Is Retro Fitness worth it?

Welcome to your definitive guide about Retro Fitness! We put together our wealth of knowledge right here, making sure you have a comprehensive understanding of this popular gym chain.

92
Total Locations
24000
Average Size (sq ft)
4.24
Average Google Rating

Welcome to your definitive guide about Retro Fitness! We put together our wealth of knowledge right here, making sure you have a comprehensive understanding of this popular gym chain.

Amenities offered at Retro Fitness

Retro Fitness calls themselves "a hometown gym dedicated to building a strong community." We see them as a solid, value oriented franchise gym chain with a good, but not gigantic mix of amenities.

Clubs do include the standard package of gym equipment—decked out in bright yellows and reds. Eye-catching, to say the least! You can expect to workout with: 

  • Free weights and adjustable benches
  • Cardio machines of various sorts (StairMasters, treadmills, ellipticals)
  • Strength machines to isolate and target different muscles 
  • Kettle bells, yoga mats and stretching equipment

Many Retro Fitness locations also include amenities that we don't see too often

  • Smoothie bar
  • Tanning
  • Retail shop in case you forgot something for your workout
  • Bring a friend every time perk

Things you won't find at Retro Fitness gyms include pools, saunas, steam rooms or basketball courts. Same goes for hot tubs and towel service. Like we said: a value oriented gym chain—that covers all the basics.

Amenities
These amenities are available at some locations
Personal Training
Group Training
Sauna
(
1
Locations
)
Swimming Pool
(
0
Locations
)
Basketball
(
0
Locations
)
Childcare
(
0
Locations
)
Steam Room
(
0
Locations
)
Tanning
(
80
Locations
)
Open 24-hours
(
0
Locations
)
Spa/Hot-Tub
(
0
Locations
)
Racquetball
(
0
Locations
)
Pickleball
(
0
Locations
)
Tennis
(
0
Locations
)
Squash
(
0
Locations
)
Retail
(
92
Locations
)
Free WiFi - LocalListing X Webflow Template
Wi-Fi
(
1
Locations
)
Women-only Workout
(
0
Locations
)
Smoothie/Shake Bar
(
92
Locations
)
Equipment
This equipment is available at some locations
Cardio Machines (treadmills and more)
Weight Training (free weights & machines)
Locker Room
Shower
Restroom
Cold Plunge
(
0
Locations
)
Cardio Cinema
(
0
Locations
)
Towel Service
(
0
Locations
)
Massage Chairs
(
92
Locations
)
Olympic Lifting
(
8
Locations
)
Functional Turf
(
12
Locations
)
Unavailable

These amenities are not offered at any Retro Fitness location.

Sauna
Pool
Childcare / Daycare
Basketball
Steam
Open 24-hours-a-day
Pickleball
Tanning
Spa/Whirlpool/Hot-Tub
Massage Chairs
Racquetball
Cardio Cinema
Functional Turf
Towel Service
Olympic lifting
Tennis
Squash
Retail Area
Free WiFi - LocalListing X Webflow Template
Wi-Fi
Women Only
Workout Area
Cold Plunge
Smoothie/Shake Bar

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What time does Retro Fitness open & close?

No Retro Fitness locations are open 24/7.

Awesome! 0 of their clubs are open 24/7!

While the exact times will differ for every location, the most common opening hours we've seen from Retro Fitness are: 

  • Monday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Thursday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Friday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Retro Fitness by the numbers

92

Total Locations

The total amount of locations we're tracking from this fitness chain.

4.24

Average Review Rating

The average rating of all their clubs combined.

24000

Average Gym Size

Room for activities! Average square footage of their gyms.

$26.99

Average Monthly Membership Cost

How much you can expect to pay for the entry-level membership every month

50

Total Cities

Find a Retro Fitness in this many cities.

What we love about Retro Fitness

Old school gym vibes in a mid-priced starting package. You've got all the basics: strength and weights, plus cardio equipment. 

  • The smoothie bar! Have you seen their menu? We count 23 different options, and you can customize your own with protein, fiber and much more.

    Only a few fitness chains in the country have these tasty treats!

  • Retro opened up 4 clubs in Texas under their Project LIFT initiative—opening 500 health clubs in 50 black and brown communities in the next five years. 30 more locations are in development in Texas, bringing along their high-value-low-price model.

  • A pretty comprehensive, custom fitness app. Not only do you have at-home and quick workouts, but content on mental health and the Retro Fitness Kitchen.

What we wish Retro Fitness would improve

Pretty sure that Retro Fitness checks off most of the needs for their members, but there are still a few things we'd like to see.

  • Childsitting/daycare/childcare services were still offered. As of November 30th, 2023, the amenity was removed from all clubs. Some locations turned the space into red light therapy areas, or an additional spot for stretching.

  • We wish that saunas were available. Not a single Retro Fitness offers it—several of their competitors do, and it's one of our most asked about amenities.

  • Pricing were closer to entry-level gym chains, around $9.99 and $19.99 a month. Many locations we see start at $24.99, which is usually a promotion price for a larger, big box gym chain that should offer a few more amenities.

How much is Retro Fitness?

Retro Fitness memberships are considered mid-tier, with their base monthly costs ranging from $19.99 to $39.99. We checked 5 different locations and saw a standardized membership structure, which makes it straightforward for you to compare. Let's go through each option: 

  • $19.99 to $39.99 for their "Flex" base membership. It is a no-commitment (contract), and gets you in the door to a single club. All your standard stuff to get a solid workout is there: strength equipment, weights and machines, plus cardio like StairMasters and treadmills.
  • $26.99 to $49.99 for their "Core" membership. It's a 12-month contract, has all the above, and allows nationwide access. If you frequently travel, give this membership level a thought.   (Technically on their site they list "50+ pieces of strength equipment" and "locker room with showers" under Core, but not Flex. It's a bit misleading: some people might think you need the higher membership. We called their Church Ave location in Brooklyn and they confirmed that you do get weights and showers.)
  • $39.99 to $59.99 for their Ultimate membership. We like how it's no-commitment again, and along with all the above, has many more amenities. Depending on what the location has, you should be able to get into group fitness, bring unlimited guests, start tanning and enjoy HydroMassage.

Annual fee ranges from $49 to $69, and you're billed 45 days after joining. Enrollment fees are $49, but with current December 2023 promotion, down to $0.

The price ranges you see? Looking at Flex memberships only:

  • $19.99 at their Mesquite, Texas location
  • $24.99 at Cooper City Miami, Florida
  • $24.99 in Queens Village Long Island
  • $24.99 in Irving Park Chicago
  • $39.99 at Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania

Big gap here, depending on the market. For this gym chain, you'll want to closely compare nearby gyms as the range is so much.

  • Annual fee ranges from $49 to $69 plus tax. You'll be billed for this 45 days after joining.
  • For every Retro Fitness location we looked at, enrollment fees have been $49.99. Not too bad.
  • Gym prices got you stressed out? Start with a free trial instead.
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Who does Retro Fitness cater to?

We all have different bodies, different goals and different fitness journeys. Some gyms may fit a person better than others. So who would enjoy this gym most?

Frequently asked questions about Retro Fitness

Top amenities offered at Retro Fitness

All the gym essentials

Free weights, strength machines and cardio equipment.

1 saunas to choose from

Nothing like the hot heat to warm muscles up.

Swim laps in 0 different pools

Dive in to relax after your work—or you can swim laps at Retro Fitness.

Practice your shot at 0 courts

Courts with regulation rims and beautiful hardwood. Just 8% of gyms nationwide have a court.

0 different locations with childcare

What a rare treat. Less than 9% of gyms in the country have childcare/daycare!

0 gyms that are open all night long

An extra early or real late workout—your choice.

Functional turf workouts at 12 gyms

Stretch, sleds, bodyweight or box jumps. The turf area is the place to be.

0 hot tubs FTW!

Relieve pain post workout or soothe sore muscles.  

Additional info about Retro Fitness

Final thoughts — Is Retro Fitness worth it?

Gym Pricing Tiers Explained

There are 3-4 main pricing tiers that nearly all gyms across the country fall into. Generally, higher prices = more amenities and services.

$10 - $25 /month — Value

  • Standard/basic equipment
  • Cardio machines: treadmills, ellipticals
  • Various free-weights, strength machines

$15 - $30 /month — High Value Low Price

  • All the above, plus a few have saunas or pools
  • Massage and/or Tanning options
  • Expect newer style amenities like Olympic lifting platforms, functional turf and cardio cinema.

$25 - $65 Monthly — Mid-Tier

  • All the above, placed in larger facilities and spaces. Pools, saunas and steam are a must.
  • Basketball courts and childcare were the main amenities.
  • These are your "older" more aged "big-box" gyms, often with hundreds of locations spanning the country

$65 and up  — Boutique/Specialty/Luxury

  • Highest end cardio equipment with advanced, expensive machines
  • Specialty group training and fitness classes
  • Luxury or boutique locker rooms, workspaces and lounges

"Is this gym worth it?"

Use our guides to help inform and educate what a gym can offer your fitness lifestyle. Only you can truly decide if a gym is worth it!

Retro Fitness gyms are both bold and old-school, with a throwback look and name. With three membership types to choose from, different amenities are available as you move up in monthly cost. 

Like all other gym chains out there, at the start you get all the essential for a solid workout: strength free weights and machines, plus cardio equipment of different types (StairMasters, ellipticals and treadmills). You just saw the price range of this entry-level membership, and at $19.99, Retro is definitely worth it. However, some of their locations have charged $24.99 and $39.99—which is getting pricey, compared to what else is out there.

At their mid-level membership—Core—expect to see pricing at $26.99 and $49.99. Unfortunately, you don't get any real upgrades moving to this tier, besides nationwide access. Other gym chains will include a pool, sauna, steam or even basketball at this price, but not at Retro. Something like childcare would be appreciated as well, but not a single location from this chain offers that.

With their highest membership option—Ultimate—we do like the option to bring a guest, anytime. Plus, group exercise classes are now available to you. But, at $39.99 to $59.99, there's no much else you'll get. If you followed your favorite class-fitness-instructor, or trainer, then this cost may make it up. For the majority of folks, that price range with a competitor may get you premier activities like tennis, pickleball, HIIT or small group training. We're hard pressed to recommend the Ultimate option to many.

Find your perfect gym!

Unlock the secrets to finding the right gym, starting your fitness journey, and achieving your goals.
Download the guide now! 🙌

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