The Peloton bike has been the go-to train bike for lots of people in recent times, and it is easy to see why it is so common. It sports activities superior options, courses run by partaking instructors and loads of health class selection. However as a lot as I get pleasure from hopping on a Peloton bike sometimes, I’ve realized that not everybody needs to personal one. Peloton alternate options are possibility if you need a related expertise to the Peloton, however with out really having to purchase one. I examined varied train bikes over a number of months, narrowing issues all the way down to those that may function the most effective Peloton different. They range in worth and options, so there ought to be a motorbike to suit everybody’s wants and price range.
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What’s the greatest Peloton different?
The most effective total Peloton different is the NordicTrack S24 Studio Bike. This bike affords a high-end expertise just like the Peloton with some further options. Though it prices greater than a Peloton, it consists of a SmartAdjust function miming real-world biking. For instance, should you’re just about biking via the woods of Colorado, the bike routinely adjusts to match that altitude and declines accordingly. The display can be larger on this bike (24 inches versus Peloton’s 21.5 inches).
Much like Peloton, NordicTrack additionally affords a membership subscription via the iFit app to entry all of its courses, which you’ll join individually. One other plus, you may join third-party streaming companies to this bike and watch your favourite TV exhibits or take heed to your individual music throughout a trip.
Latest updates
Editor’s observe, June 10, 2024: BowFlex filed for Chapter 11 chapter in 2024, and the model is now owned by Johnson Well being Tech, which additionally owns Horizon Health and Matrix. You may nonetheless purchase BowFlex merchandise via its web site and by way of retailers reminiscent of Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Items.
Editor’s observe, Jan. 1, 2025: We’ll be updating this web page periodically within the new yr. There are at the moment new machines within the testing phases, as you may see famous beneath. Some manufacturers we’re contemplating that weren’t examined beforehand embody Schwinn, Aviron, NordicTrack, Horizon and Zwift Trip.
Editor’s observe, June 30, 2025: This entire web page has been overhauled and up to date with new merchandise and testing.
Greatest Peloton alternate options of 2025
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Professionals
- It’s quiet and clean
- It has the auto-adjust possibility while you’re taking a category so as to add a real-life really feel to the exercise
- The touchscreen is larger than Peloton’s at 24 inches
- You may connect with common third-party apps
- Particular person quantity management for each teacher and music
Cons
- The handles have plastic buttons for resistance and incline. The buttons make the product look low-cost and make me surprise if it’ll break simply.
- iFIT Professional membership prices extra at $396 yearly and controls the flexibility to entry extra superior courses and options
- Can’t connect with the Peloton app
- S24 train bike prices greater than a Peloton at $2,499
Why we prefer it: You may have meeting included for this bike, which we discovered useful. One among NordicTrack’s distinctive qualities is its SmartAdjust function, which permits the bike to regulate resistance primarily based in your health stage. I examined this whereas biking via a scenic mountainside, and the bike routinely adjusted the incline primarily based on elevation. This is similar function on NordicTrack treadmills.
One of the best ways to expertise the NordicTrack S24 bike is by taking biking courses via its iFIT Prepare app ($15 month-to-month or $144 yearly). Like Peloton, you may as well take health courses like yoga and power coaching. This bike additionally comes with 3-pound dumbbells with a rack holder beneath the display.
The bottom of the display has a built-in fan, which is good while you’ve been sweating via a session. This display is larger than Peloton’s and swivels should you plan on doing flooring workouts. I might comfortably trip with customary sneakers within the pedal cages, however the pedals are double-sided for clip-in footwear.
Who’s it greatest for: This bike is for you should you like the texture of the Peloton however are on the lookout for another with a extra immersive expertise. You may pay further for the iFIT Professional membership ($39 month-to-month or $396 yearly), which is greatest if a number of individuals plan on utilizing the bike or if you need customized exercise creations. You may nonetheless entry third-party apps like Netflix, Prime, Spotify, Strava, Garmin Join and Google Match. It’s good having the choice to take heed to your music or stream your favourite exhibits.
One of many options I like that NordicTrack applies to its machines is the individualized quantity management, so you may decrease the trainer’s quantity throughout a category or improve the music quantity or vice versa. One other plus is that you would be able to join your Bluetooth-powered headphones, so your exercise received’t disrupt anybody in your own home.
Who shouldn’t get it: This bike is without doubt one of the most costly on the listing and prices greater than a Peloton. I wasn’t a fan of the buttons that management the resistance as a result of they’re manufactured from what seems to be like low-cost plastic. I might’ve most popular a resistance knob.
If it’s not inside your price range, there are cheaper Peloton alternate options. You can also’t entry the Peloton app on this bike, even with the assorted third-party app entry. Alternatively, if this bike is inside your price range, chances are you’ll wish to buy the Peloton as an alternative. Even with courses, the iFIT instructors don’t match the Peloton instructors’ power.
Professionals
- Inexpensive at $799
- Can connect with third-party apps like Peloton
- Stable bike with a clean trip and doesn’t shake when in use
- JRNY app is cheap at $149 yearly and permits as much as three profiles
- JRNY month-to-month All-Entry membership is $24 cheaper than Peloton All-Entry membership
- The guarantee lasts as much as 10 years for the body
Cons
- Flywheel location within the again makes it tougher to maneuver the bike
- No touchscreen; you’ll want a pill to make use of it
- No third-party music possibility
- Meeting requires an additional individual
Why we prefer it: If you would like a cheaper Peloton different, think about the BowFlex IC Bike SE. This train bike prices lower than a Peloton ($799), and also you get related perks. Meeting can take over 1.5 hours, but it surely’s doable when you have an additional individual to assist and observe the tutorials. If it’s inside your price range, you may as well pay further for BowFlex to supply in-house meeting (costs range by location).
This train bike has 100 resistance ranges, is quiet and is clean total. Its 7-inch LCD display is tiny in comparison with the Peloton’s however supplies information like resistance, velocity, watts and burn fee. The upside is that you should use a pill with this train bike and simply connect with the Peloton app and different third-party apps like Discover the World and Zwift.
You even have free entry to JRNY, BowFlex’s health app, for the primary two months should you’re a brand new member. Afterward, you may choose from the mobile-only membership ($11.99 month-to-month or $100 yearly) or the All-Entry membership ($19.99 month-to-month or $149 yearly). The bike additionally comes with 3-pound dumbbells, which can be utilized for flooring train throughout different courses. The pedals are dual-sided cages, so you may trip with customary or clip-in footwear.
Who’s it greatest for: If you would like an reasonably priced Peloton different and are OK with the dearth of a touchscreen, the BowFlex is an efficient selection. At $600, the bike is a steal, and even the JRNY All-Entry membership at $29 a month is cheaper than Peloton’s equal at $44 a month. This bike additionally has the most effective guarantee on the body, masking as much as 10 years and a couple of years on mechanical components. Total, I like BowFlex as a model, and its high quality stands as much as the IC Bike SE.
Who shouldn’t get it: The flywheel on this bike is positioned within the again, so it could be a problem to maneuver it round in comparison with bikes with the flywheel within the entrance. That is one thing to think about should you stay alone or plan on shifting the bike typically. Additionally, if the seat doesn’t really feel comfy after a number of rides, you’ll in all probability find yourself shelling out cash for a greater seat substitute. The BowFlex further consolation bike seat is a further $40.
The music choice wasn’t my favourite as a result of you may solely choose from the JRNY Radio. I like having the choice to play my very own music from Spotify or Apple Music. If this issues to you, you are higher off with one other Peloton different — even when you need to spend slightly extra.
Professionals
- Straightforward to make use of
- The display is larger than Peloton’s at 22 inches
- Quiet when in use
- Echelon Premier membership is cheaper than Peloton’s at $40 month-to-month
- Can connect with third-party apps like Strava and Spotify
Cons
- Points connecting to the Bluetooth initially
- Can’t connect with the Peloton app
- Courses could also be much less partaking than Peloton’s
- Guarantee is just for 1 yr
Why we prefer it: The Echelon EX-5S-22 is the most effective Peloton different if you need an train bike that’s intuitive to make use of and supplies the same look and expertise. Meeting is just like BowFlex and could be completed at residence by following an tutorial video. Or you may pay further for in-home meeting (costs range by location). It’s a barely greater worth than our price range choose, however it could fulfill that Peloton itch.
I’ve examined different Echelon train tools earlier than, and I admire the simplistic design from the meeting to the software program. You don’t at all times have the time to be taught a brand new piece of health tools and wish to take it for a spin instantly. At $1,000, it’s additionally a extra reasonably priced bike than a Peloton and features a barely bigger 22-inch touchscreen.
You’ve gotten entry to the Echelon Match app, which supplies you entry to stay and on-demand courses. The display is massive sufficient to get a transparent view of the category’s teacher and all of your stats throughout a trip. The pedals are additionally dual-sided, so you may select common sneakers or clip-on footwear. Total, it’s just like driving a Peloton, minus the associated fee.
Who’s it greatest for: This bike is greatest for the rider who needs a motorbike that’s simple to make use of and doesn’t require a lot of a studying curve. That is additionally applicable for the exerciser who doesn’t wish to absolutely decide to the Peloton however nonetheless likes indoor biking courses.
An Echelon Premier membership is cheaper than Peloton’s All-Entry membership ($44/month). You may choose from two membership choices: Premier (create as much as 5 profiles with limitless courses for $40/month and cancel anytime; or pay yearly at $33/month or $400 a yr) and FitPass (one profile with restricted courses, $11.99/month). You can even join with third-party apps like Strava, Apple Well being and Fitbit, and take heed to your music or audiobooks by way of Spotify, Apple Music or Audible.
Who shouldn’t get it: One of many points I had when establishing this bike was connecting to the Bluetooth. It took some troubleshooting. Should you’d like the choice to connect with the Peloton app, this bike doesn’t enable it. One of many issues Peloton has over Echelon is the instructors. Should you love Peloton’s instructors’ power, chances are you’ll discover Echelon’s instructors much less thrilling and motivating. The display additionally doesn’t tilt like Peloton’s whereas doing flooring workouts. The guarantee can be just for a yr.
Peloton alternate options in contrast
| Peloton alternate options | Dimensions | Max weight capability | Resistance | Display screen measurement | Guarantee | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordicTrack S24 Studio bike | 56.4″ L x 21.8″ W x 62.7″ H | 350 kilos | 24 ranges of resistance | 24 inch touchscreen | 1-year producer’s guarantee masking the body, motor, components and labor | $2,499 |
| BowFlex IC Bike SE | 54.7″ L x 21.5″ W x 52.8″ H | 330 kilos | 100 magnetic resistance | 7 inch colour LCD | Body: 10 years, Mechanical components: 2 years, Electronics: 1 yr, Labor: 1 yr | $799 |
| Echelon EX-5S-22 | 21.25″D x 52.36″W x 56.29″H | 300 kilos | 32 ranges of magnetic resistance | 22 inch HD touchscreen | 1 yr | $1,099 |
Though the Peloton is the most well-liked train bike, it is probably not what everyone seems to be on the lookout for. There could also be higher choices to suit your wants. We rounded up this listing with alternate options that may be higher choices should you don’t wish to decide to a Peloton.
Meeting
The perks of proudly owning a Peloton are that meeting is included together with your supply. Should you resolve to purchase a Peloton different, be ready to assemble it by yourself. We appeared on the choices the train bike model supplied or included meeting. For these bikes we needed to assemble, we thought-about how clear the directions have been and the way lengthy it took to construct the bike.
Options
Much like the Peloton, these alternate options embody a subscription to entry their courses. We checked out whether or not the member subscription is crucial to your indoor biking expertise or if there’s an possibility to only trip or connect with different third-party apps. We additionally checked out how the bike’s options examine to a Peloton.
Performance
Throughout the testing expertise, we examined how nicely the train bike functioned in comparison with a Peloton. We thought-about whether or not any items arrived damaged or if components of the bike didn’t operate accurately. We additionally noticed how intuitive it’s to make use of as a first-time rider since a Peloton is comparatively simple to make use of.
Guarantee
When making an enormous buy like a Peloton different, it’s important to know the guarantee in case something breaks. We appeared on the guarantee’s size and what components of the train bike it covers.
Testing a Peloton different means it wants to satisfy a number of fundamental benchmarks to see the way it measures up in opposition to the Peloton. Whereas testing these bikes, we took into consideration meeting, the sorts of courses supplied and the options whereas evaluating it to the true Peloton expertise. We appeared on the following:
Measurement, stability and luxury: This consists of ease of meeting (if wanted), the dimensions of the bike, how a lot noise it makes, whether or not it wobbles and the way comfy it’s to take a seat and trip.
Software program options: As a Peloton different, it should present the same expertise to the Peloton bike. This consists of heart-rate monitoring, all kinds of exercise varieties via its exercise subscription, plus an app and/or a built-in display to entry these exercises.
Ease of use: Peloton alternate options ought to be simple sufficient for a newbie or superior rider to make use of. In the event that they’re too sophisticated, they will’t be Peloton alternate options.
Schwinn IC 4:
The Schwinn IC 4 left a lot to be desired as a result of the console arrived damaged and wouldn’t activate. It is a conventional train bike that I’ve used up to now and like total. However I wouldn’t label it as a “greatest Peloton different.” It doesn’t have a touchscreen, so that you’ll want a pill to make use of it and observe alongside together with your favourite third-party exercise apps. We are going to replace this overview as soon as we obtain a substitute.
ZWIFT Trip with KICKR Core
I didn’t assume the ZWIFT Trip with KICKR Core was applicable for a Peloton alternate options listing because it’s distinctive sufficient to be in its personal class and was designed for severe cyclists who need an indoor coach expertise. The bike’s body is a great bike that connects to Wahoo’s KICKR Core, which routinely controls the resistance on the bike. Since this bike does not have a touchscreen, you will have a pill or smartphone to make use of the ZWIFT companion app.
The ZWIFT exercise imagery design resembles a cross between the Sims and Mario Kart video video games with out the particular results. Should you plan on utilizing a special cog aside from the KICKR core, you need to be sure it’s ZWIFT suitable first. It is a higher possibility as an train bike as an alternative of a Peloton different.
Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle
The Horizon 7.0 IC Indoor Cycle was a simple train bike total, however I wouldn’t think about it the best choice for a Peloton different. It didn’t include damaged components and was on the simpler aspect to assemble, so I might advocate this to somebody who needs a easy and dependable bike. It does connect with the Peloton app and others, however lacks a touchscreen and high-tech options. A plus is that this train bike has a lifetime guarantee.
Peloton is taken into account the most effective of the most effective on the subject of train bikes. Different train bikes assist you to do the identical exercises with some variations. For instance, there could also be bikes which have their very own model of a touchscreen and biking courses. Most exercises you do on a Peloton will also be completed on a Peloton different. Some workouts chances are you’ll wish to attempt embody:
Excessive-Depth Interval Coaching (HIIT): Should you’re used to driving an train bike, you are accustomed to HIIT rides. You utilize brief bursts of power adopted by a relaxation interval, and you may mess around with the resistance to make the trip tougher or simpler. Moreover, it is a great way to get a fast exercise in lower than half-hour.
Hills and sprinting: Should you’re specializing in bettering your stamina and endurance, working towards biking uphill with heavy resistance and sprinting on little to no resistance on an train bike is an efficient means to take action. You must also have the choice to “Simply Trip,” just like Peloton, which doesn’t require connecting to a category.
Different group health courses: One of many perks of being a Peloton member is that you’ve got entry to exercise courses aside from biking. You must have the ability to take related courses with a Peloton different.
Alter the bike to your wants: Earlier than utilizing a Peloton different, you’ll want to regulate the seat and handlebars. This can range per individual, however ideally, you need the seat to be hip top.
Put on the fitting footwear: Peloton alternate options could assist you to use clip-in footwear (similar to Peloton), whereas others solely have cages that may match any sneaker. Should you’ve by no means used clip-in footwear, it is best to observe getting on and off the bike with them first, since they require a little bit of a studying curve.
Know your bike: It helps to be taught the place the resistance is in your Peloton different. For instance, on most bikes, you flip a knob to extend or lower resistance. If there’s a touchscreen, it is useful to know learn how to entry the courses you’ll wish to take part in, learn how to regulate settings like quantity and learn how to arrange person profiles and different options in your system. Lastly, you’ll wish to know learn how to cease the bike in case of an emergency.
Which bike is Peloton’s greatest competitor?
What ought to I search for when shopping for an indoor train bike?
Which muscle tissue does indoor biking work?
Is a built-in or BYO display higher?
Is a subscription mandatory?
What’s higher, Echelon or Peloton?
