How to Cancel Planet Fitness Membership (Step-by-Step Guide)
Canceling a Planet Fitness membership is not as simple as stopping your payments or walking away.
The gym has specific procedures you need to follow and skipping them can result in continued charges and even collections.
Key Highlights
- You can cancel a Planet Fitness membership in person at your home club or by sending a certified letter, but not by phone or email.
- An annual fee and a cancellation fee may apply depending on your membership type and when you cancel.
- Your membership remains active through the end of your current billing cycle after cancellation is processed.
Why Planet Fitness Doesn’t Make Cancellation Easy
Planet Fitness operates on a high-volume, low-cost model. Their business depends on keeping millions of members enrolled, even those who rarely visit. Because of this, the cancellation process requires deliberate steps that go beyond clicking a button online.
There is no option to cancel your membership through the Planet Fitness app or website.
This frustrates many members, but it is clearly stated in the membership agreement. Knowing your options upfront saves you time and unexpected charges.
How to Cancel Planet Fitness Membership in Person
The most direct way to end your membership is to visit your home club in person. Your home club is the specific Planet Fitness location where you originally signed up.
Even if you have a Black Card membership that lets you visit any location, cancellation must happen at your home club.
Steps to Cancel at the Front Desk
✦ Go to your home Planet Fitness location during staffed hours.
✦ Ask the front desk staff for a cancellation form.
✦ Fill out and sign the form on-site.
✦ Request a copy of the completed form for your records.
✦ Ask for written or email confirmation that your cancellation has been submitted.
Staff members may ask why you are canceling or offer alternatives like freezing your membership. You are not obligated to give a reason or accept any offer. Be polite but firm if you have made your decision.
How to Cancel Planet Fitness Membership by Letter
If you cannot visit your home club, you can cancel by mailing a letter. This is the only remote cancellation method Planet Fitness officially accepts. Sending it via certified mail with return receipt requested through USPS gives you proof that the letter was delivered.
What to Include in Your Cancellation Letter
- Your full name as it appears on your membership.
- Your membership ID number (found on your key tag or in the app).
- Your home club name and address.
- A clear statement that you want to cancel your membership.
- Your mailing address, phone number, and email.
- The date you are writing the letter.
Mail this letter directly to your home club’s address, not to Planet Fitness corporate headquarters.
You can find your club’s mailing address on the Planet Fitness gym locator page.
Can You Cancel Planet Fitness Online, by Phone, or by Email?
Note
No. As of now, Planet Fitness does not allow cancellations online, over the phone, or through email. This policy applies across all locations.
Some members have reported success calling their home club and asking for an exception, but this is not standard practice and should not be relied upon.
If you moved far from your home club and cannot visit in person, the certified letter method is your best option. In some cases, you may also be able to transfer your home club to a closer location before canceling in person there.
Planet Fitness Cancellation Fees and Costs
The fees tied to canceling depend on which Planet fitness membership plan you hold and when you cancel relative to your billing dates.
Classic Membership
The Classic membership (sometimes called the Standard plan) typically costs around $10 per month. Most Classic memberships are month-to-month with no long-term commitment.
If you are on this plan, there is generally no cancellation fee. You simply need to cancel before your next billing date.
PF Black Card Membership
The Black Card membership costs around $24.99 per month and comes with perks like guest privileges, access to all locations, and hydromassage.
This plan often has a 12-month minimum commitment. If you cancel before completing that commitment period, you may owe a buyout fee of approximately $58. After the initial term, it converts to month-to-month and can be canceled without a buyout.
Annual Fee
Both plans charge an annual enhancement fee of $49 (Classic) or $49 (Black Card), billed once per year, usually in the first or second month of your membership anniversary.
This fee is non-refundable. If you cancel after it has been charged, you will not get that money back. Timing your cancellation before this date can save you $49.
When Does Your Cancellation Take Effect?
Planet Fitness requires cancellation requests to be submitted by the 10th of the month in order to avoid being billed for the following month.
If you cancel after the 10th, you will be charged for one more month, and your membership will remain active until the end of that billing cycle.
For example, if your billing date is the 17th of each month and you cancel on the 8th, you avoid the next charge. If you cancel on the 12th, you will be billed on the 17th, and your access continues until the end of that billing period.
Always confirm your specific billing date with your home club, as it can vary based on when you originally signed up.
Confirm Your Membership Is Actually Canceled
Do not assume your membership is canceled just because you filled out a form or mailed a letter. Follow up to protect yourself from continued charges.
- Keep a copy of your signed cancellation form or your certified mail receipt.
- Check your bank or credit card statements for the next two billing cycles.
- Call your home club about a week after submitting your cancellation to verify it was processed.
- Log in to the Planet Fitness app or website to check your membership status.
If charges continue after your cancellation should have taken effect, contact your home club immediately. If the issue is not resolved, you can escalate by reaching out to Planet Fitness customer service or by filing a dispute with your bank.
What If You Moved to a City Without a Planet Fitness?
Relocation is one of the most common reasons people struggle to cancel. Since you need to cancel at your home club or by letter, moving across the country can complicate things.
Process
Your best approach is to send a certified cancellation letter to your original home club.
Include a note explaining that you have relocated and are unable to visit in person.
Some members also include proof of their new address, such as a utility bill, though this is not always required.
If a Planet Fitness location exists near your new address, you can first request a home club transfer through the app or by calling the new location. Once the transfer is complete, cancel in person at the new club.
Freezing Your Membership Instead of Canceling
If you are not sure you want to cancel permanently, Planet Fitness offers the option to freeze your membership.
A freeze temporarily pauses your billing while keeping your account active. This can be useful if you are traveling, recovering from an injury, or dealing with financial strain.
Freeze terms vary by location, but many clubs allow a freeze for a minimum of one month. A small monthly fee (often around $5) may still apply during the freeze period. Ask your home club for the exact terms before choosing this route.
Third-Party Services to Cancel
Services like DoNotPay offer to handle gym cancellations on your behalf. These platforms typically send a cancellation letter to your home club and follow up if needed.
While some people find these services convenient, results can vary. Planet Fitness is not obligated to accept cancellation requests from third parties. If you go this route, still monitor your billing statements and follow up directly with your club to make sure the cancellation went through.
What Happens If You Just Stop Paying?
This is a critical point. Simply removing your payment method or letting your card expire does not cancel your Planet Fitness membership. The gym will continue to bill your account.
Unpaid balances accumulate, and Planet Fitness uses third-party collection agencies like ABC Financial (now Trufit Financial) to recover debts.
Unpaid gym membership debt can be reported to credit bureaus, which may hurt your credit score. Always follow the proper cancellation procedure to avoid this outcome entirely.
Can You Get a Refund After Canceling?
Planet Fitness typically does not issue refunds for monthly dues or the annual fee once they have been charged. Their membership agreement is clear on this point.
In rare situations, such as billing errors or if you can demonstrate that the club failed to process your cancellation properly, you may be able to dispute the charge with your bank. Keep all documentation to support your case if it comes to that.
Recap
Let me give you a quick recap of the things you should keep in mind. Avoiding these pitfalls will make the process smoother and prevent unnecessary charges.
✦ You must cancel at your home club, not any Planet Fitness.
✦ Submit your cancellation before the 10th of the month to avoid the next charge.
✦ Always get a copy of your cancellation form or send your letter via certified mail.
✦ Stopping payments without formally canceling can send your account to collections.
✦ Time your cancellation to avoid the $49 annual charge if possible.
