No one can do without a good set of kicks. Maybe you’re the casual wearer that needs a pair to keep your feet comfy. Maybe you’re the passionate collector that has a dozen limited-edition shoes. Maybe you’re the fashionista that knows full well how kicks can perfectly finish an outfit.
The point is…we all gotta have them. And if we gotta have them, we ought to invest in a brand that’ll treat our feet right. To that end, if you don’t already own Nike shoes or sportswear, now’s your chance to fall in love with the company and the perks of shopping with them.
We’re here to break down what the Nike Membership is and how it works–and especially to answer if it costs money. (Spoiler: it doesn’t.) We’ll also take a look at their available apps that help you to really get to know your gear.
Nike was founded in 1964, and its headquarters are currently in Oregon near the Portland area. It’s the world’s–that’s right, the world’s–largest supplier of athletic shoes and sportswear.
As a company, Nike is committed to responsible sourcing, sustainable practices, and community empowerment. For more than two decades, Nike has released “impact reports” that outline their goals, successes, and failures.
But that’s just Nike itself. What about its products? Nike is known for high-quality apparel and shoes, and their commitment to releasing new collabs as well as honoring old classics means there’s something for everyone.
Nike also made the CouponFollow BNPL (buy now, pay later) list for its affiliation with services like Klarn, Zip, and Affirm.
Nike Membership is a core benefit of being a frequent flier with the brand. Let’s take a look at all the goodies you get for signing up and how to do so.
Signing up is easier than tying your shoelaces. Becoming a member requires you to either log into a Nike app or register online. If you’ve downloaded and used one of Nike’s apps already (more on that later), you’re probably already a member!
When registering online, you’ll need to enter an email address and agree to their Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. After that, you’ll enter a code sent to that email address (it’s time sensitive, so move quick!), your name, a password, and your date of birth.
You’ll also choose whether you want to view Men’s or Women’s products for shopping. And we recommend keeping the checkbox for marketing emails clicked on this one–you’ll be the first to know if something new, hot, or discounted drops.
After that…you’re in!
Wondering if the Nike Membership is free or whether it costs anything? Happily, more and more membership services these days are completely free of charge, and Nike’s Membership is no different.
When you sign up, the effort you put into registering is all that you’ll spend. The Nike Membership program is completely free, and it has no strings attached.
Being a Nike Member means, first and foremost, that you have access to Nike’s “Member Days.” For 2022, these ran from October 24 through 28. It included a member-exclusive sale all week long (20% off select styles), early access to new collections, and more.
But you also permanently get free standard shipping on all orders, first access to Member-exclusive styles, invites to events, workshops, and workouts, and in-store exclusive benefits.
Nike Members do receive an exclusive discount during their birthday month–but you’ll need to sign up before that month to cash in. Previous promos have offered 10% off select items for a single purchase, but watch for that birthday email to see what the latest discount is.
And for the creatives among us, Nike Members get to customize their own shoe with Nike by You. There’s a modest selection of shoe styles to choose from, which can then be adjusted to become your “so-you shoe.”
Nike’s direct competitor is adidas. They, too, have a membership program, but the main difference is its points system. When you become an adiClub Member, you earn as you spend. You also get access to Members Only products, adidas apps, and more.
New Balance is another contender in the sportswear space, also with a club of their own. Their membership program is called myNB. Like adidas, New Balance offered points with purchases, but that program was discontinued in 2021.
Skechers has a program called Skechers Plus, and their points system is active and ongoing. As with many of these memberships, Skechers Plus Members get free standard shipping and returns, as well as birthday rewards.
Nike+ was a collaboration between Nike and Apple. It culminated in a fitness-tracking app launched alongside hardware components in 2006.
The program (both software and hardware) was sunsetted in 2018. Nike+ may be gone, but Nike wasn’t satisfied with letting go of their app aspirations. They pivoted to the development of several other apps to serve a similar purpose as Nike+.
Now, Nike has at least four app programs to benefit fitness and shopping in a variety of different ways.
Nike+ might be retired, but there’s plenty more where that came from. Nike has a smorgasbord of apps (fitness and otherwise) to choose from, plus a primary app to browse when you’re ready for some serious shopping.
The main Nike app is named exactly that–the Nike App. They describe it as “your personal guide to Nike,” and they stand behind that with recommendations based on your purchases and browsing.
Fresh gear drops happen on the app. There are also stories to read and a community to engage with. Plus, of course, you can shop the Nike wares with ease. Shipping is free, checkout is secure, and returns are available for up to 60 days.
Once you download the app, you’re automatically a Nike Member. Birthday rewards, early access to new lines, and exclusive promos are just a little of what’s in store.
The Nike Training Club app (or NTC) is designed to help you work out on the regular. It also has wellness and nutrition programs, so you can create a schedule for yourself that benefits you best.
Workouts offer a range of activities and durations, and they provide background music and all the info you need for equipment and difficulty level.
NTC aims to build a worldwide community with its trainers, who are all listed on the Nike website and provide expert tips on things like sleep, sports, and more.
The Nike Run Club app (or NRC) is more narrowly focused than Nike Training Club. It offers coaching, stat tracking, and wellness tips for runners.
From serious runners to the newly initiated, knowing your pace and times is important for seeing how you’re improving. NRC notes these numbers, and it also keeps an eye on your location, tracking elevation gain, distance, and so on.
As with NTC, Nike is looking to engage and grow a community with this app. You can connect with other people and runners nearby or nearly across the globe.
The SNKRS app from Nike is not a fitness app. Instead, it’s your “ultimate sneaker source.” This app is for the kicks collector. It lets you browse and buy Nike shoes, filling you in on the latest drops and exclusive releases.
You can set notifications for yourself for launches you just can’t miss, and you get special access to events. Learn the stories behind your favorite past or upcoming shoes via the SNKRS community.
Most importantly, you can reserve your sneakers in the SNKRS app itself and pick them up at your local retailer. For those striving for a collector’s pair on launch day, this is a boon and a luxury.