ClassPass Review: Is ClassPass Worth It in 2024?
ClassPass
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Key Features:
- $19-159 per month, depending on membership level
- 14-day free trial with 28 credits
- Month-to-month plans at different levels with no long-term contracts
- Members can book ClassPass fitness classes on more than 2,500 cities worldwide
- Access to over 4,000 on-demand workout videos
Getting a gym membership can be expensive, and some people prefer the flexibility of taking classes at different fitness studios. ClassPass offers a viable solution by allowing members to book and attend fitness classes at a variety of gyms and studios in their area, or around the world.
ClassPass is a subscription fitness class booking service with mixed reviews. Some users love the flexibility and variety whereas others are frustrated with unclear policies, late-cancel fees and policies surrounding unused credits. Keep reading for a full ClassPass review to decide if it’s right for you.
What is ClassPass?
Located in more than 2,500 cities worldwide, ClassPass offers fitness classes, spa services and wellness appointments at gyms and boutique fitness studios. ClassPass members purchase a monthly membership plan that gives them access to a certain number of credits, which can then be used to book exercise classes at any participating location. Fitness studios that are affiliated with ClassPass accept the credits instead of monetary payment, and no additional membership fees or class fees are required to join the session.
By giving subscribers access to a wide variety of workout classes in their area, ClassPass can be a great option for people who like to have a varied fitness routine without being locked into going to the same gym or fitness studio day after day.
Examples of in-studio fitness classes you can access with ClassPass include yoga, pilates, barre, cardio workout classes, general group fitness classes and bootcamp classes.
How ClassPass Works
ClassPass
Using the ClassPass app, you can sign up for an account, search for and book fitness classes in your local area, or anywhere you’re traveling to. That’s what makes ClassPass so convenient—you get access to thousands of wellness classes all around the country. You can also use the ClassPass website on any internet-enabled device.
There are a variety of different fitness classes and wellness appointments that you can book with your ClassPass credits. Examples include yoga classes at boutique yoga studios, pilates, Pure barre, general group fitness classes, bootcamp workouts, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) cardio workouts, salon services, massage and spa treatments. In some areas, such as New York City, you can also use credits to book gym time, where you can go in and use any of the gym equipment without a gym membership.
As long as the facility is partnered with ClassPass, and accepts ClassPass Credit, you can book classes or appointments as often as you want with no restrictions, even if you go there multiple times per week. In other words, you can use your credit at your discretion with no limitations. Some ClassPass members like to dabble and spread their credits around an array of fitness classes, studios and services, whereas others use all of their monthly credits exclusively in one location.
The number of ClassPass credits for each workout or spa service is dynamic, meaning that it changes based on factors like location, time, popularity of the class and equipment used. Most classes you can book on ClassPass are approximately two to four credits.
If you are interested in trying ClassPass, you can create an account and get access to a free 14-day trial, which includes 28 free credits.
You can start signing up for fitness classes and booking sessions right away with your free credits, and you should do so because you will want to use all the credits by the end of the free trial. However, if you don’t use all of your credits, as long as you end up deciding not to cancel your ClassPass subscription, extra credits will roll over to your following month up to the number of credits in the monthly membership level you have selected.
In addition to the free credits with the trial membership, you also get immediate access to more than 4,000 on-demand video and audio workouts that you can stream from home that are available right on the ClassPass fitness app during the trial (and extended into your membership).
Classpass Pricing and Membership
ClassPass offers a variety of different membership plans, depending on how many credits you intend to use per month. Each plan is a monthly membership that includes a certain number of credits and is subject to a different pricing structure. Here are the available ClassPass plans:
- $19 per month for 8 credits, which is enough to book up to 3 classes.
- $29 per month for 13 credits, which is enough to book up to 4 classes.
- $59 per month for 28 credits, which is enough to book up to 10 classes.
- $79 per month for 38 credits, which is enough to book up to 14 classes.
- $159 per month for 80 credits, which is enough to book up to 30 classes.
After your free trial period ends, you will automatically renew into the ClassPass monthly plan you indicated upon signup. Therefore, if you do not want to continue your membership, it’s important to log into the ClassPass app, navigate to Account Settings and click “Cancel or hold my membership” before the end of the trial period to avoid auto-renewal and being charged.
Although each different tier of the ClassPass Membership comes with a certain number of credits, there is flexibility in the number of credits you actually use in a month. For example, if it is a particularly active month, you are able to add additional credits a la carte so that you can book more classes without needing to change your membership plan level. The following month, you will just be charged your normal rate and revive your usual number of credits, unless you again opt to buy more.
With that said, if you find that you are routinely running out of credits and needing to buy additional ones, it’s usually a better financial value to step up your plan level because credits are cheaper that way. To add credits, simply open the ClassPass app and click “Add credits.” You will then be able to select how many credits you want to purchase and how much that will cost. You don’t have to enter additional payment information; the added fees will just be added to your billing statement.
On the other hand, if you do not use all of your allotted monthly credits, you can roll over the number of credits equal to the total number of credits in your upcoming monthly plan. For example, if you are on the $29 per month plan, you get 13 credits per month, which means that you can roll over a maximum of 13 credits into the subsequent month.
However, if you have more than 13 remaining credits, you can increase your membership level the next month to one that has a higher number of credits. This will enable you to roll over additional credits, again up to the number allotted at that membership fee, but bear in mind that you will be also paying a higher fee and receiving more credits, so you’ll want to start booking classes and using them. It typically takes 48 hours into the next billing cycle to see your additional credits roll over into your account.
If you cancel your membership, or cancel free trial, any unused credits will be forfeited at the end of the cycle. For example, if you decide that you do not want to join ClassPass after the free trial, and you cancel with a few days left, you have until the end of the 14-day trial to use up your credit. Afterwards, you will not be able to use them. The same applies with paid monthly membership plans. Make sure to use up any remaining credits by the end of your month if you have indicated that you want to cancel your membership.
Classpass Cancelation and No Show Fees
You are able to cancel or change your booking up to 12 hours before the start of the class, unless otherwise specifically indicated during the booking process to need more advanced notice, at no charge. The ClassPass credits will be returned to your account.
However, there are late cancellation fees and missed reservations fees, which is one of the biggest complaints registered in customer reviews. ClassPass will charge you a late-cancel fee if you cancel a reservation within 12 hours of the start time for all standard bookings, or longer where noted in the booking process with certain classes and services.
The amount of the fee varies based on the class, service and policy of the studio. In the United States, late-cancel fees range from $9-55 per class and $10-30 in Canada.
If you miss a class or session you have reserved, the credits are returned to your account but you incur a higher fee. Missed-class fees range from $12-62 in the US and $14-30 in Canada. The late-cancel fees and missed-session fees will show up on your billing statement 7 days after the occurrence.
ClassPass members are urged to stay abreast of the cancellation policy as it is subject to change, and is a frequent reason for negative customer reviews. You can read the Class Cancellation Policy for further details.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Ultimately, ClassPass has very poor customer reviews. For example, on TrustPilot, there are over 7,300 reviews of ClassPass, with an overall rating of 1.4 out of 5 stars. There are some positive reviews; in fact, the greatest proportion of the reviews (33%) are 5 stars and 21% are 4 stars, but there are also 22% of the reviewers giving just a 1-star rating to ClassPass.
However, if you carefully comb through the reviews, the negative customer feedback stems almost entirely from members who seemed to be unclear or unaware of policies regarding auto-renewal memberships, late-cancel fees and general policies. Therefore, if you stay informed of how ClassPass works and follow the policies, you should be able to sidestep these frustrations.
Is ClassPass Right For You?
ClassPass
ClassPass can be a great solution for people who like to have variety in their workout routine, enabling members to take all types of exercise classes and different gyms and studies.
ClassPass can also be a good option for frequent travelers because there are fitness studios that take ClassPass credits in more than 2,500 cities around the world. This means that you can maintain your fitness routine while away from home, and even sample workouts at different studios. Plus, you don’t have to worry about booking accommodations that have a robust hotel gym just so that you can ensure you’ll be able to get your workouts done.
ClassPass is also a good opportunity for beginners who aren’t sure what type of workouts and fitness classes they like best. Having flexibility to dabble in different exercise classes at numerous gyms and fitness studios can help you find your best is it before you have to sign a contract or get locked into a long-term membership.
Moreover, a ClassPass subscription can be a good investment for someone who needs additional accountability to exercise. Because you are paying a monthly membership fee and have a certain number of credits to use, you are incentivized to be active and make use of the money you are spending. Additionally, although many customer reviews complain about the cancellation fees, having a late cancellation policy in place can help you go through with your plans to work out even if you feel tired, in order to avoid wasting money by canceling too late.
Finally, ClassPass has more robust offerings in major cities, such as New York City, relative to small towns. It’s a good idea to look and see which facilities in your area accept ClassPass credits. Those who live in large cities will have many more options than those in rural or remote areas.
FAQs
Is Classpass considered a gym membership?
A ClassPass membership does not constitute a gym membership. You are not locked into using a certain fitness studio or gym, such as Planet Fitness. There are no ClassPass contracts or annual commitments. ClassPass membership is month-to-month, so you can change or cancel your plan as long as it is at least 24 hours days before the next billing cycle.
Can I pause ClassPass and keep my credits?
ClassPass permits you to pause your membership, depending on your location. To determine if you can pause your ClassPass membership, open the ClassPass app or log in online. Navigate to Account Settings to see if “Pause membership” is available to you.
If it is, you can pause your membership and any unused credits will be held until you resume your membership plan again. Then, you’ll regain access to any unused credits. If you do not see an option to pause your membership, but feel that you have an extenuating circumstance, you can contact ClassPass to discuss granting an exception.
Note that pausing ClassPass takes effect at the end of your current month's cycle. When you resume, you’ll auto-renew back at your old membership level, unless you change your plan in your account settings.
Is ClassPass hard to cancel?
You are allowed to cancel your ClassPass trial or membership at any time either on the ClassPass app or website. However, because the ClassPass trial and memberships automatically renew, you must cancel at least 24 hours before your cycle date.
Your cycle date is the date you first signed up and get billed every month; it’s not necessarily the first or last day of the month or the date of your first class.
To cancel your membership on the ClassPass website, log in and click on your initial on the right hand side of the page. Choose “Account” from the drop-down menu and click on “Manage Plan” in blue. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page that opens up, you will see “Cancel my membership.” Click this link and then follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation request.
You can also cancel ClassPass on the app by tapping “Profile” on the bottom right of the screen, selecting “Account” and then going to “Membership.” There, tap the “Manage Plan” button and scroll to the very bottom. Click the link that says “Cancel my membership” and then follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation request.
Note that if you are not sure of your cycle date, you can find this information on the app or the website to help ensure that you cancel in enough time to avoid being billed for the next cycle (at least 24 hours in advance). To find your ClassPass cycle date on the app, navigate to your profile. Tap “Manage your membership.” You will see “This cycle is ending ______.” You must cancel at least one full day (24 hours) before the date that appears there. The same information can be found on the website under Settings, then “Membership.”
You should receive a cancellation confirmation email from the ClassPass Customer Experience team after you request your cancellation. If you do not, make sure that you contact ClassPass customer service directly.
How many credits are in the ClassPass free trial?
ClassPass offers a 14-day free trial to people trying the app for the first time. Occasionally, there is a special with a free month. After you sign up, your trial begins immediately. The ClassPass free trial includes 28 credits, which is enough to book up to 14 in-studio classes. However, many workout classes and spa services are more than 2 credits, so you will probably won’t be able to do 14 in-studio fitness classes. You will also be able to access over 4,000 on-demand video and audio workouts.
Final Thoughts
ClassPass can be a great way to experience a variety of different classes, workout styles and spa services without needing to be locked into a contract or membership for each individual site. Booking classes is very easy and members also have access to an on-demand library of 4000 audio and video workouts as well.
There is complete flexibility in terms of how you choose to spend your credits, and the credit rollover policy is fairly generous. However, it is important to understand monthly membership terms so that you cancel classes at least 12 hours in advance and cancel your membership at least 24 hours before your next cycle date to avoid incurring late fees and auto-renewal charges on your credit card.
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