Why we compare instead of average
Most gym ratings are averages. They sum up all the reviews that members happened to leave on Google and divide by the number of ratings. The problem is obvious: a CrossFit box with 40 dedicated regulars and a Holmes Place with 2,000 occasional members play in completely different leagues. Averaging their scores produces a number that says nothing.
The vyvo Score works differently. It doesn't average. It compares — and exclusively within the comparison group that is genuinely relevant to your decision.
The core rule: We evaluate all clubs in a city in a single editorial pass — never individually. Only this ensures that scores are calibrated against each other and not distorted by editorial drift.
The core principle: relative, not absolute
Every club is evaluated relative to its city and its category. A 9 out of 10 for a premium club in Zürich is a statement about how it compares to all other premium clubs in Zürich. It is not a universal statement that this gym is among the nine best gyms of all time.
This matters, because you are not choosing between a CrossFit box and a luxury spa hotel. You are choosing between the three mid-range clubs along your commute. That is the comparison on which we build the score.
Four categories, four score bands
The Swiss fitness market has a clear structure. We map it directly.
- —Budget — Score 3 to 5. Under CHF 60/month. Equipment-focused, no extras.
- —Mid-Range — Score 5 to 7. CHF 60–130/month. Solid equipment, limited wellness.
- —Boutique — Score 7 to 8. Specialised format: Pilates, CrossFit, EMS, strength.
- —Premium — Score 8 to 9. CHF 150+/month. Full infrastructure, wellness area.
A budget club will never reach a 9 — not because budget clubs are poor, but because a 9 implicitly stands for a complete infrastructure and depth of service that a club at CHF 45/month simply cannot deliver. Conversely, a genuinely strong budget club can achieve a 5 and thereby outperform most mid-range clubs within its own category.
Anchor clubs fix the scale
To avoid score drift across cities and over time, we set anchor clubs at defined points.
- —Premium ceiling — best premium club in the city → 9
- —Boutique ceiling — best boutique studio in the city, unless it matches premium infrastructure → 8
- —Boutique uplift — boutique with a full Reformer studio or spa → 9
- —Mid-range ceiling — best mid-range club in the city → 7
- —Budget ceiling — best budget club in the city → 5
All other clubs are evaluated relative to these anchors. A mid-range club with a score of 6 sits clearly below the best mid-range option in its city — but well above a 5, which signals a club with meaningful weaknesses.
What raises the score and what lowers it
Every club starts at the midpoint of its category band and is adjusted up or down — based on signals from two data layers: verified factual data and member perception signals from reviews.
Score rises:
- ↑Excellent location. Direct train station access, no car required, high pedestrian convenience in a business district. Location advantage is real in Swiss cities.
- ↑Unique or rare equipment. Reformer Pilates studio, rooftop terrace, hammam, 50-m pool, dedicated strength area. Anything that is not replicable within the category.
- ↑Strong member community. Consistently positive signals on atmosphere, staff quality and member retention. Identified from review patterns.
- ↑Transparent pricing. Published monthly price, no fees, clear cancellation terms. Opaque pricing is treated as a trust penalty.
- ↑Trial offer available. Reducing the risk for prospective members signals confidence in the offering and improves user decision quality.
- ↑Extended hours or 24h access. Flexibility signal — particularly valued for solo training and irregular schedules.
Score falls:
- ↓Persistently negative reviews. Particularly regarding cleanliness, equipment maintenance or staff responsiveness. We track the trend, not just the average — a declining trajectory is weighted more heavily than a single poor score.
- ↓Opaque or inconsistent pricing. Price available on request only, strongly divergent online information or aggressive upselling on entry-level plans.
- ↓Overcrowding during peak hours. High utilisation signals during peak hours materially reduce the value of the offering for most target users.
- ↓Poor value for money. A club charging CHF 150/month that is consistently perceived as poor value according to member signals loses points — regardless of the name on the sign.
- ↓Long minimum contract terms or strict cancellation clauses. 24-month minimum terms or high cancellation fees are penalised, particularly in the mid-range and boutique categories.
Low data confidence
Not every gym has 500 Google reviews. For smaller clubs — particularly new boutique studios or clubs in smaller Swiss cities — we may have only limited member signals. In this case, we flag the club's confidence level and weight the score more heavily on verified factual data than on perception signals.
Note: A score with low confidence is still a real score — but we are transparent about its basis. On some club profiles you will see an editorial note indicating that the vyvo Score is based primarily on factual data and will be revised as member signal grows.
Cross-category comparisons: when we allow them
As a rule, we only compare within category. A budget club at CHF 45/month is not in competition with a premium club at CHF 190/month — the comparison would be misleading.
There are three situations in which we allow a cross-category reference:
- →A boutique club offers a service normally only found in the premium segment — Reformer studio, full spa. In this case, we use premium as a legitimate comparison anchor.
- →A mid-range club is less than CHF 30/month cheaper than a boutique studio in the same city — the upgrade is realistic and worth flagging.
- →The user's specific need — flexibility, group classes, wellness — cuts meaningfully across category boundaries and makes the comparison relevant to the actual decision.
What the score does not measure
The vyvo Score is a decision tool, not a quality certificate. It measures how well a club serves its target members — relative to its peers. It does not measure:
- —Whether the club is right for you personally. A 9/10 premium club is irrelevant if you want CrossFit five mornings a week for CHF 80/month. That is what the Best-for and Avoid-if tags are for.
- —Brand prestige. A club does not receive extra points for a well-known name on the sign. Results are determined by equipment, price, member experience and location — not marketing budget.
- —Personal preferences. Some people want a social gym. Others prefer to train alone and in quiet. The score takes no position on lifestyle questions. The Vibe tags do.
Reading a vyvo Score: a concrete example
Abstract methodology only becomes useful when you can apply it to a real decision. Here is an example with two mid-range clubs in the same Swiss city — one point apart.
Club A — vyvo Score 6
CHF 89/month. Large training floor, solid cardio and free weights equipment, group classes included. Good public transport links. Member signals are mixed: equipment maintenance is consistently criticised, peak-hour overcrowding repeatedly reported, the value-for-money signal has deteriorated in the last rating cycle.
Club B — vyvo Score 7
CHF 99/month. Comparable equipment, slightly smaller floor. Directly adjacent to a major rail hub — one of the most frequented stations in the city. Member signals consistently positive on cleanliness and staff friendliness. Pricing fully transparent. Cancellation terms standard.
The price difference is CHF 10/month. The score difference is 1 point. Where does that point come from?
- ↑+0.3 Location. Club B has a better commuter position for most urban working members. A real convenience advantage — not a prestige signal.
- ↑+0.4 Member satisfaction. Club A shows a negative trend in equipment maintenance. A declining trend signals a management issue, not just a rough patch.
- →Pricing transparency. Both clubs communicate clearly. No adjustment.
- ↑+0.3 Value for money. At CHF 89/month with mixed signals, Club A scores lower than Club B at CHF 99/month with consistently positive signals.
Result: 1 point difference. Score: Club A 6, Club B 7.
If you live near Club A and train at 7 in the morning, CHF 89/month is a perfectly rational choice. If you work in the city centre and need to train on the way home at 18:30, Club B removes two friction points at once — for CHF 0.33 more per day.
That is exactly what the vyvo Score is meant to show. Not a judgement on which club is objectively better. A structured overview of the trade-offs — so that the decision remains with you.
