Anyone who's stood at a gym desk in Lisbon knows the sales pitch: "we only have plans with 12 months of lock-in". In 2026 this is, quite simply, false. There are operators in Lisbon that don't require any minimum commitment, with competitive prices and central locations. The problem is that "no lock-in" advertising is also used by subscriptions which, once you read the small print, actually require a 12-month annual contract.
This article lists the six gyms in Lisbon that genuinely have no lock-in in 2026, with prices verified directly on the official pages at the time of publication. It also includes a section on alternatives that market themselves as flexible but hide an annual contract (and how to spot them), and a legal section on how to leave a lock-in contract you're already paying for. We operate , the only pay-per-session private studio gym in Lisbon, so we know the "no contract" landscape from the inside.
No Contract vs No Lock-In: What Each One Actually Means
"No contract" is colloquial. Legally, any gym subscription in Portugal is a service contract, governed by Law 47/2014 and the general consumer regime. What varies is whether or not the contract has a lock-in clause, that is, a minimum term during which you can't cancel without penalty.
No lock-in means you can cancel at any time (typically with 15 to 30 days' notice) with no penalty. There's still a contract, but the exit is open.
Pay-per-session goes one step further. There's no mandatory monthly subscription. You only pay for individual sessions (drop-ins) or buy packs with long validity (45 to 90 days). If you don't train in a given month, you don't pay any membership fee. In Lisbon in 2026, this private-studio model is unique to MySelf Studio.
Multi-club subscription (Urban Sports Club, ClassPass) is the model where you pay a single monthly fee that gives you access to several partners (gyms, studios, pools, classes). In Portugal, this model often requires an annual contract, even when broader marketing uses the word "flexible".
In this article, "no contract" means any model where you can stop without penalty and without a minimum term.
The 3 Gym Models in Lisbon (and Which One Is Really "No Contract")
Model
How you pay
Typical price
Cost if you don't train
Typical lock-in in Lisbon
Best for
Cancellable monthly
Fixed monthly fee
EUR 12 to EUR 36/month
Full monthly fee
None
4 or more sessions per week
Pay-per-session
Per session or pack
EUR 11 to EUR 20/session
Zero
None
1 to 3 sessions per week, variable volume
Multi-club subscription
One monthly fee for multiple partners
EUR 29 to EUR 154/month
Full monthly fee
12 months (Urban Sports Club) or variable
Those who want to mix activities and accept a lock-in
Model 1: Cancellable Monthly (genuinely no contract)
You pay a fixed monthly fee and cancel whenever you want, usually with 15 to 30 days' notice. It works for people who train regularly (4 or more sessions per week) because the fee dilutes across the visits. The risk is that you pay the full month even when you skip it (holidays, illness, seasonality). In Lisbon, this is the dominant model among low-cost and mid-range chains that have dropped the classic 12 or 24-month lock-in.
Model 2: Pay-per-Session (private studio)
You only pay for the sessions you actually attend. No mandatory monthly fee, no minimums. In Lisbon in 2026, only MySelf Studio operates this model in a fully private studio. Zero cost in the months you don't go. Pack 40 brings the per-session price down to EUR 11. As an added benefit, the studio is entirely reserved for you during the booked hour and you can bring your own personal trainer.
Model 3: Multi-Club Subscription (watch out for the lock-in)
A single monthly fee to use multiple partners. In Portugal, the segment leader (Urban Sports Club) requires 12 months of lock-in on every plan, despite generic "flexibility" marketing. Cancellation is only possible with 3 days' notice before annual renewal. Higher average price (EUR 29 to EUR 154/month), justified by the variety of activities. For people who want to mix strength training, pilates, yoga and swimming, and who accept the annual commitment.
The 6 Real Options in Lisbon in 2026
Each entry lists the name, area, current price verified on the official page (or in the brand's public protocol), sign-up fee if applicable, notice period for cancellation, and the scenario in which the option is the right pick. We start with the only private pay-per-session and then move to the five cancellable monthlies.
1. MySelf Studio (Av. de Madrid 7A, Areeiro)
Model: pay-per-session in a private studio, the only one of its kind in Lisbon in 2026.
Packs valid for 45 to 90 days: Single EUR 20, Pack 10 at EUR 14/session (EUR 140, 45 days), Pack 20 at EUR 13/session (EUR 260, 60 days), Pack 30 at EUR 12/session (EUR 360, 75 days), Pack 40 at EUR 11/session (EUR 440, 90 days).
Cancellable monthly subscription (sessions don't roll over to the following month): Casual EUR 59/month (4 sessions, EUR 14.75/session), Regular EUR 110/month (8 sessions, EUR 13.75/session), Frequent EUR 153/month (12 sessions, EUR 12.75/session), Pro EUR 200/month (20 sessions, EUR 10/session).
Zero sign-up fee. Zero annual fee. No lock-in and no notice period (you cancel at the end of the monthly cycle with no charge).
Differentiator: the entire studio is reserved for you during the booked hour (total privacy), full professional equipment (Olympic barbell, dumbbells up to 25 kg, multi-station machine, treadmill), opening hours from 6 am to midnight, 7 days a week, and the option to bring an external personal trainer with no commission charged to the studio.
Best for: people who train 1 to 3 times a week, professionals with unpredictable schedules around Saldanha / Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo / Avenidas Novas, anyone who prioritises full privacy, or anyone training with an external personal trainer (see the PT perspective on the no-contract model).
2. Element Gyms Alvalade (R. Francisco Stromp 14)
Model: cancellable monthly, no lock-in, with 15 days' notice.
Verified prices (2026): Basic OP at EUR 2.99/week (1 club, limited hours), Basic at EUR 3.99/week (1 club, unrestricted hours), Classic at EUR 5.99/week (regional clubs, up to 2 workouts a day), Premium at EUR 6.99/week (all national clubs, up to 2 workouts a day, bring 1 friend free once a day). Sign-up fee of EUR 15 (Premium reduces it to EUR 10). Payment by direct debit every two weeks.
Differentiator: the cheapest cancellable monthly in the area. Big floor with basic strength and cardio equipment. No group classes on the entry plan.
Best for: tight budgets, people who train 4 or more times a week, anyone happy to share the space without extras.
3. TTF / Time to Fitness 24 (Saldanha, Alvalade, Campo Grande and 24 more clubs)
Model: cancellable monthly, no lock-in.
Verified prices (2026): TTF PLUS at EUR 35/month (access to every club in the network, training plan, nutrition plan), TTF GO at EUR 45/month (pay only in the months you use it, ideal for occasional use), Annual Card at EUR 380/year (unlimited 365-day access, with savings of more than EUR 150 compared to the monthly). Sign-up fee of EUR 50 (waived on the annual card) plus EUR 10 annual insurance.
Differentiator: access to 27+ clubs across Greater Lisbon and the South Bank, open from 6 am to midnight, 365 days a year in the TTF 24 network clubs.
Best for: anyone working across different areas of Lisbon who wants to train near the office or home interchangeably, anyone with very wide working hours.
4. VivaGym Picoas (Av. Duque d'Ávila 11)
Model: cancellable monthly, "no lock-in!" stated explicitly on the official page.
Verified prices (2026): ONE at EUR 32.90/month (1 club, 1 class a day booked 2 hours ahead), FLEX at EUR 34.90/month (multi-club in the area, 36 hours ahead), PRIME at EUR 35.90/month (230+ clubs in Spain and Portugal, 2 classes a day, 48 hours ahead). Day Pass at EUR 11.90. Sign-up fee of EUR 3.
Differentiator: mid-range with bigger facilities than pure low-cost, including group classes and a training plan via the app. Free parking in defined periods.
Best for: anyone wanting something between pure low-cost and premium, without signing a lock-in, who values group classes.
5. Be-Fit (network with clubs in Lisbon, South Bank and Setúbal)
Model: cancellable monthly, officially advertised as "no lock-in".
Price: from EUR 19.99/month, with a complimentary first physical assessment and first training plan. Sign-up fee varies by club (check before signing).
Differentiator: a sweet spot of price and quality between ultra-low-cost and mid-range, with some initial guidance included in the price (physical assessment + training plan) at no extra cost.
Best for: beginners who want basic guidance without paying mid-range prices.
6. Lemonfit Estefânia (Rua Dona Estefânia 177C, by Saldanha)
Model: cancellable monthly, no long lock-in.
Price: from EUR 34.90/month (1-club access). Access to 2 network clubs adds around EUR 5/month. Sign-up fee of EUR 19.
Current hours: 6 am to 11 pm on weekdays, 7 am to 8 pm on weekends and public holidays. The site used to operate 24/7 in 2018; the model has since been revised.
Differentiator: central location next to Saldanha and Picoas, large floor with a pool, padel and a spa at some sites, early morning opening (6 am) ideal for people training before work.
Best for: professionals in Saldanha / Picoas / Avenidas Novas who value a long early-morning window, a pool, padel or spa. For anyone who just wants a plain gym, cancellable low-cost (Element, Be-Fit) works out cheaper.
Watch Out for the "Flexible" Plans with a Hidden Annual Lock-In
This is the second editorial differentiator of this article (the first being verified prices). Several options sold as "flexible" or "no lock-in" actually require, once you read the small print, an annual contract.
Urban Sports Club (Lisbon). The generic marketing sells a "flexible subscription" and the "no lock-in" slogan appears on several channels. The official Portugal pricing page shows that the four plans (Essential EUR 29/month, Classic EUR 64/month, Premium EUR 104/month, Max EUR 154/month) require 12 months of lock-in. Cancellation is only possible with 3 days' notice before annual renewal. Confirmed in 2026.
ClassPass. An international credit-based subscription with a presence in Lisbon. Pricing is dynamic and varies by region, and the lock-in period also varies by plan (Base, Core, Elite). Check the official page before signing, and especially before accepting "discounted first month" promotions.
"Promotional" memberships at traditional chains. Watch out for offers like "first 3 months at EUR 9.99" at Holmes Place, Solinca, Phive or Fitness Hut. The typical contract locks you in for 12 or 24 months, and from month 4 onwards you pay the full price. The early discount is a promotional reduction; it doesn't cancel the overall lock-in.
How to spot it on an official page in 30 seconds:
Look for the words "lock-in", "commitment", "minimum term" or "annual commitment" on the pricing page. If it's there, there's a lock-in.
Look for "cancel whenever you want" combined with "cancel with X days' notice before annual renewal". The word "annual" contradicts "whenever you want".
Confirm the sign-up fee and the annual insurance fee. Some chains hide the total cost in those two small lines.
Read the early-cancellation clauses specifically. Typical penalty at premium chains: 2 to 6 months' fees.
The Maths: Which Model Pays Off Depending on Your Frequency
Scenarios using verified prices, calculating the real cost per session for each model. Assumption: 4.33 weeks per month on average.
Weekly frequency
Sessions/month
Element Basic OP (~EUR 13/month)
Be-Fit (EUR 19.99/month)
VivaGym Picoas (EUR 32.90/month)
Lemonfit (EUR 34.90/month)
TTF PLUS (EUR 35/month)
MySelf Studio (best pack or subscription)
1x
4
EUR 3.25/session
EUR 5.00/session
EUR 8.23/session
EUR 8.73/session
EUR 8.75/session
Casual EUR 14.75/session (subscription) or drop-in EUR 20
2x
8
EUR 1.63/session
EUR 2.50/session
EUR 4.11/session
EUR 4.36/session
EUR 4.38/session
Regular EUR 13.75/session (subscription) or pack EUR 14
3x
12
EUR 1.08/session
EUR 1.67/session
EUR 2.74/session
EUR 2.91/session
EUR 2.92/session
An honest reading of the table. There are three caveats the raw numbers don't show.
First, MySelf's zero cost in the months you don't train. If in August you do 0 sessions and you bought a pack, you don't pay any monthly fee. At Element at around EUR 13/month, you pay EUR 13 anyway. Across 12 months with 2 months of low activity, that's EUR 26 "dead" at Element vs EUR 0 at MySelf. Across the year, this offsets part of the per-session price gap.
Second, the quality of the hour itself. At MySelf, the whole studio is just for you during the booked hour. At Element at EUR 13/month in peak hour, you share it with 50 to 150 people. For many people, the value of a private hour is several times that of a shared hour, especially for those with limited equipment experience who benefit from having the space queue-free.
Third, the hidden costs of memberships. Element charges EUR 15 for sign-up and bills every two weeks. TTF charges EUR 50 for sign-up and EUR 10 of annual insurance. Lemonfit charges EUR 19 for sign-up. The real "EUR 13/month" at Element in the first year is closer to EUR 16/month equivalent, counting amortised sign-up. MySelf packs have no sign-up fee and no annual insurance: the per-session price is the final price.
Your Legal Rights If You're Already in a Lock-In Contract
This section doesn't appear in any of the competing guides that occupy the top 10 of Google for "gym no lock-in". It's the third editorial differentiator of this article. If you're already in a contract and looking for a way out, read carefully.
1. Right of free withdrawal within 14 days. After signing any service contract (gym included), you have 14 days to terminate the contract with no reason and no cost. This is a non-waivable legal right: it can't be excluded by contract clause nor renounced by the consumer. It applies even to contracts with a 12 or 24-month lock-in.
2. Valid reasons for early termination (even with an active lock-in):
Serious illness or high-risk pregnancy (with a medical certificate).
Involuntary unemployment (with a Social Security statement).
Change of workplace or residence to a distance that makes use impractical (with proof of the new employment contract or tenancy agreement).
Poor service delivery (prolonged closure for works, broken equipment, reduced hours, unilateral change of conditions). It's the most-used reason in practice and the most contested at DECO.
3. Clauses that DECO PROteste considers unfair (and therefore invalid):
Exclusion or limitation of liability for damage to the user's life, physical integrity or health.
Inability to suspend payments when the gym denies access (works, temporary closure, bankruptcy).
Full transfer of responsibility for equipment breakdowns to the user.
Pre-set indemnity amounts for injuries caused by gym machines.
Unilateral price or condition changes with no right of cancellation for the consumer.
4. How to terminate formally. Send a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the gym's head office (not the local club, unless it's a single-establishment company), with full identification, member number, reason given and a copy of supporting documents. Law 47/2014, article 8, requires the provider to handle the request within a reasonable period. In the event of refusal or silence, DECO provides a complaint template and legal support for members. If you need a template, see our cancellation guide with legal template.
Which No-Contract Gym to Pick in Lisbon Based on Your Profile
A final summary in "best for" format, pairing profiles with the right option.
💰 Minimum budget and you train 4 or more times a week: Element Gyms Alvalade (Basic OP at EUR 2.99/week) or Be-Fit (from EUR 19.99/month with a complimentary first assessment and training plan).
🏃 You want group classes and varied equipment, mid-range with no lock-in: VivaGym Picoas (EUR 32.90 to EUR 35.90/month, three plans depending on network reach).
🚇 You work across different areas of Lisbon, or want very wide opening hours: TTF / Time to Fitness 24 (EUR 35/month, 27 or more clubs in Greater Lisbon, 6 am to midnight, 365 days).
🌅 Saldanha / Picoas, you value an early start, a pool or padel: Lemonfit Estefânia (EUR 34.90/month, opens at 6 am on weekdays, facilities with pool and padel).
🔄 You want to mix strength training, yoga, pilates and swimming, and accept a lock-in: Urban Sports Club (EUR 29 to EUR 154/month, read the 12 months of lock-in before signing).
🔒 You train 1 to 3 times a week, prioritise privacy, or bring your own personal trainer: MySelf Studio (pay-per-session in a private studio, packs valid for up to 90 days).
🧘 High seasonality, unpredictable frequency, you want zero dead cost: MySelf Studio.
The six verified options with zero lock-in are MySelf Studio (pay-per-session, Areeiro), Element Gyms Alvalade, TTF / Time to Fitness 24 (a network with 27+ clubs), VivaGym Picoas, Be-Fit and Lemonfit Estefânia (Saldanha). Other popular subscriptions (Urban Sports Club, ClassPass) present themselves as flexible but require an annual lock-in, so always confirm before you sign.
Cancellable monthly memberships range from around EUR 12/month (Element Basic OP at EUR 2.99/week) to EUR 35.90/month (VivaGym PRIME), with Be-Fit at EUR 19.99/month, Lemonfit at EUR 34.90/month and TTF PLUS at EUR 35/month. Pay-per-session at MySelf Studio sits between EUR 11 (Pack 40) and EUR 20 (single session). Cancellable MySelf monthly subscriptions go from EUR 10/session (Pro, EUR 200/month, 20 sessions) up to EUR 14.75/session (Casual, EUR 59/month, 4 sessions).
Legally, any subscription is a contract. "No lock-in" means you can cancel at any time without penalty (typically with 15 to 30 days' notice). "No contract" is colloquially used to mean the same, or to describe the pay-per-session model where no mandatory monthly subscription exists.
Yes, in several scenarios. You have 14 days after signing to terminate freely. Even after that window, you can cancel for valid reasons such as serious illness, high-risk pregnancy, involuntary unemployment, a change of residence or workplace that makes use impractical, and poor service delivery (prolonged works, broken equipment, reduced opening hours). A registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt and supporting documents is the standard procedure.
Yes, but only one in a full private studio format. MySelf Studio (Av. de Madrid 7A, Areeiro) operates per session (EUR 20 drop-in) or by pack from EUR 11/session (Pack 40, valid for 90 days) up to EUR 14/session (Pack 10, valid for 45 days), with no mandatory monthly fee. For anyone training 1 to 3 times a week, it's the model with no "dead cost".
Yes. The official page at urbansportsclub.com/pt/prices shows the four plans (Essential EUR 29/month, Classic EUR 64/month, Premium EUR 104/month, Max EUR 154/month) all require a 12-month lock-in. Cancellation is only possible with 3 days' notice before annual renewal. Despite the broader marketing emphasising flexibility, the contract in Portugal is annual.
No. In absolute terms, a cancellable low-cost monthly (Element, Be-Fit, TTF) is cheaper if you train 4 or more times a week consistently. Pay-per-session beats monthly on total annual cost when there are months of low activity (holidays, illness, seasonality) or when you train fewer than 4 times a week. The MySelf advantage shows up with variable frequency and for anyone who prioritises privacy.
DECO PROteste considers several common clauses unlawful: exclusion of the gym's liability for damage to physical integrity, inability to suspend payment during closure for works, full transfer of responsibility for equipment breakdowns to the user, and unilateral price changes with no right of cancellation for the consumer. If in doubt, you can contact DECO before signing.
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TLDR: Key Points
In Lisbon in 2026 there are six operators that are truly lock-in free, across two models: pay-per-session in a private studio (only MySelf Studio) and monthly memberships you can cancel at any time (Element, TTF, VivaGym Picoas, Be-Fit, Lemonfit Estefânia).
Current verified prices: Element from EUR 2.99/week, Be-Fit from EUR 19.99/month, VivaGym Picoas from EUR 32.90/month, Lemonfit from EUR 34.90/month, TTF PLUS EUR 35/month, MySelf Studio from EUR 10/session (Pro subscription), EUR 11/session (Pack 40), up to EUR 20 for a single drop-in session.
Several subscriptions sold as "no lock-in" hide an annual contract. Urban Sports Club is the most common example in Lisbon (12 months of lock-in on every plan, from EUR 29/month).
You have 14 days after any subscription to terminate the contract with no reason or cost. Even with lock-in, you can cancel for valid reasons (serious illness, involuntary unemployment, change of workplace or residence, poor service delivery).
DECO PROteste considers several common clauses unfair: exclusion of liability for injuries, inability to suspend payment during works, full transfer of responsibility for equipment breakdowns to the user, unilateral price changes with no right of cancellation.
MySelf Studio
