8 Of The Best Online Cycling Classes You Can Take At Home
Indoor cycling is a form of exercise that has taken the fitness world by storm. Over the past few years, cycling studios like SoulCycle and CycleBar have grown to be increasingly popular. However, with in-person cycling classes come pricey memberships, allotting time to work out before or after work or school, and, of course, leaving the house to begin with. For some folks, online cycling classes are the perfect way to get a high intensity, low-impact workout in without putting too much thought into it.
According to Healthline, indoor spin classes can be challenging since you're using many muscle groups like your core, upper body, back, glutes, and hamstrings. With regular cycling, you can easily build strength and burn calories, along with improving your cardiovascular health. WebMD recommends doing three to five classes a week (or adding one to two classes in addition to your regular workout schedule) for the best results.
If you'd like to start taking cycling classes from home, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose the best one for your lifestyle. After all, there are a plethora of options available, ranging from ultra-popular Peloton classes to free YouTube videos via Studio Sweat onDemand. Read about eight of the best online cycling classes you can sign up for.
How to choose an online cycling class
Indoor cycling is a good workout for people who are looking to keep their heart rate up and focus more on training certain muscles in their legs (via Well Stated by Canyon Ranch). Before you make the choice of which online cycling class is best fit for you, you'll want to take a few factors into consideration.
First, some platforms either recommend or require you to use their stationary bike to take the classes. If you already have a stationary bike set up, you'll want to choose a program that allows that. However, if you've yet to buy one, maybe you'll want to look into purchasing a Peloton or SoulCycle At-Home bike to match your subscription.
Pricing and frequency of use are other important considerations. While in-person cycling classes can be costly, online cycling class memberships also quickly rack up, depending on which platform you choose. When deciding on a class, it's a good idea to set a budget — perhaps you don't have a gym membership yet, so you may be willing to spend a bit more on a subscription.
Lastly, take note of your fitness level. Some online cycling class memberships are more friendly to beginners, while others offer an array of difficulties or are better fit for seasoned cyclists. In many cases, stationary bikes allow you to adjust the intensity, providing the ability to do endurance, interval, or strength workouts (via CNET).
Peloton
One of the most popular at-home cycling platforms around, Peloton specializes in offering an array of fitness classes. The brand sells two bikes — the Peloton Bike and the Peloton Bike+ — and you have to use one of them to access the online cycling classes. The classes available are at a range of difficulties. They go from 10 to 90 minutes long.
The New York Times describes becoming a Peloton member as an investment, but notes that if you regularly take the classes, it could be a good value. They also found that the bike itself is comfortable, while the screen is sweatproof and showcases stats like your current speed and calories burned while you ride.
That being said, there are some cons. For one, the accompanying bikes are very expensive. The base model, the Peloton Bike, starts at $1,445, while the Peloton Bike+ starts at $2,495. There is an option to rent the bike and get the membership for a flat fee of $89 to $119 a month, depending on the plan you choose. You also have to purchase the cycling shoes to click on to your bike.
According to Medical News Today's review of Peloton, the company reputation is largely mixed. While there haven't been any reported issues with the bikes, the brand's treadmills were recalled due to safety concerns.
Studio Sweat onDemand
Dubbed as a great place for on-demand and live spinning and body sculpting classes, Studio Sweat onDemand allows users to choose between purchasing single class downloads or three pass plans. You can decide between a three-month intro class (starting at $19.88 a month with a $49.64 sign-up fee), a monthly plan ($19.88 a month), or a yearly plan ($15.71 a month and a $188.56 sign-up fee). You can also try out the platform for free for seven days.
Beyond pricing, you can use any stationary bike with Studio Sweat onDemand classes. You do have the option to purchase one of the brand's bikes (the Value Bike Bundle, $899, or the Pro Bike Bundle, $1,999), but it's not necessary. Also, the online classes range from 10 minutes to three hours (yes, three hours!).
While the memberships are moderately priced, the sign-up fees are a bit steep. Additionally, some of the cycling classes have you get in and out of the saddle, which may not be the best option for beginners or people with joint issues, especially since biking is considered to be a good exercise for those with arthritis (via Arthritis Foundation).
According to a review by Cycle From Home, Studio Sweat onDemand is likely a good choice for people who frequently travel (there are tons of other classes available that don't require any equipment), those who work long shifts and struggle to find time for the gym, or folks who are nervous about working out around others.
CYCLED!
CYCLED! is an app that's available on the iOS and Google Play app stores. For $19.99 a month, you can receive access to on-demand and live workout videos, progress tracking, goal setting, performance data, and the ability to sync that information to other Bluetooth devices (like a fitness tracker or smart scale).
Since CYCLED! is an app rather than a platform, you can use any stationary bike. There's also a free trial, but you'll only receive access to previewing on-demand or live classes. Outside of cycling, there are also barre, yoga, and strength classes to take.
CYCLED! is a pretty simple interface, which means it's a solid option for people who aren't looking for something too expensive or complicated. You don't have to worry about syncing your bike, and can instead just work out alongside the class. That being said, classes aren't labeled by difficulty, either, so you may end up in a session that's too hard or easy for your fitness level.
The app currently has a 4.9-star rating on the iOS App Store, with reviewers hailing it as an innovative and easy way to get a workout in. Users also noted that it's easy to find your favorite instructor or classes on the app, too.
Les Mills+
Les Mills+ is a workout app that's a particularly good option for beginners. The platform offers a wide array of at-home cycling classes, ranging from quick HIIT workouts to more mindful journeys.
The Les Mills+ app itself is free, and you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to test it out, which is a lot longer than other platforms. From there, you can choose from three payment plans: monthly ($14.99/month), tri-monthly ($11.99 every three months and a $35.97 sign-up fee), or annually ($7.49/month and an $89.88 sign-up fee).
With your subscription to the app, you have access to over 1,000 home workouts, all of which are 15 to 55 minutes long. There are also workout plans to check out that vary between three and 12 weeks long, along with an online fitness community available to join. Les Mills+ also offers a ton of helpful information for people who are just starting out, providing super useful videos on how to pick a stationary bike, how to set your bike up, and how to set attainable fitness goals.
According to a review by Oui In France, the workout classes are fun and accessible, since there are modifications available for nearly every move. Additionally, they found the app easy to navigate, noting that all workouts are professionally filmed and coached.
The app also has a 4.9-star rating in the iOS App Store with generally happy users, though some people note that the classes can feel repetitive after continuous use.
obé Ride
obé is a popular at-home fitness platform known for its array of live and on-demand workout classes. According to the brand, there are 20 live workout classes each day, plus over an additional 8,000 on-demand options.
obé introduced its cycling sector, obé Ride, in November of 2021. Described as a high-intensity but low-impact workout, the company emphasizes the joy of exercise and motivating riders rather than focusing on calories burned or RPMs (via obé News). Currently, there are over 130 Ride classes to choose from.
You can sign up for a free 7-day trial and there are two subscriptions to pick from: annual ($14.17/month, but billed yearly at $169.99) or monthly ($24.99/month). With your membership, you're able to access all of the workouts available on the obé app (either on your smartphone or TV), progress tracking tools, an online community, and audio-only and offline classes. Additionally, you can use any stationary bike and choose from different types of cycling classes, like HIIT or low-impact.
In Greatist's review of the platform, they noted that while there are a lot of different classes, it's best for beginners and may not be challenging enough for more advanced cyclists. They also found that it's easy to filter through and find classes, while the price point isn't too bad either, especially in comparison to other similar platforms and apps.
Zwift
Zwift is for people who like to compete or prefer to feel like they're playing a game as opposed to simply working out. Available on iOS or Android devices or Apple TV, there's a free 7-day trial that automatically shifts to a monthly membership for $14.99/month.
It's described by the company as a "game with real-world effects", and you can choose between training separately or in a group. There are more than 1,000 workouts available to pick from, along with a virtual community and the ability to join one of the platform's riding clubs, from which there are more than 130. You can use any bike with Zwift, including a smart bike or a regular bike on a smart trainer. The app will automatically connect to your devices via Bluetooth or Ant+, too. While you don't have to use Zwift's products to set your gear up, there is a shop available.
As stated by Cycling Weekly, there is a lot of technology required to set up your bike for Zwift. It doesn't necessarily have to be a costly endeavor depending on what you choose, but Zwift might be a better option for the more tech-savvy riders out there. Furthermore, the Zwift app is the only platform currently available to use. The company is in the midst of testing out the Zwift Hub (from $499), which apparently provides an immersive and easy set-up, but you'll have to join the waitlist.
SoulCycle At-Home
Next to Peloton, SoulCycle is one of the most popular cycling studios around. Initially launched in 2020, the company, which is known for its intense in-person workouts, started SoulCycle At-Home. It's a joint effort between the studio and the Equinox+ app (owned by Equinox Gym), offering a membership that boasts an array of high-quality on-demand and live workout classes. It costs $39.99 a month to be a part of the SoulCycle At-Home and Equinox+ community, a much steeper price point than other options on our list.
While you can use any stationary bike with the Equinox+ app, it's recommended to SoulCycle At-Home's bike, which retails for $2,500. You will, however, receive a one-year warranty, 30-day free trial (and free shipping), but it will take one to two weeks for the bike to arrive. Additionally, the Equinox+ app offers a free 7-day trial. However, based on the pricing of both the bike and the app, this option is certainly best for folks who have a larger budget to play with.
PureWow reviewed the at-home platform in September 2022 and noted a few key factors: Its weight limit is a bit higher than other stationary bikes, maxing out at 350 pounds. If you think you'll use the bike and the app frequently — and look at the package as an investment — it could be worth it.
Cyclebar
Like SoulCycle, Cyclebar initially started by offering in-person classes at its studios. The company created Xpotential+ to offer on-demand online cycling classes, regardless of where you are.
You can sign up for a 7-day trial period, but after that, you'll have to start paying and choose from three available payment plans: Silver ($49/month), Gold ($99/month), or Ruby ($199/month). There are different perks with each tier, but the memberships are definitely pricier than others we've seen. Additionally, the app is free, but more geared towards helping users book and prep for in-person classes. According to a Cyclebar review from earlier this year, the classes were super motivating. Instructors also provide a ton of modifications and allow riders to go at their own pace, which is a nice touch.
Through the app, you can decide what kind of cycling class you're interested in, including Xpress (30-minute classes), Classic, or Empower (45-minute classes). There's also a 28-day beginners challenge available. While there's good variety available for riders who are just starting out, Cyclebar is a solid option for any type of cyclists, but primarily those who enjoy getting a quick, high-impact workout in, since their classes are a tad shorter than other options on our list.