On June 14, 2025, fitness app 1Fit announced in a social media post that due to insufficient funding, they have initiated a formal liquidation process to “wind down” their Malaysian operations and “settle obligations.”
As such, users of the app would no longer be able to make new bookings or purchases, and those with an unused membership have been asked to request for a refund.
A subscription-based fitness app, 1Fit previously offered Klang Valley users access to over 600 studios ranging from yoga spots to Pilates centres.
Due to the subscription-based model of the app, new members who had signed up for the longer-term 12-month plans took to social media to express their disappointment with many stating that the previous rates were “too good to be true.”
Some fitness studios that collaborated with the app also expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming unpaid dues over the past month.
“We spent $4.2 million to acquire new users, hire an A-level team, and simply make fitness accessible to everyone. We generated $2.7 million in sales and you can quickly figure out that the math does not add up.”
He did not clarify what currency he was referring to.
“We tried to make the numbers work; we tried to raise more capital; we explored every option to keep things going, but in the end we couldn’t secure the funding needed to keep things going,” said Murat Alikhanov, the founder and CEO of the Kazakhstan-based brand via an Instagram video.
In April 2025, 1Fit had also ceased its operations in Mexico, and they are still in the process of refunding its past members.
With the brand’s closing in the Klang Valley, 1Fit now continues to operate in four countries in the Middle East region: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
As more and more users seek their refunds, the question of “how will these brands be held accountable?” remains.
According to former litigator Jesselyn Tan, “I’ve seen a number of lawyers excitedly advocating for a class action on behalf of affected members.”
That said, she shared online that “fraud is extremely hard (and expensive) to prove,” later adding that claimants might not actually get the refund they’re looking for after deducting disbursements, court fees, admin costs and the success fee.
Jesselyn ends by saying:
Image Credit: Jesselyn Tan via the Entrepreneurs and Startups in Malaysia FB group
Do note that this is her personal perspective and not legal advice.
So, what now?
For those already looking for another means of access to their weekly Pilates sessions, there are other options available in Malaysia.
For instance, notable 1Fit competitor ClassPass continues to offer its standard services to Malaysians. At the same time, some studios and businesses previously with 1Fit are now going above and beyond, offering free classes and discounts to past subscribers despite facing losses themselves.
Going forward, if you see a deal that seems too good to be true, be sure to approach with caution, especially when the business is still relatively new. It’s also doubly important to stay vigilant if the business requests for upfront payments to be made.
It’s unfortunate to see 1Fit exit the market, considering the future it seemed to have promised and hoped to deliver to Malaysia’s fitness scene. But in any case, we hope all affected parties will see a resolution to any issues due to the exit soon.
Featured Image Credit: 1Fit
