Virgin Active SA vs The Movement Lab On
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Virgin Active SA
This app rewards you for achieving personal wellness goals with exclusive partner offers. Access on-demand classes, book club sessions up to 8 days ahead, and use your digital card for club entry. It's designed to support your progress with guidance and tangible benefits.
- Real rewards from partners
- Book club classes up to 8 days in advance
- Digital access card for club entry
- On-demand classes for anytime training
- Personalized wellness guidance
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Welcome to Virgin Active’s new wellness app that gives you real rewards for hitting your personal wellness goals. • Real rewards: Instant fist-bumps from iconic partners • Real endorphins: Book all your fave club classes up to 8 days in advance • Scan the app to enter the club with your digital access card • Real support: Train anywhere, anytime, with on-demand classes • Designed to support real progress with real rewards and guidance, this isn’t an app… It’s your personal, free smoothie-giving, endorphin unleashing, goal crushing, wellness weapon.
The Movement Lab On
Access a library of Pilates and Barre classes from industry-leading instructors. This subscription service provides weekly full-length studio classes and shorter elective content for all levels, ideal for personal practice or instructor inspiration.
- Weekly full-length studio classes
- Shorter elective content
- Classes for all levels
- Instructor sequencing inspiration
- Merithew student observation hours
- Master instructor classes
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The Movement Lab is an industry leading Pilates and Barre studio based in Cape Town, South Africa. We are a Merrithew Licensed Training Centre, offering STOTT PILATES courses and continuing education. Our instructors are all internationally qualified with their own unique style and flair of teaching. By subscribing to our app, you have access to 5 full length in-studio classes a week from our master instructors, including Merrithew Lead Instructor Trainer Lisa Palmer as well as shorter weekly elective content at all levels. Our subscription is also a great option for instructors looking for creative sequencing inspiration and Merrithew students wanting to complete their observation hours. All app subscriptions auto-renew and can be cancelled at any time. T&Cs apply. https://TheMovementLab.gcph.tv/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Virgin Active SA at none against The Movement Lab On's 2. Virgin Active SA also leads on ratings volume (745 vs 2). The Movement Lab On's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. The Movement Lab On sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Virgin Active SA asks for nothing beyond the download.
The Movement Lab On holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Virgin Active SA has 745 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Virgin Active SA ships an update every 3 weeks, The Movement Lab On monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Virgin Active SA | The Movement Lab On |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (745 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 5.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 745 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 352 MB | 143 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Virgin Active South Africa | Global Fitness Holdings Ltd |
Customer experience
Virgin Active SA
The Movement Lab On
Bugs and requests
Virgin Active SA
Reported bugs
15 issues- Login error messages with no resolution
- Password reset emails delayed or not received
- App freezes during booking attempts
- Gym attendance not logged for rewards
- Rewards expiring before being credited
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- Inconsistent reward tracking between users
- Internet connection errors despite valid connection
- Session timeout and forced re-login
- Account creation errors during registration
- Class cancellation not reflected in app
- Timetables fail to load
- App crashes on password reset screen
- Add-to-calendar button non-functional on iPhone
- Rewards goals resetting incorrectly
- Club entry button disappeared after update
Requested features
8 requests- Apple Wallet integration for digital card
- Apple Watch device support
- Graphical display of visit statistics per month
- Bike assignment visibility for spinning bookings
- Club entry button on home page
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- Instructor rating/comments functionality
- Class calendar add-to-calendar functionality
- Cross-club timetable access for weekend bookings
The Movement Lab On
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Virgin Active SA
No in-app purchases
The Movement Lab On
- Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- Annual Subscription7 Days trial$249.991 Year
Questions
Is Virgin Active SA free?
Is The Movement Lab On free?
Which has better reviews, Virgin Active SA or The Movement Lab On?
Do Virgin Active SA or The Movement Lab On have ads?
Which is updated more often, Virgin Active SA or The Movement Lab On?
Other comparisons
