Health - SG Unlocked

If you have clicked on this post, I’m pretty sure that you know what ClassPass is. Or at the very least, you would have heard of it before. Here, I’ll share with you a first-hand review of what ClassPass has to offer and include some of my personal experiences. What is ClassPass? To start, I’ll briefly summarise what ClassPass is. ClassPass is a platform that brings together loads of fitness, wellness, beauty studios — into a single app. This makes it extremely convenient for you to book the experiences that they want from over 50 different cities. The most popular category that I’ve heard and personally used ClassPass for is the fitness classes. In Singapore, they currently have over 400 fitness studios (e.g. Ritual Gym, Absolute You, STILL Boxing) on their platform. This gives you the flexibility to choose the: Type of classes you want to go for, The location that is most convenient for you, and The best timing that fits into your schedule They even have an additional section called ClassPass Live, where you are able to view archived videos online. They used to have an online subscription for this, but it was discontinued. As such, there wouldn’t be new videos updated to the platform. The classes on ClassPass are booked using credits. Each credit is estimated to cost around S$2.25, and classes can range from 1 to 13+ credits (average is around 8 credits). So you can expect a class to cost about S$18 for a session. I’ve heard about the ClassPass app from my friends over the years (it was established in 2013), but got to try it out only recently. Let me share with you some of my thoughts about it. Is ClassPass worth it in Singapore? I would consider ClassPass to be worth it in Singapore, but only if the cost factor was eliminated. The concept of ClassPass is quite unique, as it brings a wide variety of activities onto 1 platform. As such, giving you the opportunity to explore new and interesting experiences. I think that many were enticed by ClassPass and allowed them to gain a huge following. However, there are some pros and cons of the platform that you might want to consider when considering paying for a ClassPass membership plan. First, let's start with the pros: Pro #1: There are a wide variety of workouts There are a whole bunch of workouts that are available on the platform. Some of their top categories include: YogaPilatesBoxingCyclingDanceHIITMartial Arts I’m pretty sure that you’d be able to find whatever workouts that you’re looking for on ClassPass. Moreover, you are able to try out new exercises that you never thought to go for before, like Aerial Yoga. Personally for me, I never really stuck with repetitive regimes and working out at the gym became mundane after a few weeks. The option to choose between different workouts depending on what I was feeling each day, gave me the motivation to work out on a more frequent basis. Pro #2: The commitment to ClassPass is flexible ClassPass uses credits as a form of payment for the classes that you attend. As such, you would have to buy credits, either through a monthly plan or a one-time top-up. Additionally, you can cancel it anytime you want. This is a perfect arrangement as compared to those packages that you buy directly from the studios. With studios, the bigger of a package you buy, the cheaper each class is. However, after the initial hype dies down and you have loads of unused classes that you haven’t gone for — that’s probably when you start to regret paying so much. For example, on ClassPass, a session at Sugar Boxing would amount to 8 credits normally (~S$18). However, when directly buying from the studio themselves, their best price is S$16.90. However, this is only if you’re a student and if you buy a 120-session pack at a go. Otherwise, their most flexible, low-commitment package, would be a student package of 12-sessions, calculated to be S$24.90 for each session. When comparing ClassPass and buying directly from the studio itself, sometimes ClassPass trumps both in pricing and flexibility. Pro #3: You can head for classes anytime, anywhere The studios that are partnered with ClassPass (e.g. Revolution, Sweatbox Yoga) seem to be everywhere in Singapore (400+ studios). You may be shopping in the centre of Singapore and suddenly, you may suddenly have the inspiration to work out. You are able to head to the app, find any available slots, and book it! If you’re frequently travelling around, you are also able to look for a studio around the area that you’re in. Furthermore, ClassPass is present in more than 50 other cities. As such, even if you’re in another country, you can still make use of the platform to book the local studios for workout sessions! These are some of the available classes in New York! Pro #4: You don’t feel lost, even as a first-timer With the wide expansion of ClassPass in Singapore, each studio may have experienced a significant number of first-timers. As such, the studio will try to be welcoming and helpful, even if you're a complete beginner to the workout. Most of the time, they would recommend you to come a little earlier (20 to 30 minutes) for a short introduction to the class. The classes that I usually go for are Spinning and Boxing. Hence, there always seems to require some set up of the equipment or having the right posture to ensure that the class is conducted safely. Pro #5: You are able to receive a trial period You will be given 20 free credits to use over the course of a month, before needing to pay for anything. These 20 free credits are just enough for you to try out most of the features that ClassPass has to offer. This allows you to try out their booking platform. Moreover, you can book a class at some studios that you would never otherwise have the chance to attend (unless the studios offer trial classes or if you pay for them). However, with all the pros mentioned, here are some cons that I’ve experienced: Con #1: ClassPass membership is a little expensive ClassPass, when they first debuted, was one of the most affordable options. This was one of the main factors why it attracted such a large following. However, over the years, they had to increase their prices in order to ensure the sustainability of their business. Currently, each credit cost is averaged to be around S$2.25. To reiterate the calculations made before, each class that you attend costs ~8 credits. In total, you could end up spending about S$18 for each session. From my personal budget, the maximum that I would ever spend on a session is about S$11. Although when you compare the prices elsewhere, it may be considered pretty cheap for a studio session. As such, I would have to be on the lookout for promotions and seasonal discounts. Con #2: The ClassPass app doesn’t give very clear directions Attending classes for the first time can be quite time-consuming (and frustrating), as you would need to find out how to get there. Sometimes, the directions given on ClassPass are not clear and you would have to do some exploration on your own to get to the studio. Furthermore, the fact that some studios do not allow late entry further adds to your stress and anxiety when the class start time is drawing closer. I had attended some classes where I ended up getting lost even when I was guided by the trusty Google Maps. I managed to arrive at the studio just in time for the lesson, even when I planned to reach 15 minutes before! Con #3: You may have to pay cancellation fees (if you can’t make it to class) ClassPass has 2 types of cancellation fees: Late Cancellation FeesMissed Reservation Fees Late Cancellation FeesMissed Reservation FeesIncurred when cancellations are made within 12-hours before the classIncurred if you miss a class without cancelling it You could be charged S$15 to S$45You could be charged S$20 to S$48 Nevertheless, even when you’re charged with either of the fees, the credits that you’ve used to book the session would be returned to your account. The thing about these cancellation fees is that sometimes life just simply doesn’t go as planned. There could suddenly be a jam on the highway, or an emergency cropping up in the middle of the day, resulting in you being unable to attend the session. In these cases, you may feel like the cancellation fees or missed reservation fees are unjustified to be charged. You can always email their support team for a review or an update on the fees. How does ClassPass work in Singapore? You can talk about the process of booking a slot etc. etc. The process of booking a class on ClassPass is frictionless, you can book a class in just 3 simple steps: Select your preferred studioSelect your preferred time slotConfirm your reservation Most of my time spent on the app is scrolling through the different classes offered and deciding on which one to go for. Step 1: Select your preferred studio When you open the ClassPass app, the homepage will be shown. From here, you can take your time to look through the different options offered on the page. Additionally, you can also make use of the search function located on the bottom bar. There are filters (e.g. Categories, Start time, Credits, Distance) available to help you narrow down your search. If you have found a class that you are interested in, you can tap on it to find out more. When you scroll down, you will be shown more details about the studio (e.g. Location, Reviews, Amenities). Step 2: Select your preferred time slot When you are sure that you’d like to book a reservation for the class, tap on the View Schedule button. You will be brought to another page where all of the time slots are shown to you. Here, you would have to do a cross-check with your calendar and find your ideal time slot. Once you have that, tap into your preferred time slot. Step 3: Confirm your reservation Finally, the last thing to do is to tap on the Reserve button and tap Confirm reservation. Voilà, your class is confirmed! There should be an email from the studio that’s sent to you. Containing a calendar invite, and details on what to do/bring, if it’s your first time there. If you’d like to check your bookings, you can tap on Upcoming in the bottom bar. How much does ClassPass cost in Singapore? ClassPass offers a month trial, giving you 20 free credits to book classes with. After your free 20 credits trial, you would automatically be placed in the 45-credit paid plan (S$99 /month). Nevertheless, you can select a different plan option that’s more catered to your needs. Here is a table that summarises all the plans that ClassPass offers. Plan OptionsCost (Per month)Cost of Each CreditFree 20 credit trialFree 14-day trial-8 creditsS$19.00S$2.3825 creditsS$59.00S$2.3645 creditsS$99.00S$2.2085 creditsS$185.00S$2.18150 creditsS$315.00S$2.10Source: ClassPass From what I’ve noticed so far, ClassPass does not seem to offer any special discounts for students. As a student coming from a mid-income family, the pricing is way out of my budget. Even with the pros of the ClassPass platform, it is still an unjustifiable cost in my current financial plan. As mentioned above, each class is about 8 credits. However, there is a special promotion going on right now that allows you to reserve a class for half of the credits — given that it’s your first time at the studio (location doesn’t matter). If you purchase the 45-credits /month plan, you’ll get to go for ~6 classes (~12 classes if you hop around different studios). It could be worth it in your first month. However, when you start to become a regular at the studios you prefer, you would be able to perhaps afford to go for class only once or twice a week. However, I am a little disappointed that I missed the competitive prices when ClassPass first expanded to Singapore before 2019. During its debut last year, Temasek-backed ClassPass launched an aggressive bid for market share with competitive plans offering 50 credits for S$50 and 200 credits for S$100, making it one of the cheapest among similar fitness classes booking services here.Source: CNA ClassPass has changed its plan pricing to those mentioned in the table above. The cost of each credit being S$0.50 to S$1.00, suddenly shot up to ~S$2.25. My math isn’t the best, but in terms of percentage, the membership plan prices shot up by an additional 100%. That’s one insane price hike! Payal Kadakia, CEO and Co-founder of ClassPass, did however explain the dramatic price increase in an interview with FORBES. The start-up had to ensure that it was sustainable in the long run, especially after experiencing an unexpected influx of new users on the platform. After reading the article, the price increments had also already started in New York City (the founding country) back in 2016. Hence, it should have been expected that the sharp price increase would continue in countries where ClassPass had expanded to. Looking back, the debut plan pricing was a little too good to be true right? Is there a free trial for ClassPass? ClassPass offers a free trial for new users. You will be given 20 free credits to use over a month. If you decide to continue purchasing a paid plan, the unused free credits can be rolled over. Otherwise, if you decide not to continue with a paid plan after the trial, you will not be able to use the free credits again. Can my ClassPass credits roll over? Your ClassPass credits can be rolled over into the next month. However, there is a cap on the number of credits based on your existing membership plan (8 to 150 credits). As long as you are an active ClassPass member, on a paid plan. You would be able to roll over unused credits, limited to the number of credits in your upcoming plan. This means that if you are set to be on a 45-credit paid plan in the next month, then you would be able to roll over 45 credits to the next month. Are there any hacks to maximise my ClassPass credits? In order to maximise your credits, I’d recommend aiming for going for more classes — which means that you might have to forgo going to popular and atas studios like Absolute You and Active Virgin. Classes are worth different credit values based on a variety of factors such as the time you’re booking, what time the class is held, and how many times you’ve visited that studio in your current cycle. The lower the credit value for each class, the more you can take. Source: ClassPass Hence, I’ve collated a few hacks to share with you how best to make the most out of your money: Invite friends onto ClassPass (20 Credits)Go for a 1st-time visit at different studiosTry non-peak timingsCancellation Promotions Hack #1: Invite friends onto ClassPass (20 Credits) You are able to invite your friends on ClassPass to receive more free credits. The conditions are that: You need to be an existing paying customerYour friend would also need to become a paying customer In order for the referral credits to be approved and credited into your account. If you’d like to read up more on the terms and conditions for the ClassPass Refer-a-Friend, you can head to this link. Hack #2: Go for a 1st-time visit at different studios Currently, ClassPass has a promo for you if it is your first time at the studio. They will give you 50% off on the number of credits that you have to pay. This means that if the class originally costs 8 credits, they would charge you 4 credits for your first session there. However, this would mean that you would have to travel around to different locations. One advantage of doing this could be that it encourages you to explore more options before settling and sticking to those studios that you prefer! Hack #3: Try to go for your workouts during non-peak timings The more popular timings are the lunch period (12 pm to 2 pm) or after work (6 pm to 7 pm slots). Sometimes, avoiding those peak periods (if you can), would allow you to obtain a better deal. Such an example would be the appointments at STILL Boxing. If you could take a look at the original credits that each session costs, the most expensive session would be the 12.15pm (8 credits) and 5.30pm (10 credits) sessions. Crowds are not my thing. Especially right now. So if it’s the same for you, I’d recommend you to consider this hack! Hack #4: Better promotions are offered when you try to cancel your membership Platforms are always sad to see customers go. When you get to the cancellation page, they would always try to suck you back in — by offering a one-time good deal. Maybe you’d stop there and reconsider your cancellation. You could be thinking to yourself that it would be a shame to give up on such a deal, then decide to continue a while longer with the platform. My Final Verdict Personally, I don’t think that ClassPass paid membership plans are worth going for. At least, it’s not a right fit for me with my current financial capabilities. This is especially since I have other cheaper alternatives to work out, like ActiveSG and NTU’s campus gym. However, I could still consider purchasing ClassPass membership plans when I earn a more substantial amount in the future. Nevertheless, I am almost 100% sure that ClassPass would be overtaken by another more aggressively priced platform. Till then, I hope that this review has helped you to gain some insights into using ClassPass, and do feel free to share other fitness promos with me!