Best Gyms with Free Weights near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My husband and I have been going to Panthro since the end of September and we really love it. We started with semi-private classes which was a great introduction for us to see what Panthro was all about. The boot camp classes are lots of fun (and hard work) and each week and day is different so you don't get bored of the same routine that you might get in other fitness studios. I love that the classes are small and you get lots of feedback from the trainers. We've worked mostly with Olivia and she is so personable and really cares about your progress. Although we haven't trained with Rosie, we love it when she's around because she just oozes with great energy and keeps us pumped! We look forward to continuing our fitness journey with Panthro. You guys are bomb

Panthro Fitness is the BEST!!! It’s not only the best gym in Pittsburgh but probably everywhere! at least in my opinion. You will not be able to find a gym like this anywhere else. Panthro is strength training focused (you will get to do barbell squats, deadlift, bench press, etc.) while incorporating metabolic, athletic, and mobility trainings into the programs. Every day is a different workout and you will never get to do the same workout again so you will never get bored. Every class is fun yet challenging! Coaches are really nice, knowledgeable, and pay attention to everyone in the class and can tailor and adjust the workout based on your need or your injuries. And the best thing is that Panthro is the best community and is a family!! We support each other. We always have great fun events and challenges to help you achieve your goals. We push each other to work hard and cheer each other during the class (especially those last few reps lol). Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming. If you are new to lifting (which I was when I joined Panthro in June 2020), this place is for you - don’t be scared. If you’re an experienced lifter, this place is also for you. You will learn more how to improve your techniques and your mobility to be able to lift better and heavier! Joining Panthro is the best decision I’ve ever made! It’s definitely worth it!

I have been a member of Panthro fitness for the past 8 years. I absolutely love it and honestly can’t imagine my life without it. The community of Panthro is so amazing from the coaches to the other clients. When I first started going I was completely new to working out and was nervous about starting something new but everyone is so helpful and made me feel so welcome. Panthro is a great place for all ages and for any fitness level from beginners to advanced. Chris and the other coaches can also modify workouts for you if you have a chronic or acute injury which has been so great for me as I struggle with chronic neck pain. Every workout and every week is different to help you achieve your goals. The environment at Panthro is super positive and encouraging. I can’t recommend this place enough!!

I have been going to Panthro for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. Not only are the coaches great at what they do, the people who go to the gym are great as well. It is a very comfortable environment. You will not get that intimidating feel that you get at most gyms. It’s also very diverse community and everyone is invested in each others goals. We all motivate each other to do better no matter where we are in our fitness journey. The coaches put together a wide variety of workouts in the classes so you target all areas, which is what I love the most. If you are a person, like me, who could not stay consistent in a gym, then come give Panthro a try. The environment will change your whole experience with working out. If I could give 10 stars, I would.

My teenage daughter, husband and I have been attending boot camp at Panthro for over a year. We are all stronger and more fit, which has improved our performances in other sports, like running, triathlons and tennis. The change has been remarkable. Everyone at Panthro works hard in a supportive and very positive environment. Chris, the owner, is always upbeat and very knowledgeable about nutrition and exercise, so we all tap into his wealth of knowledge on a regular basis.

UltiMET Fitness is hands down the best gym in all of Pittsburgh. The coaches are extremely helpful, and the positive atmosphere is incomparable. Every workout is challenging and designed to push you to your limits. I wholeheartedly recommend UltiMET Fitness to anyone looking to improve their health, build strength, find a supportive community, and enhance their overall well-being. Don’t hesitate to stop in and ask for Adrian, he will get you in for a free class to try yourself —that’s what got me hooked!

This gym is truly exceptional. From the moment I walk in, I'm greeted with warmth and positivity. The coaches are not only knowledgeable and supportive but also genuinely invested in helping everyone reach their goals. The community here is incredibly welcoming—working out feels like being among friends, thanks to the friendly and open atmosphere. Adrian, one of the owners, is a standout motivator with incredible energy that inspires everyone around him. I'm happy to have discovered this gym and couldn’t be happier with my experience here.

This is the best gym experience I have had. All the coaches are extremely knowledgeable and committed to helping you progress all while promoting a positive and welcoming atmosphere. No matter what kind of shape you are in or what your experience level is, if you want to get the most out of your workouts, be challenged, and enjoy the experience there is no place better.

Great gym - welcoming and inviting and with classes that are sure to kick your butt. Been a few times and I appreciate Adrian's willingness to help a newbie like me with certain techniques that I'm used to. Definitely will return!

I love this gym because the coaches teach the moves in every class which I am grateful for. They are also knowledgeable, kind, and patient. Also the community here is supportive of each other which makes going to the gym easier.

Clean and enough equipment so no waiting around felt secure when my daughter and her girlfriend were there

Wonderful gym. Lots of equipment. 24/7 cannot be beaten!

I wish I could say something positive about this gym, unfortunately I’ve never been able to lift here. For being in such a high traffic area like Robinson this gym is FAR too small. They have one bench, one smith, only 2-3 spare inclines and no matter what time you go you can expect to never get the machine you want without a wait. I’d go to another anytime location

No one answers the phone at this place. Came back the last two Saturdays and no one is working. Was outside with two other people so they are losing potential business. Not a good look for the gym. Change your hours on the door and website.

Very excellent location but the machines need to be up to date. They’re old and unsafe to utilize

This place is FAR from clean! It used to be spotless, but has gone downhill in the past 18 months. The toilets are typically dirty (they apparently don't know what the toilet brush is for). The activity room floor hasn't been cleaned in months (clumps of hair and dust all along the walls) and worse is the cleanliness of the machines. I go to AF clubs all over world and I see how they are cleaned every hour or 2. Here, the treadmills and windows next to them are covered in dry sweat and dust. I just watched a guy run for 30 min, sweat like crazy all over the treadmill and machine next to it and then barely wipe it down - totally disgusting). For the most part, the workers here either run training sessions or sit in the offices doing nothing. The owners of this place need to motivate them to come out and clean or spend some money for a professional cleaning service. My final comment is the length of time broken machines sit broken (typically months!?). I have no idea why but I really wonder where my $400+ per year membership fee (plus a laughable $15 per year "facility improvement fee" goes)?! I am regretting renewing my membership here.

Love this gym, it’s always clean and the manager Ryan is awesome, very welcoming and always ensuring everything is in working order. I always recommend this gym to friends !

been going here for a while. never too packed, clean enough. no complaints.

Well run and maintained and overall a good bang for your buck compared to other gyms

Great gym, always open and Ryan does awesome and is always there to help!

The dude behind the counter took my payment and didn't offer me any directions on where anything in the building was. After spending ten minutes looking for the pool I was told it's been closed for a year now. If I'd have known about that I probably wouldn't have paid 70 dollars to join.

Allegheny YMCA, great place to get your sweat on. Full service, with a full size basketball court, pool, studio rooms, weight room and cardio room. Oh yes, yoga! They have trainers, and the best staff. Cost is more than reasonable. Now, go get your sweat on!

Whoever that blond haired, thinner woman is at the front desk, mid 40’s, SUPER SUPER RUDE! you guys need to fire your staff and hire people that represent good customer service. I will never visit this YMCA again. I can’t believe the ignorance that these females show the members of this YMCA. Shaking their head and staring at members blatantly irritated with signing them in. Outrageous behavior. The lockers are all rusted out and have holes in them. Close the place down and replace things to make it a welcoming experience. I have no idea what kind of establishment would allow customers to use this establishment in the condition that the facility is in. If Someone gets cut on these lockers a lawsuit will be immediately filed. I can’t believe the level of disrespect and lack of customer service. These staff members have. Very dissatisfied. Never returning.

recently got a membership and was told that the pool was out of order and will be for the foreseeable future so i tried to go to another ymca to use their pool and wasn’t allowed to for some odd reason. the weight room ac is also broke so you can’t work out without being half dead the entire time. all of the facilities are extremely old and the fact that i can’t use my membership at any other Ymca is extremely disappointing. will most likely be canceling soon

This place literally disgusts me. I sent my children here for summer camp this year. I paid the full amount of money, but they didn't do half of the things they promised. My children were not properly supervised. My youngest son came home with bad marks on the back of his head, and both my children complained that the counselors made them uncomfortable. One of the counselors, Aaron, is in the middle of a gender transition and made my boys call him Ms. which made them truly uncomfortable. The last day there my son asked him to please give him some space because he was uncomfortable with how close Aaron was and Aaron responded with, "I'm glad I'm making you uncomfortable." That's sick. I will never send my children here again.

Easily our favorite gym that we've been members of. Plenty of high quality equipment, including more specialized items like a reverse hyper. Owners are amazing folks with so much experience that they are always happy to share. We feel very comfortable in the space and find it to be a respectful atmosphere. Great for serious lifters but also those of us who love lifting but are a little less serious about it.

I've been going to Celli's Fitness for a few months now, and it’s easily the best gym experience I’ve had. The atmosphere and culture are incredible; everyone here is supportive, and the community vibe makes each visit something I genuinely look forward to. I recently took a squat masterclass with Ryan Celli himself, and I can't recommend it enough! Ryan’s expertise and mental cues helped me finally get comfortable with this dynamic movement, and my confidence has skyrocketed. Whether you’re new to lifting or an experienced athlete, you’ll get next-level coaching here. If you're looking for a gym that feels like home and actually helps you progress, Celli's Fitness is it. Highly recommended!

I absolutely love Cellis Fitness! It’s such a fantastic, family-owned gym that makes you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. Ryan and Dana, the owners, are genuinely friendly, down-to-earth people who clearly care about their members and have created a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. The gym is always clean and well-maintained, with plenty of equipment, so you never have to wait around. The other members are friendly too, and it feels like a true fitness community here. I couldn’t recommend Cellis Fitness more—if you’re looking for a quality gym that treats you like family, this is the place!

Best gym in Pittsburgh. Moved here from Louisiana and spent two years in Pittsburgh. Ryan and Dana make you feel like family! Has the perfect old school feel. They have something for everyone. Can’t recommend this gym enough to anybody looking for a place to workout!

I don't know that there could be any place better. I trained with Ryan on the big three compound lifts and it was the best experience I could've ever hoped for. Ryan really takes the time to break things down and explain why you're doing something or why he's changing something without making anything overly complicated. My form, knowledge, and confidence have all improved greatly since working with Ryan. The facility itself is immaculate and well maintained. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Celli's!

I have come here on a multitude of occasions and it happens quite often that no one is at the front desk when I'm done and want a hydromassage. I made the appointment 5 mins ago and no one is here yet again to start the machine for me despite my appointment. I also saw that no one was here when I walked in as well over an hour ago.

This location is huge. There is enough space and equipment for even the most crowded of times. The equipment is also some of the newer models and are in working order. The only drawback is that this has to be one of the dirtiest Planet Fitness I have ever been to. I mean no one mops the floors, empties the trash, or dusts the machines. The last photo I posted shows what looks like years of dirt on the back of one of there TVs. There are dust bunnies large as real bunnies in this place. And I won't even go into the filth in the locker rooms. Please hire someone to clean at this location.

PF was awesome. The people were very Nice and by people I mean both patrons and the employees. I was with someone at the time. A seasonal person, 😜 but I had a major crush on the one employee with a mullet. Anyway, the gym is clean and occasionally the employees will let you try the equipment a couple of times before they demand payment

I’m not really sure why this place has been judged so harshly in the reviews. Today was my first visit here and I almost went to a PF further away based on the negative reviews. I’m glad that I didn’t. There was nothing wrong with this location. I was helped quickly both times that I needed to ask for help from the front desk attendants, no wait for the hydromassage, and while I could pick at some of the things that my inner clean freak would be scrubbing, this is not a dirty location. Since I’m counting on making this my new home location after moving, I will update if I encounter any of the issues mentioned in reviews. But I have to say I was very happy with how clean the restrooms were in the women’s locker rooms and how comfortable I felt working out.

I have a good experience at Planet Fitness every one is helpful and the equipment is clean and ready to use. I am 72, and I like to try out different equipment, and they make sure I'm doing it correctly and recommend certain equipment for me. 👏👍

I would like to share my opinion about this sports club. I have been involved in sports for over eight years and have had the chance to train at various fitness centers across different countries, so I have a solid basis for comparison. This gym is outstanding in every way. The cleanliness is impeccable, not only in the workout area but throughout the entire facility. The equipment is always in excellent working condition, and the variety of machines caters to all fitness levels and training needs. The staff deserves special praise for their professionalism and attentiveness. They respond quickly and courteously to any questions or concerns, making every visit smooth and enjoyable. What truly sets this club apart is the welcoming atmosphere it creates. It’s clear that the management prioritizes customer satisfaction, which fosters a sense of community among members. If you’re looking for a gym that combines top-tier facilities, exceptional service, and a positive vibe, this is the place to be. Highly recommended!

This is such a nice Anytime Fitness. Having gone to others in the area and to other states, this is by far one of the best. I like how distinct the sections are of the gym, and I love the separate room with wood floors off to the side. Always clean, stays updated, and the gym manager is very nice. I really appreciate the garage parking perk. Well worth the price of membership!

Hands down the best Anytime fitness establishment yet! Huge variety in equipment, bathrooms, lockers! Plus the bonus room for those of us that have workouts we love and just need a space with equipment- this is it!! Coming back whenever I’m in Pittsburgh!

Southside anytime fitness is always a positive experience. They have a wide variety of machines and free weights, coupled with an incredibly clean and welcoming environment! I have used other gyms in the area and none of them come close to the positive atmosphere. Best gym experience I’ve had.

I knew the second I walked into the AF Southside location this was my place. I was immediately welcomed by the manager Danielle. The energy of the club alone had me sold, but Danielle solidified my choice to join. She took the time to under me first and then the goal became very clear. She’s absolutely amazing. Thank you to Kylie for the consultation and being open with me and hearing me out. I look forward to completing my task with your guidance. Last but not least…This gym is spotless! The young lady who is there when I go is so meticulous about keeping the gym clean. I almost fell off the treadmill watching her because I was so impressed lol.

I’ve been a member for over a year. The location is absolutely awesome. The pricing is very fair too. Then something sad happened. I was invited to my friend’s gym and realized just what I had been living with at Fitness19. By comparison, Fitness19 was just dirty . The bathrooms are undersized and definitely not cleaned regularly throughout the day. The gym floors are not cleaned and just generally feels disgusting. Multiple treadmills are broken and stay broken. Walking into my friend’s gym, it smelled of disinfectant. The multiple bathrooms were clean. The treadmills are the latest variety and all have televisions that you can Bluetooth. Anyway, I wish they’d clean up. I gave them 2 stars for convenience and price.

Excellent, welcoming fitness center. Never too crowded, and it is clean! Open 24 hours. Highly recommended to any and all ages of fitness seekers!

Needs to be cleaned, badly. The floors are crusty and the mirrors are very dirty. Equipment is not kept up with. Would honestly be a 5 star if these things were addressed. I only go here because it's close to me and I cannot afford a private owned gym at the moment.

I like going to this gym because it's so close, but man, it could use some improvements. Equipment is always broken - the same machines will be out of order for months on end. And even machines that aren't marked as out of order don't work correctly. For example, one day we tried using one of the 3 available stationary bikes that didn't have "out of order" signs on them - one was missing a pedal, and one clanked horribly with every rotation of the pedal. So counting those as broken, there was only one bike to use in the whole place (out of 5 I think). What about treadmills? I counted one day, and there were 7 out of order ones. Those same 7 have been broken for months - at least since November, but honestly probably before (I just decided to finally take a pic and count the broken machines in November because it had started to bug me). That's not to mention all of the other broken equipment throughout the gym as well! I literally saw one guy sit on a bench one day and the whole bench shifted underneath him - thank goodness he hadn't started to press yet! Other machines stick or are missing valuable accessories. Most benches have holes and rips. I'd be more OK with this if Fitness 19 was a struggling gym. I get it can be expensive to make all of these repairs, and I don't expect perfection. But every time we go, the place is pretty packed. They seem to have a lot of members, so why can't they afford to replace/repair anything? Other gyms don't seem to have these issues with ordering parts. We've been to the North Hills Fitness 19 as well a few times, and there are far less out of order machines (and the ones that are broken are repaired in a timely manner). They use the same equipment, so if the North Hills location can get repairs done/get the parts delivered, why can't this one? To add to the irritation, all of the plates are scattered across the gym and never put away correctly. Members consistently leave all of their weights on the machines and don't put things back. This isn't quite the gym's fault obviously, but I think staff should do their part to educate people on proper etiquette if they see these issues happening. And maybe do some rounds to put things back in the proper places throughout the day. I don't want to diss the staff, though - they all seem nice enough, and maybe they do clean up throughout the day. It could just be the members are that egregious in their lack of etiquette that they can't keep up. So, yeah. That was a bit of a rant, but I think it captures the main issues here. I think I was mainly motivated to write this review because Fitness 19 keeps advertising to me on Facebook with stock videos of these beautiful, perfectly kept-up gyms with amazing amenities like turf fields and high-tech cycling rooms that they certainly don't have at this location. It's highly misleading, and quite frankly, annoying. I'll keep going here because of convenience, but begrudgingly.

Update-2/29/24 It’s not often that I update reviews! I have to recognize one of fitness 19s personal trainers, Dallas. Met him a couple months back and was having elbow bursitis act up to the point I couldn’t lift. He heard me over talking and advised I use a tennis ball to stretch that area and the shoulder. He didn’t charge me, he didn’t ask me to sign up to train. He saw a fellow gym goer suffering from pain, offered his advice, and man has it helped me! These last 3 weeks have me feeling like I’m 18 again. Dallas, thank you. I sincerely appreciate your suggestion and even more so appreciate you offering that out of the kindness of your heart with no expectation of anything in return! 10/10 guy, I’d highly recommend. Wonderful establishment with an excellent team! I’ve been to countless gyms in the Pittsburgh/Surrounding areas and have not found a gym like fitness 19. Their team members truly embody the mission and treat you like family. In two years, I’ve yet to show up and see anyone in a bad mood. The front desk is always bright and joyful. Brittany is always a gem up front and ready to assist in any way that she can. The lead trainer, Cam, is everything you’d want in a trainer and team member: Well versed, positive energy, and someone who works with your goals. The gym is always clean. The owners are constantly adding new equipment, and the crowd is awesome! I’ve met good friends here and that’s not always the case at gyms. Generally not overcrowded and I’ve never struggled finding something to do. I’m happy to call fitness 19 my gym family and they have me locked in while I am in the Pittsburgh area. 10/10 highly recommend.

I'm just visiting for the week and when I was walking around my hotel I found this gym. I've always been a big ufc fan. So why try it. They offered me a free 3 day pass and it's been great. The gym is big and filled with tons of equipment. It was clean and the staff is super friendly. I would keep coming to this gym if I lived here.

Had a great experience at UFC Gym thanks to Mark Rutkowski! He keeps the place running smoothly and always greets members with a smile. The gym is clean, well-maintained, and Mark is super helpful with any questions. Definitely recommend checking it out - the positive atmosphere he helps create makes working out here a pleasure! 5/5 stars.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I've been to many different gyms over the last 15+ years and I can confidently say that his gym is top tier & very fairly priced, especially for a gym downtown. Basic membership gains you access to free weights & equipment, plus other spaces (like spin cycles or bags) if they're not being occupied by classes. This gym & women's locker room and bathrooms are extremely clean & the equipment is brand new and great quality. I read some other reviews about poor management, but there is a new GM here, Jess, and she is outstanding. This gym has a ton of different options and amenities (classes, recovery, tanning, etc) which are obviously added costs. If you're interested in joining I'd recommend taking a tour & discussing with them what you're interested in to get the best idea of how much it will cost if you want more than just a basic gym membership. They also offer 2 free hours of parking at a nearby parking garage. Highly recommend this gym, especially if you live around downtown.

This is regarding the gym at the Waterfront/Homestead location. Hello, I was going to this gym for awhile and just paying with cash to see, if I would be interested in attending here as a member. Glad I didn’t sign up because everytime there are two classes going on, I cannot access the equipment I need like a mat or a foam roller, as another poster said, this is an ongoing problem here when there are two classes going on at once. I cant imagine what it will be like in January when more people will be there and this gym is so small compared to most gyms in the area. It is wrong to have two classes going on at once when it is a very tiny and small gym.

UFC GYM is a great gym with an amazing staff. I highly recommend taking the boxing conditioning classes with coach Rob Jackson. He’s very skillful with his coaching techniques. With having no boxing experience, coach Rob was there to help build my confidence up. The environment is very welcoming and you get a great workout while learning the fundamentals of boxing. If you’re trying to find a gym, UFC GYM is the way to go as well as taking coach Rob’s classes. I promise you, it’s worth it! LETS GO!!!!

Fantastic gym has everything you need. Great location in the strip. I love that you can come and go as you please. Management especially Natalie is great to work with

So far what I can say is, we went to find a gym and the young woman at the counter was not super helpful or informative. We asked about a membership, she handed us a paper with what the memberships consist of with no other information. Maybe my expectations were too high, I thought maybe she would explain the different aspects each came with, or a tour. Had I not been to a planet fitness before, I wouldn't have been able to explain it to him. I will however go back to try the "free day" you can get with the app. I hope my experience gets better and there is someone with the willingness to assist.

Decent gym. Insanely crowded & terrible weekend hours. Smith machines are backwards, which make it hard to correct form using the mirrors in front. They need turned around, all of them. This is a massive injury prone situation.

This is not a judgment free zone. I had the worst experience with shaler planet fitness. The staff from 2 days ago were terrible. I took my autistic client to the gym per his request. When we arrived we were not greeted while my individual has a sensory issue he carries his vape around never used it in the gym he knows not to indoors. He wanted to try out some equipment. He is new to the gym. The staff were at the desk laughing and watching our every move. We were there maybe 20 minutes. When were going to leave the staff stopped us and told us that she was watching and that he couldn't vape in the gym which he never did and that I couldn't come to the gym in crocks and that we didn't wipe down the equipment. We carried our own wipes and hand sanitizer but she never said anything to the other people in the gym not wiping equipment down. She proceeded to say say this is your warning and it's not acceptable at the gym. I told her that my client was autistic and that he was new to going to the gym she still said this is your warning and was very rude. So not only did they make fun of my autistic client she upset him and made him feel like he was in trouble. I will never bring any of my clients back to this location.

have been a member for 3 yrs. Pf is an awesome fitness club; staff is friendly the w/o and locker area are well maintained. I typically get in my w/o after work and with the recent operational hour changes particularly Sat. (close @ 7:00p) has presented as challenge. The experience overall is good and I have shared that with people in my circle.

The staff are kids who will sit there on FaceTime while people stand at the desk to get help. Then when they actually start helping… they just leave the phone on speakerphone because your time is not more important than their phone call.