Crunch Fitness vs Anytime Fitness: Which Gym Is Better?

In short: pick Crunch Fitness if you want the lowest monthly price, group classes, and extras like tanning or a recovery area. On the other hand, pick Anytime Fitness if you want 24/7 access, far more locations, and a smaller, quieter atmosphere. Neither is “better,” necessarily. The right gym is the one whose hours, locations, and amenities match how you actually train. And if recovery is the main reason that when you’re at the gym you keep eyeing the sauna in the corner, neither chain can reliably meet that need.

Both are enormous US chains with a similar monthly cost. As a result, the decision as to which to choose usually comes down to five things: price and fees, how close the nearest club is, when you can get in, what is inside, and what recovery amenities you want.

Quick Comparison Between These Gyms at a Glance

Prices and amenities above are typical 2026 figures and vary by location, because both chains are franchised. Always confirm with the specific club you plan to join before any purchase.

Price and Fees

Crunch is the most affordable option at its tier. Base membership often starts around $9.99 to $15 a month, which is one of the lowest sticker prices among national chains. The catch is that the cheap tier is tied to a single home club and, at that price, you won’t get most of the extra amenities. For classes, guest privileges, tanning, and multi-club access, you have to move up to the Peak or Peak Results tiers, which typically run $25 to $35 a month.

Anytime Fitness does not have a rock-bottom price, typically. The price isn’t uniform because each club is independently owned. As a result, the monthly rate is set locally, but it commonly lands in the mid 30s to 40s. With this gym, what you are paying for is less about add-ons and more about access. At Anytime Fitness, your membership works at any Anytime location in the world. Plus, these gyms are truly open at “any time,” so the doors never close.

Both chains layer on fees that do not show up in the advertised monthly rate. Expect a one-time enrollment or key-fob fee when you join in addition to an annual maintenance fee. For example, Crunch’s is often around $50.

Read the agreement for the cancellation terms when you sign. Why? Because both franchises are month-to-month at some clubs and commitment-based at others, again depending on the individual gym.

Locations and Access

This is the clearest split between the two. Anytime Fitness is one of the largest gym franchises on earth, with well over 2,300 clubs in the US alone and thousands more internationally. If you travel for work, live between two towns, or simply want a gym you can reach from anywhere, you probably want to join Anytime Fitness. With that gym, your fob opens any location’s door.

Crunch has a smaller footprint, in the range of 500 to 600 US clubs. Those tend to be concentrated more heavily in and around major metro areas. So, if you live in a city where Crunch has a big, well-equipped location nearby, the experience can be excellent. If you live somewhere more rural or you travel constantly, you may find the nearest Crunch is inconvenient. Remember: with Crunch, multi-club access is reserved for the pricier tiers.

Hours

Anytime Fitness is exactly what it sounds like. Every club is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Plus, members get a security fob for after-hours entry even when no staff is present. For early risers and night owls, that round-the-clock guarantee is often the deciding factor.

Crunch’s schedule has more variance. Many Crunch clubs keep long hours and some operate 24/7. However, staffed hours and overnight access differs from location to location. If training at 5 a.m. or 11 p.m. is a non-negotiable for you, confirm the exact hours of the specific Crunch you are considering before signing anything.

Equipment, Classes, and Amenities

Crunch’s clubs are usually larger. They usually have a wide spread of cardio and strength equipment, a big free-weight area, as well as a genuinely strong group-fitness program. On the higher tiers you may also get perks like HIIT and cycle classes, tanning, hydromassage, and even, in some clubs, a dedicated recovery zone.

Anytime Fitness is leaner on purpose. The typical Anytime Fitness club is a compact, no-frills room. These often have solid, well-maintained cardio and strength machines, free weights, in addition to plenty of functional training space.

Group classes exist at some locations but are far from guaranteed. Plus, amenities like pools or large class studios are uncommon. The trade-off with Anytime Fitness, however, is a calmer, less crowded floor where you rarely have to wait for a machine.

So, if you want variety, classes, and a busier atmosphere, Crunch generally delivers more. If you want to walk in, train, and leave without many folks around, Anytime’s smaller model can be right for you.

Recovery and Sauna Access

People increasingly choose a gym partly for the sauna, the cold plunge, or a recovery lounge. Both chains advertise “recovery amenities” in some clubs, but they don’t often offer all that much.

At Crunch, a sauna or hydromassage is typically a feature of specific, larger clubs that you usually only get access to at the higher-priced tiers. On the other hand, at Anytime Fitness, saunas are genuinely rare.

Why? Because each club is independently owned, a handful of franchises may add a sauna, but most do not. For both gym franchises, the only way to know for sure is to check the individual club’s amenity list and, ideally, visit in person.

Even where a gym sauna exists, it comes with the usual shared-facility frictions. That means the gym sauna is only available during the club’s open hours, you may have to wait for a seat at peak times, it is cleaned on the facility’s schedule rather than yours, and you have no control over the temperature nor how long you can stay.

For a quick post-workout warm-up that is fine. For a consistent recovery habit, it is a real limitation.

The Recovery Gap Neither Gym Fully Closes

If recovery is a significant part of why you are comparing gyms, remember, neither really offers consistency. With both franchises, you are at the mercy of the club’s hours, its crowds, its cleaning cadence, and whatever temperature the last person left it at.

On the days you most want to unwind, after a late shift or a hard session, the sauna may be occupied, closing, or even out of service. This is exactly where a home infrared sauna changes the equation.

A unit like those from Health Mate runs at a comfortable 120 to 140°F, warms your body directly with infrared heat rather than superheating the air, and is ready whenever you are. Beyond that, when you have a home sauna, you have no membership tier, no commute, no waiting for a seat, and no closing time.

Many Health Mate models are plug-and-play on a standard household outlet, so there is no renovation for you to schedule, either.

You set the temperature, pick the session length, and step in on your own terms. As you might imagine, that’s the opposite of the shared-sauna experience at either gym.

Now, none of this means you should skip the gym. Crunch and Anytime Fitness are both good places to lift, run, and take classes. However, if recovery is the piece you actually care about, the gym sauna is the least reliable way to get it. Owning your own sauna makes everything easier. You can browse the Health Mate catalog to see how a home setup compares, or call (714) 739-6600 to talk through which model fits you.

Which Gym Is Right for You?

Choose Crunch Fitness if you: want the lowest possible entry price, value a wide range of group classes, enjoy a larger/more social gym, and live near a well-equipped location. The higher tiers have classes, multi-club access, tanning, and some recovery amenities. So, before you decide, price out the tier you would actually use.

Choose Anytime Fitness if you: need true 24/7 access, travel often/want a gym you can use anywhere in the world, and prefer a smaller, quieter room where you can use equipment whenever you enter. You will usually pay more per month than Crunch’s base tier, but access and convenience are what you’re paying for.

Either way, handle recovery separately if it matters to you. Do not pick a gym on the promise of a sauna you have not personally seen and confirmed. Remember that a home infrared sauna removes the hours, crowds, and temperature guesswork, making everything easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crunch Fitness cheaper than Anytime Fitness?

Usually, yes, on the entry tier. Crunch’s Base membership often starts around $9.99 to $15 a month, but the higher tiers run in the 30s to mid-$40s. Keep in mind: Crunch’s cheapest tier excludes classes and multi-club access, so research the tier you would actually use. Both also charge enrollment and annual fees that are not in the advertised rate.

Do Crunch Fitness or Anytime Fitness have more locations?

Anytime Fitness has far more, with over 2,300 US clubs plus thousands internationally, versus roughly 500 to 600 for Crunch. If travel access or a nearby club is your priority, Anytime Fitness also offers fitness practically anywhere.

Is Anytime Fitness really open 24 hours?

Yes. Every Anytime Fitness club is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and members receive a security fob for after-hours entry. Some Crunch clubs are also 24/7, but it varies by location, so confirm the specific club’s hours.

Does Crunch Fitness or Anytime Fitness have a sauna?

Sometimes, but it is not guaranteed at either franchise. Crunch offers saunas or hydromassage at certain clubs/higher price tiers. Anytime Fitness saunas are rare, depending entirely on the individual franchise. Always check the specific club’s amenity list before joining specifically to use the sauna.

Which gym is better for group classes?

Crunch Fitness is generally better for classes, with a broad schedule of HIIT, cycle, strength, and dance-style formats, especially on its higher price tiers. Anytime Fitness offers classes at some locations but far fewer than Crunch. Anytime Fitness’s model centers on 24/7 self-directed training.

Can I use my membership at any location?

With Anytime Fitness, yes, any location worldwide is included with a standard membership. With Crunch, multi-club access is a feature of the higher tiers only. Crunch’s base membership is tied to a single home club.

Should I choose a gym based on its sauna?

Frankly, doing so is risky. Gym saunas are inconsistent between clubs, limited to open hours, often crowded, and you have no control over the temperature and cleanliness. If recovery in a sauna is a priority, a home infrared sauna gives you a reliable routine on your own schedule.

Editor’s note: This article is an original comparison written for general buyers. Membership prices, location counts, hours, and amenities for Crunch Fitness and Anytime Fitness were verified against publicly available information as of October 2026. Because both chains are franchised, exact pricing, hours, and amenities vary by individual club, so confirm details with the specific location you plan to join. This is general information, not financial or medical advice.