I Joined Planet Fitness Australia for 30 Days (2026)

After a month training at Planet Fitness Australia, the low weekly price is real, the equipment floor is bigger than most 24/7 chains, and the “Judgement Free Zone®” is the differentiator I didn't know I needed. If you want a no-lock-in gym under $10/week with 24/7 access and free training sessions, this is genuinely the value pick in 2026.

The short version: 17 sessions in 30 days, ~$70 total for the month (Classic plus a mid-month Black Card upgrade), and I kept my membership at the end. The rest of this review is what actually happened on the floor.

01Why I went looking for another gym

I've been through the Australian gym carousel. Anytime Fitness for two years, then Snap Fitness because it was closer, then a full-service chain that charged me $60/month for classes I never took. By early 2026 I was paying too much, showing up too little, and dreading the wall of mirrors and grunting free-weight regulars.

A friend at work joined Planet Fitness at Bankstown when it opened, kept mentioning “Judgement Free Zone” like it was a real thing, and challenged me to give it 30 days. I signed up on a Classic weekly plan — $7/week, $59 join fee, no lock-in — the cheapest AU gym membership I've ever paid for. Here's what actually happened.

02Week 1 — the first-visit reality check

The Planet Fitness club I joined is bigger than I expected. Not a “shopfront 24/7” with a treadmill row squeezed against a mirror — it's a proper 1,500–1,800 sqm floor with:

• A full cardio zone (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, rowers, stair climbers)
• Two rows of resistance machines
• A dedicated free-weights area with dumbbells to 40+ kg and multiple squat racks
• A “30-Minute Express” full-body circuit for people short on time
• The PF Black Card Spa (more on that in week 3)

Check-in is contactless via the PF App or your fob. Staffed hours run roughly 6am–9pm weekdays, shorter on weekends, but the gym floor stays open 24/7 with fob access. That was a huge win for me — I do most of my sessions at 9:30pm after my kid goes to bed.

03Week 2 — using the free training (PE@PF)

Something I didn't know before joining: every membership tier includes free fitness training sessions, called PE@PF, plus one-on-one program design with a certified trainer. Not “free intro session then $80/hr thereafter.” Actually free, on the schedule at your home club, small-group format.

I booked a Wednesday evening PE@PF session — six people, one trainer, focus on lower-body machines. It was the kind of orientation I would have paid $150 for at my old chain. She corrected my hip-hinge on the leg press, showed me the seat setting on the leg extension I'd been doing wrong for years, and put me onto the assisted pull-up machine at a resistance I could actually progress on.

I also booked a one-on-one program-design consult at the end of week 2. Twenty minutes, she asked what I wanted (lose 4 kg, get consistent) and printed me a two-day-a-week split I could actually stick to. At most 24/7 chains this is a $60–$120 add-on. At Planet Fitness it's included with the base membership.

04Week 3 — the PF Black Card Spa

Halfway through the month I upgraded to the PF Black Card to test the “spa” claim. Upgrade cost: an extra ~$3.95/week over Classic (Black Card lists at $10.95/week) plus a $10 upgrade join fee. No new lock-in. Here's what Black Card adds:

• HydroMassage bed. 7-minute warm-water massage sessions, stay clothed and dry, adjustable pressure/target/speed. Legitimately good for post-leg-day recovery. Wait times at my club were 2–5 minutes.
• Massage chairs. Self-serve, use them as long as you want between sets or after training.
• Red light therapy booths. 10-minute sessions, up to member how often.
• Weekly private spray tan. Didn't use this personally, but it's included.
• Bring a guest free during staffed hours. I brought my brother in twice.
• Worldwide 2,700+ Planet Fitness clubs. Domestic travel and US trips — your membership works there too.

Standalone wellness studios in Australia typically charge $30–$50 per HydroMassage or red-light session. Black Card bundles all of it for a $3.95/week premium. The HydroMassage bed became a real reason I looked forward to leg day.

05Week 4 — what I didn't love

I'll be honest — Planet Fitness isn't for everyone. Here's what tripped me up:

06The numbers after 30 days

For context, my previous full-service gym cost around $30/week + a $89 joining fee + a $99 annual fee — closer to $210 for the same month. Planet Fitness cost me a third of that for objectively more equipment and free trainer access.

★ Join Planet Fitness Australia

30+ AU clubs · 2,700+ worldwide · Judgement Free Zone®

Planet Fitness Australia — Classic $7/week or Black Card $10.95/week

No-lock-in memberships across 30+ AU clubs. Every tier includes PE@PF free small-group training and 1:1 program design. Black Card unlocks HydroMassage, massage chairs, red light and 2,700+ worldwide clubs.

Classic from $7/week · PF Black Card from $10.95/week · no lock-in

Get started at Planet Fitness AU

🏋️ Free day pass available on request at any staffed club · PE@PF free small-group training included with every membership · standard cancellation and annual-fee terms apply. Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

07Who this gym is for

08Membership tiers at a glance

Both are no lock-in — cancel with written notice at any time (subject to standard cancellation terms). Billing is fortnightly by direct debit, plus an annual fee billed roughly 8 weeks after your join date; ask your home club for the exact figure.

Final verdict

After 30 days, I've kept my membership. Planet Fitness Australia isn't the fanciest gym in the country — it's not trying to be. What it does deliver is honest, non-intimidating, actually-affordable 24/7 access to the equipment 90% of people need 90% of the time, plus free trainer access I'd never had before.

If you've been circling gym options and stalling on the price tag or the intimidation factor, this is the one to try first. There's no lock-in, so worst case you cancel after a month. Best case, like me, you find the barrier to actually showing up finally comes down.

Sign up for Planet Fitness Australia → Classic memberships start at $7/week with no lock-in.

FAQ

Is there a cooling-off period if I change my mind? Yes — under Australian fitness industry codes, you generally get a 48-hour cooling-off period after signing (7 days in ACT/WA). Check your specific club's contract for exact terms.

How many Planet Fitness clubs are there in Australia? As of early 2026, there are 30+ clubs across VIC, NSW, QLD and ACT, with new openings announced in South Australia. Your Black Card membership also gets you into 2,700+ Planet Fitness clubs worldwide.

Can I bring a guest? PF Black Card members can bring one guest per visit during staffed hours, gym floor only (guests can't access the Black Card Spa). Classic members can't bring guests.

What about the annual fee? Both memberships have an annual fee billed once per year, typically around 8 weeks after your join date. Ask at your home club for the exact amount — pricing may differ per location.

Are children allowed in the gym? No — for safety reasons and to keep membership costs low, Planet Fitness does not allow children under 13 in-club and does not offer childcare services.

What's the best time to visit for a quiet workout? Weekday mornings 6–8am, mid-morning 10am–1pm and late nights after 9pm. Peak crowding is weekday evenings 5:30–7:30pm.