Ellie vs. Fabletics: Which brand should you buy?

Ellie is known for its trendy, affordable activewear with bold, vibrant designs, while Fabletics offers a more polished, high-performance product through its popular subscription model. The main difference comes down to aesthetics and quality, Ellie focuses on fast-fashion-inspired styles at a lower price, whereas Fabletics prioritizes durable materials, innovative fabric technologies, and a consistently sophisticated look.

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

Ellie: The Trendy & Affordable Option

Ellie targets women who want stylish, functional, and budget-friendly activewear. The brand is a great fit for shoppers looking for eye-catching designs and fun patterns that don't come with a high price tag. Their collections feel youthful and modern, an ideal match for both gym sessions and casual, everyday athleisure looks.

• Product mix: A wide range of leggings, sports bras, tops, and jackets. Ellie often complements its apparel with matching accessories like headbands and water bottles, creating cohesive, affordable sets.
• Price point: Very accessible, with most pieces priced between $20 and $50. It’s an easy choice for those who want to build a workout wardrobe without a huge investment.
• Quality: The activewear is made from standard performance fabrics such as polyester and spandex blends. While comfortable and effective for moderate exercise, the materials may show wear more quickly with intense, frequent use compared to premium brands.
• Style & Aesthetic: Ellie’s designs are bold, playful, and trend-driven. Expect bright colors, unique patterns, and modern cuts that make a statement.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally reported as true to size and is inclusive, running from XS to 3X. However, shoppers have occasionally noted some fit inconsistency between different collections and styles.
• Sales: Known for frequent promotions, discounts, and eye-catching sales, making its already affordable lineup even more attractive.

Ellie is the perfect choice for someone who values trendy styles and affordability over high-performance fabric technology or long-term durability.

Shop Ellie: ellie.com

Fabletics: Stylish Performance & Quality

Co-founded by Kate Hudson, Fabletics blends style, quality, and affordability through a flexible membership model. The brand appeals to women who want a more polished and sophisticated aesthetic, backed by high-quality fabrics that hold up during intense activity. Their target customer values fit, performance, and durability as much as they value modern design.

• Product mix: Extensive collections include high-performance leggings, supportive sports bras, versatile tops, and outerwear. Fabletics often highlights its proprietary fabric technologies.
• Price point: Items typically range from $25 to $60 for non-members. The real value comes from their VIP Membership, which significantly discounts prices and provides access to exclusive collections.
• Quality: Fabletics emphasizes premium-feeling materials featuring tech like moisture-wicking and four-way stretch. The construction is durable, designed to withstand frequent washes and demanding workouts.
• Style & Aesthetic: The overall look is more sleek, minimalist, and sophisticated. You'll find a focus on monochrome color palettes, timeless silhouettes, and subtle branding that translates well from the studio to the street.
• Sizing/Fit: Known for a consistent and flattering fit across its XXS to 4X size range. The brand provides detailed size guides and designs its products to offer excellent support and compression where needed.
• Membership program: Their VIP membership gives subscribers monthly credits and access to discounts of up to 50% off retail prices, although anyone can purchase items at the full price.
• Sustainability: Fabletics has made noticeable efforts toward sustainability, utilizing eco-friendly materials and working towards more transparent and responsible sourcing practices.

Fabletics is built for the user who wants reliable, high-quality, and stylishly understated activewear and is comfortable with a subscription to secure the best prices.

Shop Fabletics: fabletics.com

Ellie vs. Fabletics Comparison

Price Comparison

On the surface, Ellie is the clear winner for budget-conscious shoppers. With most items comfortably in the $20-$50 range and frequent sales, it’s easier to grab a full outfit for less. Ellie is a straightforward pay-as-you-go experience, meaning you only buy what you want, when you want it.

Fabletics has a slightly higher retail price of $25-$60 per item, but its popular VIP membership drastically changes the value equation. Subscribers get access to deep discounts that often bring prices into a similar, if not better, range than Ellie's. The key difference is the commitment, Fabletics provides better value through its subscription, while Ellie offers lower standalone prices without any strings attached.

Quality & Materials

This is where Fabletics pulls ahead. The brand invests in proprietary fabric technologies that focus on compression, moisture-wicking, and a soft, premium hand-feel. Their pieces are designed to be durable and hold their shape and support through tough workouts and repeated washing. The consensus is that Fabletics finds a good balance between comfort and performance.

Ellie, on the other hand, uses more standard activewear fabrics. They are comfortable and functional for everyday wear and light to moderate exercise but may not offer the same longevity or high-performance support as Fabletics. For shoppers prioritizing trendiness over technical specs, Ellie's quality is perfectly adequate.

Product Selection & Style

Your style preference will be a major deciding factor. Ellie is all about being seen, with collections full of bright colors, vibrant patterns, and contemporary, fashion-forward cuts. It's the go-to for someone who wants their workout gear to feel fun and expressive.

Fabletics cultivates a more mature and versatile aesthetic. Its designs are typically more minimalist, timeless, and sophisticated, focusing on flattering silhouettes and solid colors or subtle patterns. This approach makes their pieces easy to mix and match and wear as athleisure outside the gym.

Fit & Sizing

Both brands champion inclusivity with a wide range of sizes. Fabletics, offering XXS to 4X, and Ellie, with XS to 3X, cater to a variety of body types. The main differentiator is consistency. Fabletics is well-regarded for its reliable and true-to-size fit, particularly in their signature leggings that offer structured compression and support.

Ellie’s fit is generally good, but some customers report inconsistencies between different styles or collections. While you'll likely find your size, it might take a bit more trial and error than with Fabletics.

Shopping Experience

Fabletics delivers a more curated and personalized shopping experience, largely thanks to its membership model and slick website. Their style quiz helps tailor recommendations, and the user interface for managing subscriptions and viewing new collections is very smooth. It feels more like a tech-savvy lifestyle brand.

Ellie offers a traditional and straightforward e-commerce experience. The website is easy to navigate and shop, but it lacks the personalized touch and exclusive "member perks" feel of Fabletics.

Sustainability & Ethics

For the eco-conscious consumer, Fabletics has a clear advantage. The company has made public commitments to using more eco-friendly fabrics, reducing its environmental impact, and providing transparency reports on its manufacturing processes. While there is always room for improvement, the efforts are visible.

Ellie’s approach to sustainability is less clear, with limited information available about its material sourcing or ethical manufacturing policies. Their business model appears more aligned with the fast-fashion space, which typically prioritizes affordability and trend speed over sustainability.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands are excellent choices for activewear, but they serve two very different kinds of customers.

Choose Ellie if:

• You're on a tighter budget and want trendy pieces for less.
• You love bold, bright, fashion-forward designs that stand out.
• You avoid subscription services and prefer to buy individual outfits.
• Your workouts are moderate, or you primarily want stylish athleisure wear.

Choose Fabletics if:

• You prioritize fabric quality, durability, and a consistent, supportive fit.
• You prefer a more sleek, minimalist, and sophisticated aesthetic.
• You work out frequently and need reliable, high-performance gear.
• You don't mind a flexible membership model in exchange for great discounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ellie or Fabletics cheaper?

Ellie generally has lower upfront retail prices, with most items between $20-$50. Fabletics items are more expensive at retail, but their VIP membership unlocks discounts of up to 50%, often making their high-quality items competitively priced or even a better value.

Is Fabletics better quality than Ellie?

Yes, Fabletics is widely considered to be of higher quality. Their use of advanced fabric technologies for moisture-wicking, compression, and durability provides better performance and longevity compared to Ellie's more standard activewear materials.

Do you have to have a membership to shop at Fabletics?

No, you do not need a membership. Anyone can shop at Fabletics and pay the full retail price. The VIP membership is an option that provides significant discounts, but it's not mandatory for purchase.

Which brand is better for intense workouts?

Fabletics is better suited for intense workouts like HIIT, running, and heavy lifting due to its superior fabric quality, supportive compression, and focus on details like moisture-wicking and four-way stretch. Ellie's lineup is better for lower-impact activities like yoga, walking, or casual gym use.

How does sizing compare between Ellie and Fabletics?

Both offer inclusive sizing, but Fabletics offers a slightly wider range (XXS-4X vs. Ellie's XS-3X). Fabletics is also known for having a more consistent and reliable fit across its entire collection.

What is the style difference between Ellie and Fabletics?

Ellie's style is trendy, bold, and vibrant, featuring eye-catching patterns and bright colors. Fabletics has a more minimalist and sophisticated aesthetic, focusing on solid colors, subtle designs, and timeless silhouettes.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Fabletics is the more sustainable option. The company has made public initiatives towards using recycled fabrics, responsible sourcing, and improving transparency in its supply chain. Ellie does not provide much information regarding its sustainability practices.

Which brand is more size-inclusive?

Both brands offer excellent size inclusivity. Ellie provides sizes from XS to 3X, while Fabletics offers a range from XXS to 4X. Fabletics has a slight edge with its extension to 4X, making it one of the most inclusive activewear brands on the market.