Global Payments Finds 1 in 8 Fitness App Users Back Independent Gyms

1 articles · Updated · Athletech News · Jun 25

One in eight consumers who book fitness or wellness services through apps say they use those platforms specifically to discover and support independent operators, according to a Global Payments survey of 4,002 U.S. and U.K. users.
U.K. demand gives that trend scale: consumers spend an estimated £15 billion a year booking classes, massages and similar services through apps, with Gen Z and Millennials contributing about £7.5 billion.
Platform use is already mainstream in Britain, where 31% of adults book fitness classes or gym visits through a platform and 60% of those users say they do so regularly.
ClassPass says marketplaces can turn discovery into loyalty—72% of users in its February 2026 survey said they would not have found their regular studio without it—though some studio owners still argue the model cannibalizes direct sales and lowers payouts.
For smaller gyms, the debate centers on trade-offs: operators gain marketing reach and off-peak demand they may not generate alone, but risk becoming more dependent on third-party booking platforms.