Best Gyms with Personal Trainers and Fitness Coaches

Best Overall: Crunch Fitness

Standout features: Three membership levels, low monthly fee, large selection of resistance training and cardio machines, group fitness classes, small group training, user-friendly app.

Starting price: $14.99-$29.99/month and up, $49 joining fee, $49 annual fee

Crunch Fitness (7-day free trial here) is a fun, and affordable gym offering individual and group personal training services and customized workout plans to help you reach your goals. Crunch offers three membership options ranging from $14.99 to $29.99.

All membership types can access personal trainers, cardio equipment, free weights, training areas, and resistance machines. But if you want group classes and other amenities like tanning, the massage table, free guest privileges, and full use of all 400+ locations, you’ll want to go with the Peak Results membership.

Working with a Crunch Fitness certified personal trainer individually, with a partner, or in a small group is available in all locations. The cost of personal training at Crunch Fitness varies depending on the type of training you choose and the frequency of your sessions.

In addition to cardio, resistance training, stretching, HIIT workouts, and functional training, some Crunch Fitness personal trainers may provide guidance and information about nutritional-based programs sponsored by the company.

However, unless the trainer is certified or credentialed in dietetics or sports nutrition, you may want to be cautious about paying for and receiving personalized dietary recommendations.

Overall, the personal training experience at Crunch Fitness is very positive. We really like how the trainers incorporate the “No Judgements,” philosophy into individual and small group sessions to help people feel comfortable, accepted, and supported during their fitness journey. Also, the certification requirements meet industry standards, which means you’re in good hands.

While Crunch Fitness has a ton of perks, one thing to be aware of is the joining fee and an annual fee of $39.90, so plan for this added cost when signing up. If you're interested in personal training at Crunch Fitness, you can visit their website or talk to the front desk staff at your local facility.

Best for Amenities: 24 Hour Fitness

Standout features: Pool, sauna, sports courts, locker rooms, group exercise classes, many facilities open 24/7.

Starting price: Gold and Platinum membership membership options starting at $46.99/month national access + joining fee

24 Hour Fitness (3-day free trial) is known for spacious facilities, plenty of amenities, and 300+ locations nationwide. Each 24 Hour Fitness is equipped with thousands of square feet of premium cardio and strength equipment, free weights, turf zones, free weights, and functional training areas.

They also have expert-led studio and cycle classes and many locations have lap pools, whirlpools, saunas, and basketball courts.

The perks of partnering with a personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness include customized workouts that fit your goals, training on the range of equipment at the clubs, and helping you build healthy habits with your nutrition and recovery.

To help with accountability, 24 Hour Fitness offers the PT Lifestyle subscription, which allows you to choose a number of personal training sessions to schedule each month, so you always have a partner to keep you challenged and motivated.

Group fitness training is designed around the MODUS model, which connects fitness, mind, body, and life. Participants in this program have unlimited access to 16+ group training sessions every week – and also a monthly Evolt body scan to track fat loss, muscle gain, and more.

Not all 24 Hour Fitness facilities offer MODUS group fitness training, so make sure to check the online location map to see if the program is available near you.

If you want access to all locations nationwide, you’ll need to sign up for the Platinum membership, which starts at about $47 per month plus a joining fee.

With the Gold membership, you only get access to locations throughout your area. Not all locations are open 24/7, so make sure to check the app or call ahead. For more information on how to locate a personal trainer near you, check out the “Find Fitness Coaches” online tool.

Best for All Ages and Experience Levels: YMCA

Standout features: Welcoming environment for people of all ages, group exercise classes, rock climbing walls at some locations, community based health and wellness programming

Starting price: $39-$67+ per month + joining fee

If you’re looking for a community-based, family-friendly gym, the YMCA (3-day free trial here) is worth checking out. The YMCA provides a welcoming atmosphere with a focus on healthy living.

In addition to cardio machines like treadmills, ellipticals, and recumbent bikes, the YMCA also has an extensive lineup of strength training equipment, free weights, and functional fitness tools. What’s more, you’ll find large lap pools, aquatic programs, sports courts, and group exercise classes at many locations.

Most YMCA facilities have numerous staff members available at all times, a standout feature not always seen in other gyms.

They also have certified personal trainers who can create customized workout plans to help you reach your goals, and they offer a variety of training options.

YMCA’s differ by size, features, and services. Overall, most YMCA’s offer private, specialty, and team personal training services. Private training consists of one-on-one customized sessions based on your goals and experience.

Speciality personal training includes programs like Pilates reformer, yoga, or other programs led by a certified instructor in a specialized fitness area. Team training consists of training together in a small group of three to eight people, along with a dedicated trainer. The goal is a supportive environment designed around accountability, fun, and fitness.

The cost of personal training varies by location and by trainer. In general, the YMCA has a minimum hourly fee, and it can go up based on a trainer’s credentials, qualifications, and experience.

On average, a private session starts at $65 for 60 minutes, $70 for a 60-minute speciality session, and $25 to $30 for a small group class. We like the variety and different fee options the YMCA offers. It makes personal training more accessible and easier to afford.

Best for Free Fitness Assessment: LA Fitness

Standout features: Spacious floor plans, group classes, sports courts, childcare, pool

Starting price for multiple locations: $34.99/month nationwide access

LA Fitness (3-day free trial here) is known for spacious facilities, sports courts, high-quality cardio and strength training equipment, free weights, premium group exercise classes, and personal training.

But we chose it as one of our top picks because of the complimentary fitness assessment. A fitness assessment at LA Fitness includes a body composition test, a personalized timeline to achieve your goals, an overview of cardio and weight equipment, and a quick one-on-one workout with a certified trainer.

The personal training program at LA Fitness is referred to as Pro Results. After the initial free fitness assessment, you can choose to pay for sessions and become a Pro Results personal training client.

This gives you access to a trainer who will design  a customized workout plan, provide ongoing motivation and support, and  help  you learn new exercises and proper form. It also comes with a membership to Studio Zone on the LA Fitness mobile app, which will  guide you through workouts at any time and allow you to track your progress.

The cost of personal training and the certifications vary by location and by trainer. Although all LA Fitness facilities require trainers to have a certification, they accept personal training certifications from a number of companies.

Because of this, we recommend asking for qualifications and, whenever possible, choosing a trainer with a top-tiered certification from NASM, ACE, NSCA, or AFAA.