We have tried both. I love The Little Gym!
I felt like every single activity at Gymboree was a sales pitch. If they played with bubbles during the class, we were told that the Gymboree bubbles were available in the lobby. If we sang a song, we were reminded that the CDs were available to purchase. It just really turned me off of the whole experience.
My children have gone to The Little Gym for many years now and the quality of the staff is awesome. I feel like they actually "get it".
I agree with the sales pitch issue. there were boxes of stuff all around that my son kept getting inot that you could buy.