LA Fitness vs Planet Fitness: Which is better for you? Well, it depends on what you actually want. If you are a bit shy and feel traditional gyms are intimidating for you, Planet Fitness is good for you.
But if you are okay with that and want to have other facilities like a pool, basketball court, etc., then LA Fitness is good for you.
However, there are other things that will help you decide which one is better, such as the cost you are going to pay, classes, equipment, amenities, etc.
So this is what I’m sharing so that you can decide by yourself.
Cost You Will Pay In Both Gyms in the First Year
LA Fitness and Planet Fitness both hide the real amount you will pay, such as the annual fee, startup fees at enrollment time, etc. So here is what you’re going to pay:
| Cost Item | PF Classic | PF Black Card | LA Fitness Single Club | LA Fitness Multi-Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly dues | $15 | $24.99 | $29.99 | $39.99 |
| 12 months | $180 | $299.88 | $359.88 | $479.88 |
| Startup fee | $1 to $49 | $1 to $49 | $0 to $99 | $0 to $99 |
| Annual fee | $49 | $49 | $59 | $59 |
| First-year total | $230 to $280 | $350 to $400 | $419 to $518 | $539 to $639 |
In most locations you can get Planet Fitness Classic for just $15 (in urban areas it’s higher). And on the other hand, you can negotiate the LA Fitness initial fee.
But both gyms will ask you to pay an annual fee within 45 and 60 days.
What Planet Fitness Cannot Do
I was doing more research and found many people saying Planet Fitness has limited equipment. But I found there are alternatives too; however, see the limit first:
Equipment Limits
- Planet Fitness has no squat racks at most locations.
- Barbell back squats, overhead press, and bench press with a free barbell are not available.
- They have a Smith machine substitute, but the movement mechanics are different.
- There are no Olympic lifting platforms, no bumper plates
- Dumbbells are capped at 60 to 75 lbs depending on the location.
I was doing more research and found many people saying Planet Fitness has limited equipment. However, that’s not true; it’s just a little different here. That is
Also, chalk is officially banned at Planet Fitness, though enforcement varies by location and staff.
But for powerlifters pulling heavy deadlifts or doing heavy rows, having chalk in the gym is important.
The Lunk Alarm and Training Culture in Both Gym
Besides the equipment limitation, there are training culture differences at Planet Fitness, because they have a Lunk Alarm, which is a siren mounted in the wall, and it starts ringing whenever somebody makes excessive noise, which professional lifters often make, or when somebody drops a weight or behaves in a way that staff consider against the policy.
Plus, they use this alarm whenever somebody drops dumbbells after every set, grunting during a max effort lift, or when someone trains in a way that distracts other people. In that case, they use this alarm, which means you are being monitored heavily compared to LA Fitness.
You won’t find that at LA Fitness, but you will see it in Planet Fitness, Its feel like Planet Fitness try to keep you in more disciplined than any LA fitness.
What LA Fitness Has Instead
LA Fitness has a complete free-weight floor, where you’ll find squat racks, power cages, barbells, plates, flat and adjustable benches, and dumbbells up to 100 to 120 lbs at most clubs.
Plus, they have a functional training area with kettlebells and cables, and a turf lane adds to the setup, and chalk use is allowed at most locations too
Amenities in LA Fitness vs Planet Fitness
If these amenities are important for you, then this chart will help you decide the right gym between Planet Fitness and LA Fitness.
| Amenity | LA Fitness | Planet Fitness |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor pool | Most clubs | No |
| Basketball and racquetball courts | Most clubs | No |
| Sauna and steam room | Most clubs | No |
| Group fitness classes | Full daily schedule included | PE@PF sessions only, limited |
| Kids Klub childcare | Select clubs | No |
| HydroMassage and massage chairs | No | Black Card members only |
| Tanning | No | Black Card members only |
| Total Body Enhancement | No | Black Card members only |
Swimming Pool
The pool is the most common reason people leave Planet Fitness for LA Fitness because people with joint issues rely on aquatic cardio.
And members who use the pool for cross-training find out Planet Fitness has no alternative for this.
Childcare
If you’re parents, LA Fitness is better because they have Kid’s Klub, which allows you to bring your kids to the gym (between 6 weeks and 12 years old).
However, they charge $8 to $15 per hour for one child. And if you have two children and you work out six days, then get ready to pay more. You can also see my guide about LA Fitness Family Membership.
Planet Fitness Black Card Perks
Planet Fitness has Black Card perks that include HydroMassage and tanning too.
Because, if you get HydroMassage sessions, it’ll cost you $15 to $25 at the wellness center, while tanning at a budget salon costs $20 to $40 per month.
But you’ll get unlimited use of both inside a $25 gym membership.
You can get that Black Card at $24.99 per month, which is better value than Classic for anyone who plans to use the gym consistently.
Within Planet Fitness: Classic vs Black Card
It’s the most common upgrade decision among existing Planet Fitness members who joined on Classic.
- Classic at $15 per month means one location, no guest privileges, and no spa amenities.
- Black Card at $24.99 adds all-club access, one free guest per visit, and massage chairs, tanning, and HydroMassage where available.
For $10 more per month, the Black Card pays for itself if you bring a friend more than once a month, travel and use other clubs, or use any of the spa amenities.
Most Planet Fitness members on Classic would be better served by Black Card.
But you stay on Classic is if you go to one specific club, always go alone, and have no interest in the wellness perks, otherwise Black card is good.
Hours and Geographic Coverage
Hours
Planet Fitness operates many locations on a 24-hour weekday schedule.
It is good for night-shift workers, early risers training at 4 AM, or if you want to get to the gym around 11 PM, which you won’t find at LA Fitness.
Because LA Fitness clubs close between 10 and 11 PM on weekdays and at 8 PM on weekends.
Note: Planet Fitness’s 24/7 claim has two caveats: it doesn’t always apply on weekends, and smaller-market locations sometimes operate standard hours regardless of the branding.
So, I recommend you check your club before making your routine around late-night access.
Location Coverage
Planet Fitness ended 2025 with 2,896 clubs across all 50 states, having opened 181 new locations during the year.
LA Fitness operates around 500-plus clubs concentrated in California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, and about a dozen other states.
If you travel regularly within the US, the Planet Fitness Black Card reaches places where LA Fitness has no presence at all.
So, LA Fitness is good for travelers too.
Bringing a Guest
Planet Fitness Black Card
Planet Fitness Black Card that includes one guest per visit at no extra charge.
But the only term is that, the guest must arrive and stay with the member and cannot use the club independently.
Plus, guests need to be a minimum of 18 or older, and you can also change from visit to visit.
LA Fitness
LA Fitness’s nationwide plan includes one guest per visit as a standard benefit.
But if you have single-club or multi-club plans, they have no automatic guest privileges; therefore, guests on those plans will pay for the day pass, which costs around $20 per visit.
For regular workout partners, Planet Fitness Black Card’s built-in guest access will save you money.
Two people using LA Fitness on a standard plan without guest privileges pay around $20 per guest visit; a twice-weekly workout partner costs over $160 per month in day fees.
Want full details on LA Fitness plan access tiers? See this LA Fitness plans guide.
Get Esporta by LA Fitness if You’re Confused
If LA Fitness pricing is the sticking point for you but Planet Fitness equipment limitations are a problem, then you can go for Esporta Fitness because it’s in between them.
Esporta is LA Fitness’s budget-tier brand with basic memberships starting around $10 to $15 per month.
Most Esporta clubs are converted LA Fitness locations that kept the free weights, squat racks, and pools where they existed.
If Esporta operates near you, you think about it, and for more information, see my blog on LA Fitness and Esporta Fitness.
Who Should Choose Which
| Your situation | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| First gym, budget-conscious beginner | Planet Fitness Classic | Affordable, non-intimidating, covers what a new member needs |
| Barbell training, progressive overload | LA Fitness | Squat racks, heavy dumbbells, and free barbell setups PF structurally lacks |
| Swimming or aquatic cardio | LA Fitness | No pool exists at Planet Fitness, no workaround |
| Parents with young children | LA Fitness with Kids Klub | Childcare replaces an $8 to $15 per hour drop-in cost |
| Night-shift worker or late-night trainer | Planet Fitness Black Card | 24/7 weekday access at most locations |
| Frequent US traveler | Planet Fitness Black Card | 2,896 locations vs approximately 500 concentrated states |
| Regular workout partner | Planet Fitness Black Card | Free guest every visit, no extra monthly cost |
| Group fitness classes | LA Fitness | A full daily schedule is included; PF has limited sessions only |
| Tanning or HydroMassage user | Planet Fitness Black Card | Built into the membership, cheaper than standalone services |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LA Fitness worth the extra money over Planet Fitness?
It depends on what you use. If your workout is cardio machines and a few selected pieces of equipment, paying $250 to Planet Fitness is a good choice.
If you swim; lift barbells; attend group classes; need childcare; or play basketball, the extra $200 to $300 per year at LA Fitness buys you things Planet Fitness cannot provide.
Can you build muscle at Planet Fitness?
Yes, with limitations, machine-based training, cable work, and dumbbells up to 60 to 75 lbs support muscle building for beginners and some intermediate trainees.
But if you’ve past the beginner stage, you need heavier dumbbells, or free barbell work will find Planet Fitness limiting.
Which gym is better for weight loss?
For pure cardio and general activity, both gyms work.
Planet Fitness has extensive treadmill and elliptical setups and is cheap enough that the membership staying active even through inconsistent periods doesn’t hurt financially.
LA Fitness has group fitness classes like Zumba, cycling, and Aqua Fit, which many members find more sustainable than solo cardio.
The class variety at LA Fitness, included in membership, makes it easier to keep a routine varied. If you want more on what classes are included, consider reading my post on LA Fitness Classes Schedule.
Does Planet Fitness really kick people out for grunting?
Staff can trigger the Lunk Alarm for behavior that violates the gym’s conduct rules: excessive grunting, dropping weights, and actions that staff determine are showboating or intimidating to other members.
But whether they kick them out or not depends on if the person making mistakes is learning from the mistakes or not. Is he continually breaking rules and irritating others? How are other people are complaining about him?
So things like that will decide, but ultimately it’s in the staff’s hands; no gyms want to lose clients if others might leave the gym because of you, so they may kick you out. Otherwise, they won’t.
What states have no LA Fitness?
LA Fitness is largely absent from much of the Mountain West; most of New England (outside Connecticut and Massachusetts); the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho; and most of the Deep South outside Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
If you live in or travel through these regions, Planet Fitness Black Card’s nationwide coverage would be a better choice.
I’m Abraham, a researcher and writer. I’ve been going to the gym since 2019, and I started GymMembershipPricing after struggling to find reliable information about gym memberships, pricing, fees, amenities, cancellation policies, hidden charges, and more. I research and verify this information to help others find a suitable gym, understand what to expect, avoid unexpected costs, and make informed decisions before joining.
