Gymshark vs. Alphalete vs. Lululemon: Brand comparison [2026 updated]

Lululemon is a premium athleisure brand known for its high-quality technical fabrics and versatile, fashion-forward designs at a luxury price point. It sits in contrast to Alphalete, which focuses on minimalist, performance-driven gear for serious athletes, and Gymshark, a trend-focused brand offering stylish and affordable activewear to a younger audience.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right activewear brand for your fitness goals, budget, and style.

Gymshark: The Trendy & Affordable Fitness Favorite

Founded in 2012, Gymshark exploded in popularity by leveraging social media influencers to reach a young, fitness-conscious audience. The brand is known for its figure-flattering seamless designs, bold colorways, and accessible price point, making it a go-to for gym-goers who want functional gear that looks good without a major investment.

• Product mix: A wide range of men's and women's activewear, including seamless leggings, sports bras, crop tops, shorts, joggers, hoodies, and accessories like lifting belts and shaker bottles. Known for their distinct collections like Vital Seamless and Adapt.
• Price point: Very accessible. Leggings typically cost $50-$65, sports bras are $35-$45, and shorts average around $40.
• Sizing/Fit: Generally runs true-to-size, though some seamless and compressive items can feel snug. Sizing typically ranges from XS to XXL. Many designs are meant to be form-fitting and highlight your physique.
• Quality: Good for the price, using comfortable and stretchy materials suitable for most gym activities. While durable for regular wear, they may not have the same long-term longevity under intense, frequent use as premium brands.
• Sales: Holds major sales several times a year (like Black Friday and summer sales) with significant discounts, making it even more budget-friendly.
• Shopping Experience: Primarily an online, direct-to-consumer brand with a user-friendly website and app. Fast shipping and a good return policy.

Gymshark excels at offering trendy, influencer-approved activewear at a price that won't break the bank, making it perfect for both new and seasoned gym enthusiasts who value modern style.

Shop Gymshark: gymshark.com

Alphalete: The Performance-Focused Athletic Brand

Alphalete caters to the dedicated athlete and fitness enthusiast who demands high-performance gear. Founded in 2015, the brand focuses on superior materials, A-grade construction, and a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. It sits in a premium-but-not-luxury space, offering durable and functional apparel designed for intense training sessions.

• Product mix: Men's and women's apparel including leggings with varying levels of compression, durable shorts, supportive sports bras, hoodies, and lifestyle joggers. The Amplify collection is especially popular for its flattering fit and quality fabric.
• Price point: Mid-to-premium range, higher than Gymshark but below Lululemon. Leggings cost around $70-$80, and sports bras are around $50.
• Sizing/Fit: Known for having consistent and athletic-focused sizing that is almost always true to size. The designs offer a good balance of compression and comfort for performance.
• Quality: A clear step up in fabric and construction. Materials are known for being sweat-wicking, squat-proof, and highly durable, holding up well to heavy, repeated use and washing.
• Sales: Less frequent than Gymshark. Alphalete relies more on new product "drops" and limited edition launches to drive buzz, with a few key sale events during the year.
• Shopping Experience: Excellent online experience with detailed product descriptions and clear sizing guides. Known for strong customer service and a community-focused feel.

Alphalete is the ideal choice for serious gym-goers who need durable, reliable apparel that performs under pressure and prefer a more subdued, athletic aesthetic.

Shop Alphalete: alphalete.com

Lululemon: The Premium Athleisure Pioneer

Established in 1998, Lululemon is the originator of the modern athleisure movement, blending high-performance athletic wear with everyday style. Renowned for its proprietary technical fabrics, exceptional comfort, and durability, Lululemon is a premium lifestyle brand that appeals to a wide audience from yogis and runners to people looking for comfortable, stylish daily apparel.

• Product mix: Extensive women's and men's collections including apparel for yoga, running, training, and casual wear. Iconic products include Align leggings (made from Nulu fabric for softness) and Wunder Train leggings (made from Everlux for training). They also offer outerwear, accessories, and personal care items.
• Price point: Premium/Luxury. Leggings are typically $98-$128, sports bras are $58-$78, and popular items like the Scuba Hoodie are $118+.
• Sizing/Fit: Reliable and consistent sizing, though some customers find they need to size up compared to other brands, especially in bottoms. The fit is famously flattering, designed to move with your body.
• Technology/Innovation: The brand's proprietary fabrics (Nulu, Luon, Everlux, Luxtreme) are its biggest differentiator, engineered for specific feelings and activities like buttery-soft comfort or fast-drying performance.
• Sales: Sales are rare. Lululemon has a year-round "We Made Too Much" section with modest discounts but does not run large-scale storewide promotions.
• Shopping Experience: A true omnichannel retailer with a seamless website, an app, and a large number of brick-and-mortar stores that offer services like free hemming and community events.

Lululemon is the market leader for activewear that doubles as versatile, comfortable daily clothing, justifying its high price with innovative materials, impeccable quality, and brand prestige.

Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com

Gymshark vs. Alphalete vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

There's a clear pricing hierarchy among these three brands. Gymshark is by far the most budget-friendly, with leggings averaging $60 and frequent sales that offer even bigger savings. This makes it highly accessible for students, beginners, or anyone needing to build a workout wardrobe without a large financial commitment.

Alphalete occupies the middle ground. Its pieces, with leggings around $75, are a noticeable step up in price from Gymshark, but this is justified by its superior fabric quality and durability. You're paying for performance, not just a trend. Lululemon sits firmly in the luxury tier. With leggings starting at $98 and going up, it's an investment. The value comes from the proprietary fabrics, incredible comfort, brand reputation, and longevity.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon is peerless in this category. Its investment in fabric technology like the buttery-soft Nulu or the durable, quick-drying Everlux sets a high bar for comfort and performance that can be felt immediately. The pieces are renowned for lasting for many years, even with frequent wear.

Alphalete is a very strong competitor, focusing on robust, resilient fabrics designed to withstand intense workouts. Their material feels substantial and highly compressive, holding up extremely well to repeated squats, lifts, and washes without pilling or losing shape. Gymshark's quality is solid for its price but doesn't compete at the same level. Their materials are comfortable, stretchy, and functional for general gym use, but more susceptible to showing wear and tear over the long run compared to the other two.

Style & Aesthetic

Gymshark's aesthetic is bold, youthful, and heavily influenced by social media fitness culture. They utilize branding, vibrant colors, distinctive contouring, and seamless designs to create apparel that is meant to be seen and highlights the physique.

Alphalete offers a more muted, athletic, and minimalist style. The branding is subtle, the color palettes are often neutral or earth-toned, and the designs focus on clean lines and function. It's a look that feels more serious and less flashy. Lululemon perfectly executes the "athleisure" look - sophisticated, versatile, and elegant. Their designs can just as easily be worn to a yoga class as they can be to brunch, making them the most versatile option outside of the gym.

Fit & Sizing

All three brands receive praise for crafting clothes that flatter the body, but they achieve it differently. Gymshark often uses compressive fits and contour shading to sculpt and enhance curves, with a fit that is generally considered true-to-size. Alphalete provides an athletic fit designed for movement and muscle support, which is also very consistent and true-to-size.

Lululemon's sizing is notoriously a bit different, and many shoppers choose to size up, especially in their leggings, to get the most comfortable fit without over-stretching the high-tech fibers. However, their patterns are masterfully cut to move with you, providing a "second-skin" sensation that makes them feel incredibly comfortable during any activity or for all-day wear.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to your priorities: budget, performance demands, or lifestyle versatility.

Choose Gymshark if:

• You're shopping on a tighter budget.
• You want trendy, stylish activewear that looks good in and out of the gym.
• You enjoy bold colors, prominent logos, and seamless styles.
• You follow fitness influencers and want to wear the gear you see online.

Choose Alphalete if:

• Performance and durability are your top priorities.
• You're an athlete or serious lifter who needs gear that can handle intense training.
• You prefer a minimalist, athletic aesthetic with subtle branding.
• You want a step up in quality from entry-level brands without paying luxury prices.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You prioritize all-day comfort and buttery-soft fabrics.
• You are willing to invest in pieces that will last for years.
• You want versatile apparel that seamlessly transitions from workouts to daily life.
• You prefer a sophisticated, understated, and timeless look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lululemon quality really better than Gymshark and Alphalete?

Yes, particularly in terms of fabric innovation and comfort. Lululemon's proprietary fabrics like Nulu and Everlux are industry-leading for their softness and performance characteristics. While Alphalete offers exceptional durability for its price, Lululemon's focus on material science gives it an edge in overall feel and longevity.

Which brand is the cheapest: Gymshark, Alphalete, or Lululemon?

Gymshark is the most affordable by a significant margin. Alphalete is priced in the middle, and Lululemon is the most expensive premium brand.

What brand is best for weightlifting and bodybuilding?

Alphalete and Gymshark are both extremely popular in the lifting community. Alphalete is often preferred by serious lifters for its superior durability, squat-proof materials, and supportive compression. Gymshark is popular for its physique-enhancing styles and accessibility.

Can I find these brands in physical stores?

Lululemon has a strong global presence with hundreds of retail stores. In contrast, Gymshark and Alphalete are primarily direct-to-consumer online brands, though Gymshark has opened some flagship stores in major cities like London.

Which brand runs true to size?

Gymshark and Alphalete generally run true to size, with Alphalete being particularly consistent. Lululemon's sizing can be different, many people recommend sizing up, especially in leggings, for the best comfort and to preserve the fabric's integrity.

Do these brands ever go on sale?

Gymshark has several large sales throughout the year with deep discounts. Alphalete has sales less frequently, usually tied to specific holidays or events. Lululemon very rarely has sitewide sales, instead offering a year-round "We Made Too Much" section online with a limited selection of discounted items.

Which brand is best for yoga or lounging?

Lululemon is the undisputed winner here. Their Align collection, made from a buttery-soft Nulu fabric, was specifically designed for yoga and is famous for its extreme comfort, making it perfect for low-impact activities and all-day lounging.

What are the return policies like?

All three brands offer fairly standard return policies, typically allowing returns of unworn items with tags attached within 30 days. Lululemon is also known for excellent customer service and may replace products that show premature wear and tear, reinforcing its quality promise.