Research-Based

Peloton Alternative – 8 Best Exercise Bike Options

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By Rebekah Pierce

Reviewed by Juliana Tamayo, MS, RDN - Last Updated

peloton alternative

There’s no doubt that Peloton has become a popular workout choice for fitness enthusiasts, but what if you’re looking for an alternative?

Whether you’re not crazy about the idea of working out in front of others or you just want to switch things up, we’ve got some great Peloton alternative ideas for you!

So, without further ado, here are some top Peloton alternatives that will help you get fit – fast.

What is the Peloton Bike?

If you want to get fit, the Peloton bike is one of your best options to help you do so. These indoor cycling bikes are meant for home use and have large screens and front and rear speakers. That means you can work out to thousands of classes that are available with a Peloton All-Access membership.

peloton website

Peloton is best known for its original Peloton bike, but now, the company offers dozens of different products and accessories, including cycling shoes, weights, headphones, bike mats, heart rate monitors, and more.

People love Peloton because it offers so many different fitness instructors, a music library, and even social features like the ability to ride with your friends.

However, even before you start considering all of these extras, Peloton is expensive. Just the basic bike can cost upwards of $1800 – something that can be cost-prohibitive for many people who want to start indoor cycling on a stationary bike at home.

If you’re interested in some alternatives to the Peloton bike, you can always just buy a stationary bike and use your TV or phone to broadcast classes instead. While you won’t have access to the leaderboard and on-screen stats like your resistance, cadence, and other metrics (like what you might get with Peloton’s equipment), you’ll save a lot of money by doing this.

But what about if you want to be able to tap into everything that the Peloton bike has to offer – without the steep price point? Below are some of the best Peloton alternative options to consider.

Peloton Alternatives

Want to get the same great on- or off-bike workouts at home – but for less? These exercise bikes are all great Peloton alternative options for indoor cycling to consider.

1. Bowflex C6

bowflex c6

The Bowflex C6 is different from the Peloton exercise bike because it doesn’t require you to buy into the rest of the ecosystem. You can pair the exercise bike with Bluetooth to any other exercise apps (including Peloton’s, by the way).

This is one of the best Peloton alternatives to consider if you want more versatility in the live and on-demand classes you attend. It can be a bit difficult to assemble these exercise bikes, but it takes up far less space than other Peloton alternatives on the market.

It’s quiet and easy to ride. There’s a tablet mount so you can keep track of key stats like your calories, time, distance, speed, and pulse. It even comes with a set of three-pound weights and space to stash your water bottles!

GET THE BEST PRICE ON BOWFLEX C6

2. Echelon Smart Connect Bike EX3

echelon smart connect bike ex3

Another of the best Peloton alternatives is the Echelon EX3. This model is even less expensive than the Bowflex. With these indoor cycling bikes, you’ll get a similar class structure with both live and on-demand options available.

It has a large 22-inch screen so it’s easy to see what’s going on in these live and on-demand classes – but you can also bring your own screen, like an iPad, so you can read or watch Netflix while you workout instead.

The downside to Echelon exercise bikes is that it can’t be paired with third-party cycling apps. If you want an exercise bike that gives you real-time stats and don’t want to use the Echelon app, you might want to pass on this one.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON ECHELON SMART CONNECT BIKE EX3

3. NordicTrack S15i

nordictrack s15i

NordicTrack offers a large selection of stationary bikes that serve as some of the best Peloton alternatives.

The best part about this indoor bike by NordicTrack is its mechanical shaft to simulate the declines and incles of actual hills. The cycling classes have instructors that can adjust your bike’s incline and resistance levels for you – you don’t have to mess around with the controls while you’re in the middle of the class.

Reviews for this fitness bike have very few complaints. Some aren’t happy with the iFit software. Although it offers a large assortment of classes and virtual rides (along with multiple off-bike workouts), it can be slow and jerky when you’re operating it. It can also be tough to search.

You win some and you lose some! Still, this is one of the best Peloton alternatives out there.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON NORDICTRACK S15I

4. ProForm Studio Bike Pro

proform studio bike pro

This indoor cycling bike offers one of the best values around, making it the Peloton alternative that’s best to consider if you’re looking for an exercise bike on a budget.

Here’s the deal – you pay just $39 a month for an iFit subscription and you don’t have to pay anything else for the bike. You don’t have to pay separately for classes and the bike at the same time. How cool is that?

There are plenty of fun classes offered through the subscription, too, not just biking classes. You can also take classes in things like yoga and strength training. There’s even live resistance control so your instructor can adjust your bike’s resistance settings so you don’t have to.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON PROFORM STUDIO BIKE PRO

5. Carol AI

carol ai

Unfortunately, the Carol AI bike isn’t the best option if you’re looking for the best Peloton alternatives in terms of price alone. This one is right around the same price.

However, it offers lots of benefits.

This AI-powered smart stationary bike has three weekly rides. These rides each last only nine minutes and require less than a minute of hard effort. They’re known as REHIT (reduced exertion high-intensity training) workouts. They are meant to trigger your body’s fight or flight response so you can burn more calories faster.

If you don’t have the time or interest in working out, the Carol AI might be the best Peloton alternative.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON CAROL AI

6. Hydrow Rower

hydrow rower

If you’re really only interested in a fitness bike, then the Hydrow Rower might not be for you. However, if you just like the Peloton app and bike for their ability to give you a truly remarkable workout, then this is an option to consider.

The Hydrow Rower offers a serious cardiovascular workout that also builds your upper and lower body muscles. It has all the benefits of cycling.

This machine offers both on-demand and live workouts. The rower has a multisensory approach, including the sound of cutting waves, so you can strengthen your body while recreating an outdoor cycling experience.

Again, it’s not a bike – but you’ll still be able to access many of the same social features of the Peloton, like a leaderboard and joint classes. The price point is quite similar, too.

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7. Schwinn

schwinn

Schwinn has been making bikes for many years, so it’s no surprise that they would come out with their own version of the Peloton bike shortly after the latter’s release.

The Schwinn is a bit more basic in the console, offering the standard outputs like heart rate, distance, calories, and so on. When you buy a Schwinn indoor exercise bike, you’ll get a free one-year membership to the JRNY Fitness APp. You can watch videos on the app with your phone or tablet – but there aren’t integrated fitness classes like what you’ll find with the Peloton.

However, Schwinn’s bike comes with a far more extensive warranty (1o years, versus Peloton’s five). It’s a more open-ended bike that’s stable and well-constructed, allowing you to pair it with any app you choose (or you can just ride it with no classes at all).

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8. Assault Bike

assault bike

Compared to the Peloton, the Assault Bike is significantly less expensive. It takes up about as much space and has the same solid, reliable design.

Some people report that the Peloton runs a bit more quietly than the Assault Bike, but this is still up for debate. This is due to the fact that the Assault BIke has a belt drive that requires regular maintenance, like lubrication and chain tightening.

The Assault that’s an LDC console to broadcast classes, meaning it’s not quite as crisp and clear as the Peloton. Of course, it doesn’t come with the built-in classes like Peloton, either, but at less than half the price, it is definitely the cheaper alternative.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON ASSAULT BIKE

Alternatives to Peloton: Stay Fit by Riding at Home

Peloton is a great option for people who want to be able to ride their bikes at home, but what about the rest of us? Are there any good alternatives that can give us the same quality workout without breaking the bank?

Luckily, the answer is yes. There are plenty of other options out there for those looking for an at-home fitness solution that doesn’t involve a pricey piece of equipment. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got some suggestions.

Check out our list of the best Peloton alternatives listed above and get started on your journey to better health today.

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Rebekah Pierce

Rebekah Pierce is a professional writer specializing in a variety of niches, including health and fitness. Her unique blend of experience managing and owning a regenerative farm, along with a background working in both secondary and higher education, gives her the versatility needed to write about a variety of topics. She has a B.A. in English and a M.S.Ed. in Special Education. She's an avid runner, having completed multiple marathons and half marathons, and believes in the profound power of overall health, wellness, and good nutrition when it comes to changing lives!