Peloton vs. NordicTrack: Which exercise bike is better for you?

Peloton vs. NordicTrack: Which exercise bicycle is improve for you?

(Image credit: Peloton, Nordictrack)

You definitely don't need a fancy, high-stop connected conditioning bike to get a decent dwelling workout in—a bones spin cycle and YouTube on your telephone does the play a trick on pretty well if you're on a budget. Just there's definitely something about a $2,000 bike with an enormous touchscreen and various interactive features that might give yous the extra motivation you demand to piece of work out on a regular ground. And when information technology comes to the best exercise bikes, the choice oft comes down to Peleton vs. NordicTrack.

But before you put a deposit down on that Peloton Bike (or the Bike+), you might want to consider your options. Peloton isn't the only company that makes home fitness equipment; other companies, such equally the well-established NordicTrack, also accept fancy connected exercise bikes with alive and on-demand classes designed to give you the true "studio" experience.

Read what happened when one TG staffer went from doing no do to one month on the Peloton Wheel+ here. Looking for more workout inspiration? We've found the best ab workouts, the best exercise for sculpting your arms and abs using just your bodyweight, and the best exercises for blasting belly fat.

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Nosotros're going to take a wait at both the bikes and the classes that both Peleton and NordicTrack offer to help you brand the all-time decision.

Peloton vs. NordicTrack: The bikes compared

While NordicTrack has vi exercise bikes in its lineup, for the purposes of this story, I'll be comparing the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Bike against the Peloton Wheel and Peloton Bike+, because these three are direct competitors, have like features, and are similarly priced, although the Peloton Wheel is still the cheapest in the group, at $1,745.

	NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle	Peloton Bicycle	Peloton Bike+
Price	$1999	$1745	$2495
Size (footprint)	55 x 22 inches	48 x 24 inches	48 ten 24 inches
Weight (pounds)	200	135	140
Max. rider weight (pounds)	350	305	305
Brandish size and resolution	21.5 inches, 1080p	21.v inches, 1080p	23.8 inches, 1080p
Subscription	$39/calendar month or $396/year (also has individual plan for $180/year)	$39/month	$39/month

The NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Wheel and the Peloton bikes have fairly similar physical specs: Both bikes are relatively compact (the S22i is about 7 inches longer than the Peloton), have high-definition touchscreens and built-in speakers, and apply magnetic resistance systems instead of metallic flywheels. The bikes vary slightly in how this resistance arrangement is set up, however: The S22i's magnetic resistance arrangement is digitally controlled with buttons on the handlebars, while the Peloton's system is controlled via a physical knob that you turn.

Dissimilar setups mean slightly different experiences—the S22i'south arrangement is less precise, but digital control means that instructors can adjust your resistance remotely while you accept their course (and they do). The Peloton Bike'due south system is very precise, but instructors do not take the ability to wrest control from you and forcefulness you to proceed up with the residuum of the class—all of that motivation has to come up from yous. That said, the new Peloton Bike+ does offer digitally-controlled resistance and has a feature that lets you "automobile-follow" instructors.

The bikes exercise have some other minor but notable physical differences, especially if you desire to use that large screen for more than just spin classes. The NordicTrack S22i's touchscreen rotates 360 degrees, which is handy if you desire to sentry a force workout without a bike in the mode. The Peloton Bike'south touchscreen, by contrast, does not rotate—and information technology seems like Peloton figured out that this wasn't a great setup for non-wheel workouts, considering one of the Peloton Bike+'s biggest highlights is its rotating screen. The S22i also has toe cages on its pedals, while Peloton doesn't (y'all'll either need special spin shoes or y'all'll need to put toe cages on the pedals).

As for price, the NordicTrack S22i is slightly more expensive than the Peloton Bicycle right out of the box—$one,999 to the Peloton's price of $one,745. The S22i includes the first year off NordicTrack's subscription membership free, notwithstanding, while Peloton does not include a subscription.

Peloton vs. NordicTrack: Classes

As yous've probably figured out by now, content is a large deal. It'due south basically the entire reason you're thinking of ownership a connected fitness bike in the first place. And at that place'south no question that this is one place where Peloton is doing very well—Peloton'due south classes are all the rage, and their instructors take (not undeserved) cult followings. That doesn't hateful NordicTrack'due south iFit instructors are bad—honestly, group fitness instructors are generally pretty hyped-upward and inspiring all around.

Both NordicTrack's iFit and Peloton's subscription services offer more just cycling classes. Yous'll notice everything from running and walking workouts to yoga, force training, and cross-training, equally well as recovery "workouts" to walk y'all through cool down stretches and meditation. Both services offer live workouts in improver to on-demand content, and keep you in the game with things similar encouraging shout-outs from instructors and alive leaderboards.

In addition to mobile devices, y'all tin can also admission the Peloton app on some of the best streaming devices including Amazon Fire Boob tube, Roku, Apple tree Tv, and Android Goggle box.

Peloton might have all the hype, but NordicTrack's iFit likewise has a neat "global" training feature that lets yous follow instructors around the world and check out the scenery (while as well getting a terrain-adjusted workout). You can even brand your ain breathtaking workout using iFit'south "Map Based Workout" characteristic, which lets you lot depict a custom conditioning on Google Maps. iFit uses terrain mapping data drawn from the Google Maps API to emulate the inclines and declines of the map you've drawn, and it likewise pulls scenery from Google Street View so you lot can see where you lot're biking. Perchance you don't need to become outside during quarantine afterwards all.

Peloton vs. NordicTrack: Subscription costs

Both Peloton and NordicTrack require you to accept an active subscription to use the bikes' touchscreens and interactive content. NordicTrack's iFit subscription costs $33 - $39/calendar month for a family plan with up to five profiles, while Peloton's subscription costs $39/month (unlimited profiles). If you don't need multiple profiles, NordicTrack also offers an individual plan that costs $xv/month—the same as its mobile app subscription. Peloton merely offers one programme for device subscribers.

The companies also offer their content à la carte du jour via mobile apps, which give y'all full access to all content only practise not connect with your equipment (the mobile app subscription is included in your device subscription, though). The Peloton mobile app (iOS and Android) costs $13/month and the NordicTrack iFit mobile app (iOS and Android) costs $15/month.

Both apps offer a 30-solar day free trial so yous can check them out before you make a delivery.

Peloton vs. NordicTrack: Lesser line

Which bike is for you? It really depends on what you're looking for. If yous don't care about Peloton's content, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Bike is a better deal overall: It's more versatile, it's cheaper (after y'all factor in subscription cost), and y'all won't have to buy new shoes. Just if you similar Peloton's content—such equally in your currently-airtight gym—then but Peloton volition do.

The other big difference is how the resistance works—some people practise better when they're being externally motivated by instructors taking over their machines, and some people work better when they have full command over how much they desire to push themselves.

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