Kayla Young
Do you want to lose some of that excess weight? Maybe you want to build some muscle tone? Either way, joining a gym and working out there regularly. It is a crucial step to achieving your goal.
With so many gym chains everywhere, it can be confusing to choose which one to join. Although gyms may have similarities, they have key differences too, which greatly helps you decide which to choose.
In this article, we will focus on Gold’s Gym vs Planet Fitness. These two gyms are very popular and lots of people swear by them.
Although you can achieve a better physique by using either of the gyms, each has a different vibe, equipment, and position in the market.
Gold’s Gym has gym equipment for strength training, and they focus on weightlifters and bodybuilders. Planet Fitness offers more cardio equipment and is more focused on HIIT workouts plus they tend to focus on beginners rather than bodybuilders whom some could consider intimidating.
Let us explain further below.
Contents
Let’s Talk About Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness is one of the most popular gyms not only in the country, and probably in the world. They are known for the thousands of purple and yellow-themed gyms.
One of the best things about Planet Fitness is its affordability. With this gym, you can get 24/7 access to various cardio equipment, tanning machines, massage chairs, and other amenities.
Depending on your membership, it is possible to work out in various gym locations, which is quite useful for those who travel a lot or who have more than one Planet Fitness gym near them.
What’s striking at Planet Fitness is its gym culture. Planet Fitness aims to provide a judgment-free zone for its members. They understand that there are people who feel intimidated in regular gyms that’s why they started Planet Fitness to welcome even beginners.
Here you’re not allowed to “lunk” or else you’ll sound the “lunk alarm”. Lunking means doing grunting sounds or being too loud when doing your workout that intimidates other people in the gym.
Planet Fitness a gym for everyone, and it’s designed to welcome all. Ironically, the one group that doesn’t feel welcome there are those who are gym enthusiasts, AKA gym rats.
Spotlight On Gold’s Gym
Gold’s Gym is another chain of gyms that’s popular nationwide. They have about 700 locations and are known to be one of the best gyms for bodybuilders and weightlifters. Gold’s doesn’t have the same cult-like reputation that Crossfit has, and it’s very much weight-focused.
That’s because of the gym equipment that they have available. However, they aren’t just for those who want to lift weights.
They also have cardio equipment, tanning, pools, massages, and even childcare.
The main difference could be that Gold’s gym is where those who want to train go. The equipment isn’t the only factor here but also the gym culture.
They still welcome you even if you clearly look like a bodybuilder or sound one when you workout.
Gold’s Gym Vs Planet Fitness: The Differences
To help you decide which one to choose, we’ll compare the two gyms side by side according to the following:
- Gym Culture
- Amenities
- Cost
- Childcare
Gym Culture
Although both gyms are welcoming, these two gyms have very different vibes. Planet Fitness is more geared toward beginners. Those who want to try out different gym equipment, and may not be super experienced.
That’s also the reason why most of the gym equipment there is for cardio exercises. That said, there is still strength training and resistance training machines. But weights, deadlifts, and muscle are not the focus of PF.
It is rare for Planet Fitness to have bench presses or squat racks where you might need a spotter when you work out. They are more focused on letting the members do their thing without feeling that they are judged by others who are also working out there.
On the other hand, Gold’s Gym is more for those who really want to train with free weights or weight lifting.
It’s a gym where bodybuilders would most probably prefer to go rather than Planet Fitness.
That’s not only because of the gym equipment available but because at Gold’s Gym, you grunt all you want.
It’s understandable that you can sometimes be loud because you are just pushing yourself. Those who might be looked at as “lunks” at Planet Fitness are seen as inspiration at Gold’s Gym.
Amenities
Planet Fitness and Gold’s Gym may have similar amenities like massage chairs and tanning beds.
However, Planet Fitness doesn’t go beyond that to keep the cost of maintenance low.
On the other hand, Gold’s Gym frequently offers added amenities such as pools, saunas, or spas. Of course, this very much depends on the gym branch that you are going to.
Cost
At Planet Fitness, the cost of the membership may vary a little bit from one location to another. However, they are the gym that offers one of the most competitive pricing. You could become a member for as low as $10 a month.
They also offer a Black Card membership which allows you to use the other gym locations all around the world.
As for Gold’s Gym, the pricing is much more complicated. It will vary significantly from one gym location to another. To really know how much you’d have to pay, you will need to check with your local gym.
Nonetheless, they offer a more complicated variety of membership levels too such as VIP, Basic, Vintage, Enhanced, Access, Studio, Bootcamp, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and others.
Usually, you should expect to pay about $20-$30 a month for a membership at Gold’s Gym. That still doesn’t include the annual fee or startup fee that they could charge.
Keep in mind that Gold’s Gym does frequently offer family plans, while PF does not.
Childcare
Ever wanted to work out but you don’t have anyone to look after your child? It would be great if all gyms would offer childcare but unfortunately, not all do.
Planet Fitness doesn’t offer childcare services so you better find a babysitter on your own and don’t bring the child to the gym. On the other hand, Gold’s Gym does offer childcare services.
This is known as Kid’s care. You simply drop your child off here and then work out. Some gym locations include this in their membership while others don’t.
