9 Reasons HYROX is NOT CrossFit Lite: An Honest Comparison

I’ve seen many online discussions where CrossFitters downplay or belittle HYROX, and vice versa.

• “HYROX is just CrossFit lite.”
• “CrossFitters don’t run. That’s why they can’t/don’t do well in HYROX.”
• “CrossFit training translates to HYROX but HYROX training doesn’t translate to CrossFit.”

In this article, I’ll dive into why comparing HYROX to CrossFit isn’t an apples to apples comparison. CrossFit, first and foremost, is a methodology. HYROX is mainly an event with no methodology.

We’ll look at each brand from a business perspective, as well as dive into the training, revenue models, event production, and even some of the top athletes who compete in both.

Stick around to the end and I’ll examine which program creates better overall athletes. Does training for CrossFit prepare you for HYROX more than training for HYROX prepares you for CrossFit? If I had to choose one or the other for optimal fitness, which would I choose and why?

Before I get into the comparison, I’d like to share my background so you understand why I’m qualified to weigh in on the HYROX vs. CrossFit debate.

My Background

• Started CrossFit in 2013. Have been doing some form of it ever since.
• Received my CrossFit L1 Certificate in 2016
• Coached CrossFit for about a year in 2016-2017
• Competed in multiple CrossFit Opens, as well as many local competitions. Judged many mid-level athletes.
• Completed multiple HYROX Pro races from 2023-2025
• Volunteered at HYROX in 2024
• I’ve watched livestreams, podcasts, documentaries, and have consistently followed CrossFit (since 2009) and HYROX (since 2022)

I’ve been part of both communities for a long time, and have a deep understanding of the ins and outs of each.

---

So, what’s the difference between HYROX and CrossFit?

I’ll go in-depth on 9 ways I think it makes sense to compare the two sports/brands, but if you’re in a hurry…

• CrossFit is first & foremost a fitness methodology. HYROX is mainly an event.
• CrossFit, by definition, is constantly varied. HYROX is the same 9 movements repeated in exactly the same way.
• 2 of the 3 main components of CrossFit training are gymnastics & weightlifting. HYROX has neither.
• HYROX has no barbells, no dumbbells, no pull-ups, no muscle ups, no olympic lifts, or anything from a rig.
• Most CrossFit workouts don’t exceed 20 minutes. An average HYROX event is 3-5 times longer for most people.

When you just think about the names “CrossFit” and “HYROX,” honestly, they’re drastically different, and even hard to compare.

However, we can compare components of HYROX to components of CrossFit. And surprise! 🎉 They do actually have quite a bit in common.

Background, History, and Stats

Let’s take a brief look at some basic history & stats for both HYROX and CrossFit before we dive into the more highly debated topics.

	HYROX	CrossFit
Founded	2017	2000
Headquarters	Germany	United States
Audience	Worldwide	Worldwide
Largest Presence	Europe	United States
Primary Offering	Events, hosting 100+ events per year	Fitness program & methodology, centered on training & nutrition
Additional Offerings	Training & Education	Training & Education, Events
Affiliate Gyms	~5,000 (Dec 2024)	9,920 (March 2025)
Annual Participants (2024)	~600,000	1 million+
Length of Average Event/Workout	1h10m – 1h40m (completion time of event)	< 20m (per workout)
Running during training	15-50km per week	< 5km per week

---

So what comparisons can we actually make between these two brands? Let’s take a look at several components that HYROX & CrossFit each share, and compare them as best we can.

Events

Let’s lay out the facts about the types of events each brand offers.

HYROX

HYROX offers three main types of events:

• Their flagship fitness race, which HYROX themselves produce. This race is 1km of running, followed by a workout station, repeated 8 times.
• HYROX affiliate events at ~5,000 training clubs across the globe. These vary greatly, as there are no event requirements from HYROX.
• The HYROX P’F”T, which is a much shorter version of the flagship race. The PFT is also standardized, so it contains the same movements in the same order.

There are a few common formats that many HYROX training clubs like to host:

• HALFROX – The same HYROX format & movements, but the distances & reps are all cut in half. You run 500m before each station (instead of 1km), and do half the work at each workout station.
• HYROX STRONG – All 8 HYROX workout stations, in their entirety, with no running.

CrossFit

CrossFit events vary greatly, but a good way to categorize them would be like this:

• Local events at CrossFit affiliate gyms – These are programmed by the affiliate with no requirements or restrictions, and often contain 3-4 scored workouts in a single day. They are run independently of the official CrossFit Games season, and give everyday CrossFitters an opportunity to compete locally.
• The CrossFit Open – A global, online competition, produced and programmed by CrossFit HQ, that contains 3-5 scored workouts. This is a qualifying event for future stages of the official CrossFit season, and typically contains 40-50 of the most common movements found in standard CrossFit programming.
• The CrossFit Games – The final stage in the official CrossFit season, where the top 30-40 athletes compete in a 3-4 day competition with 10-15 workouts. Qualification is required. Workouts & movements change from year to year, and it’s common to see a new movement introduced each year.
• Online qualifying events – Between the CrossFit Open & CrossFit Games, there are other online competitions, produced by CrossFit HQ, that help select the top athletes to move onto the next stage of the official CrossFit season.
• Large, in-person, CrossFit-licensed events – Multi-day, in-person CrossFit competitions, programmed by third-party event companies, but sanctioned to use the CrossFit name. Some of these events are qualifiers for future stages of the official CrossFit season, while others are standalone events. They typically consist of 6-10 workouts throughout a 2-3 day period.

The official CrossFit Games season has gone through many iterations over the years, but these 5 categories help explain how most seasons typically operate.

Comparison of Events

As you can see, it’s hard to make an apples to apples comparison between HYROX & CrossFit events.

• HYROX runs a flagship event that is always the same, while every single CrossFit event is different.
• CrossFit’s flagship event, the CrossFit Games, has different events & a different format each year. HYROX’s premier event is an annual World Championship, which contains the same flagship fitness race, in the same format, every year.
• Both HYROX & CrossFit run local events at affiliate gyms, but the movements & workouts vary greatly.
• Both brands give their affiliates freedom to structure their events however they’d like.
• Both run qualifying events throughout the year that culminate in a championship event once a year, but how athletes qualify is vastly different.
• CrossFit runs a fair amount of online/virtual events, whereas HYROX has only run in-person events so far.

Duration of Workouts/Events

I’ve seen many people say that HYROX is just CrossFit lite. While there are several misconceptions to address with this statement, one of the main ones is duration.

• Most CrossFit workouts are less than 20 minutes
• Most flagship HYROX events take athletes anywhere from 70-100 minutes to complete

Of course, there are exceptions to both of these timeframes.

• There are local CrossFit gyms that program workouts that exceed 20 minutes. It’s rare that they exceed 45 minutes, as most classes run for 1 hour, which needs to include a warm up and cool down.
• At the highest level, CrossFit Games events can run up to about 45 minutes, but typically not much longer.
• There are variations of the flagship HYROX event, specifically Doubles & Relay versions, which athletes complete in about 50 minutes.
• The HYROX PFT can take anywhere from 15-45 minutes, so some comparison can be drawn between the PFT and a CrossFit workout. However, many CrossFit workouts include movements not seen in the PFT.
• Most HYROX affiliate events, while they can vary greatly, will last at least 30-40 minutes. This is longer than the majority of CrossFit workouts.

HYROX World Championship vs. The CrossFit Games

This is one of the easier components to draw some comparisons between.

The things that HYROX World Championships have in common with the CrossFit Games are:

• They both happen once a year
• They both feature the best athletes in the sport
• You must qualify to get into them
• Prize money is awarded to top finishers
• Athletes are given gear/apparel from sponsors

SEE ALSO: Complete breakdown of HYROX prize money →

And here’s how the two events differ:

• The CrossFit Games consists of multiple workouts throughout the course of 3-4 days. HYROX World Championships is a single workout for all the marbles.
• The qualification process for each is completely different.
• HYROX invites the best 15 athletes. CrossFit takes the top 30-40 athletes (this has changed over the years).
• Some years the CrossFit Games has cuts part way through the weekend. HYROX can’t do this with a single workout.
• CrossFit Games workouts are different every year. HYROX World Championships is always the same workout.
• CrossFit Games prize money is considerably higher than HYROX.

Business Model

Since HYROX and CrossFit are both private companies, we don’t have a complete picture of how they operate their business. Let’s take a look at what we do know in terms of their business operations.

Both companies operate on an international scale.

CrossFit makes money in the following ways:

• Affiliate fees, estimated around $45 million/yr.
• CrossFit Open, Semifinals, and Games registration fees (aka: event fees), estimated around $5-6 million/yr.
• Training & education courses
• Media (YouTube ads, documentaries)
• Event licensing
• Merchandise sales
• Sponsorships

9,940 affiliates * $4,500/yr. fee = $44,730,000
235,523 Open registrations * $20 = $4,710,460

HYROX makes money in the following ways:

• Event registration, estimated around $60-80 million/yr.
• Affiliate fees, estimated around $7.5 million/yr.
• Training & education courses (HYROX 365)
• Merchandise sales
• Sponsorships

100 events… 5,000 signups per event… 500,000 total signups * ~$125 per ticket = $62,500,000
~5,000 affiliates * $1,500/yr. fee = $7,500,000

Takeaways

CrossFit likely has a few more revenue streams than HYROX. They also charge more in affiliation fees and for training & education.

However, HYROX likely makes far more when it comes to event registration fees.

CrossFit is probably making more off their training & education, mainly because it’s been around for longer. HYROX just released their training programs within the past year or two.

I’m not aware of any public information on how much each company spends in a year, but…

• CrossFit’s biggest expenses are likely its employees and the production of the CrossFit Games
• HYROX’s biggest expense almost has to be their event production costs

Affiliate Model

Both HYROX & CrossFit operate an affiliate model, where they charge local gyms and training clubs a fee to use their name.

CrossFit has run an affiliate model almost since its creation (2002). HYROX focused on events first, and introduced their affiliate program a bit later.

While both companies provide some support to their affiliates, CrossFit definitely wins in this category.

• HYROX gym affiliate fees ($130/mo. or $1,500/yr. USD) (source)
• HYROX performance coach fees ($100/mo. or $1,150/yr. USD) (source)

• CrossFit affiliate fee ($4,500/yr. USD) + $1,000 one-time application fee (source)
  • A Level 1 Trainer Certificate is required to open a CrossFit affiliate ($1,150 fee)

Requirements: To open a CrossFit gym, you must pass the CrossFit Level 1 Certificate course. There are no requirements to affiliate with HYROX.

CrossFit vs. HYROX Gym Affiliation Fees

	HYROX	CrossFit
Annual Affiliation Fee (USD)	$1,500/yr.	$4,500/yr.
One-Time Application Fees (USD)	none	$1,000 application fee
Required Education Fees (USD)	none	$1,150 Level 1 Trainer Certificate
TOTAL FEES to start gym affiliation (USD)	$1,500	$6,650
ANNUAL FEES to maintain gym affiliation (USD)	$1,500/yr.	$4,500/yr.

* CrossFit also requires proof of insurance before you can become a CrossFit affiliate gym, which will incur a fee. All gyms should have insurance, but HYROX doesn’t require it.

As you can see, the affiliation fees are significantly higher for CrossFit vs. HYROX, although CrossFit likely provides more assistance, so you get more bang for your buck.

CrossFit vs. HYROX Coaching Fees

There really isn’t an apples to apples comparison here. HYROX and CrossFit provide very different offerings when it comes to education, but we’ll compare what we can.

	HYROX	CrossFit
HYROX Foundation Course	$49	no equivalent
HYROX Level 1 Course / CrossFit Level 1 Course	$499	$1,150
HYROX Level 2 Course / CrossFit Level 2 Course	coming soon	$1,150
“HYROX Performance Coach” designation	$1,150/yr.	no equivalent

• CrossFit certificates (from passing the tests associated with courses) are valid for 5 years. Revalidation of an expired certificate is available at a similar price to the initial investment, with a small discount.
• HYROX designations appear to be based on maintaining an active yearly or monthly payment to use them. They don’t have an expiration date so long as you pay the fee.

Training

Fitness training of any kind is difficult to quantify. I don’t want to go into a ton of detail in this article, but generally speaking, here’s what I can say about training for HYROX and CrossFit:

• CrossFit training is constantly varied, functional movements, performed at high intensity
• CrossFit training is typically a combination of strength/lifting, and gymnastics, cardiorespiratory fitness
• CrossFit workouts are typically <20 min in duration, but often include 20-30 minutes of strength and/or skill work
• HYROX training is anything that helps you prepare for a HYROX race
• HYROX training typically involves a lot of running, combined with erg work and fairly heavy functional movements
• HYROX training sessions vary in length from 20-30 minutes, up to 90 minutes

Olympic/Barbell Lifts

CrossFit didn’t invent olympic lifting, but they did popularize it. A significant part of CrossFit training includes the Clean & Jerk and Snatch.

In addition, CrossFit regularly uses other barbell lifts in its programming—deadlifts, push press, push jerk, front squat, overhead squat, thrusters, and more. While all of these movements can be beneficial to a HYROX athlete, they are far less common to see in traditional HYROX training.

Gymnastics & Skills

HYROX doesn’t require any gymnastics or other high-level skill work to be able to compete.

In CrossFit training, you’ll commonly see movements like handstand pushups or handstand walks, double unders, muscle ups, and other high-skill gymnastic movements. Again, these could have some benefits for a HYROX athlete, but I would argue they are even less beneficial than barbell lifts.

Running

While a small percentage of CrossFitters will add more running in addition to their regular training, it’s widely accepted that HYROX training requires significantly more running volume than CrossFit training. More on this below…

Running

Because HYROX events are standardized and always include the same amount of running, while CrossFit workouts vary greatly in the amount of running they contain, it’s hard to make an objective comparison. But having trained both for multiple years, I can confidently say:

• A HYROX event always contains 8.7km of running
• Local CrossFit events rarely contain any running. Online CrossFit events contain no running. The CrossFit Games typically program 1-3 workouts that contain running, out of a total of about 12. They make up a small percentage, and are typically no longer than 5k at a time.
• Typical HYROX training requires 15-50km of running per week
• Most everyday CrossFit training includes <5km of running per week

This doesn’t mean that CrossFitters are bad runners, or that no CrossFit athletes ever run more than a handful of kilometers per week. Some run close to, and even beyond, what many HYROX athletes run in a week. Longer distance running (6km+) has its place in CrossFit, it’s just not the main focus of the CrossFit training methodology.

Generally speaking, HYROX athletes should, and most do, place a priority on a higher volume of running training. And it makes sense. A HYROX event contains more running than probably 99% of CrossFit events, with the exception of a few CrossFit Games events, which are reserved for the top 30-40 fittest CrossFit athletes in the world.

Common Movements

CrossFit

The CrossFit methodology doesn’t denote specific movements that should or must be used for something to be considered CrossFit. They do have 9 foundational movements, but these are only to help new athletes learn how to move their body through space, safely and efficiently.

While there are no hard & fast rules, there are many movements that are commonly considered to be popularized by CrossFit. When talking about what movements HYROX & CrossFit share, we’ll be referring to these common “CrossFit movements.”

HYROX

HYROX training can include any type of movement that a HYROX trainer can think of, but all HYROX events contain the same 8 workout stations, along with running.

Athletes

Let’s take a brief look at HYROX athletes vs. CrossFit athletes. Are there some who compete at a high level in both? Which ones have made the switch from one discipline to the other?

Lauren Weeks is one of the top 2 or 3 HYROX athletes in the sport. You might not know this, but she’s also a seasoned CrossFitter. Weeks has competed in the CrossFit Open most years since 2014, often finishing in the top 100 in her age group, worldwide.

Hunter McIntyre, a multiple time HYROX world champion, also has some CrossFit experience. He first competed in the CrossFit Open in 2014, and was actually given a special invite to the Games in 2019. It was a unique year where 141 athletes were invited and cuts were made early. Hunter was cut after the second workout and finished in 61st place.

Tia Toomey is arguably the greatest CrossFitter of all time, man or woman. She’s won multiple CrossFit Games titles in a row, in a dominating fashion. In 2024/25, she started competing in HYROX as well. She set the Women’s Pro Doubles world record with Joanna Wietrzyk at HYROX Houston in March 2025, and will be headed to the HYROX World Championships in June 2025. Tia is one of the most successful athletes to compete (and do well) in both CrossFit and HYROX.

James Newbury has competed in many CrossFit Games, and has over a decade of CrossFit experience. He has also completed multiple HYROX races and done well.

James Sprague was the 2024 CrossFit Games champion. He was only competed in one HYROX race, but he won it, and qualified for the World Championships in June 2025.

Ricky Garard is another multiple time podium finisher at the CrossFit Games. He has raced two individual HYROX races in Australia, with one podium, and another solid finish. It doesn’t appear Ricky is training for HYROX, but his engine and superb running has allowed him to do well.

Kristi Eramo O’Connell is a now-retired multiple times Games athlete. She’s also a phenomenal runner, and I’d argue, one of the best all-around hybrid athletes in this list. She has competed in HYROX a few times, winning her very first HYROX Pro individual race. It doesn’t appear Kristi is training for HYROX seriously, but if she did, should would have as good a chance as anyone to do extremely well.

We have created a complete list of all high-level CrossFit athletes who have competed in HYROX →

Pros & Cons of Each

Here’s a quick list of what I see as pros & cons of each brand. These are subjective but based on my experience with each company. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list by any means.

HYROX Pros

✅ Professionally-produced event
✅ Multiple versions (open, pro, doubles, relay)
✅ Track progress over time with a set course at every event
✅ Worldwide reach

HYROX Cons

❌ Judging & volunteer challenges
❌ Customer service is lacking, mainly due to fast growth
❌ Limited variety of movements
❌ Crowded events
❌ Difficult to get tickets. Sell out very fast.

CrossFit Pros

✅ Includes a fitness/wellness methodology, in addition to events/movements
✅ Methodology backed by science & extensive research
✅ Proven results: 25+ years in business (began in 2000)
✅ Repeatable & measurable
✅ Infinitely scalable
✅ Worldwide reach
✅ Almost 10k affiliate gyms around the world to get involved

CrossFit Cons

❌ Consistent training could take more of a toll on the body
❌ More difficult to master, more movements to learn
❌ Higher mobility requirement
❌ Has switched ownership multiple times; currently owned by private equity firms
❌ Poor communication from Headquarters

Which is Better, HYROX or CrossFit?

Before I answer this question, let me make one thing clear — Fitness is never an either/or. It’s a yes, and.

You should never lock yourself in to a single training program. You can get fit in so many ways. The most important thing to remember when it comes to fitness is consistency. And what helps you stay consistent? Finding something that you enjoy to do.

I encourage you to experiment with all forms of fitness—HYROX, CrossFit, pole dancing, pickleball, and a thousand others.

But if I had to choose only one…

I’m choosing CrossFit. The main reason is pretty simple.

CrossFit is a well-researched, well thought out, comprehensive fitness methodology.

• It includes both physical training and nutrition
• It requires a more well-rounded skillset
• CrossFit has produced an actual definition of fitness, and its program aims to achieve it

While engaging in either HYROX or CrossFit training means you’ll live longer, healthier, happier lives than 99% of humans, I think CrossFit will take you farther.

CrossFit has defined fitness through research, and provided a prescription for how to achieve it, but the exact movements and day-to-day training can vary greatly from person to person. There is a common set of movements, but a good CrossFit program will introduce new movements regularly. A good CrossFit coach will encourage play outside of the gym, to achieve the 10 general, physical skills that CrossFit strives to build.

CrossFit, almost by definition, encourages you to compete in HYROX. Part of “Fitness in 100 Words,” written by CrossFit founder Greg Glassman, says:

“Routine is the enemy. … Regularly learn and play new sports.”

HYROX is a new sport.

This is part of why you see more CrossFit athletes competing in HYROX than you do HYROX athletes competing in CrossFit.

But please don’t pick one. Do both. And try hundreds of others. Never stop learning and exploring new realms of fitness.