Who is fitness model

 What gym has the cheapest membership, Planet Fitness. Planet Fitness advertises itself as a gym for people who don't like gyms, with ads referring to each Planet Fitness site as a "Government Free Zone".

Five gym memberships

A gym membership can be a huge cost. Staying healthy doesn't have to be expensive. Take a look at these five options for getting a cheap gym membership.

A gym membership isn't cheap. IBISWorld reported that in 2014, the average gym member paid $41 a month in membership fees, or about $490 a year for the privilege of working out on a treadmill and stationary bike.

But you don't have to spend a lot on membership. There are national networks that charge lower monthly fees - often significantly lower. If you want to cut your expenses along with your waistline, check out 5 cheap gym options below. But remember this: Even a cheap gym is no bargain if you don't go.

Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness advertises itself as a gym for people who don't like gyms, with ads referring to each Planet Fitness site as a "Government Free Zone".

Their basic membership costs $10 per month, which gives you unlimited access to your home club. You can also spend $19.99 per month for a Black Card membership, which gives you access to every Planet Fitness nationwide, plus tanning services and massage chairs. You will also need to pay an annual fee, which varies depending on your membership type. It's $20 for the basic plan of $10 per month.

Cardinal fitness

The gym in front of the store is similar to Planet Fitness, although its color scheme is not as bold (Planet Fitness likes purple and black). These gyms are small and basic, but packed with more than enough equipment—treadmills, bikes, weight machines, and stairs—for a vigorous workout.

The basic membership price is the same: $10 per month, which gives you access to the Cardinal Fitness website in your personal home. For $19.95 per month, you get access to all participating Cardinal sites, weekly virtual training, and a free personal training session each month. Expect to pay a $20 annual fee as well.

Your local YMCA

There are many benefits to joining your YMCA. Unlike Planet Fitness or Cardinal Fitness, YMCAs are larger facilities that provide more services. Sure, YMCAs come with standard treadmills, steps, weights, and exercise bikes. But most also come with swimming pools, saunas, jacuzzis, tennis courts, indoor tracks, yoga and fitness classes, and basketball courts.

For these add-ons, expect to pay more than $10 per month. YMCAs charge monthly memberships on a tiered basis, and these rates vary depending on where the YMCa is located. For example, the Chicago-area YMCA, as of September 2015, charged $25 per month for basic memberships for youths 11-18 and $24.99 per month for adults 19-26. Adults over the age of 27 pay $62 a month - $744 a year - which isn't bad for access to swimming pools, tennis courts, and fitness classes.

Gold's Lounge

The basic monthly subscription costs $25. You will also need to pay a $25 initiation fee when you first register. Be careful when canceling, though: Gold's Gym charges an $89.99 cancellation fee if you breach your contract before it expires.

If you pay on an annual basis, you will spend less each month. Gold's Gym's annual membership costs $198, or just $16.50 per month. You still have to pay the $25 start-up fee.

It costs a basic membership, which gives you access to your local Gold Gym. A premium membership, which provides access to any gold gym, costs $34 per month or $348 per year for an annual membership.

Gold's Gym offers plenty of exercise equipment, but it also offers exercise programs like Pilates, endurance training, mixed martial arts, group cycling and yoga. Each Gold's Gym location includes a group exercise studio and kids club where members can store their kids while they work out.

LA Fitness

LA Fitness is another affordable fitness chain with locations across the country. It's not equipped with the same equipment and options as the larger health clubs, but it does offer more exercise options than Planet Fitness and Cardinal Health.

A basic membership here will cost $29.95 per month. You will also have to pay a $99 setup fee.

LA Fitness offers group exercise classes, although some will have to pay an extra fee, as well as an indoor heated pool, spa hot tub, and saunas. Facilities often offer juice bars, on-site children's centers, and personal trainers, but usually for an additional fee.