Beyond Yoga vs. Athleta: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Beyond Yoga is known for its exceptionally soft, comfortable fabrics and minimalist aesthetic, making it a top choice for athleisure and low-impact activities. In contrast, Athleta focuses on performance-driven, sustainable activewear designed for a wider range of activities, from running to hiking, and is a certified B Corporation.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right activewear brand for your needs.

Beyond Yoga: The Leader in Buttery-Soft Comfort

Beyond Yoga built its reputation on one core principle: creating supremely comfortable activewear that feels incredible against the skin. Best known for its signature Spacedye fabric, the brand focuses on high-quality, versatile pieces that seamlessly transition from a yoga class to running errands. Their target customer values a luxurious feel, inclusive sizing, and a chic, understated style for everyday wear.

• Product mix: Their collection is centered around yoga and lifestyle pieces, including buttery-soft leggings, sports bras, tanks, and an extensive range of loungewear like sweats and pullovers.
• Price point: Prices are in the mid-to-high range. Expect to pay $95-$120 for leggings, $60-$75 for sports bras, and $65-$85 for tops.
• Quality & Materials: The brand's main selling point is its fabric quality. Their acclaimed Spacedye fabric is ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and offers great shape retention without feeling restrictive. It's more about premium comfort than intense compression.
• Sizing/Fit: Beyond Yoga offers one of the most inclusive size ranges in the market, from XXS to 4X. The fit is generally true to size with a comfortable, forgiving stretch.
• Style & Aesthetic: The style is minimalist and modern, heavily featuring solid colors, muted tones, and subtle textures. It is perfect for those who prefer an elegant, less-is-more look.
• Return policy: A standard 30-day return window for unworn items with tags attached.

Beyond Yoga is the go-to for anyone who prioritizes comfort above all, seeking versatile activewear that excels as stylish loungewear.

Shop Beyond Yoga: beyondyoga.com

Athleta: Performance & Sustainability Combined

As part of the Gap Inc. family, Athleta is a performance-focused activewear brand with a strong commitment to sustainability and female empowerment. As a certified B Corporation, they prioritize ethical manufacturing and the use of eco-friendly materials like recycled polyester. Their products are designed for durability and functionality across a variety of high-impact activities while still being stylish enough for everyday life.

• Product mix: Athleta offers a comprehensive line for almost every activity, including running, training, hiking, yoga, and swimming. Their selection includes leggings, joggers, tops, outerwear, swimwear, and even dresses.
• Price point: Similar to Beyond Yoga, pricing is in the mid-to-high range. Leggings typically cost $90-$130, while sports bras run from $50-$80.
• Quality & Materials: The focus is on technical fabrics that are durable, supportive, and often feature performance traits like moisture-wicking and anti-odor technology. Many products are made from recycled materials, such as their popular Powervita™ fabric.
• Sizing/Fit: Athleta offers an inclusive size range from XXS to 3X, including petite, regular, and tall inseams. Sizing is generally true to size, with performance-oriented styles offering a more compressive fit.
• Rewards program: Customers can join the Gap Inc. rewards program, earning points on purchases at Athleta, Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic, which convert to cash discounts.
• Return policy: Athleta offers an industry-leading "Give-It-A-Workout Guarantee," allowing you to wear and test out items and still return them for a full refund if they don't meet your expectations.

Athleta is the ideal choice for an active woman who needs durable, high-performance gear and values a brand's dedication to sustainability and ethical practices.

Shop Athleta: athleta.gap.com

Beyond Yoga vs. Athleta Comparison

Price Comparison

Both Beyond Yoga and Athleta sit at a similar mid-tier luxury price point. Core leggings from both brands hover around the $100 mark. While their initial prices are comparable, Athleta tends to offer more frequent sales and promotions, especially for rewards members.

If you're a savvy shopper who waits for deals, you're more likely to find a better price at Athleta. However, for full-price items, the two are very close, delivering premium quality that justifies the cost.

Quality & Materials

This is where the two brands really differ. Beyond Yoga's identity is tied to its buttery-soft fabrics, particularly its renowned Spacedye material. It prioritizes a luxurious, next-to-skin feel that's perfect for yoga and everyday comfort but might be less suitable for high-sweat, intense workouts where durability is key.

Athleta focuses on technical performance. Their fabrics like Powervita™ and Supersonic are designed to withstand tough workouts, wick sweat effectively, and provide support. Many of their materials are also sourced from recycled content, adding a layer of sustainability. Choose Beyond Yoga for superior comfort, choose Athleta for high-impact performance and durability.

Product Selection & Style

Athleta offers a much broader range of products for specific activities. With categories for running, hiking, tennis, and swimming, you can build an entire active wardrobe. Their style is also more diverse, featuring everything from neutral basics to bold, energetic prints and colors.

Beyond Yoga’s selection is more curated and focused on studio-to-street wear. Their aesthetic is consistently minimalist, modern, and feminine, relying on solid colors and subtle textures. If you're looking for a specific item for a high-intensity sport, Athleta is your best bet. If you want a cohesive, comfortable wardrobe in a minimalist style, Beyond Yoga shines.

Fit & Sizing

Both brands championed inclusivity long before it was mainstream, and they excel in this area. Beyond Yoga offers sizes from XXS to 4X, while Athleta provides XXS to 3X, with the added benefit of petite, regular, and tall inseams for a more customized fit in bottoms.

Beyond Yoga’s items tend to have a more relaxed, forgiving fit due to the high stretch content. Athleta’s styles, especially those for training and running, offer more compression and feel snugger. Both generally run true to size, but the intended fit is different: forgiving comfort from Beyond Yoga versus locked-in support from Athleta.

Sustainability & Ethics

Athleta is the clear winner in this category. As a certified B Corporation, sustainability is embedded in its business model. The company transparently reports on its use of recycled and renewable materials, water-saving initiatives, and commitment to fair trade factories. Over 70% of their products are made with sustainable materials.

Beyond Yoga also uses eco-friendly practices and materials but is less public and central about these efforts compared to Athleta. For the conscious consumer where sustainability is a primary decision-making factor, Athleta’s mission-driven approach is a significant advantage.

Return Policies

Athleta's return policy is one of the best in the industry. The "Give-It-A-Workout Guarantee" allows customers to wear an item to a workout and still return it if it doesn't perform as expected. This removes all risk from purchasing, which is a massive benefit when investing in premium activewear.

Beyond Yoga follows a more traditional return policy, accepting unworn items with tags within 30 days. While fair, it doesn't offer the same level of confidence and flexibility as Athleta's policy.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to what you prioritize in your activewear. Both brands create excellent products, but they cater to very different preferences.

Choose Beyond Yoga if:

• Your number one priority is a buttery-soft feel and luxurious comfort.
• You primarily engage in low-impact activities like yoga, Pilates, or walking.
• You want activewear that doubles as high-quality loungewear.
• You prefer a minimalist, chic aesthetic with muted or neutral colors.

Choose Athleta if:

• You need durable, high-performance gear for running, HIIT, and other intense workouts.
• Sustainability and a brand's ethical commitments are very important to you.
• You want a broader selection of styles, including bold prints and bright colors.
• An excellent, risk-free return policy gives you peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beyond Yoga or Athleta more expensive?

Their price points are very similar for core items like leggings and tops. However, Athleta runs sales more frequently and has a rewards program, which can make it more affordable over time.

Which brand is better for yoga?

While both are excellent for yoga, Beyond Yoga is specifically engineered for it. Its four-way stretch and incredibly soft fabrics are designed for comfort and freedom of movement during studio practices, making it a favorite among many yogis.

Does Beyond Yoga run small?

No, Beyond Yoga generally runs true to size. Its fabrics are very stretchy and forgiving, so there's no need to size up unless you are between sizes and prefer a looser fit.

Is Athleta sizing a true fit?

Yes, Athleta is typically true to size. However, materials designed for high-impact activities offer more compression, which can feel tighter than lifestyle fabrics. Reading individual product reviews for fit advice is always a good idea.

Which brand is better for running or intense workouts?

Athleta is the superior choice for high-impact workouts. Its technical fabrics are engineered for sweat-wicking, durability, and support, whereas Beyond Yoga's softer materials are better suited for lower-impact activities.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Athleta is a leader in sustainability in the activewear space. As a certified B Corporation, it publicly commits to using recycled materials, ethical factory standards, and reducing its environmental footprint, making it the more eco-conscious option.

What is Beyond Yoga's most popular fabric?

Their Spacedye fabric is what the brand is famous for. It's an exceptionally soft, moisture-wicking, and durable brushed fabric that has a cult following for its comfort.

Can you return worn clothing to Athleta?

Yes. Athleta's "Give-It-A-Workout Guarantee" allows you to wear and test a product during a workout. If it doesn't meet your expectations for performance or comfort, you can still return it for a full refund.