The Truth About Planet Fitness

The very first Planet Fitness — a gym with locations around the world, most known for its high-quality equipment and "judgement-free" atmosphere — opened in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire (via Planet Fitness). Over a decade later, the gym brand began its franchising program, with the first franchise location opening in 2003 in Florida. By 2017, Planet Fitness reached 10 million members across its more than 1,000 clubs.

Planet Fitness has become somewhat of an anomaly in the gym industry. It's aimed toward attracting people who usually wouldn't end up at the gym, such as those in the very beginning of their fitness journeys, or older folks (via Grandfolk). When you walk in, you're supposed to feel relaxed and comfortable, something fitness newbies may not feel when strolling into a traditional gym. With two membership tiers offered by each of its clubs, members can choose which option feels best for them. They start as low as $10, priced just right for casual gymgoers.

Let's dive into everything you want to know about Planet Fitness and what to expect from its unique take on health.

Not everyone is getting on board with believing that Planet Fitness is always free of judgment. You might have heard about the dreaded "lunk alarm" circling the internet over the past several years. According to Planet Fitness gymgoers, the lunk alarm sounds when someone grunts too loudly, judges another person, or drops weights. One Reddit commenter says, "I've had a Planet Fitness buy my local gym (twice). I've been lunk alarmed for VERY controlled deadlifts. The lunk alarm is real." A Twitter user also posted a picture of a large lunk alarm sign in their gym, along with stating, "Planet Fitness claims to be judgement free zone ... yet they have this hanging up in their gym, judging a certain type of person. ... Hypocrisy?"

In another Reddit thread, a user posted a photo of a Planet Fitness sign stating, "We do not cater to bodybuilders or heavy weightlifters. Please help us keep our non-intimidating environment by loading only four weight plates on each side." It's not necessarily a good look for the company that strives for no judging in any form.

To be fair, some people may have unrealistic expectations of what no judgment means, like the New Hampshire man who walked into his Planet Fitness, got naked, and worked out. According to WFTV9 ABC, he finally took his place on a yoga mat to begin his workout after walking around nude. Apparently, he thought that the gym accepted nudity as part of its welcoming philosophy.

Not all Planet Fitness gyms are owned by the company. Many of them are franchise owned and operated, meaning that individual business owners or franchise companies can start one of their own. If you've ever dreamed of owning your own gym, you can make it happen with the help of an already-established brand.

The first franchise location opened in 2003, 11 years after the first Planet Fitness made its debut. Planet Fitness states that it "refined" its brand throughout that time before deciding to allow franchising. According to Franchise Direct, a franchisee can choose to open a completely new location or transform an already existing gym into a Planet Fitness space. However, the owner must agree to the Planet Fitness 24/7 operating model unless their locality will not allow all-day, every-day operation. Fair warning: The costs can be hefty. Franchise Direct estimates that most franchise owners will spend $20,000 for the franchise fee alone, plus another $43,000-$953,000 on fitness equipment to fill their gyms.

When you sign up for a Planet Fitness membership, you'll get a lot more than just the opportunity to work out. Smart Asset even names Planet Fitness one of the "best gyms for your wallet" thanks to its membership options for just about any budget. Even with a basic membership, you get any-time access to your home club, free Wi-Fi while you work out, and free fitness training. Most clubs are open 24/7, so you can take advantage by working out in the morning, after work, or even after a late-night shift.

The higher-tier PF Black Card Membership offers even more for serious gymgoers. When you choose this membership, you'll get access to any Planet Fitness club, which is handy for frequent travelers. Members can also bring guests, get exclusive deals on drinks, and get a 20% discount on Reebok goodies (per Planet Fitness).

Other perks pop up frequently, too, like Planet Fitness's partnership with Shell, which gifts the gym's members 25 cents off per gallon of gas for their first fill-up and five cents off per gallon for any other fill-up after signing up for Shell's Fuel Rewards.

If you sign up for Planet Fitness thinking you're just getting access to a squeaky-clean gym, you'd only be partially correct. The higher-tier gym membership, known as the PF Black Card Membership, offers a lot more than gym equipment: As a member, you'll also get free group training classes, which combine Planet Fitness's workout equipment with guidance from a trainer. The classes cater to people of all fitness levels, allowing you to learn how to use equipment properly and challenge your body to do more while enjoying a class with other fitness enthusiasts (per Planet Fitness).

Members can also enjoy the gym's massage chairs and HydroMassage machines. The latter offers a comfy lounge chair with heated water that loosens tight muscles, giving your body a way to cool down and relax after an intense workout (via HydroMassage).

And then there's Planet Fitness Pizza Monday, which began in 1999 at the Concord location as a way to thank its members for continuing to visit and work hard in the midst of a hot-water outage that latest a few days (via Planet Fitness). What started as a one-time deal became a tradition. Now, the first Monday night of each month, pizza makes its way into the gym, letting people with any Planet Fitness membership indulge a little. There's also Bagel Tuesday, which happens the second Tuesday of each month.

As a PF Black Card member, you can bring a nonmember guest with you for free every time you visit your local club (per Planet Fitness). If you're a basic member, your guest will need to pay a day fee, which the club determines. Guests must be at least 18 years old and register themselves via an invite you can send on the Planet Fitness app.

If you've ever worked out with someone else, you might already know how helpful it can be in staying motivated and having fun. According to AARP research, working out with someone else can keep people exercising harder and longer, leading to better results for both parties. Plus, being around people who have like-minded fitness goals can also lead to more successful fitness and health overall.

Even better for your health: rounding up a group of friends or family who enjoy working out with you at Planet Fitness. Personal trainer Rob McGillivray tells Better by Today that "working out in a motivational pack or using it as a tool to enhance internal or external competitive performance is fast becoming the preferred form of exercise." Bring along a different guest each time to try it out, and you might soon have a solid workout group to motivate one another.

Planet Fitness's mantra targets no judgment and inclusivity. However, some patrons have pointed out that it hasn't quite lived up to its standards when it comes to its dress code that seems to judge more than include. According to the Planet Fitness FAQ, the company has some dress rules in place that make sense for a gym. For instance, people working out shouldn't wear open-toed shoes, jeans, or soiled clothing. This aligns with usual safety and cleanliness practices at most gyms.

The problem comes from a different rule: "We're all for people expressing themselves, but do ask that clothing that may be perceived as intimidating, revealing, or offensive not be worn in the club." Some gymgoers have alleged sexism based on this rule, and also noted that it hasn't protected them from unpleasant encounters. For example, one woman wrote about her experience at a Planet Fitness club for Refinery 29, stating that she had experienced harassment from male patrons, stating that "I've never felt more judged than within that gym's walls," despite its "Judgement-Free Zone" signage. The woman tried unsuccessfully to get Planet Fitness to rectify the situation, noting that she wasn't surprised. "After all, this is the same gym where, according to the dress code, 'women can't wear sport bras as their only top, and their tank tops should not be overly revealing.' There's no language about restrictions on men." However, in a later edit to the piece, a company representative stated that only "jeans, boots, sandals, or string tank tops" aren't allowed.

Planet Fitness members aren't the only people who get to enjoy all the perks that the company has to offer: Apparently, Planet Fitness also makes sure its employees get to revel in some benefits, too. At the time of this writing, one job posting for a Planet Fitness Team Member states that employees get paid a starting wage of $14.49, which is almost double the federal minimum wage. Additionally, they get paid time off, flexible scheduling, and opportunities for recognition, sales bonuses, and advancement within the company. Perhaps the icing on the cake is a 100% free PF Black Card membership, which gives them access to HydroMassage beds, fitness classes, and all the other benefits of membership.

Planet Fitness team members also take to PayScale to report their benefits and leave reviews. Some team members report getting a 401(k) retirement plan, paid holidays or vacation time, life or disability insurance, and the ability to dress casually. Reviewers who enjoy their jobs with the company list pros like a "relaxing environment," rewarding career, and a supportive team as the reasons they stick with it.