plus tax | Yes | Read full review |
| Anytime Fitness | 7 days | Locals only and must show local ID | Both | $10 | No | Read full review |
| Crunch Fitness | 3 days | Locals only and must show local ID | Both | $10 | Yes | Read full review |
| YouFit | One day | - | Both | $10 | Yes | Read full review |
| Planet Fitness | One day | - | Online | $20 | Yes | Read full review |
| Gold’s Gym | 7 days | Locals only and must show local ID | Both | $15 | Yes | Read full review |
| 24 Hour Fitness | 3 days | Locals only and must show local ID | Online | $25 | Yes | Read full review |
| Workout Anytime | One day | Locals only and must show local ID | Both | $20 | Yes | Read full review |
| Blink Fitness | One day | - | Online | $15 | Yes | Read full review |
| World Gym | One day | - | Gym | $10 cash or $12 credit | Yes | Read full review |
| Equinox | One day | Locals only | Online | $10 - $50 | Yes | Read full review |
| YMCA | 7 days | Must be 18 years old | Both | - | - | Read full review |
| F45 | One day | Expires after seven days | Online | - | - | Read full review |
1. Snap Fitness
Most Snap Fitness locations offer a one-day free trial you sign up for online or in your local club. Some locations offer a three-day free trial, too.
The free trial will allow you to try the gym before committing to one of its memberships. Signing up for the three-day free pass will enable you to try each area of the gym and one or two classes to see if it suits your needs.
It does not offer free drop-ins, but you can pay $5 for a one-time gym usage. Snap Fitness also offers buddy passes if you want to bring a friend to work out with you.
Snap Fitness is one of the best beginner-friendly gyms, so be sure to check out other options in the full post. I also compared Snap Fitness against Planet Fitness.
2. GoodLife Fitness
GoodLife Fitness has one-day free trials available for prospective members.
You must take a club tour around the gym whether you sign up for a free pass online or in person. A staff member or personal trainer will show you the equipment and follow some general safety rules. You must use your free pass within a week of having the club tour.
GoodLife Fitness locations don’t offer free drop-ins. Instead, you must pay $25 plus taxes for a drop-in. You can also take a buddy in with you if you prefer not to work out alone.
Free passes are only available to non-club members without a GoodLife Fitness membership within the last three months.
Goodlife Fitness is one of the best gyms with showers, so check out the details in the full post. I also compared Goodlife Fitness against Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness, and Fit4Less.
3. Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness offers a free week-long pass for locals only. You can sign up online or in person at your local club.
Being seven days in total, the free pass will give you a good chance to get a feel for your local club. You can try the fitness suite, studios, and group classes to see if they meet your expectations.
You must show your ID as proof that you live in the area. It costs $10 for a drop-in session at Anytime Fitness, and each club offers a buddy pass for you to work out with a friend.
I also compared Anytime Fitness head-to-head against other top gyms, including Planet Fitness, Gold's Gym, and LA Fitness.
4. Crunch Fitness
Crunch Fitness offers a free one-day or three-day pass that you can sign up for online or in your local club.
Each club requires you to show proof that you live in the local area when you sign up for the trial. Your free pass will provide you with access to the free weights, strength machines, cardio area, and group classes.
It costs $10 for a drop-in session at Crunch Fitness, and buddy passes are available.
I also compared Crunch Fitness head-to-head against similar gyms, including Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, and Anytime Fitness.
5. YouFit
YouFit clubs offer three-day free gym passes to try out the facilities before committing to a full membership plan.
You can easily sign up for a free pass online by entering your details using the form on the website. The pass will be emailed to you. Alternatively, you can head into your local gym and request a pass at the reception desk.
There are no free drop-ins, but they only cost around $10. Buddy passes are available at most YouFit locations, so you can work out with a friend.
Check out how YouFit compares head-to-head against similar gyms, including Planet Fitness and LA Fitness.
6. Planet Fitness
One-day passes at Planet Fitness are available to sign up for on its website. They are time-based passes that provide one-off access to your local club.
Drop-in sessions cost $20, and Planet Fitness offers buddy passes so you can bring a workout partner along for a session.
I went to my local Planet Fitness, asked for a tour, and asked if I could work out to try it. The staff were fine with that, and it's also an option.
Considering a gym visit? Our article on the Planet Fitness day pass provides all the information you need to know for a one-day gym experience. I also compared Planet Fitness against other top gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness, YMCA, and Fit4less.
7. Gold’s Gym
At Gold’s Gym, you can try your local club out for free for a full week. The trial pass provides you with access to strength training equipment, cardio equipment, and other club amenities.
The seven-day free trial can be accessed online or in person, but you must show a local ID to prove that you live in the area.
The free passes are time-based. This means that your pass will only be valid for seven days after signing up, whether you use it every day or not.
For drop-ins, you will be charged $15. Buddy passes are available upon request.
Gold's Gym is one of the best gyms for kids and teens. I also compared Gold's Gym against other top gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness, and Planet Fitness.
8. 24 Hour Fitness
At 24 Hour Fitness, three-day free passes are available for people who can provide proof that they live in the local area.
You can sign up for the free trial online only. You’ll need to enter your name, email address, mobile number, and date of birth. You must be at least 18 years old or 12 years old under the supervision of your parent to use the free gym pass.
Free trials may not be available at clubs with strict capacity limits. You won’t be able to access a pass if you have been a 24 Hour Fitness member within the last 6 months.
Once activated, you will gain access to your local club for three days. Regardless of whether you use the gym three times or not, the pass will expire after 72 hours.
Drop-ins cost $25; you can request a buddy pass to work out with a partner.
I also compared 24 Hour Fitness head-to-head against similar gyms, including Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness, and Life Time Fitness.
9. Workout Anytime
Workout Anytime has a free one-day trial pass available only for locals. You will need to show proof that you live in the local area with your ID.
You can sign up online or in the gym. When the pass gets activated, you have just 24 hours to use it. You can get a buddy pass if you want to try the gym with a friend. If you want a drop-in session, it will cost you $20.
I also compared Workout Anytime against similar gyms, including Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness.
10. Blink Fitness
If you want to try out your local Blink Fitness club before signing up for a full membership, you can try it for only one day. Free trials are available at any of the 100+ Blink Fitness locations.
You can sign up using an online form. Once your pass is activated at the gym, it will only be valid for the next 24 hours. There are no free drop-ins. Instead, you will be charged $15 per drop-in.
If you decide to sign up for a full membership, you will get unlimited guest privileges, so you can work out with your buddy as many times as you like.
Blink Fitness is one of the best gyms with childcare, so check out the details if you workout with kids. I also compared Blink Fitness against other popular gyms like Planet Fitness.
11. World Gym
There are free trial passes for one day only at World Gym. You will need to sign up at your local gym, as there is no option to do so online.
Drop-in sessions cost $10 cash or $12 credit. If you want a guest pass, it will cost $18 for 1 day, $60 for 1 week, or $120 for 1 month.
I also compared World Gym against similar gyms, such as Planet Fitness and Gold's Gym.
12. Equinox
Equinox offers a one-day free pass that you can access online. It is available for a single visit at your local club and will expire after 24 hours. During your visit, you can try the strength training equipment, cardio machines, and other amenities, such as the pool or spa.
There are guest passes available at Equinox, but you’ll need to ask your local gym to learn about its terms and conditions. Guest passes generally cost between $10 and $50.
I also compared Equinox against similar gyms like LA Fitness and Life Time Fitness.
13. YMCA
YMCA offers a free seven-day pass that will give you access to your local club free of charge. You can use your pass to try the fitness suite, a group class, or the indoor track in the gym.
You can sign up online to get the YMCA free trial pass by providing your name, email address, and zip code. You must be at least 18 years old to redeem a free pass, and usage of the outdoor pool might be limited if your local club has this amenity.
YMCA is one of the best gyms for seniors, so check out the full post for more. I also compared the YMCA against top gyms, including Life Time Fitness, LA Fitness, and Anytime Fitness.
14. F45
At many F45 locations, there is a free seven-day pass available. You can sign up for a trial online by filling out a quick form.
Once your pass has been activated, you will have seven days to try out the various classes offered at your local club. Note that the pass expires after one week, regardless of how often you have used it.
F45 is one of the best gyms with classes, so check out all the details. I also compared F45 against another gym with many classes, Orangetheory.
Key Things To Know When Looking For Free Gym Passes
Here are some important things to keep in mind when you’re searching for a free gym pass or trial:
- Most Gyms Want To See A Local ID: To prevent people who are traveling through the town or city from taking advantage of free trials, most gyms ask for local IDs with your address. Your driver’s license is a great option.
- You'll Likely Have To Do A Gym Tour: Most gyms insist that you do a gym tour before getting a free pass to help you get a feel for the gym floor, studios, and other amenities before you sign up for a membership.
- Most Gyms Allow You To Register Online For Your Free Trials: All you’ll need to do is head to their website, enter a few details (usually your name, email, and phone number), and you’ll get a free pass.
- The Cost of A Drop-In Can Be Put Toward Your Membership: In some gym franchises, you can pay for a one-off pass to try the gym out. If you choose to sign up for a full gym membership after your trial, be sure to ask to have the drop-in cost taken off your first month’s payment.
Other Freebies You Can Usually Negotiate At The Gym
Free passes and trials aren’t the only perks available at most gyms. Other great things you can negotiate at the gym include:
- Free Towel Service: If the gym you’re signing up for offers a free towel service to those who are on the more expensive memberships, see if you can negotiate access to this service on the cheaper membership plans.
- Access to the Tanning Beds: The gym might offer a free tanning session for you and your friend or ongoing limited access to the tanning beds, even if you’re on one of the cheaper membership plans.
- Free Personal Training Sessions or Fitness Assessments: When considering a full gym membership, ask whether they offer a free personal training session or fitness assessment to new starters.
FAQ
Which gyms do not have free passes or trials?
Life Time Fitness doesn't offer free trial passes, but you can get a one-day pass for $40 and this can only be applied to a membership once. Onelife Fitness also doesn’t offer free trials or passes but only charges $10 for a one-day pass. This can be applied only once to your membership.
Other Gym Membership Resources
- 9 Best Gyms With Trainers (And, How Not To Get Ripped Off)
- 10 Best Gyms With Pools, Saunas, & Hot Tubs
- 5 Best Gyms For College Students (With Student Discounts)
- 8 Best Gyms With Tanning (What’s Expected, Cost, How To Use)
About The Author
Athina is a Biochemistry and Genetics graduate, and a qualified personal trainer with a passion for women’s health and fitness. She is passionate about helping women to learn more about the importance of the menstrual cycle and how to balance their hormones. She is the host and producer of Fertility and Freedom podcast, which covers all things women’s health and hormones.
