The Pros and Cons of ClassPass

I have had an on-again-off-again relationship with ClassPass since it first came to Boston. Loved it, hated it, used it as a means to an end, dropped it in exchange for Equinox (you can read about my thoughts on that HERE), and am now really happy to be back on ClassPass. So as a self-proclaimed expert, let me break down the pros and cons of ClassPass.

Full discloser, I have worked with them a couple times on campaigns, promoting CP in exchange for free credit. I’m under no obligation to write this post or say certain things about them though. The following thoughts are all my own! 🙂

How Does ClassPass Work?

The service has changed a million times since its inception (as most new companies do). Currently, they use a credit system. A popular class at a peak time (before/after normal work hours) will cost you more credits than a less popular class at an off-time. These are the plan options:

• 7 credits/month for $15
• 27 credits/month for $49
• 45 credits/month for $79
• 85 credits/month for $139
• 130 credits/month for $199

*Prices vary by city, these are for Boston.

You can go to any given studio as many times as you’d like during the month. However, at some studios, if you attend more than three classes, you’ll have to use more credits per class. If you live in Boston, most studios are on CP, with the exceptions of B/Spoke and SoulCycle (and maybe a couple I’m forgetting).

You can rollover up to 10 unused credits to your next month.

Pros and Cons of ClassPass

Let’s get into the finer details now. For anyone considering a membership, here are the pros and cons of ClassPass.

Pros of ClassPass

It’s the most cost-effective way to take group fitness classes at multiple studios.

This is the big selling point. With ClassPass, you pay $12-13 a class if you use your membership to its fullest (in Boston), compared to the $25-30 price tag you’d pay to drop into a studio. Now if you were to buy a membership at a studio, that price per class would be lower, but probably not $12-13.

Now, that $12-13 number only holds true if you’re strategically going to mostly lower-credit classes. A Barry’s class, for example, is going to cost you at least 14 credits. If you do the math, yes, you’re still saving but not a ton. So keep in mind which studios you’ll be visiting and at what times you’ll be working out when determining how much you’ll actually save.

It’s great if you just moved to a new city or are traveling to another city.

ClassPass is a great way to test out lots of different studios to see where you like best. If you find that you love several, continue the membership for variety of workouts. If you fall in love with one particular studio, you can always cancel you CP membership and join your favorite spot.

A ClassPass membership can be used at ANY ClassPass studio, so if you travel for work or are vacationing in a city with CP, you can use your membership there. I love this feature of ClassPass!

It’s perfect if you’re looking to supplement an existing workout routine.

Maybe you’re a runner and are just looking to cross-train a couple times a week. Maybe you already have access to a free gym at work and just want to take fun group classes on the weekend. Maybe you’re a fitness instructor, can already work out at your studio for free, and just want to visit others here and there. ClassPass is for you!

In fact, I think ClassPass is best suited for those looking to supplement an existing membership or at-home workout routine. Yes, you could absolutely use ClassPass for all your fitness needs—especially with it’s current structure. However, you’d have to be really strategic and take lower-credit classes so that you didn’t blow through your plan before the month is up.

Cons of ClassPass

If you want to workout more than 2-3 times a week at peak times/studios, you’ll need to supplement your ClassPass membership with at-home workouts or another gym/studio membership.

This is the flip side of my previous point in the “Pros.”

Back when there was an Unlimited option, ClassPass could completely replace your gym membership, allowing you to take a class every day of the month if you wanted to. Now it’s more of a supplemental thing because even with the new credit number system, you’re only going to be able to take 2-3 classes a week if you want to do popular classes. So yes, you save money on group fitness with ClassPass, but if you want to work out more frequently, you’ll need to supplement.

You can purchase additional classes at some studios through ClassPass for a slight discount, or pay for an outside gym/studio membership. But unless you’re supplementing with running and at-home workouts, prepare to pay in addition to your core CP membership.

Now, if you find classes in the 4-7 credit range that you love, then this might not hold true. You could probably buy one of the more expensive ClassPass plans and be set. For me though, my favorite classes are more like 8-14+ credits each.

Some studios block off their most popular class times to ClassPass users.

This is one of the biggest downsides for me. Yes, I have a weird job and can technically work out at any time of day. In theory, I’m the perfect candidate for ClassPass because a 9 or 10am class can work with my schedule. But I hate working out then! It’s 7AM or bust in my book.

Most people work roughly 9 to 5 and accordingly, the most popular class times at fitness studios are typically 6/7AM and 5/6PM. So you’ll notice that some studios don’t open those times to ClassPass or severely limit the number of spots CP users can take. The studio has no problem filling these peak times with their clients, so it makes sense.

Sometimes the class will be available to ClassPass users, but as it fills up, the number of credits required to take it increases. I’ve seen classes costing over 20 credits—basically the same cost as just buying a drop-in directly from the studio.

Some studios limit the number of ClassPass clients per class so you have to sign up for your favorite times a week in advance.

The allotted slots for ClassPass users can fill up fast at popular studios so you have to sign up right at 12 noon the week before the class in order to snag a spot. You can chance it and try to sign up last-minute, assuming someone will late-cancel the night before or day of, but I hate risking it. Set your alarms!

Variety is GREAT, but when you’re totally all over the place, you’re not going to see specific progress.

I’m a big proponent of switching up your workouts, but you can definitely spread yourself too thin. At my peak ClassPass usage when it was only $99 for UNLIMITED classes, I was all over the place with classes—yoga one day, bootcamp the next, barre, spin, boxing, pilates. It was fun to try new things for the first couple months but then I had the realization that I was just “meh” at a lot of things instead of really working to improve at the things I enjoyed most. Sure I was maintaining my fitness level just fine, but I wasn’t really seeing specific progress in any one modality. Of course not! You need to do something more than three times a month for that to happen.

You get charged $15-20 if you can’t make class.

If you cancel within 12 hours before the class starts, you’re charged $15. If you don’t late-cancel and just don’t show up, you’re charged $20. If you’re someone who has an unpredictable work schedule, this could add up quick. You could opt to book last-minute instead, but you run the risk of the class being full or maxed out with CP members.

Thoughts on ClassPass as an Instructor

I’ve heard a lot of people say they feel a little bad/guilty or like a second-class citizen when they come to a studio on ClassPass because they’re not paying full price. I can’t speak for all instructors, but let me assure you that I do not think less of you as a client if you roll up to my class through CP. I get it—boutique fitness classes are expensive and there are just so many awesome studios out there. Yo, I’m a member, too! And I do genuinely love that by being on ClassPass, more people have access to this workout who might not have otherwise.

Like I mentioned earlier though, you’re not going to get the full benefits of the workout only coming two-three times a month. If you’re cool with that, so am I. I’d certainly rather you come a couple times a month than not at all! But if you’re feeling frustrated by lack of progress/results, don’t automatically discredit the method or your instructors. Now you also don’t need to come every day or five times a week, but if you commit to even just twice a week, you are going to see FAR better results than if you come just a couple times a month.

The whole anonymous review system on ClassPass is also not ideal for instructors. Feedback is important and I welcome both the good and bad because I truly care about teaching and want to constantly make my class better. Some of the “bad” reviews on ClassPass are constructive and helpful. Other reviews though … pretty sure the people leaving them would choose their words differently if they weren’t anonymous. And it’s especially frustrating because it’s impossible to have a fully formed opinion on a studio if you’ve only been to one class with one teacher. In my opinion, ClassPass users shouldn’t be prompted to leave a review until they’ve visited a studio three times.

$40 off Your First Month

If you want to give it a try after weighing the pros and cons of ClassPass, this referral link will get you $40 off your first month. They also do promotions frequently though so I’d check their homepage, too, just to double check the $40 off is currently the best deal.

Are you a ClassPass member? What your favorite and least favorite things about the service?

xo Nicole