Embarking on your fitness journey is an exciting time for many. Many Chicago residents get stuck when deciding between a home gym vs. gym membership to get in shape. While both options undoubtedly have benefits, there are many great ways that you’ll benefit from a gym membership that you can’t access with a home gym.
But what are the specific pros and cons of home gyms and gym memberships, and how do you know which option is best? We’ve compiled everything you should know about having a home gym vs. gym membership to make your decision easy. Let’s dive in!
Home gyms are just what they sound like, gyms where you can work out at home, typically with less room to exercise and less extensive variety of equipment. People commonly set up a home gym setup with home exercise equipment like treadmills, ellipticals, resistance bands, adjustable dumbbells, Weight Benches, and other pieces of equipment you’d find in a standard gym.
While it’s smaller, home gyms are a great option for many people looking to exercise conveniently in the comfort of your own home.
However, one disadvantage of home workouts is your lack of social interaction. While this might not seem bad initially, there is much evidence that working out in a crowd is more effective than working out on your own pace. Working with a group motivates you to pursue your fitness journey and make a difference.
One study found that 95 percent of people who joined a weight loss program with their friends finished the program compared to a 76 percent completion rate for those who did the program alone.
Despite the limitations of some home gyms, many people believe they are preferable to a gym membership. Before you create your own gym, it’s essential to understand why some people choose this option, along with the potential downsides if you pursue this path.
Among the reasons why some people think home gyms are preferable to gym memberships include the following:
No monthly membership: Some people prefer a home gym because there are no monthly gym membership fees. While this is true, remember the cost of purchasing brand-new home exercise equipment compared to monthly membership costs. If you want your home gym to be as equipped as your nearest gym, you’ll likely spend more long-term rather than saving money.
No 24/7 access: Another reason you might prefer a home gym is the 24/7 access it gives you. After all, it is your home! Gym hours vary and if you get there during peak hours, you may not get your favorite machine. However, unlimited access doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll use your gym more often, only that you’ll have the option to. Combined with your typical schedule, whether or not you have 24/7 access might be irrelevant.
Home gyms have many disadvantages, especially compared to commercial gyms like Chicago Athletic Clubs. Below is a breakdown of what cons you’ll encounter if you choose a home gym location:
Equipment Cost: A home gym will incur hefty costs for each piece of equipment you purchase, easily exceeding $10,000 for a well-equipped setup including a power rack, bench press, pull-up bar, cable machines, or even a rowing machine.
Potential Over Spending: Life happens, and sometimes we need to cut back on our monthly expenses. But, since there’s no membership to cancel, you won’t be able to protect yourself against spending too much money if you don’t get enough use out of your gym. And, if you rack up a $5,000+ credit card bill buying all the toys, you could be paying for it for a long time, whether or not you can afford it.
Lack of Amenities: Even with the significant price of purchasing home equipment like cardio machines, you still won’t have access to all the amenities you want with a home gym. For instance, home gyms don't have an athletic swimming pool, certified personal trainers, specialty training programs, or other advanced workout equipment, unless you're a millionaire!
Not Enough Space: Home gym setups require a lot of space, and you might not have enough room to comfortably exercise at your home gym. While some people prefer to create a garage gym for additional space, these gyms are subject to severe temperature fluctuations depending on the season, making them unsuitable overall.
One of the biggest considerations when choosing between a home gym and a gym membership is cost. While home gyms eliminate recurring fees, the upfront investment can be significant as we mentioned—especially if you're aiming to replicate the equipment and amenities of a full-service gym. Here's how the numbers break down over time.
Creating a functional home gym can cost anywhere from $1,000 to over $10,000, depending on the equipment you choose. Here’s a basic example:
And that doesn’t include additional costs like equipment maintenance or replacing worn-out parts.
Chicago Athletic Clubs all access memberships start at around $84/month, depending on your plan and location. Over three years, that amounts to:
$80/month x 36 months = $3,024
With that investment, you get:
Access to 7 locations across Chicago
Commercial-grade cardio equipment, cable machines, strength machines, and more
Amenities like pools, group classes, and personal training
A social and motivational workout environment with a strong social aspect that’s hard to recreate at home
If you invest $4,000 into a home gym, you’ll only “break even” after 4+ years—and that assumes you stick to a consistent workout routine and don’t need new equipment or upgrades.
In contrast, a gym membership spreads your cost monthly and gives you far more support, tools, and inspiration to build muscle groups, discover new exercises, and keep showing up.
A gym membership offers various benefits to its members, and you can ensure that your exercise journey is successful when you sign up with the right gym. While there are too many pros to mention, we’ve listed some of the top advantages you can access with your membership.
1. Amenities: A gym membership gives you access to amenities that a home gym cannot provide. A commercial gym has everything you need to get a thorough workout, including swimming pools, advanced cardio machines, free weights, and a rigorous squat rack to take your workout to the next level.
2. Multiple Locations: Many commercial gyms have multiple locations, making accessing the gym near your home easy. For instance, Chicago Athletic Clubs has numerous locations across Chicago to help you master your fitness journey.
3. Expert Guidance: As you start your fitness journey, having guidance from a personal trainer is a massive motivator. Your personal trainer can give you crucial advice to navigate your fitness experience effortlessly.
4. Social Interaction and Motivation: Working out with a partner or group can make your fitness journey successful. Social interaction at a commercial gym ensures you stay motivated and don’t give up when things seem too tiring. Working out with others will reduce stress and improve your quality of life at a much higher level than solo exercising.
One of the most overlooked benefits of choosing a gym membership over a home gym is the power of structure and accountability. Building consistent habits is the best way to ensure progress in the long run.
At home, distractions are everywhere—emails, chores, even the couch. Without a clear shift into a dedicated workout environment, many people struggle to maintain a regular fitness routine.
Gyms like Chicago Athletic Clubs offer a physical and mental reset: the moment you walk in, you’ve entered a space that’s designed entirely for fitness. Scheduled class times, familiar routines, and designated workout areas all reinforce the habit of showing up and putting in the effort.
According to a study in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit—and having an external structure dramatically increases your odds of sticking with it.
At-home fitness often means you're going it alone. At a gym, you're surrounded by coaches, peers, and classes that make it harder to fall off track.
Personal trainers provide expert guidance and check-ins, helping you stay motivated even when your energy dips. Knowing someone’s expecting you makes you more likely to show up.
Group fitness classes create a sense of community and routine. When you become a “regular” in a class, it’s more than just a workout—it’s a commitment.
People who participate in group fitness classes report higher levels of consistency and satisfaction, and one study published in Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care found that group exercisers experienced lower stress and improved emotional well-being compared to solo exercisers.
When you invest in a gym membership, you’re not just paying for access to equipment—you’re investing in a support system. From professional trainers to the friendly faces in your group class, the people around you become part of your motivation.
If you’re serious about reaching your fitness goals, especially as a busy Chicago resident juggling work, commute, and family, that extra layer of accountability can make all the difference.
When it comes to working out, safety is just as important as motivation and convenience. While home gyms offer privacy and control over your environment, they also come with some serious safety trade-offs—especially for beginners or those pushing themselves to the next level.
Without expert supervision or proper equipment setup, it’s much easier to perform exercises incorrectly or push beyond your limits, especially when it comes to strength training. Poor form during heavy lifts, overuse injuries from repetitive movements, or lack of a spotter during high-intensity workouts or weight lifting can lead to strains, sprains, or worse.
At a gym like Chicago Athletic Clubs, trained professionals are always nearby. Whether it’s a personal trainer offering tips on form or staff monitoring the floor, the gym environment naturally supports safer, more effective workouts.
What happens if you sprain a muscle or if weight plates fall on you at home? What do you do? If you suffer an injury or medical emergency while exercising at home, help may not arrive right away—especially if you live alone. In contrast, commercial gyms have emergency protocols in place. From CPR-trained staff to access to defibrillators (AEDs), you're far more protected when working out in a public, supervised space.
This peace of mind can make a major difference, particularly for older adults, new exercisers, or anyone with existing health concerns.
Some people assume home gyms are more sanitary—but that’s not always the case. Most commercial gyms, especially post-pandemic, follow strict cleaning protocols:
Daily sanitation of equipment and locker rooms
Air filtration and HVAC systems designed to circulate fresh air
Wipes and sprays readily available for member use
Chicago Athletic Clubs, for example, maintains rigorous cleanliness standards and provides members with tools to keep their workout space hygienic and safe. Unless you have a dedicated, regularly cleaned home workout area, it’s hard to match the cleanliness of a professionally maintained gym.
The cost of an effective home gym is typically too expensive or impractical for Chicago residents. Given that apartments are the most common form of rental housing in Chicago, most residents don’t have the space to add multiple pieces of home gym equipment. This limited size makes it impossible to have an effective gym that provides an invigorating workout.
When deciding whether to get a gym membership or invest in a home gym, the answer is almost universally the former. Chicago residents can benefit from the accessible and affordable workout options Chicago Athletic Clubs provides.
Chicago residents choose Chicago Athletic Clubs for their workout needs for numerous reasons, including some of the following:
Getting started on your fitness experience is easy. Join a gym with Chicago Athletic Clubs today to embark on your next exercise adventure.