If you are a Singapore citizen aged 65 or above, the gym is free. ActiveSG's help site says citizens of that age enter its gyms and swimming pools at no charge, with no pass to buy: you scan your NRIC at the entrance.
From 55 to 64, and for permanent residents, the senior rate is S$1.50 a visit or S$9 a month off-peak. Four ActiveSG gyms list HUR air-pressure machines, which are built for people who need to start light. For anyone who wants a coach and a set programme, Gym Tonic runs a 12-week strength course for people aged 60 and above.
The options compared
| Option | Who it is for | Price | What you get | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveSG free entry | Singapore citizens aged 65 and above | Free | Entry to ActiveSG gyms and swimming pools by scanning an NRIC | Citizens only, according to the ActiveSG help site |
| ActiveSG single entry | Seniors aged 55 to 64, and permanent residents | S$1.50 a visit | A public gym, open 7am to 10pm at the sites we checked | No coach on the floor with you |
| MyActiveGYM off-peak | Seniors free on weekday daytimes | S$9 a month; S$80 for 12 months | Unlimited entry to every ActiveSG gym, Monday to Friday until 4pm | No evenings, weekends or public holidays |
| MyActiveGYM peak | Seniors who want any hour | S$18 a month; S$180 for 12 months | Unlimited entry at all opening hours | Twice the off-peak price |
| Gym Tonic | Aged 60 and above, wanting a coached programme | S$360 for 12 weeks; S$288 or S$240 with subsidy | 24 supervised sessions on hydraulic machines | Limited places; you must commit to twice a week |
- Who it is for
- Singapore citizens aged 65 and above
- Price
- Free
- What you get
- Entry to ActiveSG gyms and swimming pools by scanning an NRIC
- The catch
- Citizens only, according to the ActiveSG help site
- Who it is for
- Seniors aged 55 to 64, and permanent residents
- Price
- S$1.50 a visit
- What you get
- A public gym, open 7am to 10pm at the sites we checked
- The catch
- No coach on the floor with you
- Who it is for
- Seniors free on weekday daytimes
- Price
- S$9 a month; S$80 for 12 months
- What you get
- Unlimited entry to every ActiveSG gym, Monday to Friday until 4pm
- The catch
- No evenings, weekends or public holidays
- Who it is for
- Seniors who want any hour
- Price
- S$18 a month; S$180 for 12 months
- What you get
- Unlimited entry at all opening hours
- The catch
- Twice the off-peak price
- Who it is for
- Aged 60 and above, wanting a coached programme
- Price
- S$360 for 12 weeks; S$288 or S$240 with subsidy
- What you get
- 24 supervised sessions on hydraulic machines
- The catch
- Limited places; you must commit to twice a week
ActiveSG prices are from its individual rates page, and apply to citizens and permanent residents. The free entry rule is from the ActiveSG help site, which was updated in the week before we checked. Gym Tonic prices are from the Lions Befrienders centre at Mei Ling Street. Both were checked on 5 October 2026.
ActiveSG: the low-cost route
Start with the free tier. ActiveSG states that Singapore citizens aged 65 and above enjoy free entry to its swimming pools and gyms, and that no pass purchase is needed. That is every ActiveSG gym in the country, at every opening hour.
If you are 55 to 64, or a permanent resident, you pay the senior rate. A senior citizen pays S$1.50 for one gym entry. The monthly MyActiveGYM pass lists a senior price for members aged 55 and above:
| Pass | 1 month | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak, all opening hours | S$18 | S$95 | S$180 |
| Off-peak, weekdays until 4pm | S$9 | S$40 | S$80 |
For someone under 65, the off-peak pass is the best value in Singapore fitness. S$80 buys a year of weekday gym access at every ActiveSG gym in the country, which works out to about S$6.70 a month. The quiet daytime hours it covers are also the hours when the machines are free.
Swimming is just as cheap for the 55 to 64 group. A senior swim costs S$0.50 on weekdays and S$0.60 at weekends at a normal pool, and the MyActiveSWIM pass is S$5 a month.
Why the machines matter
On a standard weight machine, you move a pin and the load jumps by several kilograms. For a strong 30-year-old that is fine. For a 70-year-old with a sore shoulder, the first step can already be too heavy, and the next one is a leap.
HUR machines use air pressure in place of a weight stack. The load starts close to zero and rises in small steps. Sport Singapore fitted them at Bukit Canberra so that people of varying abilities, seniors included, could train safely.
Four ActiveSG gym pages listed HUR machines when we checked:
- Bukit Canberra ActiveSG Gym, Sembawang
- ActiveSG Sport Park @ Teck Ghee Gym, Ang Mo Kio
- Jurong East ActiveSG Gym
- Jurong West ActiveSG Gym
Other gyms may have them too. These are the ones where the facility page says so. Our guide to the Bukit Canberra gym covers the largest of them.
ActiveSG's help site adds two useful points. Gym staff can show you how to use the equipment safely, so ask the instructor on duty. ActiveSG and Active Health also run programmes for older adults, including strength and balance classes and a programme called Combat Age-related Loss of Muscle. You find and book them under Programmes in MyActiveSG+.
ActiveSG also marks some gyms as inclusive. Bukit Canberra, Teck Ghee, Jurong East, Jurong West, Heartbeat @ Bedok and Our Tampines Hub all carry that label.
Gym Tonic: a coached programme
Gym Tonic is a strength training programme for seniors that runs at active ageing centres. The Lions Befrienders centre describes it as strength training used as a kind of medicine, with the aim of reducing frailty and the risk of falls. Sessions use hydraulic machines with loads set for each person.
At that centre the terms are:
- age 60 and above
- able to walk without help, and to follow training instructions
- no health complications such as a stroke, and not in the middle of rehabilitation
- a commitment to train twice a week
- 12 weeks, 24 sessions
| Rate | 12-week course | Per session |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | S$360 | S$15 |
| Pioneer or Merdeka Generation | S$288 | S$12 |
| Blue CHAS card | S$240 | S$10 |
Other operators run Gym Tonic at other centres, and their age limits and fees can differ. Ask the centre nearest you about its terms and about how long the wait for a place is.
The difference from ActiveSG is the supervision. At a public gym you get the room, and a short introduction if you ask for one. At Gym Tonic you get a programme and someone watching.
How to choose
Choose ActiveSG if you have trained before, or are happy to ask the duty instructor for an introduction. It is free from 65 for citizens and cheap before that, and you can go as often as you like.
Choose a coached programme if you have never used a gym, have had a fall, or feel unsteady. Twelve supervised weeks teach the movements, and you can move to an ActiveSG gym afterwards.
Choose a commercial gym only if you need hours or classes the public gyms do not offer. Our comparison of ActiveSG versus commercial gyms covers that decision.
Before you start
See your doctor first if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, a joint replacement or a recent fall. Take a list of your medicines. This article is general information and is not medical advice.
Then start lighter than you think you should. Two sessions a week is enough. Add a little load when the last few repetitions feel easy, which is the principle our guide to progressive overload explains. Muscle also needs protein, and intake can fall short in later life. Our guide to how much protein you need a day covers the numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ActiveSG gym free for seniors?
Yes, for Singapore citizens aged 65 and above. ActiveSG says they enter its gyms and pools free by scanning an NRIC. Seniors aged 55 to 64 pay S$1.50 a visit, or S$18 a month at peak and S$9 off-peak.
What age counts as a senior at ActiveSG?
Concession prices start at 55. Free entry starts at 65 for Singapore citizens.
What is Gym Tonic?
A strength training programme for seniors that runs at active ageing centres. At the Lions Befrienders centre it takes people aged 60 and above for 12 weeks, twice a week.
Which ActiveSG gyms have machines suited to seniors?
The facility pages for Bukit Canberra, Teck Ghee, Jurong East and Jurong West list HUR air-pressure machines.
Is strength training safe for older adults?
For most people, yes, when it starts light and builds slowly. Check with your doctor first if you have a medical condition or have had a recent fall.
Sources
- ActiveSG Circle: Individual Rates, activesgcircle.gov.sg
- Gym Tonic, lionsbefrienders.org.sg
- Bukit Canberra ActiveSG Gym, activesgcircle.gov.sg
- ActiveSG Sport Park @ Teck Ghee Gym, activesgcircle.gov.sg
- Jurong East ActiveSG Gym, activesgcircle.gov.sg
- Jurong West ActiveSG Gym, activesgcircle.gov.sg
- ActiveSG gym at Bukit Canberra opens, mustsharenews.com
- What programmes and concessions are available for seniors?, ask.gov.sg
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