You’re in the right place! In this guide, we’ll reveal the best tips and tricks on how to get a free YMCA membership.
Whether you want to get in shape by lifting some free weights in the gym, improve your health with a few laps in the pool, or take a sauna to relax, the YMCA has all of your health and well-being needs covered!
The YMCA, which is an acronym for Young Men’s Christian Association, describes itself as “a nonprofit organization whose mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.”
And that’s a really good way to describe the organization.
And with so many amenities like basketball courts, indoor tracks, gymnasiums, and many dozens of machines rivaling those of Planet Fitness workout machines, it has a lot to offer.
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The organization, also known as simply “the Y,” has 2,650 locations in the U.S. and has served 10,000 communities across the country.
If you would like to use the facilities at your local Y but don’t want to pay for the cost of the gym membership, read on. We’ll give you tips on how to get a free YMCA membership.
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How to Get a Free YMCA Membership
Although the cost of a YMCA membership varies depending on location, a YMCA membership typically costs around $50 a month.
That’s like $600 a year!
If you don’t have that type of cash to spend or you’re looking to save yourself some money, then it’s good to know how to get a YMCA membership for free.
Whether you want to hit the gym, try out some fitness classes, or have a swim in the pool, it’s good to know that you can enjoy all of the amenities on offer at the YMCA with the tips on our list.
1. See if your local YMCA has a free trial
The easiest way to get a free YMCA membership is to simply see if your local YMCA has a free trial. Many locations do.
Typically, this is a free 7-day trial, but the length of the trial varies from location to location.
The free trial allows you to use the facilities and just try out the gym to see if you like it.
I’d recommend this option because it gives you the chance to try out the YMCA without having to part with your hard-earned cash.
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You can find details of free trials from many official YMCA sites, such as the:
- Greater Austin YMCA, which offers a free 7-day trial.
- YMCA of the North, which offers a 5-day free trial pass.
- YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas, which offers a free one-day pass.
Type in “YMCA [name of your city] free trial” into Google and this should give you details of any free trials available at your local YMCA.
If you can’t find any details through an Internet search, then contact your local YMCA to ask if they have a free trial available.
- You can find your local YMCA here.
2. See if you’re eligible for financial assistance
Most YMCAs offer some sort of financial assistance to their visitors. This can help out members with the cost of membership.
This financial assistance comes in various forms – such as a scholarship or an income-based membership rate.
Lots of YMCAs do provide financial assistance, such as the:
- YMCA of Greater New York: You can complete a form to request a subsidy percentage for 5%, 10%, 15%, or another amount for your membership.
- YMCA of Central Kentucky: If your total household income is $55,000 or less, you’re eligible for financial assistance on your YMCA membership and programs. You can get financial support based on eligibility at levels of 25%, 50%, and 75% of membership monthly rates. For programs, financial assistance is provided up to 50% of the cost of programs based on eligibility.
- YMCA of Metro Atlanta: The YMCA of Metro Atlanta has a form that you can fill out to request financial assistance on your membership.
You can usually find details about financial assistance on the website for your nearby YMCA.
If you can’t find it there, then I’d recommend you do an internet search for “YMCA [name of your city] financial assistance.” This should show you the right page for getting financial assistance at your local YMCA.
If you still can’t find any details about financial assistance, then simply give your local YMCA a call or head down to the facility in person to ask if they offer any kind of financial assistance.
3. Get a discounted or free membership if you’re in the military or a veteran
Those in the military and veterans can get a discounted or free membership at some YMCA locations.
An example of a YMCA that is offering special rates for those in the military is the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago offers free YMCA memberships to qualified military members and families.
Be sure to contact your local YMCA to ask about the discount or check out the website for your local facility to see if they offer a discount.
4. Get a free YMCA membership through your insurance provider
Some YMCA locations partner with popular insurance providers, such as Medicaid, to offer a free membership.
Not all Y locations do, but it’s still worth checking. You can have a look on the website for your local YMCA. If the site has a search bar, use it to search for terms like “insurance,” or “insurance provider partnerships.”
Or, do a Google search for “YMCA insurance [name of your city],” or “YMCA membership with insurance [name of your city].” This should show you if there are any free memberships or discounts offered with insurance providers at your nearest YMCA.
One example of a YMCA that offers free memberships through insurance providers is the Philadelphia YMCA.
It allows you to access the Y through your insurance provider.
It offers free or low-cost memberships to the community through select partners. You may be eligible if you have health insurance through Medicaid or Medicare.
5. Look for membership discounts, refer a friend deals, and other deals
The YMCA actually offers a bunch of different deals that could save you some money on your membership.
These deals vary from location to location.
For example, on the YMCA of the North website, which is the site for YMCAs in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, you can find membership deals like, “Young Adults: Buy one membership, get one FREE.”
With this offer, which you can check out here, if you are 19 to 29 years old, you and a friend can join the YMCA of the North together at half the price.
YMCA of the North also has a Refer A Friend program. With the program, which you can check out here, you can fill out the form on the website we linked to. Then, the YMCA of the North will send your friends a free 5-day guest pass.
For each one of those friends that you refer who decides to join the Y within 30 days of you submitting the form, the organization will send your friends a free 5-day guest pass.
And, for each one of your friends who decides to join the Y within 30 days of the form submission, you earn a free month of membership.
These types of offers, deals, and programs that can get you a free YMCA membership or a discount on your gym membership can usually be found under the “Membership” tab on your local YMCA website.
If you can’t locate any offers, deals, or programs on the website, then visit your local YMCA to ask what savings, if any, they have available to customers.
Closing Thoughts
Improving your health and well-being shouldn’t have to cost a fortune. And now it doesn’t have to with the tips on our list!
Follow our guide on how to get a free YMCA membership, and you can enjoy the facilities at your local YMCA without breaking the bank.
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