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Planet Fitness Credit Card Payments: The $52 Annual Earnings You're Missing
July 1, 2025
Quick Answer: Yes, Planet Fitness accepts all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) for monthly membership dues and annual fees.
But here's the real question: Should you pay with a credit card?
Most Planet Fitness members pay $10-25/month ($120-300 annually) plus a $39-49 annual fee. That's $159-349 in yearly charges that could earn you rewards—or cost you money in interest if handled incorrectly.
Let's run the numbers to determine whether paying Planet Fitness with a credit card actually makes financial sense—and which card maximizes your earnings.
The $52 Question: Do You Actually Earn Money Paying Gym Fees by Credit Card?
The answer depends entirely on two factors:
- Which credit card you use (earning rate matters)
- Whether you carry a balance (interest charges destroy all value)
Let's calculate exactly what you earn (or lose) with different payment strategies.
Strategy 1: 2% Cash Back Card (No Annual Fee)
Strategy 2: Premium Travel Card with Bonus Categories
Strategy 3: Flat-Rate 1.5-2% Card Optimized for Recurring Payments
Strategy 4: Bank Account Direct Debit (Planet Fitness Default)
Strategy 5: Credit Card With Balance Carried (Interest Charged)
Break-Even Analysis: When Does Paying by Credit Card Make Sense?
The math is brutally simple:
Use a credit card if:
- You pay the balance in full every month (no interest charges)
- You use a card earning 1.5-2% cash back with no annual fee
- You earn $4-6 annually vs. $0 with bank account
Use a bank account if:
- You sometimes carry a balance (interest charges exceed rewards)
- You'd incur late fees from credit card missed payments
- You prefer simpler budgeting without credit cards
The break-even point: One month of interest (20% APR on $20 charge = ~$0.33) wipes out one month's rewards ($0.40 on a 2% card). If you carry balances even 2-3 months yearly, you lose money.
Which Credit Card Maximizes Planet Fitness Earnings?
Let's compare the best options for gym membership rewards:
Best Overall: No-Fee 2% Cash Back Cards
Top picks:
Annual earnings on $279 Planet Fitness: $5.58
Why they win: Highest earning rate with no annual fee. Simple, straightforward, no optimization needed.
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Runner-Up: Flat-Rate 1.5% Cash Back Cards
Top picks:
Annual earnings on $279 Planet Fitness: $4.19
Why they're decent: Lower earning than 2% cards, but good if you're already carrying one. Chase Freedom Unlimited offers better value on other spending categories.
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Premium Cards: Only If You're Maximizing Other Spending
Example: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earnings on Planet Fitness alone: 279 points = $3.48 (at 1.25cpp redemption)
Minus annual fee: -$95
Net result: -$91.52 if gym is your only spend
Break-even: You need $6,334 in bonus category spending (dining, travel) to justify the annual fee before your Planet Fitness spend adds value.
Verdict: Don't get a premium card just for gym memberships. But if you already have one for travel/dining, using it for Planet Fitness adds incremental value.
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Cards to Avoid for Gym Memberships:
❌ Store cards (0% cash back on gym memberships)
❌ Secured cards with annual fees (rewards don't justify the cost)
❌ Cards with rotating 5% categories (gyms rarely qualify)
❌ Any card if you carry a balance (interest > rewards)
The Hidden Benefit: Building Credit With Small Recurring Charges
Beyond earning rewards, paying Planet Fitness by credit card offers an underrated benefit: building credit history.
How it works:
Payment History (35% of credit score):
- Autopay ensures you never miss a Planet Fitness payment
- This translates to on-time credit card payments
- Result: Positive payment history builds credit score over time
Credit Utilization (30% of credit score):
- $20/month Planet Fitness charge = minimal utilization
- Keeping balances low improves your utilization ratio
- Result: Better credit utilization if you pay it off monthly
Credit Mix (10% of credit score):
- For people with limited credit history, a small recurring charge demonstrates responsible credit use
- Result: Lenders see consistent, manageable credit activity
Strategic use case: If you're building credit with a secured card or have thin credit history, a $10-20/month gym membership is an ideal "credit-building charge." It's small enough to pay off easily but consistent enough to show positive payment patterns.
Caution: This only works if you pay in full monthly. Carrying balances damages your credit score more than the recurring charge helps.
Should You Pay Planet Fitness With a Credit Card? (The Decision Tree)
Here's your decision framework based on your financial situation:
✅ Use a credit card if you:
1. Pay your balance in full every month
- Earn $4-6 annually in rewards
- Build credit history with on-time payments
- No interest charges
2. Have a no-fee 1.5-2% cash back card
- Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash, Capital One Quicksilver
- Maximize earnings with no annual fee to offset
3. Want to build/improve your credit score
- Small recurring charge demonstrates responsible credit use
- Autopay ensures consistent on-time payments
- Ideal for thin credit files or rebuilding credit
4. Value consumer protection benefits
- Credit cards offer fraud protection
- Easier to dispute incorrect charges
- Can stop unauthorized recurring charges
❌ Use a bank account instead if you:
1. Sometimes carry a credit card balance
- Interest charges (20% APR) exceed rewards (2%)
- One month of interest wipes out 6+ months of rewards
- You lose money overall
2. Have a history of late credit card payments
- Late fees ($25-40) dwarf any rewards earned
- Damages credit score
- Planet Fitness through bank account avoids this risk
3. Prefer simpler budgeting
- Direct bank withdrawal = "out of sight, out of mind"
- No credit card statement to manage
- Reduces mental overhead for some people
4. Don't want subscription inertia
- Credit cards make it easy to forget you're paying for unused memberships
- Bank account provides slightly more friction to notice charges
How to Set Up Credit Card Payment for Planet Fitness
If you've decided a credit card makes sense, here's how to set it up strategically:
Step 1: Choose Your Card
Best option: 2% cash back no-fee card (Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash)
Why: Highest rewards with no annual fee to justify
Step 2: Update Payment Method
Option A: Online/App (Preferred)
- Log into Planet Fitness member portal or mobile app
- Navigate to "Billing" or "Payment Information"
- Add your credit card details
- Set up autopay
Option B: In-Person
- Visit your home Planet Fitness location
- Bring your credit card
- Ask front desk staff to update payment method
- Confirm autopay is activated
Step 3: Verify the First Charge
Timeline: Next billing cycle (usually monthly anniversary of sign-up)
Action: Check your credit card statement to confirm Planet Fitness charge processed correctly
Amount: Should match your membership tier ($10-25 + annual fee when applicable)
Step 4: Set Up Autopay for Your Credit Card
Critical: Autopay your credit card bill to avoid interest charges
Why: Earning 2% rewards but paying 20% interest means you lose money overall
How: Set up automatic full balance payment from your checking account through your credit card issuer
The $52 Trap: When Rewards Turn Into Losses
Here's what most articles won't tell you: Credit card rewards only work if you avoid these pitfalls.
Trap 1: Carrying a Balance
Scenario: You earn $5.58 annually (2% on $279) but carry a $500 average balance monthly at 20% APR
Cost: $500 × 20% / 12 months = $8.33/month in interest = $100/year
Net result: $5.58 rewards - $100 interest = -$94.42 loss
Verdict: Interest charges exceed rewards by 17x. Use a bank account instead.
Trap 2: Missing Payments
Scenario: You miss one credit card payment due to autopay failure
Cost:
- $25-40 late fee
- Potential APR increase to 29.99% (penalty APR)
- Credit score damage
Net result: One late fee wipes out 4-7 years of Planet Fitness rewards
Verdict: If you're prone to missed payments, direct bank withdrawal is safer.
Trap 3: Subscription Inertia
Scenario: You forget you're paying for Planet Fitness because autopay makes it invisible
Cost: $20/month × 12 months = $240 for a gym you haven't visited in 9 months
Net result: $240 wasted - $4.80 rewards = -$235.20 loss
Verdict: Earning rewards doesn't matter if you're paying for unused services. Set calendar reminders to evaluate whether you're actually using your membership.
Alternative Payment Methods for Planet Fitness
If credit cards don't make sense for your situation, here are your alternatives:
1. Direct Bank Account Withdrawal (Most Common)
How it works: Planet Fitness automatically withdraws membership dues from your checking account
Pros:
- Planet Fitness's preferred method (encouraged during sign-up)
- No risk of interest charges or late fees
- Simple, automatic
Cons:
- $0 rewards (no cash back, points, or miles)
- Fewer consumer protections than credit cards
- Harder to dispute charges
Best for: People who carry credit card balances or want simplest payment method
2. In-Person Payment at Your Club
How it works: Pay monthly dues or annual fee directly at Planet Fitness front desk
Pros:
- Direct oversight of charges
- Immediate confirmation of payment
- Can resolve billing issues on the spot
Cons:
- Requires monthly trips to gym
- Easy to forget and incur late fees
- No rewards
- Time-consuming
Best for: People who prefer hands-on control or have had billing disputes
3. Prepaid Debit Card
How it works: Load a prepaid card with enough for monthly dues, link to Planet Fitness
Pros:
- Limits spending to loaded amount (budgeting tool)
- No risk of debt or interest charges
- Some prepaid cards offer small rewards
Cons:
- Most prepaid cards have monthly fees ($5-10)
- Minimal or no rewards
- Must remember to reload
Best for: People building credit or avoiding traditional banking
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using a premium annual fee card solely for gym memberships
Example: Paying $95 annual fee for Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn 1x on Planet Fitness
Math: 279 points earned (worth $3.48) - $95 fee = -$91.52 loss
Solution: Only use premium cards if you're already justifying the annual fee with bonus category spending (dining, travel). The gym membership is incremental, not primary.
Mistake 2: Forgetting about the annual fee
What happens: Planet Fitness charges $39-49 annually in addition to monthly dues
Why it matters: This amount hits your credit card in one lump sum, potentially causing surprise charges
Solution: Set a calendar reminder for your annual fee date. Budget for this extra charge to avoid balance surprises.
Mistake 3: Not monitoring for billing errors
Common issue: Planet Fitness accidentally double-charges or charges after cancellation
Credit card advantage: Easier to dispute charges and get refunds vs. bank account withdrawals
Solution: Check your credit card statement monthly for Planet Fitness charges. Dispute any errors immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Planet Fitness charge extra fees for using a credit card?
No. Planet Fitness does not charge processing fees for credit card payments. You pay the same monthly membership rate whether you use a credit card, debit card, or checking account.
Can I change from bank account to credit card payment easily?
Yes. You can update your payment method through the Planet Fitness member portal, mobile app, or by visiting your home club in person. The change typically takes effect on your next billing cycle.
What happens if my credit card expires or is declined?
Planet Fitness will attempt to process the payment again. If it fails, they'll contact you to update payment information. Your membership may be suspended if payment isn't resolved within a billing cycle, and you could incur late fees.
Should I use my credit card for the annual fee too?
Yes, if you're already paying monthly dues by credit card. The annual fee ($39-49) earns the same 1.5-2% cash back. On a 2% card, that's an additional $0.78-0.98 earned annually—small, but better than $0.
Will Planet Fitness charges affect my credit utilization?
Minimally. A $20-25/month charge represents less than 1% utilization on a $3,000 credit limit. As long as you pay it off monthly, Planet Fitness charges won't negatively impact your utilization ratio (which should stay below 30% for optimal credit scores).
Can I use a secured credit card for Planet Fitness payments?
Yes. Planet Fitness accepts secured credit cards the same as regular credit cards. This is an excellent way to build credit with a small, predictable recurring charge if you're establishing or rebuilding credit.
Bottom Line: Earn $5-6 Annually or Pay $0—Your Choice
Paying Planet Fitness with a credit card is a low-stakes financial decision that offers modest rewards with minimal risk—if executed correctly.
The math is clear:
- 2% cash back card earns you $5.58 annually on typical $279 yearly Planet Fitness costs
- Bank account earns you $0
- Carrying a balance costs you -$50 to -$100 in interest annually
Your decision comes down to one question: Do you pay credit cards in full monthly?
If yes: Use a 2% cash back no-fee card. You'll earn $5-6 yearly—not life-changing, but better than leaving free money on the table.
If no: Use direct bank account withdrawal. Earning $5 in rewards while paying $50+ in interest is a losing strategy.
Your honest next steps:
Action 1: Check your current payment method. If you're using bank account withdrawal and you DO pay credit cards in full, switch to a 2% cash back card to earn $5-6 annually.
Action 2: If you don't have a 2% cash back card, apply for Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash. Both have no annual fees and $200 welcome bonuses (after spending requirements).
Action 3: Set up credit card autopay to pay the full balance monthly. This ensures you earn rewards without incurring interest charges.
Action 4: Use Kudos to track whether you're maximizing all your credit card benefits—not just on Planet Fitness, but across all your spending categories.
The Planet Fitness credit card question isn't about maximizing wealth—it's about minimizing waste. Every dollar you're not earning is a dollar you're leaving on the table. Make the strategic choice.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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