Ellie Activewear vs. Fabletics: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Ellie Activewear offers stylish, minimalist activewear with a straightforward retail model, while Fabletics leverages a popular subscription service to provide trend-driven designs at a significant discount for members. Ellie focuses on high-quality, timeless essentials, whereas Fabletics releases vibrant, fashion-forward collections monthly.

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

Ellie Activewear: The Minimalist & Affordable Choice

Ellie Activewear is an activewear brand for women who want functional, stylish, and high-quality workout gear without a subscription commitment. Their target customer wants comfortable and durable clothing with modern, understated designs that work for both the gym and everyday errands. The brand is built on providing accessible, well-made pieces that don't follow fast-fashion trends.

• Product mix: A focused range of leggings, sports bras, tops, matching sets, and lightweight jackets. They also offer accessories like headbands and gym bags.
• Price point: Mid-range and transparent. Leggings typically cost $40-$60, sports bras are $20-$40, and tops range from $25-$50. Pricing is straightforward without any membership requirements.
• Quality: Uses soft, moisture-wicking, and four-way stretch fabrics that provide good support and hold up well to washing and high-impact workouts.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is inclusive, running from XS to 3X. The fit is generally true to size, with leggings often featuring a comfortable, supportive high waist.
• Style & Aesthetic: The style is minimalist, modern, and sleek. You'll find solid, bold colors and simple, clean patterns rather than loud or overly trendy prints.
• Sustainability: The brand makes an effort to use eco-friendly fabrics and ethical manufacturing processes, offering good transparency for its customers.

Ellie is ideal for shoppers who want high-quality, understated activewear with transparent pricing and no membership strings attached.

Shop Ellie Activewear: ellieactivewear.com

Fabletics: The Trend-Driven Subscription Star

Co-founded by Kate Hudson, Fabletics has become a huge name in activewear thanks to its membership model that offers fashionable, quality workout clothes for less. The brand appeals to fashion-conscious women who love newness and variety, releasing vibrant, on-trend collections every month. Its designs are created to seamlessly transition from workout classes to brunch with friends.

• Product mix: An extensive selection of leggings, sports bras, tops, outerwear, loungewear, and accessories. New collections with fresh styles and prints drop monthly.
• Price point: Fabletics uses a VIP membership model. Members pay a monthly fee that becomes a shopping credit, unlocking significant discounts. Leggings can be as low as $25-$50. Non-member prices are considerably higher.
• Quality: Known for its proprietary fabrics like the compressive PowerForm and soft PowerSoft, which offer great performance, stretch, and comfort.
• Sizing/Fit: Highly inclusive, Fabletics offers a broad size range from XXS to 4X. The fit is consistent and generally true to size, with options for different inseam lengths.
• Style & Aesthetic: The designs are trend-driven, vibrant, and bold. Expect eye-catching prints, color-blocking, unique cutouts, and fashion-forward details.
• Shopping Experience: Fabletics offers a personalized online experience for members and has physical stores for in-person shopping, which is a major advantage.

Fabletics is great for those who love having the latest activewear trends and appreciate the value that its VIP membership offers for frequent shoppers.

Shop Fabletics: fabletics.com

Ellie Activewear vs. Fabletics Comparison

Price Comparison

Your shopping style heavily influences which brand is more affordable. If you buy new activewear regularly (once a month or more), the Fabletics VIP membership offers outstanding value, with leggings starting around $25-$30 for members. The monthly fee of about $59.95 acts as a store credit, making consistent purchases feel like a great deal.

However, if you buy workout clothes only a few times a year or dislike subscriptions, Ellie Activewear is the more cost-effective choice. Its prices are straightforward, with quality leggings in the $40-$60 range, and you can often find items on sale without needing to commit to a monthly charge.

Quality & Materials

Both brands deliver excellent quality for their price point. Ellie focuses on durable, buttery-soft fabrics with four-way stretch and moisture-wicking properties that are perfect for everything from yoga to running. Their materials feel high-end and are known for retaining their shape and color after many washes.

Fabletics has become famous for its performance fabrics, especially PowerHold® for its maximum compression and SculptKnit® for its seamless support. The materials are built for performance and feel substantial and supportive during intense workouts. Durability is comparable between the two, though Fabletics offers a wider range of specialty fabrics tailored to specific activities.

Product Selection & Style

This is one of the biggest differentiators. Fabletics is all about newness and trends. Every month brings a new collection filled with bold prints, vibrant colors, interesting textures, and modern cutouts. Their selection is massive and extends well beyond core workout gear into loungewear and everyday casual pieces.

Ellie Activewear takes a more curated, minimalist approach. Their aesthetic is sleek, timeless, and centered on solid colors and simple, flattering designs. If you prefer high-quality basics that will stay in style for years, Ellie's collection is more aligned with that vision. It feels more focused compared to Fabletics' vast and constantly-changing catalog.

Fit & Sizing

Both Ellie and Fabletics are committed to inclusive sizing. Fabletics has one of the widest size ranges in activewear, going from XXS all the way to 4X, making it accessible for a huge range of body types. Their leggings also come in Short, Regular, and Tall inseams, which is a key advantage for customers outside the average height range.

Ellie Activewear provides sizes from XS to 3X, which is also a very inclusive range. Both brands generally run true to size, so you can feel confident ordering your usual size. Wearers of both brands praise them for stay-put waistbands and flattering cuts.

Shopping Experience

Shopping on the Ellie Activewear website is a simple and straightforward retail experience. You browse, add to cart, and check out. There are no memberships or recurring charges to manage.

Fabletics offers a more engaging, personalized experience centered on its VIP membership. Members receive curated monthly picks and must choose to "Shop" or "Skip the Month" to avoid being charged. While this adds a layer of management, members also get access to deep discounts, exclusive products, and a customer-friendly return policy. Fabletics also has physical stores, allowing you to try on items before buying.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to your personal style and how you prefer to shop. Both Ellie Activewear and Fabletics offer great products, but they cater to different needs.

Choose Ellie Activewear if:

• You prefer minimalist, classic activewear styles over bold patterns.
• You want to buy items on an as-needed basis without any subscription.
• You value straightforward pricing and a simple online shopping experience.
• You appreciate a more curated selection of high-quality essentials.

Choose Fabletics if:

• You love bright colors, vibrant prints, and trying the latest activewear trends.
• You buy workout clothing frequently and will benefit from member-only discounts.
• You need a wider size range (up to 4X) or specific inseam lengths.
• You enjoy the convenience of a personalized subscription and the option to shop in-store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ellie Activewear or Fabletics cheaper?

Fabletics is cheaper for frequent shoppers who subscribe to their VIP membership, as member credits and discounts significantly reduce the price of items. Ellie Activewear is more affordable for someone making a one-off purchase who doesn't want to be locked into a monthly subscription.

Which brand has better quality leggings?

The quality is great for both brands. Your preference will depend on the type of fabric you like. Ellie's fabrics are often described as soft and comfortable for daily wear, while Fabletics is known for its compressive and supportive signature fabrics like PowerHold®, designed for high-impact performance.

Do you need a subscription for Fabletics?

No, you can shop at Fabletics as a guest, but the prices are much higher than the VIP member prices. The primary benefit and value of Fabletics come from joining the membership program.

What is the sizing like for Ellie Activewear?

Ellie Activewear clothing generally runs true to size. They offer an inclusive range from XS to 3X, and customers find their sizing charts to be accurate for achieving a good fit.

Does Fabletics have physical stores?

Yes, Fabletics has a growing number of physical retail stores across the country. This allows customers to try on styles and experience the quality in person, which is a major advantage over online-only retailers like Ellie.

Which is better for high-impact workouts?

Both brands offer options suitable for high-impact exercise. However, Fabletics has a stronger reputation for its high-compression leggings and high-support sports bras designed specifically for intense activities.

Can I return items to both brands?

Yes, both brands have clear return policies. Ellie typically offers a standard return window for unworn items. Fabletics is known for a very flexible policy for its members, often making exchanges and returns particularly easy.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Ellie Activewear tends to be more vocal and transparent about its efforts in using eco-friendly materials and ethical production. While Fabletics is making strides in sustainability, as a larger company its initiatives are not always as central to its brand message.