Zyia vs. Fabletics: Which brand should you buy? [2026 updated]

Compare Zyia and Fabletics to find your perfect activewear. Discover premium quality vs. trendy affordability and learn which brand suits your lifestyle best.
Spencer Lanoue
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Spencer Lanoue
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Zyia is a direct-sales activewear brand that targets customers looking for premium-quality, minimalist athletic pieces sold through a community of representatives. In contrast, Fabletics is a subscription-based brand that emphasizes trendy, affordable styles and leverages a seamless e-commerce platform with frequent member-only deals.

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

Zyia: The Community-Driven Premium Activewear

Zyia is an activewear company built on a direct-sales model, empowering a network of independent ambassadors to sell its products. The brand's focus is on creating high-quality, durable, and stylish performance wear that transitions from intense workouts to everyday life. Its customer base values long-lasting quality and prefers a more personalized, community-based shopping experience over mass-market retail.

  • Product mix: Zyia primarily offers women's activewear, including high-performance leggings, tops, sports bras, and jackets. They also have a smaller selection of men's clothing and accessories.
  • Price point: Zyia positions itself as a premium brand, with leggings generally priced between $60 and $80 and sports bras ranging from $30 to $50.
  • Quality: The brand is known for its durable, high-compression fabrics that provide excellent support and are resistant to pilling. Their moisture-wicking and four-way stretch materials hold up well during high-impact activities.
  • Style: The aesthetic is modern, minimalist, and sleek. Zyia focuses on solid colors and simple, versatile designs that remain stylish season after season, rather than chasing fast-fashion trends.
  • Sizing/Fit: Sizing runs from XS to 3X and is generally reported to be true to size. The fit is compressive and body-contouring, designed for a supportive feel.
  • Sustainability: The company places an emphasis on using eco-friendly and recycled materials in its products and focuses on ethical manufacturing practices.

Zyia is ideal for those willing to invest in high-performance, long-lasting gear and who enjoy a minimalist style and a community shopping environment.

Shop Zyia: zyia.com

Fabletics: The Trendy & Accessible Subscription Service

Co-founded by actress Kate Hudson, Fabletics disrupted the activewear market with its flexible VIP Membership model. It offers trendy, stylish, and highly accessible workout apparel for both women and men. Its target audience is fashion-conscious and budget-savvy shoppers who enjoy discovering new styles and appreciate the value and convenience of a subscription service.

  • Product mix: Fabletics has an extensive range of activewear, including leggings, sports bras, tops, and outerwear for women and men. It also offers loungewear and accessories, frequently launching new collections and collaborations.
  • Price point: The pricing is very competitive, with most items falling in the $30 to $80 range before member discounts. The VIP membership offers significant savings, often up to 50% off retail prices.
  • Quality: Fabletics uses proprietary fabrics like its supportive PowerHold and sculpting Motion365. While the quality is strong for the price, some lower-cost items may show wear faster than more premium alternatives with frequent, intense use.
  • Style: The aesthetic is bold, youthful, and trend-driven. Fabletics is known for introducing a wide variety of bright colors, vibrant patterns, and contemporary designs every month.
  • Sizing/Fit: Fabletics boasts very inclusive sizing, from XXS to 4X. While generally consistent, fit can sometimes vary between styles, so reading reviews for specific items is helpful.
  • Unique Features: The VIP Membership is the core of its business, offering exclusive pricing, personalized outfit recommendations, and loyalty points. The brand also has a growing number of physical retail stores.

Fabletics is the clear choice for shoppers who want fashionable activewear at a great price and enjoy the perks and regular new arrivals of a membership model.

Shop Fabletics: fabletics.com

Zyia vs. Fabletics Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a distinct difference in pricing models. Fabletics is the more budget-friendly option, particularly for its VIP Members who get access to substantial discounts. A new outfit can often be purchased for under $50 during a sale or with introductory offers. Shoppers can purchase items at full price without a membership, but the value is vastly better with one.

Zyia operates within a more traditional retail price structure and is positioned as a premium brand. Their leggings are consistently in the $60-$80 range, which is higher than a typical Fabletics member price. While Zyia does run promotions, you won't find the deeply discounted, an-outfit-a-month value proposition that Fabletics offers.

Quality & Materials

Both brands produce quality activewear, but Zyia generally has an edge in fabric durability and performance feel. Zyia's fabrics often feature higher compression, feel thicker, and are known for their ability to withstand countless washes and high-impact workouts without pilling or losing shape. They truly feel like high-end performance gear.

Fabletics offers great quality for its price point, with technologies like PowerHold providing impressive support and opacity. However, a common observation is that while their core products are durable, some of the more fashion-forward or lower-priced items may not have the same longevity as Zyia's pieces, especially under intense, frequent use.

Product Selection & Style

The style differences are clear. Fabletics is all about trends. They release new collections monthly with bold colors, fashion-forward patterns, and matching sets that follow current aesthetic sensibilities. They are ideal for someone who views their activewear as part of their fashion statement and loves to switch things up regularly.

Zyia's aesthetic is much more timeless and minimalist. They focus on flattering cuts, solid colors, and simple patterns that won't go out of style. Their pieces are designed to be versatile staples in an athletic wardrobe, easily mixing and matching for years to come.

Fit & Sizing

Both brands do an excellent job with size inclusivity. Fabletics' range is slightly broader, covering XXS to 4X, while Zyia offers sizes from XS to 3X. Both brands are praised for making their clothing accessible to a wide range of body types.

In terms of fit, Zyia's garments are known for their strong compression and true-to-size, body-hugging feel. Fabletics' fit is generally consistent, though due to the vast number of styles they release, some inconsistencies can occur where one style may run slightly smaller or larger than another.

Shopping Experience

The shopping experience is a key differentiator. Fabletics is built around a slick, user-friendly e-commerce website and an optional membership model that drives engagement with perks and monthly "credits." You can shop online 24/7 or visit one of their retail stores for an in-person experience.

Shopping with Zyia is a more personal, multi-level marketing style experience. Purchases are made through independent ambassadors who can offer personalized recommendations, host virtual parties, and create a sense of community. This appeals to shoppers who value personal connection and trusted advice when buying.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands deliver great activewear, but they focus on different customer needs.

Choose Zyia if:

  • You prioritize durability and high-performance fabric that will last for years.
  • Your style is minimalist and timeless, focusing on high-quality basics.
  • You value sustainable materials and ethical production in your clothing choices.
  • You enjoy a personalized shopping experience and supporting an independent business representative.

Choose Fabletics if:

  • You are budget-conscious and want the best price for trendy activewear.
  • You love experimenting with new styles, bright colors, and bold patterns.
  • You like the convenience of a subscription model that serves up new items and discounts regularly.
  • You appreciate a very wide range of product options for both gym and loungewear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zyia or Fabletics cheaper?

Fabletics is significantly cheaper, especially for those who join their VIP membership program. With the membership, you can often get a complete two-piece outfit for the price of one pair of Zyia leggings.

Which brand has better quality leggings?

For sheer durability, high compression, and workout performance, Zyia generally has the higher-quality leggings. They feel more substantial and are built to withstand intense athletic activity over a long period. Fabletics leggings offer excellent quality for their price point but may not have the same long-term longevity under hardcore use.

Do you need a membership to buy from Fabletics?

No, you do not need a VIP membership to shop at Fabletics. You can purchase items at the full retail price. However, the membership offers substantial savings (40-50% off), along with other perks, making it the most popular way to shop.

Which brand is better for high-impact workouts?

Due to its high-compression fabrics that offer superior support and hold, Zyia is often preferred for high-impact activities like running, HIIT, and CrossFit. Fabletics' PowerHold fabric is also quite supportive, but Zyia's overall lineup is geared towards performance.

Are both brands size-inclusive?

Yes, both brands are commendable for their size inclusivity. Fabletics offers sizes ranging from XXS to 4X, and Zyia offers sizes from XS to 3X, catering to a wide variety of body types.

How does the Fabletics subscription work?

With the Fabletics VIP Membership, you are charged $59.95 on the 6th of each month. This charge becomes a Member Credit that you can use to purchase any outfit or item up to $100. You have the option to "Skip the Month" anytime between the 1st and 5th of the month, and you won't be charged.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Zyia places a more vocal emphasis on sustainability and ethical manufacturing as a core part of its brand identity, frequently highlighting its use of recycled and eco-friendly materials. Fabletics has also taken steps toward sustainability, but it's a smaller part of their overall marketing message compared to Zyia.

Can I return items to both stores?

Yes, both brands have customer-friendly return policies. Fabletics typically offers returns and exchanges within 90 days for VIP members. Zyia also has a return and exchange policy, which is an important consideration when buying through a direct sales model.