The popular mobile booking platform has revolutionized the boutique fitness sector since its launch in 2013.
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ClassPass was founded in 2013 by Payal Kadakia and Mary Biggins and has since revolutionized the fitness and wellness industry. The subscription service, which was acquired by Mindbody in 2021, allows users to use credits to book classes and experiences at thousands of studios, gyms, salons, and spas.
Classes are available in over 2,500 cities around the world, and the service also includes over 4,000 on-demand workouts.
Now that in-person workouts are back and seemingly bigger than ever, Athlete News decided to give ClassPass a try.
Strong Points
For those who value diversity, ClassPass is certainly helpful. We offer national mainstream studio brands like Barry’s, Solidcore, and SoulCycle, as well as local facilities. This service is perfect for people who want to break out of their daily routine and explore more health and wellness-related businesses in their area. One of the best things about using this app was that I was able to try out all the studios in my area that I had overlooked for a long time.
Each class or service has a listed number of credits, which varies depending on the time of day, user demand, and number of times the user accesses it. Membership costs start from 6 credits per month up to 100 credits and range from approximately $20 to $200. Users can browse classes on a credit-by-credit basis, and many studios have “first-time” plans that encourage you to try out different workouts and services.
I found the process of looking for deals fun. If you’re flexible with your timings, ClassPass is a great option because you get a huge boost in credits during “after-hours” workouts. There were also some great deals for a limited time. For example, some studios and services had limited-time discounts. ClassPass is also great for travelers. Available in most major cities, users can maintain their workout routine on the go.
The service also limits the number of workouts you can perform in a given studio, so you want variety. Class reviews helped me find a new spot to some extent, but most of the reviews were very positive. It was hard to find an overall studio rating of less than 4.7/5. There were also no written reviews, which could be a good added value to the platform. Adding friends to the service allows users to see where their connections are looking for inspiration, and we’ve also found it to be a fun way to coordinate workout schedules.
ClassPass also offers easy-to-book beauty and wellness services. A user’s request to book a service at a specific time is required, and the company approves it. Approval is quick, typically in just a few hours. I also liked that even small businesses can book digitally.
Cons
Many of the drawbacks to ClassPass depend on your region and preferences. For example, the cost of class credits, of course, varies widely by region. Tuition in New York can be more expensive than tuition in Washington, DC or Boston. Convenience obviously varies by location as well. For example, certain areas of New York City have very few stores that accept ClassPass, while other areas have one on each block.
Most “hidden gem” classes in big cities are 3-4 credits, larger studios are 5-10 credits, and popular workouts like Solidcore, SoulCycle, and CorePower Yoga are 10-14 credits or more. Popular studios may get booked up quickly depending on the area.
One drawback to this service is that the number of credits users can roll over each month varies by membership tier. For example, if you purchase 18 credits per month, you can only roll over 18 credits. For those looking to save up credit for a big service like a massage, having a membership with low credit can make that impossible. Although it is possible to add more credits, it may not make economic sense depending on the services you desire.
Lastly, and this is common in the workout studio world, cancellation fees are high. This builds in responsibility, but may not be the best fit for people with variable schedules.
final thoughts
Overall, ClassPass is a great service that adds variety to your workout and wellness routine. Credits can be larger for users with flexible schedules, but can increase value for all users with enough participating businesses in their region.
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