How Planet Fitness lost its way in the increasingly competitive gym market

Published: May 8, 2026 at 2:34 p.m. ET

Nothing seems to be going Planet Fitness’s way these days.

For one, the budget gym operator PLNT is facing growing competition from companies such as private-equity-backed Crunch Fitness that are vying for a piece of the discount gym market. The pressure has been especially acute in the Southern U.S. region.