Investing in one of the best exercise bikes can help you lose weight and boost your stamina without putting strain on your joints. Cycling indoors is also a great way to maintain your exercise routine when the weather takes a downturn, or when you do not have enough time for your usual ride outside. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned cyclist, the best exercise bikes can get you working up a sweat no matter the circumstances.
But which exercise bike should you invest in? There is a mind-boggling array of machines available on the market, ranging from basic foldable bikes to premium models with smart screens, dedicated workout apps and other frills. But that is where we step in. We have tried and tested a wide range of exercise bikes to help you pick a machine that ticks all your boxes.
Best exercise bikes: Quick list
1. The best exercise bike overall
2. Best budget exercise bike
3. Best for third-party apps
4. Best Peloton alternative
5. Best budget exercise bike: runner-up
6. Best for cycling purists
7. Best budget spin style bike
8. Best for resistance
9. Best for time-efficient workouts
10. How we test
11. Exercise bikes vs other machines
12. Our expert
13. FAQs
Some machines do not need a power source to work, while others, such as our favorite Peloton bike, do need plugging in before you start your workout. Brands like Yosuda offer machines that are affordable and easy to use, while tech-savvy exercisers who like to monitor all their workout stats might prefer the more advanced Bowflex C7. Many of the best exercise bikes have a choice of pedal, either cage or clip in or sometimes both, so make sure you know which type you prefer before you buy. We have tried them all, so read on to find out which of the exercise bikes we liked the most.
But if cycling is not up your street, make sure to check our guides to the best treadmills and rowing machines.
Best exercise bike for most people
Our expert review:
Weight: 135lbs / 61kg
Max user weight: 297lbs (134kg)
Max height: 6’4”
Display?: 21.5” color touchscreen
Resistance levels: 100
Pedals: Look Delta-compatible cleats (clip in)
Workouts: Live and on-demand via Peloton app (subscription required)
+Large HD screen
+No complicated setup required
-Monthly subscription for classes
-Cycling shoes needed
Stylish and feature-rich, the Peloton Bike is a bestseller for good reason. It’s not cheap, but what you get for your dollar is an extremely well-made machine with endless features to keep you motivated and on track with your health and fitness goals.
It comes in Peloton’s signature black and red colors, and has a small footprint making it a good choice for people short on space. It’s also ergonomic so it feels comfortable and smooth to ride. Just bear in mind that the pedals require specific Look Delta cleat-compatible shoes, which is an extra cost on top of the bike.
What the users say
The Peloton Bike gets rave reviews on the company's site, with customers awarding it 4.3 out of five stars. People heap praise on the energetic instructors and the sense of community built in the online classes. A lot of customers have claimed that it has improved their relationship with exercise in general. There are a small handful of negative reviews too, with people claiming that the membership fees are too high and some customers reporting issues with pedals snapping.
The original Peloton Bike has a crisp touchscreen with all of its features hidden within the monitor — this is deliberate so that the bike itself isn’t cluttered by lots of buttons. With daily live workouts and on-demand classes via the Peloton app, one of the big draws of this bike is that you will never get bored as there is so much virtual content. A subscription is, however, needed to access the app. If you branch out and buy another Peloton product like the Peloton Tread, you can use your existing app subscription to access running content too. Another big pull is the bike is quiet and intuitive to use. Overall, the Peloton Bike offers one of the most satisfying riding experiences out there.
Read our full Peloton Bike review
Best budget exercise bike
Our expert review:
Weight: 68.8lbs / 31.2kg
Max user weight: 270lbs (122kg)
Max height: 6’
Display?: Basic 1” x 2” LCD display
Resistance levels: Infinite
Workouts: None
Pedals: Standard toe cage
+Good value
+Sturdy and smooth ride
-No programmed workouts
-Limited features
The Yosuda indoor cycling bike is a great value exercise bike for people on a budget who want a spinning style workout. It is well-made and sturdy, with a simple design that makes it intuitive to use, and has a friction resistance on the flywheel that is fairly quiet and smooth. It’s this slightly lower tech system that also makes the bike more affordable.
There is no touchscreen or monitor and the computer display is very basic, but it shows all the core metrics you need, including time, speed, distance and calories. The Yosuda exercise bike doesn’t have any programmed classes either, but you can get around this by simply watching a free Youtube workout on your phone or tablet, or using another app like iFit or Peloton to access live or on-demand online classes.
What the users say
The Yosuda Indoor Stationary bike has 4.4 out of five stars on Amazon. There's a lot of praise for its comfy seat, sturdy build and its quiet functionality. Most people have said that it's fairly straightforward to assemble too, with clear instructions that are easy to follow. However, some people have said that it does develop a squeak after several months of use.
One big perk is the way the handlebars angle in - this really helps when leaning forward in racing style rides, as it’s a more comfortable and natural position for the shoulders and arms. The bike has dual pedals - cage and clip in - so you don’t have to buy expensive cycling shoes to use the machine unless you want to.
Read our full Yosuda Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike review
Best exercise bike for third-party apps
Our expert review:
Weight: 111lbs
Max user weight: 330 lbs.
Max height: 6'6
Display?: 7" touchscreen
Resistance levels: 100
Pedals: Dual sided: SPD cleats (clip in) / toe cage
Workouts: JRNY app (subscription required)
+Supports JRNY, Zwift and Peloton apps
+Compact for easy storage
-Cross-training workouts pause automatically if you stop cycling
-Seat can become uncomfortable
The Bowflex C7 Bike is a top Peloton alternative. It’s cheaper than the chart-topping exercise bike, has a 40lb flywheel that offers a smooth, silent ride, and allows you to connect to the Peloton app for some workouts – as well as Zwift, Bowflex’s own JRNY platform and more.
These are welcome options to have, but if you’re keen to save on monthly membership fees you can enjoy 12 months free access to Bowflex’s JRNY app. This has an impressive array of interval workouts available, including virtual rides in scenic locations around the world, studio classes and interval sessions. These can be viewed via the vibrant, responsive 7in touchscreen, or you can complete off-bike classes like strength training, yoga and Pilates while streaming the app on your phone or tablet – a feature we loved when we tried it out.
What the users say
The Bowflex C7 Bike has a rating of 4.4 out of a possible five stars from more than 60 reviews on Best Buy. Users say they love being able to filter the classes available on the JRNY app based on their personal preferences. They also say they find the bike fun and easy to use, and praise it for being quiet too. There are some complaints about the fact there are no preset programs and you have to pay for the JRNY app membership to use it, and some owners suggest buying the more cushioned seat from Bowflex to stay comfortable on longer rides.
The screen is on the smaller side, and cross-training workouts that combine bike work with off-bike exercises or stretching faltered as the classes automatically paused when the pedals weren’t moving for a few seconds. But those were the only faults we found with this quality machine, which boasts all the markings of a premium product at a more modest price point. You can still get this model on clearance at a number of retailers.
Read our full Bowflex C7 bike review
Best Peloton alternative
Our expert review:
Weight: 123lb/ 56kg
Max user weight: 300lbs (136kg)
Max height: 6’8”
Display?: 21.5" screen
Resistance levels: 32
Pedals: Double sided: SPD compatible (clip in) / cage pedals
Workouts: Live and on-demand via Echelon Fit app (subscription required)
+Real time data
+Affordable monthly membership
-Lack of consistent captioning
-Scenic rides are uninspiring
The Echelon EX5-S is a great budget alternative to the Peloton bike. It is sturdy, good-looking, and offers an array of challenging cardio workouts suitable for beginners to advanced riders.
We liked that instructors were enthusiastic and motivating, whilst also giving you opportunities to work at your own pace. We also liked that the Echelon bike offers a convenient way to monitor your progress ― you can see a detailed breakdown of real time data on the screen during classes, and you will also receive an email report after completing each session.
However, finding an appropriate class can be a challenging task. The screen is not very intuitive to navigate, and the class descriptions could benefit from more clarity. Also, some instructors were quite difficult to understand, and it does take a trial and error approach to find an instructor that appeals to you the most.
What the users say
The Echelon EX5-S scores 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 71% of buyers giving it the full five stars. One Amazon reviewer said they absolutely adored the bike because it was "sturdy, didn't break the bank and was super high quality,". But a minority of reviewers complained about the seat being uncomfortable, the Bluetooth not working and the customer service being poor.
The Echelon EX5-S is relatively expensive, but the monthly membership is quite reasonably priced, and its on demand library is packed to the brim with tutorial videos. We need to point out, however, that there are only a small handful of sessions that last longer than 45 minutes.
Read our full Echelon connect EX5s review
A good budget exercise bike that's whisper-quiet
Our expert review:
Weight: 102lbs / 46kg
Max user weight: 275lbs (124kg)
Max height: 5'11
Display?: No
Resistance levels: 100
Pedals: Standard cage pedals
Workouts: Via the Sunny Health & Fitness app (subscription required)
+Relatively quiet (60dB)
+Good resistance range
-Uncomfortable seat
-Doesn’t track cadence
If you’re after a basic indoor cycling experience without breaking the bank, then the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycle Bike is a solid option. It’s pretty compact, and has the look and feel of a gym-style spin bike with a good resistance range on the flywheel. The resistance goes up to 100, which is more than enough for a challenging workout, and it moves smoothly between gears with minimal noise.
You’ll need to pay for a subscription to access the virtual content on the Sunny Health & Fitness app, but you can use the bike without it. It’s also budget-friendly, so if you’re not sure how much you’re going to use it, this might be a good option for you.
What the users say
Amazon users have given this bike 4.4 out of five stars. People praise its easy assembly and low price. Several people have pointed out that it doesn't come with any kind of speedometer, so it's difficult to monitor your output and effort level.
We love how quiet it is, which is a bonus for anyone living in shared accommodation or an apartment. A drawback is the seat can be a little uncomfortable, but after a few weeks of ‘breaking it in’, it’s easier to ride on. There’s no way of tracking cadence (the speed you’re pedaling) so it’s hard to monitor intensity, but if you want to test-run an indoor bike without spending too much, then the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycle Bike is a no-frills choice.
Read our full Sunny Health and Fitness Bike SF-B1002 review
Best exercise bike for cycling purists
Our expert review:
Weight: 110lbs / 50kg
Max user weight: 297lbs (135kg)
Max height: 6’5”
Display?: No
Resistance levels: 22
Pedals: Standard toe cage
Workouts: Via Wattbike Hub app
+Wattbike app is free to use
+Challenging workouts
-App lacks engaging graphics
-Less accessible for beginners
This is a competitively priced and high quality machine for anyone looking for an all-rounder exercise bike. It’s well made, with a ton of features that will appeal to both data-hungry athletes and people new to indoor cycling. Make no mistake, this is a big machine, and you’ll need a lot of space to house it. Whilst it’s 11kg lighter than its predecessor the Wattbike Pro, at 44kg it’s still a bit of a beast so you’ll need to find a good location for it before setting it up.
The Wattbike offers a smooth and realistic ride, thanks to its new electromagnetic resistance and impressive range through 22 gears. It has auto-resistance that automatically adjusts to simulate different terrains and inclines, making for a more intense workout. As well as the Wattbike Hub app, it syncs nicely with other fitness apps including Zwift.
What the users say
On average, the Wattbike Atom scores 4.1 stars out of five from more than 1,500 reviews on Trustpilot, with almost 70% of owners awarding the machine full marks. One indoor cycling aficionado says the bike is “perfect” with a solid base that remains stable when pushing the pace. Buyers were also full of praise for the purchasing process, with one saying they experienced excellent customer service and the unit was delivered and installed within 36 hours of ordering it. However, a small number of customers commented on the unforgiving race saddle and whirring noise of the flywheel.
It doesn’t have a built-in monitor and lacks a USB port to charge your smartphone or tablet, which is a bit frustrating considering this is likely to be your main way of following online workouts. It’s also not compatible with Apple Watch or Fitbit, which is a shame for the high price, but overall this is a well-made and feature-rich exercise bike that delivers on design and functionality.
Read our full Wattbike Atom review
A budget-friendly spin-style bike
Our expert review:
Weight: 112lbs / 51kg
Max user weight: 330lbs (150kg)
Max height: 6’
Display?: Small LCD dial
Resistance levels: 32
Workouts: Limited content on the free Mobi Fitness app
Pedals: Standard toe cage
+Very quiet (45dB)
+Compatible with Zwift and Kinomap
-Limited workouts
-Basic app
Good value and streamline, the Mobi Turbo Exercise Bike is a great starter machine for spinning fans on a budget. It is fast to assemble and compact with a small footprint, so it’s suitable for people short on space.
Despite it’s low price it has an efficient auto-resistance feature, automatically adjusting the intensity during workouts to simulate real terrains. This helps to create a more realistic riding experience, and also keeps you from ‘coasting’ or not pushing yourself during a class. However, you can also adjust the resistance via the dial or on the free app if you prefer.
What the users say
The Mobi Turbo Exercise Bike has a rating of 4.1 out of a possible five stars on Amazon, having received more than 100 customer reviews. One buyer says both they and their partner are able to ride it comfortably, despite being quite different heights (5ft3” and 6ft). Another says it offers a “smooth, quiet ride”, with further positive feedback on its neat, compact design. Negative reviews cite clicking noises at high speeds, and some users mention defective parts.
Instead of a touchscreen, the Mobi Turbo exercise bike has a LCD control screen. It’s lacking a water bottle holder, which is frustrating, and the app has very limited workouts - although more content is promised soon. If you have a Peloton or iFit membership you could use these to follow workouts on the bike instead.
This is a no-frills, spinning style bike for people who don’t need a ton of features or virtual classes to keep them motivated. It’s not the prettiest of machines and it’s lacking in functionality, but it has an ergonomic design and a big padded seat that makes riding more comfortable.
Read our full Mobi Turbo Exercise Bike review
A sturdy spin bike with great resistance
Our expert review:
Weight: 112lbs / 51kg
Max user weight: 330lbs (150kg)
Max height: 6'6
Display?: Electronic
Resistance levels: 100
Workouts: JRNY, Zwift, Explore the World and Peloton compatible
Pedals: Standard toe cage
+Height inclusive
+Compatible with Peloton and Zwift apps
-Can be difficult to adjust
-Calorie tracking inaccurate
The Schwinn IC4 exercise bike is extremely popular and frequently sold out on online retailers. It offers compatibility with the best cycling apps, such as Zwift and Peloton, without the high equipment costs associated with these brands.
The mounted monitor allows you to track time, distance, calories, RPMs & heart rate, although some users have reported that these stats can be inaccurate. You can easily clip in your water bottle and a tablet for a comfortable ride, and the race-style seat is height adjustable. The dual link SPD foot pedals also come standard with toe cages or clips for whichever cycling shoes you want to use.
What the users say
On Amazon, this bike has 77% five star reviews, with an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5. One user loved that the Schwinn IC4 exercise bike can be used with the Peloton app without the cost of a Peloton bike. “And there you essentially have the Peloton bike for $1,500.00 less," they wrote. "My wife and I stream the Peloton rides to our Apple TV. It's awesome."
Some users complained that the bike can be noisy, but overall it receives 4.4 out of five stars on Amazon for noise level, so it may just make noise when something goes wrong. The 100 levels of magnetic resistance make it easy to knock the resistance up and give yourself a challenging workout, before turning it back down for a cooldown. It does need to be plugged in, which can be a little restrictive as you’ll need to have the space to connect it.
Read our full Schwinn IC4 review
Best for time-efficient workouts
Our expert review:
Weight: 120lbs
Max user weight: 330lbs/150kg
Max height: 6'7
Display: 11' touchscreen
Resistance levels: A-powered magnetic resistance adjusts to performance
Pedals: Dual-sided cage and SPD click pedals
Workouts: Six, including three varieties of TEHIT
+Wealth of metrics provided post-workout
+Sleek, sturdy frame
-Science is limited around REHIT USP.
The Carol Bike 2.0 is the ultimate machine for time-saving training. Using its revolutionary reduced exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) method, the futuristic bike promises many of the same health benefits of a 45-minute run in less than 10 minutes.
It uses slow-paced rides interspersed with two all-out sprint intervals lasting no longer than 20 seconds to spike your heart rate, while AI-powered magnetic resistance ensures you're expending the necessary effort to garner the impressive health benefits on offer; namely calorie burn and boosted cardiorespiratory fitness. What's more, these sessions take a maximum of nine minutes in total and left us feeling far fresher than our usual tipple of intense hour-long workouts.
What the users say
The Carol Bike 2.0 scores an average of 4.7 stars out of five from 191 reviews on Trustpilot. Users describe it as "something out of the future", praising the "efficient workouts" which they found were easier to fit into their schedule than the longer sessions offered by other bikes. There are a couple of complaints about the lack of workouts, with one buyer saying they found the six available became boring after a while, but the vast majority of customers (85%) awarded it five stars.
Don't expect the engaging, motivational approach of Peloton and its rivals — the Carol Bike's 11 inch touchscreen displays data-led graphics and graphs rather than brightly lit studios, offering a wide range of metrics so you can track your performance. But if it's efficiency you're after to help you squeeze effective workouts into your hectic schedule, we think this no-nonsense approach could be exactly what you're looking for.
The bike itself is sleek and sturdy, providing a stable base for the Carol's signature sprints. The heavy flywheel makes for a smooth pedaling action, and the black and silver finish has a futuristic finesse that would sit well in a modern city apartment.
Read our full Carol Bike 2.0 review
Our testing team completed a range of workouts, including an active recovery session, an intense interval workout, and a longer endurance piece, before scoring each exercise bike on five factors:
Set up and usabilityDesign and displayFeaturesPerformanceValue for moneyResults were used to calculate a final score out of five and inform a detailed verdict designed to summarize each exercise bike’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you pick the best product for you.
Cycling is considered more of a lower body workout, but your upper body provides stabilization, and you can still improve your cardio and ramp up calorie burn.
So why jump on one of the best treadmills instead of a bike?
Treadmills are arguably more versatile, though many bikes are now souped up with similar specs. Both allow you to focus on aerobic exercise (like jogging or gentle cycling, using oxygen) and anaerobic exercise (like sprinting or high-intensity spin, without using oxygen). Both also come packed with benefits like improved cardio fitness, stronger muscles, and healthier bones though they target your muscles differently.
Running is a full-body workout, engaging your upper and lower body to achieve forward propulsion. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that even small regular increments of running can reduce the risk of developing chronic cardiovascular diseases.
The downside for keen runners is the impact on joints, even if you run on shock-absorbing tread belts. Learning how to run properly and how running shoes should fit are two ways to tackle it, but exercise bikes mitigate the risks of joint injuries.
Exercise bikes and treadmills are on an even keel for price, size, and workout experience, and exercise bikes are far more sophisticated than they used to be. Immersive color screens, live and on-demand classes and a vast range of workout options are available on both, so really it comes down to personal preference and whether you want to focus on full-body training.
Recumbent bikes didn’t make it into our round-up this time, but that doesn’t mean they’re not useful. These models are an ergonomic solution because the front pedal position helps to redistribute your weight which places less pressure on your knees and tailbone, and they also have a backrest.
Spine Health found that rough terrain and poor posture increase pressure on your lower back and could cause injury, so a reclined recumbent bike could help if you’re recovering from injury or new to exercise.
However, this positioning could result in a lack of core, glute, and upper body engagement, as sitting upright requires more core and upper body engagement for stabilization.
Birch says that the type of exercise bike you choose is up to you. “Personally, I find upright bikes better replicate an actual cycling position,” he tells us. “There’s also better leg muscle recruitment which allows maximal power output when pedaling.” He also believes that recumbent exercise bikes are more supportive, but they offer an unnatural cycling experience, and it’s harder to put power through the pedals.
The main difference is the muscles worked. Rowing targets roughly 86% of muscles in the body, offering a more full-body strength workout than cycling. It depends somewhat on how you train though, as outdoor cyclists who tackle tricky terrain will likely use more of their core than indoor cyclists.
Rowing machine benefits are plentiful, including stronger bones and muscles, but calorie burn is more unclear and depends on personal parameters like weight, speed, and distance. One calorie calculator based on the compendium of physical activities values (a value system used globally to quantify energy cost) averaged calorie burn somewhere between 500-700 per hour rowing at 100 watts and 400-800 calories per hour cycling.
However, Harvard Medical School estimated calorie burn for a 155lb person after 30 minutes of moderate cycling and rowing to be the same, but rowing took victory during high-intensity training. In short? Both offer similar benefits, but although cycling is more accessible, rowing provides more of a full-body resistance workout.
An exercise bike that has crept into gyms, workout classes, and social media videos worldwide is the air dyne, also referred to as an air bike or assault bike. The name says it all.
Air bikes are still low-impact and seated, but they house moving handles (similar to a cross trainer) that work alongside the pedals and require your arms to push and pull to drive movement.
The aim is to add resistance and increase muscular engagement using a fan on the front wheel. Typically, they’re used (and feared) as a metabolic conditioning tool, helping to ramp up calorie burn, build strength, and improve endurance by engaging your full body to ‘overcome’ resistance on the handles and pedal.
Benefits remain similar to regular cycling, but you’re more likely to find this kit in HIIT classes and functional training, usually paired with free weights and bodyweight cardio like burpees.
The front wheel offers up to 10 resistance levels for all abilities, similar to a spin bike, but resistance is set on the wheel itself.
A study published in the International Journal of Exercise Science incorporated 1-minute assault bike rounds into a high-intensity functional training class and included an upper and lower body ergometer. Compared with leg pedaling alone, the upper-body ergometer provided additional muscle mass, stress to the cardiovascular system, and increased heart rate. This could also explain the higher metabolic costs.
Elliptical machines house oversized foot pedals and large handles for your hands, which allows you to mimic a running stride. As with running, your upper and lower body work together, but the added resistance increases intensity. You can still achieve a HIIT workout using these machines, similar to cycling, and the benefits are also similar.
According to one study published in the National Institutes of Health, ellipticals encouraged greater engagement in the quadriceps and quadriceps-hamstrings coactivation than walking and stationary cycling.
Exercise bikes are handier for saving space (especially folding designs), particularly if you live in a city apartment, but considering Harvard Medical School reckons a 155lb person could ramp up around 324 calories in 30 minutes – it could be worth making room.
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