6 Best Peloton Alternatives for 2022: Get the Same Great At-Home Workout for Less – CNET [CNET]

Before you decide which indoor exercise to buy, you’ll want to consider several things including cost, size, display screen and whether or not you’ll need a monthly subscription. If your main goal is to simulate the experience of riding outdoors, for instance, you’ll want a bike like NordicTrack’s S15, which offers a realistic road feel and can mimic the incline and decline of hills. However, if your main goal is to get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to consider something like the ProForm Studio Bike Pro.

With its 21.5-inch screen and extensive selection of fitness classes, the $1,399 Myx II stationary bike is the closest thing to a Peloton that you can get. But if you’re looking to cut costs even further, the $800 Echelon EX3 is an excellent alternative with Peloton-like classes and a premium design — but keep in mind that you’ll need to bring your own screen.

The sexiest aspect of the Peloton exercise bike is, without question, its big HD touchscreen. Of course, that’s also a big reason the bike is so expensive; many indoor spin bike competitors come with a smaller screen or none at all. The Bowflex C6, for example, doesn’t come with any kind of display. Instead, it has a mount for your tablet. The smaller screen may not draw you in as much, but a tablet lets you do things other than watch indoor cycling class videos, like read books, stream Netflix or even go on virtual outdoor scenic rides. I’m not saying one is definitively better than another — there are pros and cons to built-in and BYO screens.

If the goal of purchasing a piece of home-fitness equipment is to avoid pricey gym or class memberships, some of these bikes may leave you scratching your head. As noted, Peloton charges $39 per month; Myx Fitness runs a little cheaper at $29, while Echelon’s plans range from $20 to $40. If you buy a NordicTrack cycle, you get your first year of the iFit service free and after that, it costs $39 a month. You can use any of these bikes independently, of course; you don’t have to take a class (though Peloton does require a minimum one-year subscription as part of your purchase). But if you decide not to pay for a membership and fitness app, some bikes will no longer collect or display data, such as speed and distance, about your rides, which is one of the reasons someone might choose an indoor bike over a road bike. And as much as you might dislike the idea of yet another monthly subscription, even $40 is less than what you’d typically pay for just two or three drop-in cardio workout classes at your favorite indoor cycle studio (and it’s worth it if you find a particular Peloton instructor particularly motivating). Just be sure to factor that cost into the overall expenditure and, where possible, look for discounts on the prepaid, annual subscriptions.