A cheap gym membership only saves you money if you actually go. The lowest weekly price can still be poor value if the gym is far away, always crowded, or locks you into fees you did not expect. The good news is that several well-known gyms now offer simple, low-cost memberships with no long lock-in, and a few start from under $10 a week.
This guide compares eight budget options, with the prices and terms shown on gym websites on 28 October 2026. Prices vary by club, so always check your local club before you sign up — but this list gives you a realistic starting point and the questions worth asking first.
Quick answer: the cheapest gym memberships at a glance
Derrimut 24/7 Core: $9.95 a week, no lock-in, 30-day notice. Planet Fitness Classic: $1 a day, plus $59 join fee, no lock-in. Jetts: about $14.95 a week, no lock-in. Top Gym: $14.95 a week, cancel anytime. Snap Fitness: from about $15 a week. Anytime Fitness: about $14-$22 a week. Plus Fitness gym only: $31.90 a fortnight (about $15.95 a week). Council gym or aquatic centre: casual visits about $8-$11.
If price alone decides it, Derrimut Core and Planet Fitness Classic are the two cheapest starting points on this list. If you want the most locations near home, a 24-hour chain such as Jetts, Snap Fitness or Anytime Fitness may work out cheaper in practice because you are more likely to use it.
How this list was put together
To make this list easy to refresh later, each gym was judged on the same points: the advertised starting weekly price, any joining or access-card fee, whether there is a lock-in contract, how much notice you need to cancel, and what is actually included. Promotional prices were not treated as the normal price. Where a chain sets prices club by club, the article gives a typical range instead of pretending one price applies everywhere.
1. Derrimut 24/7 — Core
Best for: lifters who want the lowest weekly price and access to a lot of locations.
Derrimut lists its Core membership at $9.95 a week, with access to more than 20 locations, world-class equipment and functional training zones. It states there is no lock-in contract, with 30 days’ notice. A Premium option at $14.95 a week adds unlimited instructor-led group fitness and Reformer Pilates at selected locations. Check the terms for your state and club, because some inclusions are marked as selected locations only.
2. Planet Fitness — Classic
Best for: beginners who want a simple, low-cost gym with classes included.
Planet Fitness lists its Classic membership from $1 a day, plus a $59 join fee, with 24/7 access, small-group training sessions included, and no lock-in contract. That $1-a-day rate works out to about $14 a fortnight. Some clubs also offer a Black Card option from $10.95 a week with extra perks, but the Classic plan is the budget pick here. An early termination fee of $99 can apply if you cancel within a 12-month commitment period at some clubs, so read the joining terms carefully.
3. Jetts
Best for: people who want no lock-in and the freedom to train at many clubs.
Jetts promotes itself on no lock-in contracts, with 24/7 access to clubs across the country. A typical direct-debit price shown for basic 24/7 access is about $14.95 a week, although the exact rate varies by club tier and current campaign. Some clubs also run short-term offers, such as a low weekly rate for the first few weeks, so compare the ongoing price, not just the opening deal.
4. Top Gym
Best for: members who want a clear cancel-anytime deal with no establishment fee.
Top Gym lists a weekly membership at $14.95 a week after a trial offer, with no establishment fees and cancellation through its app. It is a smaller, Victoria-based 24/7 chain, so it suits readers near its Brunswick, Coburg, Knoxfield and Werribee clubs better than readers looking for a national network. Its casual option can also be useful if you want to try a club before committing.
5. Snap Fitness
Best for: shift workers and early risers who need 24/7 access.
Snap Fitness clubs are open 24 hours to members, and basic memberships are commonly listed from about $15 a week, with longer terms sometimes cheaper than month-to-month. Group classes are available at most clubs, but not all, and joining and access-card fees vary. Because each club is run locally, get the full price — weekly rate, joining fee and card fee — in writing before you join.
6. Anytime Fitness
Best for: travellers and anyone who wants a club in most towns and cities.
Anytime Fitness is one of the largest 24-hour chains, with hundreds of clubs. Typical 2026 rates fall in about the $14-$22 a week range, depending on the club and whether you choose a fixed term or a month-to-month plan. Longer terms are usually cheaper per week. The trade-off is that equipment and crowding vary a lot between clubs, so use a free trial and visit at the time you would normally train.
7. Plus Fitness — gym only
Best for: people who just want gym access and do not need classes.
Plus Fitness lists a gym-only option at $31.90 a fortnight, which is about $15.95 a week, and a gym-plus-classes option at $35.90 a fortnight. A joining fee and an access-card fee may also apply, so the first month can cost more than the weekly rate suggests. Off-peak passes are also listed at some clubs, which can suit readers who train outside peak hours.
8. Council gym or aquatic centre
Best for: families, swimmers and anyone who wants a pool, classes and a gym on one pass.
Local council gyms and aquatic centres are often overlooked, but they can be the cheapest option per visit, especially if you use the pool. Casual adult entry is commonly about $8-$11 a visit, with lower concession rates, and short-term passes are often available. A council pass may cost more per week than the cheapest chain on paper, but it can be better value if it replaces a separate pool entry or class fee. Check your local council’s site for current membership and concession prices.
What to check before you join any cheap gym
- The total first-month cost: weekly rate plus joining fee, access-card fee and any admin fee.
- The cancellation terms: notice period, whether you can cancel online or in person, and any early-exit fee.
- What is not included: classes, Pilates, pool access, guest passes and personal training are often extras.
- Peak-hour crowding: visit at your usual training time before you commit.
- Location: the best gym is usually the one you will actually get to three or four times a week.
If you are already a member and thinking of leaving, read our guide to how to cancel a gym membership first — it covers notice periods and the steps that avoid extra charges. If you are unsure about a break rather than a cancellation, see can you freeze a gym membership.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest gym membership?
On the prices checked for this guide, Derrimut Core at $9.95 a week and Planet Fitness Classic at $1 a day are the lowest advertised starting rates, although both vary by club and Planet Fitness adds a $59 join fee.
Are cheap gyms open 24/7?
Many budget chains are, including Derrimut, Planet Fitness, Jetts, Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness and Top Gym. Staffed hours are shorter, so check when staff are on site if you need help or want to join in person.
Is a no lock-in gym really cheaper?
Often, yes — but only if the weekly rate is competitive. A no lock-in plan at $20 a week costs more over a year than a 12-month plan at $15 a week, so compare the yearly total, not just the flexibility.
Do cheap gyms include classes?
Some do and some do not. Planet Fitness includes small-group training in its memberships, while at other chains classes may be included, limited, or an upgrade. Always check the club page for the plan you are actually buying.
The bottom line
Start with the total cost, not the headline weekly price. For most readers, Derrimut Core or Planet Fitness Classic will be the cheapest way in, while Jetts, Top Gym, Snap Fitness and Anytime Fitness offer a good balance of price and locations. If you swim or take classes, price a council gym too — it may beat every chain on value once everything is counted.
