There’s a heck of a lot that goes into choosing the right gym for you.
What kinds of workouts you like to do…
… if you have kids and need childcare …
… whether you like swimming and aquatics classes …
… if you’re looking for other group fitness classes.
And so, so much more.
This is precisely why I started my Gym Comparison series! In each article, I take two popular gyms and compare them on price, equipment, classes, pools, childcare, overall vibe, and more. The goal is to help you make the right decision when you have two big gym chains close to your home or work.
In this piece, we’ll take a look at Gold’s Gym vs LA Fitness.
The difference between Gold’s Gym and LA Fitness comes down to what you value most. These are two pretty comparable mid-range gyms, and you can do great at either. Gold’s is the better pick if you want more options for weightlifting equipment and strength training, while LA Fitness often has a better selection of group classes and usually has a better pool set up.
Let’s dive in a little deeper.
(And P.S., definitely consider saving a few bucks and just working out at home. Try hundreds of different workout programs inside Beachbody on Demand free for 14 days here.)
What is LA Fitness?
LA Fitness is a huge, behemoth of a health club. If you’ve ever ridden past one while driving, you might have noticed it’s about the size of a Walmart.
And for good reason.
These gyms, founded in 1984, are more what I would call a “health club.” You can workout there with any kind of equipment imaginable, go for a swim, eat at a cafe, have a personal training session, and more. They’re packed with amenities and you could stay there all day if you wanted to.
You’ll often pay a premium price to join an LA Fitness compared with smaller, convenience style gyms.
What is Gold’s Gym?
Did you know that Gold’s Gym was founded in 1965 and is a favorite of tons of celebrities (including The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson)?!
You might know Gold’s as a bodybuilding gym, and it’s true… it does have that reputation for good reason.
But today’s Gold’s really runs the gamut. They’ve got quick, convenient, get-in-get-out gyms, and they’ve got full-sized health clubs, too.
Regardless, don’t overlook Gold’s based on the ‘meathead’ reputation. They’ve got something for everyone.
Cost
LA Fitness Cost: The pricing at LA is relatively straightforward, though it can vary some by location.
Here’s the general breakdown of what you can expect:
- Around $35 per month gets you access to any LA Fitness location
- Around $25 per month gets you access to just one location
- Initiation fees may vary, but expect around $100 due at sign-up
Gold’s Gym Cost: Pricing at Gold’s Gym is extraordinarily complicated to sum up because it varies so wildly from location to location. Not just the price, but membership levels, amenities, and more.
My best tip would be to find your local Gold’s Gym and peruse their pricing options to find out for yourself.
Membership tiers are not always the same between branches. Depending on where you live, you might have to choose from:
- VIP
- Bronze, Silver & Gold
- Access, Enhanced, Bootcamp & Studio
- Basic & Vintage
- And more
Franchise owners with Gold’s seem to have a lot of freedom regarding how they do their pricing.
In general, you will probably end up paying around $20-30 per month at Gold’s Gym, plus startup and annual fees (which also can vary greatly).
I would say that, in most cases, a basic membership to Gold’s is going to be the cheaper option compared to joining LA Fitness. But that’s just the beginning. Which gym has the better overall value?
Hours
LA Fitness hours: It’s rare to find a 24 hour LA Fitness, but most branches have pretty late and early hours.
Most often, these gyms open up around 5am and close at 10 or 11pm most week nights, and may have slightly abbreviated weekend hours.
Check your local branch to see for sure.
Gold’s Gym hours: Surprise! Hours are Gold’s vary completely depending on which location you go to.
There are more than a few 24 hour Gold’s Gyms, and some that are 24 hour during the weekend with late hours on weekends. And a few just keep normal gym hours (open early in the morning and closing around 10 or 11pm).
The only way to know for sure will be to check your local gym and find out what kinds of hours they keep.
Equipment
LA Fitness: This place has, in a word… everything.
Plenty of cardio, plenty of strength training machines, and plenty of weights (free weights, racks, dumbbells, etc.)
You’ll definitely find what you’re looking for here. I’d take a tour before you join, just to be sure (especially if you’re looking for something special), but chances are, they’ve got it.
Gold’s Gym: I think there’s a myth that Gold’s is ONLY for powerlifters and bodybuilders, and that’s just not the case.
True, you’ll find plenty of strength training equipment here. Lots of power racks, Olympic weights, barbells, free weights, dumbbells, etc.
But you’ll also find more than enough cardio equipment at Gold’s, plus pretty much everything else you could want.
As always, the equipment will vary by location and you should take a tour to get familiar with what your local gym has.
Classes
LA Fitness: This is one of the areas where LA Fitness really shines. If you’re into group fitness classes, you’ll have quite literally your pick of almost anything you can think of here:
Zumba, yoga, pilates, aquafit, bootcamps, yoga, and a ton more.
All included with your membership (giving it immense value).
Gold’s Gym: Yes, despite its reputation as a bodybuilder haven, most Gold’s Gyms have plenty of group fitness classes included with your membership.
Depending on your local club, you’ll find things like Zumba, BODYFLOW, BODYCOMBAT, Silver Circuit, and various other cardio, strength, and bootcamp style group workouts.
Pool/Spa Area
LA Fitness: The majority of LA Fitness studios will have a pool (sometimes even an outdoor one, which is perfect for family memberships), spa, whirlpool, and sauna area. These are generally very nice and well maintained.
Gold’s Gym: You’ll have to check with your local branch. Some Gold’s have pools and spas, others don’t, and it usually has a big impact on membership pricing.
(For more on this and other amenities, check out my guides to gyms that have pools, gyms that have tanning, and gyms that have basketball courts.)
Showers
Nothing to worry about here.
Gold’s Gym and LA Fitness both have great locker rooms and shower areas so you can rinse the sweat off and get on with your day.
Childcare
LA Fitness: Here, you can pay a few bucks per-use, or roll it into your membership, and get access to the Kids Klub. There, certified child-care experts will watch your kids for up to 2 hours while you workout.
Gold’s Gym: Also has something called the Kids Club (most gyms, if they have childcare, call it the “Kids Club,”… it’s weird).
This is usually included with your membership, but since Gold’s policies vary so greatly from location to location, I would double check your local branch on this.
The Verdict
LA Fitness and Gold’s Gym both have a ton to offer. Objectively, if you’re looking for a great workout, you’ll find it at either place.
When it comes to price, Gold’s Gym might slightly edge out LA Fitness in affordability, but that really all depends on where you live and what level of access you want.
In terms of some of the other deciding factors…
You might prefer LA Fitness if:
- You want the best group fitness classes around
- A nice pool and sauna area is a must
- The pricing and membership at Gold’s Gym is just too confusing or inconvenient for you
You might prefer Gold’s Gym if:
- You actually dig the bodybuilder vibe
- You can get a good deal price-wise at your local Gold’s
- You find LA Fitness a little too stuffy and pretentious
(And don’t forget to try Beachbody on Demand free right here and get a killer workout in your living room with almost no equipment.)
Hope this helped!