Lululemon vs Fabletics: Which Activewear is the Best?

On the hunt for the best activewear? You’re certainly not alone. There are many brands of athletic and ath-leisure gear out there, but which is really worth the money? Comparison shopping can be challenging. Lululemon and Fabletics reviews will both have you convinced they are worth splurging when you dress for the gym, but are they really? 

We dug deeply into both Fabletics and Lululemon reviews on PissedConsumer.com to understand what customers are saying about both brands – good and bad. And we tallied up the results of our Fabletics vs Lululemon comparisons below. 

Key Insights

• Both Lululemon and Fabletics have popular fitness clothing items popular with athletes. 
• Lululemon has a strict return policy of only 30 days with tags and packaging intact on returned items. 
• Most complaints about Fabletics are related to the reoccurring $59.95 monthly charges for the VIP membership service, which can be cancelled or paused proactively. 

Brand Overview

Company Rating*	1.9 ⭐⭐	2.7 ⭐⭐
Number of reviews	1k	298
Issues Resolved	30%/3.8k	16%/4.4k
Monetary Loss	102.6k	16.9k

The first step in the Fabletics and Lululemon comparison is to simply understand what each brand is offering customers. Lululemon creates high-quality luxe yoga and athletic gear with a high-end feel and price tag. For example, Lululemon yoga leggings start just under $100. 

Fabletics is a subscription-based sportswear company charging $59.95 per month for a membership, leading to many of the Fabletics complaints. As a member you get heavily discounted athletic and yoga gear. 

You can also buy from the Fabletics site without a membership, but you will pay a much higher price for the items. Membership is required for all shopping on the site, however. You cannot browse Fabletic's site without making a membership account and opting in to various offers. 

Fabletics vs. Lululemon: In-depth Comparison:

As we dig deeper into Lululemon vs. Fabletics, it’s easy to determine where the two companies and their products are similar and very different. 

Product range

While both Fabletics and Lululemon sell athletic apparel, the product selection and customer shopping experience are very different. 

Lululemon works like most retail sites, allowing customers to browse wares for women and men, work out accessories and shoes for adults, add items to their cart, and then proceed to checkout.

On the Lululemon website, women can shop for popular fitness items like leggings, sports bras, workout tops, hoodies, pants, and more. The best sellers on the Lululemon website currently include winter gear like sweatpants and sweatshirts, but this will likely rotate to lighter gear in warmer months. 

Source: shop.lululemon.com

Fabletics has the same product lines as Lululemon regarding men’s and women’s athletic wear and accessories. While Fabletics does not have the shoes that Lululemon offers, it does have underwear, loungewear, and scrubs unique to its site. 

Currently, Fabletics recommends popular items like sports bras, sweats, and leggings for customers. However, the prices of these items are far lower than the price point of Lululemon. Lululemon women’s sweatpants, for example, are selling at $118 or $128. On Fabletics, women’s sweatpants are selling for $17.98 or two pairs for $24. You must also include the $59 monthly fee to these prices, however, as it is recurring. 

Source: fabletics.com 

Another primary difference between Lululemon and Fabletics are the patterns and sizing available. On Fabletics, there is a much larger assortment of patterns and colors available in the workout leggings than in Lululemon. There are also extended sizes on Fabletics, including plus sized leggings and tops, reaching up to women’s size 24.

By comparison, Lululemon offers women’s extended sizing to size 20 in limited patterns and colors but does offer a variety of inseam lengths.

For men, Fabletics offers extended sizing to 4X in shorts and sweatpants starting around $20, not including the $59 monthly fee.

Source: fabletics.com 

Lululemon has a limited selection of extended pants sizes for men up to a 46-inch waist or a 3XL. Men’s pants on Lululemon start at $118.

Source: shop.lululemon.com 

Pricing

It’s tricky to try comparison shopping between Lululemon and Fabletics when it comes to prices. The problem is the monthly fee added to Fabletics product prices, which is also a source of many consumer issues with the brand. 

Nominally, on the website, the prices at Lululemon are much higher, which is a common theme in Lululemon complaints. As noted above, workout leggings at Lululemon start at $98, and leggings at Fabletics are sold in two pairs for $24 before accounting for the monthly fee. 

Most women’s workout items at Lululemon range between $98 and $128 for pants and $118 to $148 for jackets and sweatshirts. Fabletics is currently offering all women’s workout bottoms as two for $24, and jackets and sweatshirts are typically $13.98 to 

$18.98. As a non-VIP member (without the monthly fee), the same sweatshirts cost $94.95.

Source: fabletics.com

Pricing at Lululemon is straightforward for ordering. Once items are in your cart, shipping is free for all orders. Simply arrange payment and your items will be on their way.

Source: lululemon.com

At Fabletics, you can order without the VIP monthly pricing and pay full price for your items. Or you can join the Fabletics VIP program and pay only $18.98 for the same item plus the $59.95 monthly subscription fee. The VIP program offers substantial discounts when you purchase items from the Fabletics website as well as allowing you to earn points toward additional discounts.

Source: fabletics.com

If you choose to join the VIP program, you will be billed $59.95 on the 6th of each month. You can skip a month by logging in to “Skip the Month” by the 5th or you can cancel by calling Fabletics online or by calling 1-844-322-5384.

Like many renewing subscription programs, the Fabletics program creates the occasional consumer issue like the one left in the Fabletics online reviews. 

In the review #5516093, a customer shared that they tried calling Fabletics customer service after they were charged $59. The customer explains that they “had no clue that $59 would be removed from my account” 

The customer encourages others: 

make sure you read because they will sign you up for a membership and take $59 out of your account monthly without your permission after you make a purchase with them

Quality and material

Lululemon is known for having high quality products, which is why they are popular despite the high prices. Among the Lululemon customer reviews, one customer snagged a pair of leggings within the first hour of wearing them. 

I live far away from the store and its a huge inconvenience to have to go exchange them and Im incredibly disappointed that theres a snag after I wore them for about an hour.

While the resounding number of complaints on the Fabletics site are about the VIP reoccurring chargers, there are some complaints about product quality. 

In review #5883938 a customer called a pair of leggings “too small and too short.” They claim, “the description was wrong and the product never mentioned that the pants was ankle,” which points to concerns about sizing and description. 

Cancellation and refund policies

There is a straightforward Lululemon cancellation policy. According to the Lululemon website, an order can be cancelled within 60 minutes of it being placed. If you can’t cancel the item or reach customer service quickly enough, you can simply return the item.

Source: shop.lululemon.com

To return an item and get a Lululemon refund, you must return the item within 30 days of the delivery or purchase date either in a store or online. The items must be unworn and unwashed with original tags, and you must include proof of purchase. Refunds should be delivered 3-10 days following a return. 

In review #6025596, a customer struggled with the original tag requirements of the return policy. The customer noted that the “hang tag had caught in the bag and came off however it was not damaged in the bag.” The customer also had the original receipt but was “unable to exchange them” and feels this is a “ridiculous policy.” 

The Fabletics cancellation policy is related to the VIP membership reoccurring monthly payments. According to that cancellation policy, there is “no cancellation fee and you can cancel anytime” by calling the Fabletics customer service at 1-844-322-5384 any time day or night. You also have options to cancel through online chat or on the My Account page on the Fabletics website. 

Source: fabletics.com

Returns and refunds with Fabletics can be done online or in a Fabletics.com store if there is one in your area. To return an item, log into your account and click on Orders & Returns. Returns are accepted up to 90 days following delivery and items must be new and unworn with original packaging. 

Once you’ve followed the steps to select the item for return, you will receive a QR code that can be used at a Return Bar near you. These Return Bars are typically found at UPS or Staples stores. 

Of course, things don’t always go perfectly with returns and refunds. In Fabletics review #4590948 a customer shared: 

I have been waiting [five months] for a refund from your company and I keep getting the run around… this doesn't make sense you've been taking my money for the past 2 years while. It's taking this long to give it back.

Customer service

Customer service summaries are one of PissedConsumer’s features that consumers may find helpful. According to the summaries, 30% of issues are resolved when customers call Fabletics customer service. Only 16% of customers are able to resolve their issues with Lululemon when they contact customer service. 

Lululemon customers spend just under 6 minutes on the phone on average while Fabletics customers speak to representatives for just under 4 minutes total. 

There is a chat feature available for Fabletics, but one customer left a review #4448225 that the “customer service chat window is faulty” and “you have to constantly refresh the screen and log your info back in.” 

Lululemon also has a chat feature that customers have issues with. Another customer left a review #6338883 about a missing order, noting that “it is very frustrating because [Lululemon and the Ontrac delivery service] both have ai chatbots who make it almost impossible to talk to a live person.”

Fabletics vs Lululemon: The Verdict

Both Fabletics and Lululemon have their fans and their detractors. Fabletics has a wider range of sizes and patterns that customers respond to. While you don’t have to join the VIP program, membership can save customers a lot of money if they use the service responsibly and skip months or cancel when they aren’t placing an order. 

Lululemon has a higher price point on many items and a narrower sizing and color selection but also is a streamlined ordering and customer service system with high quality items and service. 

Ultimately, as is all comparison shopping, you will have to decide which combination of features and price point is best for you. Have experiences with either Fabletics or Lululemon? Why not write a review about your purchase?