For some people, making it to the gym during normal operating hours isn’t feasible. That’s where the beauty of 24-hour gyms lies. You can work out whenever it’s most convenient for you, even if the only time you can train is at 2 AM.
If you’ve been searching for a 24-hour gym to join, you’ve likely come across Workout Anytime and Anytime Fitness. But despite their similar names and the fact that they’re both accessible 24 hours a day, each gym will be better for different groups of people.
So, is Workout Anytime or Anytime Fitness a better gym? In general, Anytime Fitness is a better gym because it has higher quality equipment, better group classes, and locations all over the world. But if you have a small monthly budget, Workout Anytime is a better option. However, Workout Anytime is harder to come by since most of its locations are in the southeast US.
Once you’ve made the decision to buy a gym membership, you’re faced with the task of choosing which one to join. There are many factors to consider when choosing between two gyms. It’s important to analyze each gym from multiple angles to ensure you pick the one that will help you reach your goals.
After reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of the differences between Workout Anytime and Anytime Fitness and you’ll be able to determine which gym is the better fit for you.
Table of Contents
Workout Anytime Overview
Workout Anytime is a gym where you can, well, work out anytime. It was founded in 1999 by two men who had spent decades working in the fitness industry.
While it’s not the only 24-hour gym in the US, it is starting to take the place of other gyms like 24 Hour Fitness, which only have a handful of locations remaining. Workout Anytime gyms are primarily situated in the southeast, but they’re slowly starting to expand into other regions of the country.
Workout Anytime is a pretty no-frills gym without a lot of amenities, but members enjoy its low costs and welcoming environment. And because Workout Anytime still isn’t as well-known as other gyms, some of its locations don’t have a ton of members. This makes it a good gym for people who want to avoid large crowds.
Pros
- 24-hour access
- Friendly, welcoming environment
- Can visit any club in the US even with a basic membership
- Clean, well-run facilities
- Affordable memberships
Cons
- Not a lot of amenities
- Not widely available outside of the southeast region in the US
Check out my full review of Workout Anytime here.
Anytime Fitness Overview
The concept behind Anytime Fitness was developed in 2003 by three men who worked together at another gym. They recognized that there were ways they could improve the gym experience and spent several years talking to members of other gyms to find out what was lacking from those places.
Anytime Fitness locations tend to be small, but their tight-knit communities appeal to many people. It’s common to see many of the members become friends through all of the social events Anytime Fitness clubs hold for their members throughout the year.
Anytime Fitness is the second-largest chain gym in the US based on the number of locations. It can also be found in 50 countries, making it one of the largest international chain gyms as well.
Pros
- Locations in 50 countries
- Can go to any club once you’ve been a member for 30 days
- Ideal for beginners and experienced gym-goers
- Tight-knit community with supportive staff and friendly members
- Experienced, well-qualified personal trainers
Cons
- Amenities are limited
- Chalk and dropping weights are not allowed at some clubs
Check out my full Anytime Fitness review here.
Workout Anytime vs Anytime Fitness: 10 Differences
As you’ll see, there are a lot of similarities between Workout Anytime and Anytime Fitness, but there are some areas where they’re very different from each other.
1. Cost
You may be fixated on how much a gym membership costs per month, but you shouldn’t just take the monthly fees at face value. There are often enrollment fees, annual fees, and taxes to pay as well, and some gyms have hidden fees that you won’t learn about until you sign the contract.
Workout Anytime
A basic membership at Workout Anytime costs $19.99/month plus taxes. The premium membership costs $29.99/month plus taxes. There is no enrollment fee for the basic plan, but you’ll have to pay a $50 enrollment fee for the premium plan.
If you purchase an annual membership, you’ll also have to pay a $39 annual club enhancement fee.
Anyone who has never been a Workout Anytime member before can get a free one-day trial pass on the website.
Anytime Fitness
Most Anytime Fitness locations charge their members bi-weekly. You can expect to pay anywhere from $27 to $30 plus taxes every two weeks.
When you join, you’ll have to pay your first and last months’ dues as well as a $99 administration fee and a $25 fee for your key fob. The upfront costs can easily be upwards of $150.
New members can get a seven-day free trial pass on the website.
The Winner
With membership costs that are half the price of Anytime Fitness, Workout Anytime is the place for anyone who’s looking for a budget-friendly gym.
2. Contract Length
Many gyms offer month-to-month contracts, which is great because you don’t have to make a long-term commitment. But most gyms have annual contracts as well, and they may be better for you if you’re certain that you’ll want to stay there for a long time.
Workout Anytime
Workout Anytime has month-to-month and annual contracts, but what kind of contract each club has will vary.
Anytime Fitness
Each location has contracts of different lengths. Most are month-to-month, but some clubs offer one- or two-year contracts as well.
The Winner
It’s a tie between Workout Anytime and Anytime Fitness since both gyms have annual and month-to-month contracts.
3. Equipment
The equipment at the gym you choose should suit your preferred method of training. Whether you enjoy cardio or strength training, you should be able to find the machine or weights you need to train effectively.
Workout Anytime
Almost all of the machines at Workout Anytime are from Matrix. It has treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and step climbers as well as strength machines for every body part.
Workout Anytime has dumbbells that go up to 100lbs and EZ curl bars and straight bars that go up to 110lbs. There are also barbells and plates available in 10lbs, 25lbs, and 45lbs. You can find squat racks at most clubs, but not all of them have deadlift platforms.
One of the most unique things about Workout Anytime is that it has a reACT training system. The personal trainers mostly use it with their clients, but it’s available for all members to use as well.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness has plenty of cardio machines, including treadmills, rowers, ellipticals, and stationary bikes. Most of the machines are from Octane, Life Fitness, and Precor. There are usually a couple of Rogue Echo bikes as well.
In the free weights area, you’ll find resistance machines, barbells, plates that go up to 55lbs, dumbbells that go up to 150lbs, and EZ curl bars. Some locations have BandBell bamboo barbells and safety squat bars. Most locations have at least two squat racks, but deadlift platforms aren’t available at all of them.
Anytime Fitness also has a functional training area with kettlebells, TRX bands, battle ropes, tires, plyo boxes, medicine balls, and slam balls.
The Winner
Anytime Fitness has a slight advantage when it comes to equipment. It has heavier plates and dumbbells, and if you’re lucky, you can find a club that has unique pieces of equipment like the BandBell barbell and safety squat bars.
4. Atmosphere
If you have a chance to test a gym before you sign a contract, you should pay attention to its culture. If all of the other members are significantly older or younger than you, or they train in a different way than you do, you may find it difficult to fit in.
You should also watch how the staff interacts with the members and how the members interact with each other. If they aren’t respectful towards each other and the environment feels hostile or judgmental, you won’t enjoy working out there.
Workout Anytime
The atmosphere at Workout Anytime is warm and inviting. Many of the members keep to themselves when they’re working out, but they’re respectful of each other. It’s not uncommon for the staff to greet you by name when you walk through the door, especially at some of the smaller clubs.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness clubs tend to have close-knit communities. The staff members are friendly, the trainers are known for being energetic and supportive, and the members are courteous to one another. From what I saw when I visited Anytime Fitness, many of the members are friends outside of the gym as well.
Anytime Fitness also has challenges and social events throughout the year so members can stay motivated and connect with each other when they’re not working out together.
The Winner
I visited a lot of gyms recently, and not many had as positive and welcoming of an environment as Anytime Fitness. As such, if you’re looking for a gym where you can feel like you’re part of a team, you should go with Anytime Fitness.
5. Gym Policies
Some gyms have stricter policies than others. They’re usually pretty upfront about their rules, but some policies are hidden in the contracts. Lengthy contracts aren’t fun to read, but it’s worth it to read each line carefully so you can avoid breaking any of the gym’s rules.
Workout Anytime
Chalk and dropping weights are not allowed at Workout Anytime. You also need to wear a shirt and shoes at all times, but any other appropriate workout attire is allowed.
You can bring a guest with you during staffed hours, but you may have to pay a guest fee of about $20.
If you want to cancel your membership, you have to give 30 days’ notice and cancel in person or via certified mail. Members with term contracts may have to pay an early cancellation fee or pay for a portion of the time left on your contract. Alternatively, you can freeze your membership for up to 90 days for a small fee of $5/month.
Anytime Fitness
Every Anytime Fitness club has different rules about using chalk, lifting barefoot, and dropping weights. Some clubs allow them but many others don’t. You can wear any kind of clothing that’s appropriate for working out at Anytime Fitness.
Anytime Fitness will allow you to temporarily freeze your membership if you need to stop working out because of a medical issue. If you want to cancel, you’ll have to visit the gym in person or send certified snail mail.
When you cancel, you have to provide at least 30 days’ notice, and members with annual contracts have to pay a $150 cancellation fee. You may also have to pay a portion of the unused time left on your contract. Some clubs will let you transfer your membership to another person instead of going through the cancellation process.
Members are allowed to bring guests during staffed hours. At some clubs, you can bring an unlimited number of guests for free but at others, you’re allowed one free guest per month and will have to pay for any additional guests.
The Winner
Workout Anytime and Anytime Fitness have similar policies, but you’re more likely to find an Anytime Fitness club that lets you use chalk, drop weights, and lift barefoot. You should go with Anytime Fitness if you want to be able to do any of those things.
6. Group Classes
Most gyms have at least a small number of group classes, but some don’t have any. If you’re interested in taking group classes, you should be aware of what classes your preferred gym offers and when they’re available.
Workout Anytime
Workout Anytime doesn’t have group classes like yoga, Pilates, or boot camp, but it has Sprint 8 HIIT classes. These involve 30 minutes of sprints at varying speeds and inclines. Workout Anytime also has small group training sessions that are limited to six members.
The Sprint 8 HIIT classes are only included with premium memberships. Members with both basic and premium memberships have to pay extra for the small group training sessions.
Schedules for the Spring 8 HIIT classes and small group training sessions are different at each club, but you should be able to find classes at any time of the day.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness has yoga, boot camp, Pilates, and Zumba classes, but its signature team classes are usually the most popular. These classes are limited to small groups and are separated into three tiers: one for beginners, one for people who want to focus on endurance, and one for people who want to get stronger.
Classes at Anytime Fitness are often limited to just two or three per day in the mornings and evenings.
The Winner
Anytime Fitness is better for group fitness because it has a larger assortment of classes, and its team training sessions are excellent for people who enjoy doing high-intensity workouts with others.
7. Amenities
Amenities such as massage chairs and saunas are common at gyms, but not every gym has them. If amenities are important to you, you’ll need to make sure the gym you choose has the ones you’re interested in. You should also check whether or not you’ll have to pay extra for them since some amenities aren’t included in all memberships.
Workout Anytime
Amenities at Workout Anytime are pretty limited. It doesn’t have any pools, basketball courts, saunas, or childcare. Only a few locations have smoothie bars.
Workout Anytime does have tanning booths, but only members with Premium memberships are allowed to use them.
There are showers and locker rooms at Workout Anytime, but you’ll have to bring your own towel and toiletries.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness also has a limited number of amenities. There are no pools, saunas, basketball courts, or childcare. A handful of locations have tanning booths, massage chairs, and smoothie bars.
You can usually find a club that has private bathrooms with showers, but there are no locker rooms.
The Winner
Workout Anytime edges out Anytime Fitness ever so slightly since it has locker rooms. Other than that, there isn’t anything that stands out in terms of amenities at either gym.
8. Personal Training
Personal trainers can be largely hit or miss. A person can be in good shape and have all of the necessary credentials but lack the skills it takes to train other people. As such, it’s important to evaluate the personal trainers at the gyms you’re deciding between to see which ones can help you reach your goals.
You should also make sure a personal trainer can fit into your budget since personal training packages aren’t cheap.
Workout Anytime
The personal trainers at Workout Anytime are required to have certifications through an accredited institution. Many of them have nutrition certifications and exercise science degrees as well, but it’s not required.
You can get one-on-one, partner, or small group training sessions at Workout Anytime. You can also choose 30-minute or 60-minute sessions.
Sessions start at $45/session and go all the way up to $120/session. 30-minute one-on-one sessions will fall at the lower end of that range while 60-minute sessions and partner or small group training sessions fall at the higher end.
New members have the option to sign up for a complimentary session. If you have a Premium membership, you also get one free consultation per month.
One thing to be wary of about the personal trainers at Workout Anytime is that they’re required to take photos of all clients when you first start working together. They do this so they can create success stories about each personal training client.
I’m not a fan of this since people hire personal trainers for all different reasons, not just to lose weight. But it’s possible that a trainer wouldn’t force you to agree with this if it makes you uncomfortable. It’s just something to prepare yourself for if you’re considering working with a trainer at Workout Anytime.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness’s personal training sessions cost anywhere from $25 – $75 per session. It depends on how many sessions you’re interested in and whether you prefer 30- or 60-minute sessions.
If you want to save money, you can buy sessions in packages of 5, 10, or 20. New members can also get one personal training consultation for free.
Many locations require their trainers to have certifications from NASM, ACE, or another similar institution as well as degrees in exercise science or kinesiology.
The Winner
Anytime Fitness’s personal training packages are more affordable so you should go with that gym if you’re interested in one-on-one training.
9. Locations
In addition to finding a gym that’s close to where you live or work, it’s also good to know if the one you want to join has locations in other states or countries. Being able to work out when you’re traveling is a huge benefit and is one of the best things about joining a chain gym.
If you know you’ll be visiting other locations frequently, you should check to see if your membership is valid at other clubs or if you’ll have to pay a drop-in fee.
Workout Anytime
Workout Anytime only has about 100 locations in the US, and most of them are concentrated in the southeast. There are only a few locations in the northeast and hardly any in the midwest or on the west coast.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness has more than 4,500 locations worldwide. You can find clubs in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. You can visit any location in the world once you’ve been a member for 30 days.
The Winner
Anytime Fitness is better than Workout Anytime in terms of the number of clubs it has and where they’re located.
10. Hours of Operation
Most people only have limited windows of time to make it to the gym each day. As such, you’ll need to double-check your gym’s schedule to make sure it’s open when you’re able to go.
Fortunately, gyms that are available 24 hours a day are becoming more common, which makes it easy for people with busy schedules to go whenever they want.
Workout Anytime
You can go to Workout Anytime at any time of the day or night. It’s accessible 24/7, but the staff only works for a certain number of hours during the day.
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness is also accessible 24/7, though the staff usually doesn’t work past 8 or 9 PM.
The Winner
Both gyms are available 24/7, so it’s a tie.
Who Is Workout Anytime For?
Workout Anytime is a good gym for:
- Beginners
- Casual powerlifters (if you don’t mind not being able to use chalk)
- People who aren’t interested in group classes
- People who are trying to save money
Who Is Anytime Fitness For?
Anytime Fitness is good for:
- Frequent travelers
- People who are interested in personal training
- Non-competitive powerlifters and CrossFitters
- People who enjoy group classes
Other Gym Comparisons With Workout Anytime and Anytime Fitness
- Workout Anytime vs Planet Fitness
- Anytime Fitness vs Equinox
- Anytime Fitness vs Youfit
- Anytime Fitness vs Crunch
- YMCA vs Anytime Fitness
- Anytime Fitness vs Planet Fitness
- 24 Hour Fitness vs Anytime Fitness
- GoodLife Fitness vs Anytime Fitness
- Anytime Fitness vs Gold’s Gym
- Anytime Fitness vs LA Fitness
About The Author
Amanda is a writer and editor in the fitness and nutrition industries. Growing up in a family that loved sports, she learned the importance of staying active from a young age. She started CrossFit in 2015, which led to her interest in powerlifting and weightlifting. She's passionate about helping women overcome their fear of lifting weights and teaching them how to fuel their bodies properly. When she's not training in her garage gym or working, you can find her drinking coffee, walking her dog, or indulging in one too many pieces of chocolate.
