Anytime Fitness vs Les Mills NZ — Which Is Better in 2026?

The starting prices are close — Anytime Fitness from $16.95/week vs Les Mills from $17.99/week — but Les Mills pricing rises faster in its flagship clubs, where you're paying for premium facilities and the full class timetable. Anytime Fitness is more consistent across the country because every club follows the same franchise model. Here's a rough city-by-city picture for 2026 (always confirm at the club, as Les Mills doesn't publish prices online):

Both chains charge a joining fee around $49, but Les Mills frequently waives it in person or during promos. The bigger lever is the under-23 discount: Les Mills gives under-23s roughly 20% off, which Anytime Fitness does not match. For a student or young member that discount usually makes Les Mills the better value of the two despite the similar headline price. Over a full 12 months the two land close on total cost for adults — so price rarely decides this matchup; access style and classes do.

This is a meaningful practical difference. Anytime Fitness uses a 12-month minimum contract; because each club is an independently owned franchise, the exact notice period (usually around 30 days) and any early-exit fee vary by club, and you must cancel in writing at your home club. Les Mills has a shorter 3-month minimum term, after which you can cancel with 14 days written notice via the member portal or in person. So Les Mills is the more flexible commitment if you're unsure how long you'll stay, while Anytime locks you in for a year but rewards that with the widest 24/7 network. Both will generally consider medical or relocation waivers with documentation.

Beyond price and facilities, these two gyms simply feel different to train in, and that's often what determines whether you actually keep showing up.

Anytime Fitness is quiet, functional and self-directed. Outside peak hours the clubs are calm, sometimes near-empty, which suits people who put their headphones in and work through their own programme. There's little hand-holding — no class energy, often no staff at 6am — so it rewards self-motivated trainers and can feel isolating for beginners who want guidance.

Les Mills is the opposite: busy, social and coached. The class studios drive the atmosphere, with instructors, music and a roomful of people moving together. That energy is a powerful motivator for many members and makes Les Mills far more beginner-friendly, but the flagship clubs can get genuinely crowded at peak times, and you're paying for facilities you may not use if you only lift weights. If accountability and buzz keep you consistent, Les Mills wins; if you train best alone and on your own schedule, Anytime Fitness is the better fit.