CrossFit Membership Models: Unlimited vs Class Packs
Does this sound familiar? Your unlimited members love the box, but a handful of them are in every 6pm WOD, and your 6pm class is always packed. A few athletes only come twice a month and find unlimited too expensive. And a visiting athlete has just emailed to ask how to drop in.
You do not need one model for everyone: you just need a simple mix that fits how your athletes train.
In this guide, we will look at unlimited memberships, class packs, punch cards and drop-ins, where each one works, and the simple mix most boxes end up with.
For the day-to-day side, see Best CrossFit Box Booking & Membership Software 2026 and Manage WOD Capacity and Cut No-Shows in Your CrossFit Box.
Quick Answer
Unlimited suits your regulars: Athletes who train five or six times a week want one simple price.
Packs and punch cards suit everyone else: Occasional athletes pay for what they use.
Always offer drop-ins: Visiting athletes are real, regular income for many boxes.
Most boxes use a mix: Unlimited, one class pack and a drop-in price. Three or four options in total.
Unlimited: Why It Works and Where It Can Cost You
Unlimited is the usual choice in CrossFit, for good reasons.
It fits the culture: Regulars expect one price and to come whenever they like.
Steady income: One monthly amount per member, easy to plan with.
Easy to sell: No counting classes, and no "how many do I need?" questions.
Where it can cost you: Your most frequent athletes use the most coaching time and space, but pay the same as someone who trains twice a week. If your busiest WODs are already full, that adds up.
Class Packs and Punch Cards: Why They Work
A class pack is a bundle of, say, 10 or 20 classes. A punch card is paid per visit, often with a small discount for buying several visits at once.
Pay for what you use: Occasional athletes pay for the classes they actually come to.
Spreads out demand: Athletes on packs tend to pick their WODs more carefully, which takes pressure off your busiest classes.
A natural next step: An athlete who keeps buying pack after pack is ready to hear about unlimited.
Keep in mind: Packs can feel less generous than unlimited, and if credits run out too quickly, your part-time athletes will be the first to notice.
Do Not Forget Drop-Ins
CrossFit has a travel culture: athletes visiting a new city love to drop in at a local box.
Set a clear drop-in price: Usually around the price of one pack credit, or a little more.
Let drop-ins book online like members: A visiting athlete should be able to see the WOD, book and pay before they arrive, without emailing first.
Keep an eye on drop-ins: For boxes near offices, hotels or tourist areas, drop-ins are real income worth watching on their own.
Four Questions to Choose Your Mix
Answer these about the box you run today.
- 1Are your busiest WODs already full? If yes, unlimited with no limits will make it worse. Lean towards packs, punch cards or an unlimited plan with a guideline for peak classes.
- 2How much quiet time do you have? Lots of quiet slots make unlimited much safer, because frequent athletes spread across the day.
- 3What does one WOD spot cost you? Add up coach pay, equipment and floor space. If your most frequent unlimited members cost more than they pay, add a cap or raise the price.
- 4How do your athletes train? Lots of daily regulars suit unlimited. Lots of twice-a-week or seasonal athletes suit packs and punch cards.
Most boxes find a mix works best, and that is a good sign, not indecision.
The Mix Most Boxes Use
Unlimited: Priced for your true regulars, ideally with a gentle guideline for your busiest WODs.
A class pack: 10 or 20 classes for athletes who are committed but not there every day.
A drop-in price or punch card: For newcomers, visitors and anyone trying things out.
Keep it to three or four options. More than that slows down every sign-up.
Setting Up Your Membership Menu
Look at your busiest and quietest WODs
Mark the classes that are always full and the ones that often have space. This shows how much room unlimited really has.
Work out what one WOD spot costs you
Add up a month of coach pay, rent and equipment, and divide it by the number of spots you offer. Now you know what each spot costs.
Price your unlimited plan
Price it for your daily regulars, so it covers what they cost you.
Add a class pack
Offer 10 or 20 classes with a fair expiry, so part-time athletes have enough time to use them.
Set your drop-in price and make it bookable online
Put the drop-in on your booking page, so visitors can book and pay before they arrive.
Check in after 90 days
Look at how often unlimited members train, how full your busiest WOD is and how many drop-ins you get, then make small changes.
Quick Do's and Don'ts
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Keep the menu short: Three or four options are plenty. | Offer a wall of plans: Too many choices slow down every sign-up. |
| Price unlimited for daily regulars: It should cover what they cost you. | Price unlimited for twice-a-week athletes: Your busiest WODs will pay for it. |
| Let drop-ins book online: Visitors book before they arrive. | Make visitors email first: Many will go to another box. |
Simple Numbers to Watch
Income from memberships: Healthy boxes often get 60 to 80 out of every 100 euros from memberships, with packs, punch cards and drop-ins making up the rest.
Busiest WODs filled: Aim for 80 to 95 out of every 100 spots, and watch for unlimited members crowding out everyone else.
Classes per unlimited member: Compare it with what one spot costs you, to spot very frequent users early.
Members leaving each month: Below 6 to 10 out of every 100.
Treat these as goals, not rules. Your own numbers matter more once you have a few months of data.
Final Takeaway
Know your busiest WODs and what one spot costs you, and a simple mix of unlimited, one class pack and a drop-in price will keep your best classes healthy while still feeling generous.
Round out the set with Best CrossFit Box Booking & Membership Software 2026, Manage WOD Capacity and Cut No-Shows in Your CrossFit Box, and more CrossFit guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
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