Peloton bicycles and other equipment are very pricey, and the company also charges a monthly fee for their app. If you are looking to get fit or just work out more, you might be wondering if you should get the Peloton app. Since you can use the app without Peloton equipment, you might also be wondering if getting the app is worth it without owning a bicycle or treadmill.
If you are looking to work out more at home rather than spending your money working out at the gym or a fitness center, the Peloton app will probably be worth it to you even if you don’t have the equipment.
You might be wondering what workouts are available to you through the app and how much you need to pay to get access to the exercises. We will cover all the details in this article and go over the pros and cons of the Peloton app.
Upsides to the Peloton App
The Peloton app, which generally goes with the Peloton stationary exercise bike can introduce you to different workouts and track your progress in exercising. It makes your workouts easier and more engaging. Let’s go over some of the upsides to the Peloton app below.
The Cost of the Peloton App
During some promotional periods, you can access the Peloton app for 90 days for free. They don’t always have these promotional periods, though, so you might not always be able to get a free trial period.
The app typically costs $39 per month if you have the Peloton bike and $19.49 if you do not have the Peloton bike or other equipment. It might seem weird that the app costs more to those who have already spent money on the bike, but there are a few reasons for this.
Features You Get with the App for Cycling
With the Peloton bike, you have more access to app features, including:
- Measure your performance while you are using the app during the biking classes Your exercise performance compared to others See the leaderboard if you are interested in competing with others
If you do not have the bike, you will be able to use another stationary bike you own for the classes on the app, but you will not be able to compete with other Peloton users or see your progress. For some people, this might not be a big deal.
Workouts You Get with the App
If you are looking for a way to get fit without doing the same workouts every day, the Peloton app might be a perfect choice for you. The app has over 10,000 exercises to choose from. New ones are also added at the beginning of every month, so you will always have access to new workouts.
The app also documents your workouts in case you would like to look back on your progress. Working out can get boring for some people if they do the same program or exercises every day. This can discourage people from getting fit.
With an endless amount of workout classes at your fingertips, you should never get bored, and you will be able to try new ones each time you want to exercise.
The App is Easy to Use
If you aren’t tech-savvy or you’re worried you won’t be able to learn a new app, the Peloton app is one of the easiest apps to use. This encourages you to exercise since the app is straightforward.
You can also use the search function to pick particular instructors or types of workouts. You can also search for specific lengths of exercises if you have a limited amount of time for your workouts.
Short Workouts Included
While Peloton cycling classes usually run an average of 45 minutes or an hour, there are tons of short class options in the app if you aren’t interested in working out for long periods. This is highly convenient if your schedule is not very open or if you have kids at home and need to fit a short workout in during nap time.
Some of the short class options include 10-minute abs or 20-minute HIIT workouts. You can still do a 60-minute cycle class or a 30-minute cardio session if you want the long classes.
Experienced Instructors
Instructors during fitness classes can make or break your experience. Having an unprofessional instructor can also make you more prone to injuries. Almost all the Peloton instructors have great personalities that are upbeat. They are also trained to make sure they are giving you safe and productive fitness classes.
Different instructors also have different ways of teaching, so you can try other classes and see which teacher fits your preferences the most.
Downsides to the Peloton App
The Peloton app can be a good fit for some people. However, getting the app without the Peloton app might not be worth it if:
- You have a competitive nature and want to see other peoples’ statistics and how you compare You are focused on increasing specific personal metrics, and you want to make sure you can keep track of how they are improving
If you would like to learn more about the Peloton app, check out this article. Now, let’s get into some more downsides below.
Doesn’t Allow You to Stream to the TV
Many people love to stream their workouts onto the TV because they want to see the instructors and the moves on the big screen. Some people also choose to use the TV because they invite friends over for workout sessions.
Since the Peloton app doesn’t allow you to stream to the TV, you have to look at your phone screen, which can be very inconvenient. However, if you own a smart TV, you can put the workouts on the TV screen by downloading the Peloton app onto the TV first.
Instructors Don’t Focus on Safety and Form
While the instructors are experienced and have proper training, they don’t spend a lot of time talking about proper form during the classes. While this is not as important in the beginner classes, you need to ensure you are following proper form in the more advanced classes.
If you are new to working out, not having safety tips can be extremely inconvenient and dangerous. In the more intermediate and advanced classes, they also don’t give many modifications either.
If you can’t perform a certain move, you might be stuck just standing around until the instructor moves on to the next part of the workout.
Can’t See the Time Remaining
Many people like to know how soon the workout is ending or how much time they have left. Unfortunately, the app does not show the time elapsed for the workouts, which can be annoying because you must tap the screen to see how much time you have remaining.
Touching the screen and trying to find the time remaining can also be hard to do if you are trying to do it while working out.
You Need to Learn Peloton Lingo
Peloton is its own workout company, and they have their own fitness lingo that other companies and fitness instructors do not use. If you have never done a Peloton class or don’t know the Peloton terminology, you might be a bit lost during some of the classes.
This is more common when you are doing workouts that require equipment, such as spin classes and classes for the treadmill.
Fewer Classes for Beginners
While some classes in the app are targeted at beginners, most of the classes are more suited for people who have already been working out for at least a few months. Unfortunately, the more advanced class instructors also do not offer modifications for some of the more complicated moves, so you might have difficulty completing them if you are new to fitness.
If you try to do the more complicated moves before you are ready, you are also at risk of injuring yourself.
10 Different Types of Classes
Peloton is known for cycling, but its app offers much more. Some people comment that the cycling classes are the best, though, since that is what Peloton focuses most of its energy on.
If you don’t own a Peloton app though or a stationary bike at all, you can still do all different kinds of workouts, including:
- Stretching Walking CardioMeditation BootcampStrengthYoga Jogging (outdoor)Running (treadmill)Cycling
Now that we’ve learned about the different classes you can take on the Peloton app, let’s get into whether or not a Peloton bike would be for you.
Should I Buy the Peloton Bike?
Since you know the app gives you more access to features if you own the Peloton bike, you might wonder if you should get it to ensure you have all the features. If you want to make sure you can compete with other people and see your personal metrics, you might want to consider getting the Peloton bike.
However, it would help if you kept in mind the cost of the Peloton bike. Compared to other fitness equipment, it’s very pricey.
Here are some of the prices for the Peloton bike and what they include:
As you can see, the bike is costly. However, there are financing options available if you feel comfortable paying monthly. With one of the packages, you also get lots of bonus items to start your fitness journey with everything you need.
If you are set on cycling and you have the extra money to buy a Peloton, you can consider making the investment. On the other hand, if you want to cycle but can’t afford to get a Peloton, you can always buy a stationary bike from a different brand.
Many different brands make stationary bikes that are much cheaper than Peloton. You can also watch the cycle classes on the Peloton app with any brand of stationary bike.
You can check out the brands Schwinn or Diamondback for lower prices. Remember that you need to get a stationary bike with a place to hold your phone or tablet so you can use the app to take classes.
Is the Peloton App Good Without the Bike?
The Peloton App is designed with many different workouts that do not include the need for the Peloton bike. As a result, many people rate the Peloton app as one of the best fitness apps for indoor training. It’s also pretty cheap at only $19.49, which is less expensive than many monthly gym and fitness club memberships.
The app is also compatible with IOS, Android, and Fire TV. You can also use any type of treadmill with the Peloton app, not just the Peloton brand treadmills like the Tread and Tread+.
There are many different classes on the app like mediation, running, and outdoor cycling. These classes require little to no equipment, so you can get started right when you download the app.
Before starting a class, it will tell you the equipment you need, like a bike, yoga mat, or free weights. There are many different workouts that don’t require any equipment at all.
Does the Peloton App Require Equipment?
Some of the workout classes in the Peloton app require equipment such as a stationary app, a treadmill, a mat, or some free weights. However, many workout classes require no equipment at all.
If you want to use equipment, you do not need to use any Peloton brand equipment. Instead, you can use a bike or weights from any workout brand to complete the workouts.
Final Thoughts
Since the Peloton app has thousands of workouts that do not include the Peloton app or treadmill, getting the app is worth it, even without the equipment. The price for the app is also less than what you would pay for the gym, so it can be a cost-effective way to work out at home.
