YMCA Universal Reviews

I was using the YMCA app specific to Hampton Roads before and that had way more functionality before we switched to YMCAUniversal. I want to be able to see classes for multiple locations at once, and YMCAUniversal don’t do that. And I miss being able to see all the exercises and customize my own workout.

Second update: the card in Apple wallet does not show your barcode on Apple Watch, meaning I can’t leave my phone at home when I go to work out. That’s the whole reason I need Apple wallet support! Please fix.
Update: Adding your membership card to Apple wallet now works, but without any response from the developers. I know when to fight my battles, so I’ll increase my rating. I don’t use YMCAUniversal for any other feature but signing in to my local Y, so I can’t speak to any other feature besides that.
Original review: I reached out about Apple wallet integration - the only feature I really care about - not working months ago, and have never heard back. It’d be amazing to get that fixed.

Can’t login. App doesn’t recognize my email. Won’t let me create a new login. This will be frustrating for workers who will now have to look me up every time our family comes in and answer my questions about schedules in the phone. Terrible app. I bet they didn’t even test it.

Not in any way obvious how to do anything basic, like cancel a class. After multiple “how to” e-mails with our Y, I am giving up. I am just baffled why, with so many other apps out there for scheduling, looking at available services, etc., the Y had to make one that is almost unusable.

The GPS is a complete waste. I have multiple locations, from 5 min to 45 minutes, from my home and it can’t find a single one. When YMCAUniversal does want to work trying to find a schedule or sign up for a class is next to impossible. When it will let you schedule it’s at a facility not even in your state.

I just joined, and can log into my affiliate’s website after verifying my email. YMCAUniversal tells me that my account is not found or inactive. Kind of a basic use case to fail. Failing a login attempt with a reason before a password is sent is a fundamental auth anti-pattern. If my credentials take a day to propagate and work tomorrow, then it’s terrible architecture but I’ll add a star if it functions at all.

Did the creators even use YMCAUniversal before launching? Signing up for a group fitness class could not be more of a pain! I have log in upon opening YMCAUniversal . Then tell it which Y I want to attend the class (super annoying it won’t default to where I ask… so I really need to see the YMCA that’s 50 miles from my house? Not likely I will attend at that location) When I finally find the class I want I have to sign in AGAIN! No touch or Face ID option now I have to type out my entire email and password. How many times do you need me to sign into YMCAUniversal?!?!?!! If I want to cancel a class, forget it, not going to happen from either the email YMCAUniversal generates or YMCAUniversal . This needs a major rehaul!

I can’t even get past selecting a location. I’ve tried to delete and reinstall, I’ve waited for updates and nothing. Whoever made YMCAUniversal you really need to get this fixed. Kinda ridiculous that you have less then 2 stars especially since the Y is a very busy place many people could utilize YMCAUniversal if it actually worked

Loved the old app as I could default to my two closest gyms. When app opens it says welcome and my name but after finally picking a class I have to enter my email and password again. After I have signed up for a class sometimes it shows I signed up and sometimes not. Very frustrating to use.
Quick improvements are needed.

I wish there was an easier way to sign up for classes and view which classes I have signed up for. And why doesn’t the signup feature automatically bring up my Y’s (default) schedule? I’m forced to sign in with ALL of my information every time I want to register for a class or check which classes I’ve signed up for. Not a useful app. It’s easier to ask the front desk to sign me up for classes. It’s done in a snap.

Need a zero. The Apple Watch interface gives you the card lol… did the developer even try to use that to get into the Y? Try the barcode. And oh yeah, signing up for lap swim, it is a close call if literally calling in to the Y isn’t faster and easier. I get that we don’t want to waste money on a fancy app. But shouldn’t the most important things be getting into the building with a barcode and signing up for classes?

YMCAUniversal is very cumbersome. We should be able to choose our home location which would make it easier to pull up classes. When you're searching for a class the selection process takes up 80% of the screen and then the classes only show one at a time and you have to scroll through them at the bottom.I only use YMCAUniversal for check in now.

YMCAUniversal doesn’t let you search for a class my the day very easily. You might be able to choose your location. But then you have to scroll to find the day. If you go to far then you have to re-do it. You can’t actually see the class discription because it’s too small. WORSE yet when you do find the class you want to sign up for, you have to RE-LOGIN for EVERY ClASS!!!!! Worst app I’ve ever used

When we were using the prior app, for our area Y, and we were asked in that app what we wanted in a new app… this new app… I asked for one thing… … That YMCAUniversal be accessible for those of us using voice over….. YMCAUniversal is not! I open up YMCAUniversal , click on a branch… , Nothing happens, , try and click on the branch… again… still Nothing happens I can’t get past the front page. YMCAUniversal is completely useless. The Y needs to find an app developer that knows how to create a usable, and accessible app.

Badly implemented software. First attempt to schedule class resulted in a lockout because I could not complete the fingerprint entry due to a problem with scheduling. Deleted app and tried again, not indicating a security entry, still could not complete scheduling. Went to Y , they said they had to schedule the first class to get me in the system. While I was there I tried to schedule a second class without success. Obviously the interface between YMCAUniversal and the local Y system is very poor. Use the phone and call the Y to schedule.

I don’t think I could make an app this bad if I was trying. Signing up for a class should not require me to sign in, then default to a ymca 20 miles further from my home ymca (which YMCAUniversal clearly knows because it shows it on the Home Screen), then find a class, then type all of my information AGAIN (because of course YMCAUniversal couldn’t possibly remember my info after I signed in, right?) to then finally maybe book a class or reserve a swim lane.

Developers - please try running YMCAUniversal from Xcode even once before submitting to Apple next time.

YMCAUniversal is a useless waste of time. I tried on and off for days and days to get it to recognize that I am a member. It says I am either inactive or cannot be found. The front desk employees (as in more than one)
tried unsuccessfully to to help. I have installed and uninstalled, used my email address, used my id, and scanned as well. This is clearly not working. You need to go back to your web designer and start again. The review outlining the inconvenience of even using it made me think I am better off without it. It’s supposed to a convenience, not a chore.

Let’s start with the member ID number. At my Y, they require about 10 zeros before the actual member number (another 5 digits) to be used in YMCAUniversal for login. Does the Y really expect over a billion people to use their membership??

This is either a very lazy programmer or someone who doesn’t know how to truncate numbers. Writing to dev support is also a joke so it’s up to the front desk of the Y facilities to defend the poorly written app.

Will someone actually address these issues??

This is such a janky app I can’t stand it. The navigation is ridiculous because it takes you completely back to the starting point once you have looked at the class so you have to choose the day and time all over again. Also the previous app had a Calendar function that would add the class to your calendar and this update as of early September 2022 states it added that function but it didn’t! I really hope whoever is responsible for this mess reads the comments of people who actually have to use YMCAUniversal and make changes accordingly

What’s going on with YMCAUniversal ? Do they not care? How are we supposed to choose classes?

I'd like to see where you can choose multiple facilities when looking at classes. I go to two of them regularly. I don't want to see all six facilities, but to select more than one so I can compare what classes are being held would be nice.
Also, I want to click on the class title and red the description without being sent back to the beginning with none of my filters when I hit the back button.
I'd also like the option to deselect the pool times from the class list. I usually only want to see actual classes, not the pool schedule. I'd like them to either be in a different listing or just be able to deselect it in the filters.

YMCAUniversal works fine. I’ve added my pass to the wallet, but it will randomly disappear. I’ve added it multiple times and changed the settings in the wallet app. The pass will disappear after a few days.

Would like for app to save my email and password so I can sign up gif classes quicker. Also the window to see schedules for the day at a location to sign up is too small, needs to be bigger, stuff on top is wasted space-need to focus on what is being searched for

Update-i was finally able to log in to YMCAUniversal , after the latest update. It seems simple enough. Like the web version of the schedule, I can see if there are subs for a class, or if it has bee. Cancelled. I can see all nearby branches. So far, it’s good.

Old review-
I saw YMCAUniversal was updated today. I tried again to login to my branch via email, and it still won’t work.

The YMCA app provides a good user experience with its straightforward class sign-up and helpful features. It's a reliable tool that enhances the overall YMCA experience, and I'd recommend it to fellow members or those considering joining.

Love how interactive the new version is; especially nice to scroll through all the schedules for any given day. Check in is a breeze!

I’m not a person who likes apps, but this one is super convenient to be able to check class and instructor assignment easily

I have been using YMCAUniversal routinely for the last months and never had any errors or bugs. The reservation system, schedules and reservations work well and that's the most important functionality for me.