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Last verified: April 2026. Prices and trial terms change. Always confirm on the gym's website before visiting.
NYC gym memberships range from $10/month at Planet Fitness to $200+/month at boutique studios. The problem is you have no idea if a gym works for you until you've been inside it. The gyms on this list let you try first. Some for a day, some for a full week, a few even longer. We've focused on options that do not require a credit card upfront because the ones that do are just hoping you forget to cancel.
Budget Chains
Trial Offer
1 free day pass. Walk in and ask.
Planet Fitness is the no-judgment gym that's actually everywhere in NYC. Not fancy, but the equipment is clean, it's never too crowded at off-peak hours, and the $10/month Classic membership is hard to beat. The free day pass is available at most locations. Show up, give them your name and email, and you're in for the day.
Membership from
$10/month
Best for
Cardio, machines, budget
Watch out: The $10 Classic membership is single-location only. The $25 Black Card gets you into any location, which matters in NYC since you'll change neighborhoods constantly.
Trial Offer
1 free visit. Call your local branch to confirm.
The Y is one of the most overlooked gyms in the city. Beyond the gym floor, you get pool access, group fitness classes, basketball courts, and in some branches, racquetball. Memberships are income-based which means if you're not earning a lot, you may qualify for a significantly reduced rate. No private gym will ever offer you that.
Membership from
~$50/month (income-based)
Best for
Families, pools, full facility
Watch out: YMCA memberships vary by branch and some branches are significantly nicer than others. Visit the one you'd actually use, not the closest one to your office.
Mid-Tier Gyms
Trial Offer
1-day free guest pass via their website
Crunch sits between Planet Fitness and Equinox. Better equipment and classes than the budget chains, without the Equinox price or attitude. Their NYC locations tend to be well-maintained and include group fitness classes in the base membership. The free day pass is available online with no credit card.
Membership from
~$25/month
Contract
Month-to-month available
Best for
Group classes, mid-budget
Watch out: Annual fee (~$40) typically applies even on month-to-month plans. Ask about it upfront. Some locations waive it for the first month.
Trial Offer
First visit free at any NYC Parks Rec Center
This is the most overlooked fitness option in New York City. NYC Parks Department recreation centers have gym floors, pools, courts, and fitness classes for $200/year for adults (that is $16.67/month for a full facility). Your first visit is free. Income-based discounts bring it even lower for qualifying residents. Serious gymgoers overlook these. They should not.
Annual membership
$200/year (~$17/mo)
Senior / reduced
$25-100/year
Best for
Best value in NYC, period
Watch out: Quality varies a lot by location. Some facilities are excellent, others are dated. Visit your local one before committing. The annual fee structure means you pay upfront rather than monthly.
Boutique Studios
Trial Offer
14-day free trial with credits to book classes
ClassPass is not a gym. It's access to hundreds of gyms, studios, and fitness classes across NYC. Your trial gives you credits to book spinning, yoga, pilates, HIIT, barre, boxing, and more. It's the fastest way to find out which type of workout you like before committing to one studio. Credit card required for the trial.
Trial length
14 days free
After trial
From $19/month
Best for
Variety seekers, boutique classes
Watch out: Credit card is required and you must cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged. Set a calendar reminder on day 12. The monthly plan credits go fast if you book boutique studios. Stick to standard gyms to stretch them further.
Trial Offer
Free 1-day guest pass. Request online or walk in.
TMPL (formerly New York Sports Club) offers a free day pass through their website or just by walking in and asking. The facilities are a step up from budget chains with better free weights, turf areas, and group fitness. Locations in Manhattan and the outer boroughs. The free pass is simple. No hard sell required..
Membership from
~$50/month
Best for
Mid-premium, good equipment
Watch out: The membership price varies by location. A Midtown Manhattan location costs more than the same chain in Brooklyn. Always ask about the monthly cost for your specific home location before signing.
Trial Offer
1 free class for new members. Book online.
Orangetheory's first class is free and no credit card required. Their heart-rate-based HIIT classes are 60 minutes and intense. You'll know within the first ten minutes if this is your thing. If you're someone who needs structured, coach-led workouts to actually push hard, Orangetheory delivers that reliably. The free class is bookable on their app or website.
Membership from
~$59/month (4 classes)
Best for
Structured HIIT, accountability
Watch out: The base membership at 4 classes/month is expensive per class. You need the unlimited membership (~$159/month) to make the per-class cost reasonable. That is a significant commitment. Use the free class to make sure..
Trial Offer
First day pass discounted or free intro session
Not a traditional gym, but one of the best full-body workouts in the city. Brooklyn Boulders and The Cliffs both offer intro sessions for first-time climbers that include instruction, gear rental, and a day pass. It's not always completely free but it's heavily discounted. Worth mentioning because climbing is more engaging than a treadmill and the community is solid.
Intro offer
~$20-30 first visit
Membership from
~$90/month
Best for
Fun, full body, community
Watch out: Monthly memberships at climbing gyms are expensive but day passes ($25-35) are reasonable if you only go occasionally. The intro offer is worth taking even if you never plan to join. It's a full workout and a fun afternoon.
The Bottom Line
Best Free Trial, No CC
Planet Fitness day pass. Walk in, no credit card, no appointment. Low stakes way to see if it works for you.
Best Value Membership
NYC Parks Rec Centers at $200/year. Most people have never been to one. Most people should go.
Best for Variety
ClassPass 14-day trial. Try spinning on Monday, yoga Wednesday, boxing Friday. Figure out what you actually like.
Best Boutique Trial
Orangetheory first class free, no credit card. If you liked it, you'll know immediately. If not, nothing lost.
How to Actually Use a Free Trial
1
Go during the time you'd actually work out, not whenever is convenient for the trial. A gym that's great at 10am on a Tuesday is a different place at 6:30pm on a Monday.
2
Check the locker rooms. Seriously. That's where gyms cut corners first. Clean mirrors and nice equipment in the main area mean nothing if the changing rooms are a disaster.
3
For any trial that requires a credit card, set a phone reminder for 2 days before the trial ends. Not the last day. Two days before.. Cancellation processes are intentionally annoying.
4
Negotiate. NYC gym memberships are more negotiable than people think. At the end of a quarter or when a location is slow, ask if there's a better rate. The worst they say is no.
5
Check if your health insurance covers gym membership. Many plans, especially through large employers, offer discounts or reimbursements through programs like Gympass or Active&Fit. You may already be entitled to money back.