Gym or Studio? What the 2026 Numbers Say for Beginners
Gyms cost less. Studio members visited more and cancelled less. A side-by-side look at price, visits and staying power.
Published:
September 11, 2026
Your first fitness membership comes down to two options for most people. A gym gives you open access to equipment for a monthly fee. A studio sells you scheduled classes, like spin, yoga, Pilates or boxing, with a coach leading each one.
ABC Fitness's Wellness Watch Mid-Year 2026 report tracks both, using data from about 13,000 businesses and 35.5 million members from January through May 2026. Lined up side by side, the numbers show a clear tradeoff.
Members at big chain gyms spend $17 a month on average, and members at small and boutique gyms spend $27. Studio members spend $69, and that figure rose 9.7% from last year compared with 3% at gyms.
If budget decides your choice, a gym gives you the most access for the money.
Studio visits jumped 27% from last year. Gym visits rose 1%. New sign-ups fell at both, down 5% at studios and 9% at gyms, so the studio growth came from members booking more classes.
A class has a start time, and many studios charge a late-cancel fee. Both give you a reason to show up.
Studio cancellations fell 6%. Gym cancellations rose 8%. Studio members paid more and stuck around longer.
One reason: a studio member walks into a plan every visit, while a gym member has to bring one. Beginners without a plan have a harder time building a routine that lasts.
Pick a gym if cost and flexibility matter most. You can go at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m., follow a program on your phone and pay a fraction of studio prices. It suits people who like to plan their own workouts or want to learn equipment at their own pace.
Pick a studio if you need structure and someone expecting you. The coach plans the session, the class starts on time, and the price per visit stays reasonable if you go often. At 12 classes a month, $69 comes to under $6 a class.
Still unsure? Buy a gym day pass and a studio drop-in class in the same week, then commit to the one you looked forward to.
ABC compared the same locations year over year across close to 90 countries, from January 1 through May 31, 2026, so these are global averages. The report doesn't say whether average monthly spend includes extras like personal training or retail on top of the membership fee.
