The 6 Best Peloton Alternatives

• Also available on Echelon, $1,500

When comparing specs and price, the Echelon EX5-S is very similar to the Peloton bike. The Echelon bike features a 22-inch HD touchscreen and offers a range of live and on-demand fitness classes with membership, which costs $39.99 per month. (Similarly, an all-access Peloton subscription is $39 a month.) In addition to bike riding classes, you can partake in yoga, Pilates, boxing, and more — and the screen rotates 180 degrees to make it easy to follow classes on and off the bike.

Aesthetically, the Echelon is also similar to the Peloton. The bike boasts a quiet ride with 32 levels of magnetic resistance. There’s also a comfortable cushioned seat, padded, slip-resistant handlebars, and toe cages to keep your feet securely on the pedals. The seat and handlebars are adjustable for various user heights. Plus, the bike has two built-in power ports so you can charge your phone or another device while you work out.

According to a rider: “I work from home so I decided to invest in a professional grade exercise bike. The Echelon is a fantastic piece of equipment. Very sturdy, silent to use, great computer screen. The classes and associated subscription is an added cost but is well worth the price of admission.”

• Height capacity: 4 feet 5 inches to 6 feet 8 inches (according to the brand)
• Weight capacity: 300 pounds (according to the brand website)

• Also available on NordicTrack, $1,499

The NordicTrack S22i studio cycle is another close match to the Peloton experience, and it even has some extra features that you might consider an upgrade. This NordicTrack bike has a built-in 22-inch interactive HD touchscreen that lets you track workout stats and stream over 16,000 on-demand workouts directly to your bike with an iFit subscription. The first year of iFit is included with the purchase of the bike — after that, it’ll cost $39 a month for a family subscription. One major plus for the NordicTrack over the Peloton: When you’re taking part in a studio workout, trainers can control your incline, decline, and resistance in real-time, making for a personalized training experience, but with the Peloton, you have to make those adjustments yourself.

Another perk Peloton doesn't offer: The NordicTrack offers realistic road simulations that let you virtually cycle through outdoor locations around the world, making this bike a great choice if you sometimes prefer to replicate the experience of outdoor cycling, as opposed to focusing exclusively on communal, studio-style classes. Like the Peloton app, iFit subscriptions also offer other workouts like cross-training and yoga, and since the bike's screen rotates 360 degrees, you can easily follow along off-bike.

The bike itself offers a quiet, smooth ride and features 24 digital, magnetic resistance levels. The padded seat and handlebars are adjustable for various heights. Plus, it comes with two 3-pound dumbbells to strengthen your arms while you ride, and the built-in fan keeps you cool while you sweat it out.

According to a rider: “If you want to get on an exercise bike that feels like the real thing, look no further. When you go up a hill on the S22I, it automatically tilts up and the resistance kicks in. No messing with resistance knobs or trying to figure out how much to crank to match the instructor - it just does it! When you go down a hill, same deal. I use the video rides (which are all over the world), and the realism is also incredible. I get home from work after dark, so I have zero time to ride my real bike. These video rides are the next best thing: San Francisco, Barcelona, Sweden, AMAZING! The studio classes are great as well.”

• Height capacity: 4 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 6 inches (according to reviewers)
• Weight capacity: 350 pounds

Buying a bike with a built-in screen isn’t the only way to re-create a Peloton experience — this budget-friendly indoor cycling bike has a tablet holder, so you can easily stream workouts on YouTube or the subscription service of your choice. And the most compelling factor — this option is a fraction of the price of a Peloton, and reviewers report that it's a worthy alternative to the cult-favorite bike, even if it doesn't totally replicate the experience.

The bike has an adjustable seat and handlebars, cage pedals, and an LCD monitor that displays time, distance, and speed. The belt drive system provides a quiet ride, and there’s a tension knob to adjust the resistance.

According to a rider: “This is a good deal for the money. Easy to use. Easy to set up. Nothing fancy, but feels sturdy and well built. Have been using for a week now. I paired it with my Peloton app and I am very pleased.”

• Height capacity: 5 feet to 6 feet 3 inches (according to reviewers)
• Weight capacity: 270 pounds

Another affordable option, this indoor cycling bike has similar features to the above pick but accommodates a wider variety of body types. There’s a device holder, so you can easily stream workouts from YouTube or a subscription service, and an LCD monitor displays time, distance, and speed. The belt drive system and adjustable resistance provide a quiet and challenging ride.

According to a rider: “I bought this bike in an effort to DIY a Peloton to use with their app. For the price, and with a few (optional) upgrades, it has been great! I ride every day, mostly 20-30 minute rides, sometimes multiples a day so it gets consistent use.”

• Height capacity: 5 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 5 inches
• Weight capacity: 330 pounds

This Peloton bike alternative has a similar build (and aesthetic) to the Peloton, but it only costs a fraction of the price. It features an adjustable seat and handlebars and a sturdy device holder that has plenty of room for a large tablet so you can stream classes. This bike features a belt drive system and adjustable resistance for a smooth, quiet ride.

It does have a couple of drawbacks, however: First, reviewers report that it's a bit too tall for shorter riders, and second, there’s no LCD screen that tracks fitness stats like time, distance, and speed, so you’ll need to use a fitness tracker if you want that info (reviewers recommend the Wahoo cadence sensor).

According to a rider: “I got this bike a couple months ago as a DIY Peloton setup and it has been great. It is super quiet, smooth, and was really easy to assemble. Paired with a Wahoo cadence meter it works perfectly with the Peloton app.

• Height capacity: 5 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 5 inches (according to reviewers)
• Weight capacity: 300 pounds

• Also available on Bowflex, $1,699

While the Bowflex VeloCore bike is one of the more expensive Peloton bike alternatives, it’s unique because you can ride it two ways. In addition to a stationary mode, the bike has a leaning mode that lets you tilt from side to side, engaging your arms and core. The bike has a 16-inch HD touchscreen and comes with a one-year JRNY membership, which includes adaptive workouts, trainer-led videos, immersive environments, and virtual coaching. After that, membership costs $149 per year.

When you hop on for a smooth, quiet ride, you’ll have 100 magnetic resistance levels to choose from. There’s also an adjustable seat and handlebars, dual-sided pedals, and a built-in device holder. Plus, the bike comes with 3-pound dumbbells that you can use to work arm muscles while you ride.

According to a rider: “Great indoor bike, I never really thought I would enjoy a stationary bike but the leaning [adds a] new element that keeps it interesting. [There] are plenty of video to work along side as well.”

• Height capacity: 5 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 5 inches (according to the brand)
• Weight capacity: 325 pounds (according to the brand website)