Compare gyms in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Les Mills, Anytime Fitness, CityFitness, Jetts, Snap Fitness and YMCA/Y Fitness were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Atmosphere, Equipment and Facilities, Flexibility and Perks, Staff Availability and Value for Money.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Les Mills rated number one for customer satisfaction
Use it or lose it! Everybody knows the effects of a sedentary lifestyle and the detrimental effect it can have on health and wellbeing. But with the pressures of daily life, it’s often difficult to find time for fitness. That’s when being a member of a gym can help.
A gym membership is an instant, access-all-areas pass to a world of fitness. Whatever your gender, health and fitness goals or time constraints, there’s a gym membership to meet your needs.
But which gym to choose? Gym memberships are expensive, and facilities and equipment vary widely. As do levels of staffing and the general atmosphere of different gyms.
Indeed, in Canstar Blue’s latest research into the nation’s best gyms, three of the biggest grumbles made by gym members are about overcrowding, cleanliness and other annoying gym members.
So as part of our mission to inform consumers of the best NZ has to offer, this year Canstar Blue canvassed the opinions of 607 New Zealanders who regularly use their gym memberships, across a range of categories, to measure and track their satisfaction.
To decide which gym chain offers the best level of customer satisfaction, each was rated across the following categories:
Coming out on top is Les Mills. The clear winner of Canstar Blue’s 2021 award for Most Satisfied Customers | Gyms, Les Mills is the only gym chain to achieve a top 5-Star award for Overall Satisfaction.
It’s a top score Les Mills replicates across all categories, except Value for Money, for which it earns a strong 3-star rating.
Behind Les Mills, three other chains stand out in this year’s award ratings: CityFitness, YMCA/Y Fitness and Anytime Fitness.
While all three earn 4-Star ratings for Overall Satisfaction, City Fitness is the only gym chain in this year’s ratings to earn a 5-Star rating for Value for Money.
As we mention above, the state of a gym’s facilities are of paramount concern for members, as is the general atmosphere. There’s nothing worse than dirty, poorly maintained facilities, and too many people working out in an testosterone-fuelled, intimidating gym.
This is reflected in what those in our survey value most about their gyms. Equipment and Facilities are the biggest drivers of satisfaction (23%), while Value for Money (22%), and Atmosphere (21%) are close behind. Overall, the main drivers of satisfaction are:
Les Mills operates 12 gyms nationwide, in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Hutt Valley, Christchurch and Dunedin. At Les Mills you have a range of different membership options. The price depends on how long you commit to and which club(s) you can access.
A nationwide 12-month membership that allows you to use all Les Mills gyms is $29 p/w. On a 24-month contract it’s $26 p/w. A $29 joining fee applies. The membership covers:
Other membership options include:
All Les Mills memberships cover individual classes, e.g. yoga and spin. If you’re a woman and prefer to work out just with other women, you can do that, too, in some Les Mills gyms. There are women only areas at Les Mills Auckland City; New Lynn, Auckland; Hutt City; Taranaki Street, Wellington; Christchurch; and Dunedin.
So whether you’re already a gym bunny, or are just planning to start your fitness journey, why not check out Les Mills for your work out. As the winner of Canstar Blue’s award for Most Satisfied Customers | Gyms, you can rest assured that your six-pack and perfect pecs will come with satisfaction guaranteed.
Attend a gym close to home: 63%
Put off gyms due to COVID-19: 40%
Attend a gym close to work: 25%
Gym frequency | % |
3-5 p/w | 44% |
1-2 p/w | 29% |
5-6 p/w | 17% |
Every day | 4% |
Less once p/w | 7% |
Time of Workout | % |
During day | 29% |
Early morning | 25% |
Evening | 37% |
Late night | 7% |
Duration of Workout | % |
30-60 mins | 55% |
60-90 mins | 34% |
90-120 mins | 6% |
Less 30 mins | 2% |
Main Motivation | % |
Improve fitness | 26% |
Lose weight | 23% |
Feel healthier | 19% |
Build muscle | 13% |
Mental wellness | 10% |
Sports training | 4% |
Rehabilitation | 3% |
Social activity | 2% |
Gym Services Used | % |
Classes or sessions (that cost extra) | 33% |
Personal development program | 25% |
Personal trainer | 24% |
Well-being advice | 23% |
Physiotherapy/sports massage | 11% |
Gym Lifestyle | % |
I’m more aware of my wellbeing | 65% |
I watch my calories more | 34% |
I drink less alcohol | 21% |
I play more sports | 20% |
Pet gym hates | % |
Overcrowding | 56% |
Unclean gym | 41% |
Unclean changing room/showers | 36% |
People hogging equipment | 34% |
Sweaty people not wiping equipment | 34% |
People not resetting equipment | 32% |
People staring | 30% |
Loud grunting | 23% |
Gym show-offs | 21% |
Others using your drink bottle | 18% |
People making conversation | 16% |
Music or TV choices | 13% |
Canstar Blue surveyed 2506 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who regularly use a gym membership. In this case, 607 New Zealanders.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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