Is ClassPass Worth the Money? In a Big City, Absolutely!

After taking 80 classes over the past two years in Los Angeles, I can say ClassPass is indeed worth the money for me. I started by taking the 14-day free trial in December 2022 (read about my experience here) and have been a ClassPass member ever since! I used to go to LA Fitness, but I stopped during the pandemic and never re-joined a gym. These days, I like to run outside 3-5 days a week and do a ClassPass class 1-2 days a week. 

*This post is not sponsored in any way by ClassPass. However, like any ClassPass user, I do have a referral code. If you find this post helpful, I’d love you to use the link below to sign up for a 14-day free trial (and receive 20 extra credits at no cost to you): https://classpass.com/refer/4HL7MV1920

The trial will automatically renew to a paid membership after the 14 days, but it’s easy to cancel in the app before the trial ends if you don’t want to be charged for the next month (go to Profile>Account>Manage Plan>Cancel your membership – which you can find in red at the bottom).

What is ClassPass and how does it work?

ClassPass offers its users the option to book individual classes and appointments at different gyms, fitness studios, beauty salons, and wellness centers around the world. Many national boutique fitness brands have partnered with ClassPass, including SoulCycle, Barry’s Bootcamp, Solidcore, and F45. ClassPass has also expanded to include beauty and wellness places, so you can use credits for haircuts, manicures, facials, acupuncture, cryotherapy, massages, and more (paid plans only, not available on the free trial). You can book workout classes or beauty/wellness appointments easily through the ClassPass mobile app, then when you arrive, you just check-in at the front desk like you would normally. You don’t even need to tell them that you booked through ClassPass.

ClassPass has different tiers of monthly plans where you purchase credits to buy classes, and doing so is typically cheaper than booking a single class through an individual studio. For example, purchasing an individual SoulCycle class through the SoulCycle website is $34 (in Los Angeles), but you can book a class through ClassPass for 9-11 credits, which equals $20 – $24, depending on ClassPass plan you’re subscribed to. More details on cost can be found towards the bottom of this post.

Although this may seem like fitness studios are losing money, they still partner with ClassPass to fill the spots at their classes because some money is better than no money with a half-empty class. Also, there’s a chance that some ClassPass members will convert from ClassPass and buy a membership at their studio. If you’re interested in learning how the company was started, check out this podcast episode of How I Built This with ClassPass CEO and founder, Payal Kadakia.

My Pros and Cons of ClassPass After Taking 80 Classes

PRO #1: You can try a bunch of different workout classes on your own schedule.
Let’s start with the obvious. The beauty of ClassPass is the variety and flexibility. It’s great if you want to try different studios without a long-term commitment. I love going to barre one day and then a HIIT class the next. I like that I can fit it into my schedule, wherever I am in the city. If I have brunch in Santa Monica, I can find a yoga class nearby. If I have an errand in Silverlake, I can find somewhere nearby to go to pilates after. If I plan to go to a class after work but then get invited to a dinner, I can easily cancel on the app (must cancel 12 hours ahead of the class) and the credits are refunded to my account immediately.

PRO #2: A class on ClassPass is cheaper than buying an individual class directly from a studio
I’ll get into specific pricing examples for Los Angeles later in this post, but generally, an individual class costs $20-$35 if purchased directly through a studio’s website. Through ClassPass, it’s probably around $15-$30. Click here to start your free 14-day trial with an extra 20 credits!

PRO #3: Most of the national boutique fitness studios are on ClassPass
I love that I can take an occasional big brand fitness class now and then. My friend was a Pure Barre member and I could take a class with her since Pure Barre is on ClassPass. Of all the big fitness studios, it seems that OrangeTheory is the only one missing. You also won’t find many of the national gym brands like 24-Hour Fitness, Crunch Gym, LA Fitness, Equinox etc. on ClassPass. However, I did see there was one location of Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles.

• Fitness studios in LA: Pure Barre, Solidcore, The Bar Method, Cycle Bar, SoulCycle, F45, Barry’s Bootcamp, Training Mate, CorePower Yoga, YogaSix, Row House, Rumble Boxing, BoxUnion.

PRO #4 New fitness studios and beauty/wellness services are continuously being added
Soulcycle was added in the past two years and I swear there are new boutique fitness and beauty/wellness places being added to the ClassPass platform every week. These are conveniently highlighted in a “Newly added” section on the app homepage that includes the distance from you.

PRO #5: You can use ClassPass for fitness, beauty, and wellness
While I feel like the fitness classes give you the best bang for your buck, ClassPass has partnered with a ton of beauty and wellness boutiques that offer services including: manicures/pedicures, haircuts, massage, cupping, acupuncture, cryotherapy, sauna, facials, laser hair removal, waxing, eyebrow tinting & lamination, lash lifts & tinting, spa treatments, IV therapy, and NAD+ shot. 

PRO #6: There are no initiation or cancellation fees
ClassPass has a monthly pay-as-you-go model. You can start and stop your membership whenever you want. The only fees you will be charged are late cancellation (cancelling a class less than 12 hours before) or no-show fees for workout classes, but that’s only if the studio marks you as late cancellation or absent.

PRO #7: Credits roll over to the next month
If you don’t use all your credits in the current month, they will roll over to the next month, but only up to the amount of credits that your plan includes. For example, if I have the 43 credit plan in January, and I only use 20 credits, then the remaining 23 credits will roll over to February. I now have 66 credits to use (43 credit plan for February + 23 rollover credits from January) in February. However, if I have 50 credits left at the end of February, I can only roll over 43 credits to March and will therefore lose 7 credits.

PRO #8: You can book classes with friends
You can add your friends on ClassPass and see what classes they’re signed up for so you can join them! Send this link to a friend and start your 14-day free trial together with 20 extra credits!

PRO #9: You can use ClassPass when you travel
ClassPass operates around the world. If I’m on vacation, I usually don’t want to take a class, but I could. However, if I’m taking a chill trip to New York or Seattle and want to get a workout in, I can! ClassPass takes into account the different costs of living in different cities. I’m based in Los Angeles paying LA prices for my membership, therefore the Seattle classes will cost me fewer credits and the New York classes will cost more credits.

PRO #10 You can find incredible deals
Sometimes you find a fabulous pilates studio that costs less than $20. I discovered a personal trainer near me that costs around $25-$30 worth of credits which is insane for a 60-minute session. 

CON #1: You can only plan your classes 5-7 days in advance.
Studios won’t release their classes to ClassPass earlier than a week, so if you want to get a guaranteed spot in a popular class, you need to be on top of it when the booking window opens.

CON #2: The class variety isn’t good in every city.
As the title of the blog post says, ClassPass is definitely worth it if you live in a big city where there are a lot of participating workout studios. My parents used to live in an area of Bellevue, WA where there weren’t a lot of options. Now they’ve moved and there are a lot more studios nearby. Click here to start your free trial and see what studios are participating near you.

CON #3: Studios come and go on and off ClassPass
I’ve only experienced this once, but I went to a great female strength class at The Gym Venice and now it’s not on ClassPass anymore 🙁 

CON #4: There’s no unlimited class plan.
If you buy a membership with a specific studio, they may offer a set price for unlimited classes for the month. Even with the highest ClassPass credit tier, you’ll likely only be able to go to 15-18 classes per month.  I only want to go to 4-8 classes per month, so this is not a problem for me, but if you’re someone who is looking for ClassPass to provide daily workouts, then you may be better off buying a membership to one studio, but definitely do the calculations, because it could still make more financial sense to do the highest ClassPass membership and just buy additional credits. 

OVERALL
I’ve had a great experience with ClassPass and love how it fits into my lifestyle and budget! ClassPass is worth it if you like to try a bunch of different kinds of workout classes and live in a city where there are a lot of participating businesses. Click here to start your free 14-day trial.

How much does ClassPass cost?

The current plans (at the time of writing, October 2024) offered in Los Angeles are:

• 8 credits/month for $19 = $2.38/credit
• 25 credits/month for $55 = $2.20/credit
• 43 credits/month for $89 = $2.07/credit
• 73 credits/month for $149 = $2.04/credit
• 95 credits/month for $189 = $1.99/credit
• 150 credits/month for $299 = $1.99/credit

If you don’t live in Los Angeles, click here and enter your zip code to see the plan options.

If you run out of credits but want to take more classes, you can always buy additional credits for that month in the app. 

You aren’t locked in for multiple months, so I’ve been switching it up between the 25, 43, and 73 credit plans depending on the month. If I have travel coming up and I won’t be going to a lot of classes, I do a lower tier.

How many credits is a class on ClassPass?

FITNESS CLASSES
For most workout studios, the number of credits for a class varies by day of the week and time of day. A Monday 7 am or 6 pm pilates class could be 13 credits because more people are trying to go before or after work, while a 2 pm pilates class could be 8 credits since most people are at work during that time. A Saturday 7 am or 6 pm class would also be less credits. I’d say most classes I go to are between 6 and 12 credits. The first class at a new studio will usually have a 25-50% credit discount. The free trial will also likely have reduced-credit classes. Click here to start your free trial.

A few examples (current as of October 2024):

SoulCycle in Brentwood: 

• 7am Wednesday class is 10 credits
• 5:30 pm Thursday class is 9 credits
• 10:15 am Sunday class is 11 credits

Barry’s Bootcamp in West Hollywood

• 7:40 am Wednesday class is 15 credits
• 5:25 pm Thursday class is 12 credits
• 8:30am Sunday is 15 credits

Solidcore in Culver City

• 7 am Wednesday class is 14 credits
• 3 pm Friday class is 18 credits
• 8:30 am Sunday class is 14 credits

YogaSix in Redondo Beach

• 7 am Wednesday class is 5 credits
• 5:30 am Thursday class is 6 credits
• 11:30 am Sunday class is 7 credits

Row House in Santa Monica

• 7 am Wednesday class is 8 credits
• 5:30 pm Thursday class is 9 credits
• 9:45 am Sunday class is 7 credits

The Gym LA (Open Gym) in West LA

• 7 am Wedesday open gym time is 3 credits
• 6 pm Thursday open gym time is 2 credits
• 6 am Friday open gym time is 4 credits

BEAUTY/WELLNESS SERVICES
There is a lot more variation in credit costs for beauty and wellness services. It’s important to note (and is noted in the app) that ClassPass credit costs do not cover the tip/gratuity, so it will cost you additional money when you get a facial, massage, etc. I’ve gotten a few massages, but haven’t tried out the other services! Click here to start your free 14-day trial.

Soleil Lash and Nails in Marina Del Rey

• Classic Full Set (Lashes) starts from 32 credits
• Gel Manicure starts from 27 credits

RA Nails in Larchmont

• Eyebrow Waxing starts from 8 credits
• Gel Manicure starts from 17 credits

Body Zone Massage in Koreatown

• 60 Minute Deep Tissue Massage starts from 31 credits
• 90 Minute Deep Tissue + Aroma + Cupping starts from 46 credits

SugaringLA in Santa Monica

• Bikini Hair Removal starts from 22 credits
• Full Legs Hair Removal starts from 62 credits

Cryohealthcare in West Hollywood

• Cryofacial starts  from 7 credits
• Whole Body Cryotherapy starts  from 11 credits

Ole Henricksen Face/Body Spa in West Hollywood

• Deep Tissue Massage starts from 70 credits
• Morrocan Scrub starts from 45 credits
• Full Leg Wax starts  from 31 credits
• Aqua-Derm Hydrogen facial starts from 102 credits

I hope this blog post has been helpful! If you have any other questions about ClassPass, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out on Instagram @livelybylaura. You can start your free ClassPass trial by using my referral link and get 20 extra credits at no cost to you! https://classpass.com/refer/4HL7MV1920

RECOMMENDED READING
ClassPass Review: 14-Day Free Trial in Los Angeles

Reviewing LA Run Clubs (January 2024)

My First Half Marathon Training Progress