Crossfit takes a lot of shit on the internet, silly gifs of people flopping like fish and whatnot, and a lot of that is true sometimes. It's also cultish as all hell, and the people can be annoying, but for the most part it's worth it imo. What you're paying for is mostly the coaching. If your Crossfit gym offers certified and credible Oly lifting instructors, and hopefully some competent Kettlebell instructors too, then you'll get a lot of out of a membership. Without good coaching, CrossFit is not worth it.
A good coach will also spend a good amount of effort on fixing your mobility limitations. You know how when some people can do a movement and look like a natural athlete at it, while others can attempt the same movement and they look like a monkey fucking a football? A good percentage of that is flexibility and mobility. I sit in a cubicle all day, so I have flexibility issues that are different than people who are on their feet all day. I'm being coached through that, and it's making a big difference in my workouts.
To the responses that say "you can run around the block for free" or "I pay $20/month for AnyTime Fitness", you're absolutely right. A person can absolutely get in great physical condition without paying for CrossFit. People do it all the time, and if you are one of the people who can motivate yourself to bust your ass day in and day out all year round, then you don't need it. You'd probably love it if you're that guy, but you don't need it. However I'd say a much greater percentage of the people who take this approach fail. They make a new years resolution, go jogging exactly three times, and don't think of it again until the next new years. I would say that the percentage of people who make actual measureable and sustained improvements to their fitness level at a Crossfit gym is exponentially higher than a standard gym full of housewives. When you show up to a CrossFit gym, you're expected to do real work, and your coaches hold you accountable.
