Enjoy Pedaling Perks Without High Price Tags With the Best Budget Exercise Bikes
Spin bikes are a great way to get low-impact, cardiovascular exercise that gets your heart rate up in a fun, effective way. With just the right music, you can get a great sweat on in just 20 or 30 minutes a day, without using up too much space in your house. An indoor spin bike workout only needs the amount of space the bike takes up to happen, and most spin bikes have wheels on the back that make them super portable and easy to position anywhere you’d like.
The luxury exercise bike business with brands like Peloton, NordicTrack and SoulCycle has made at-home spinning trendy again during the past couple of years. However, most of the bikes in that space will cost you upwards of $1,500-$2,000, and that’s well beyond the budget for some aspirational cyclists. Thankfully, there are plenty of great budget exercise bikes available out there, that’ll give you the same workout with a much lower price tag.
Budget Peloton Hack
Instead of actually purchasing a Peloton or NordicTrack bike, you can easily stream the classes to your budget exercise bike via the app, and get a great workout for half the price. Many budget exercise bikes come with a mounting device for smartphones and tablets, and it’s easy to crank up the resistance or lower it alongside the class. Plus, the extra money you save on the bike can go towards the top spin bike accessories, spinning shoes or the latest tablet for watching the classes.
What to Consider Before Purchasing a Budget Exercise Bike
There are a few things to think about before purchasing a budget exercise bike. First off, what is your budget? Consider how much money you want a spend on a bike, and which features you’d like to have included in that price tag. We’ve included bikes on this list in the $300-$800 range, so you’ve got a lot to choose from. All of them have a solid design and will get the job done, but some are fancier than others.
Also, you’ll want to consider the potential extra costs associated with an exercise bike. Where are you going to put it? If it’s going to be on carpet, you might want to purchase a mat or temporary gym flooring for stability. Do you want weights to accompany the bike? How about a pair of spin shoes? Many of the best spin bike accessories cost between $20-$100, so factor in how many you want and their cost alongside the cost of the bike.
You’ll also want to make sure you know how to clean and take care of it. We have a guide in our main spin bikes piece that’ll walk you through weekly and monthly tasks that’ll keep your bike in tip top shape.
YOSUDA Indoor Stationary Bike
BEST OVERALL
This indoor spin bike from YOSUDA has great reviews, and an excellent price tag for all the value you get. It’s got a 35 pound flywheel and a sturdy, heavy-duty steel frame that’ll keep you stable while cycling. It’s got a quiet belt drive system for a smooth ride, and the four-way adjustable padded seat means you’ll be comfortable in and out of the saddle. The non-slip handlebars are two-way adjustable and the LCD monitor on the front of the bike tracks your speed, distance and other important metrics. It’s got adjustable cage pedals, so there’s no need for extra cleats, and it’s got an iPad mount for streaming classes. Plus, with the sub-$300 price tag you’ll be saving enough money to splurge on the latest iPad for classes and still have some money leftover.
Buy: YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike $279.99
NordicTrack 7″ Studio Bike
RUNNER UP
NordicTrack’s spin bikes are usually pretty pricey, but this one is normally $800 and currently on sale at Walmart for less than $600, a bargain! This bike is powered by iFit, NordicTrack’s fitness app that gives you access to their extensive content library of on-demand workouts. This bike comes with a 7″ HD touchscreen that makes it easy to navigate between classes, and the bike has 22 levels of resistance you can easily adjust throughout the session. The bike is built with Silent Magnetic Resistance (SMR) so your ride is smooth and quiet, and the over cushioned seat gives you a comfortable saddle to work with. The ergonomic foot pedals also have adjustable straps so you can use your workout shoes, eliminating the need to purchase cleats.
ON SALE!
JOROTO Indoor Cycling Bike
BEST DESIGN
This spin bike from JOROTO also has excellent reviews, and a fully adjustable frame you can tailor to your liking. It’s got a 35 pound chrome flywheel and a magnetic resistance belt drive system for a smooth, quiet ride. The seat and handlebars are both adjustable four ways and there’s an emergency brake and a handlebar-adjust tube bar for safety during your ride. There are also two transportation wheels out front so it’s easy to move.
Buy: JOROTO Indoor Cycling Bike $399.99
Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike
QUALITY PICK
This is an affordable bike option from the popular brand Schwinn who specializes in bikes for cyclists of all kinds. It’s got an LCD console for covering your basic metrics, wireless heart rate monitoring and a 40-pound flywheel with infinite levels of resistance to choose from with the twist of a knob. It’s easy to operate, easy to move around your home and a great budget alternative for the more luxurious spin bikes.
Buy: Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike $649.00
Buy: Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike $649.00
Schwinn IC4 Stationary Exercise Bike
BEST PELOTON ALTERNATIVE
Schwinn also has their IC4 indoor stationary bike that’s on the higher end of the “budget” price range, but comes with a few notable features if you’re willing to spend a bit more. It’s got a 40 pound flywheel, 100 levels of magnetic resistance, a backlit LCD display that’s easier to read than the IC3 bike and it comes with 3lb dumbbells that fit on the back of the bike. The Peloton bike also has these weights and the app has classes that incorporate cycling and light weights together. This bike is less than half of what a Peloton bike costs, and you can still easily tune into the classes.
Buy: Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike $885.98
DMASUN Indoor Cycling Bike
MOST STABLE
This budget exercise bike from DMASUN weighs about 90 pounds, which is 20 pounds heavier than the average spin bike that doesn’t have a screen. This means it’s more grounded and stable, and will give you more confidence to move the way you want to during the ride. It’s got magnetic resistance for smooth transitions between difficulty levels and has a digital monitor for keeping track of metrics. The main frame is thicker and the flywheel is heavier than average, the triangular frame is also ergonomically sound, so you’ve got stability through and through. The seat is wider and more comfortable, and the resistance knob makes it easy to adjust difficulty throughout your workout.
$100 OFF!
Buy: DMASUN Indoor Cycling Bike $324.99
VIGBODY Indoor Exercise Bike
BEST BUDGET
This is the best budget budget exercise bike — as it costs less than $250 and is currently on sale! Despite the lower price, it’s still got a super sturdy, heavy-duty commercial frame and a bidirectional flywheel for out-of-the-saddle climbing. The saddle height is easily adjustable and it’s got easy-to-adjust resistance via a knob in the center of the bike. It’s got an LCD monitor as well to monitor metrics, that also includes an odometer so you can track your indoor cycling session as if you were outside.
ON SALE!
Buy: VIGBODY Indoor Cycling Bike $239.99
LABODI Indoor Cycling Bike
BEST FOR GADGET MOUNTING
This indoor spin bike from LABODI has a huge bracket mounted to the front behind the LCD monitor that can fit up to a 10.2″ iPad, as well as two water bottles for hydration. This makes it easy to stream in classes from fitness apps like iFit and Peloton, and is built to keep your device secure throughout the workout. The bike design is customizable, with most parts being adjustable, and there’s a knob for easily adjusting resistance. It’s got floor levelers on the bottom so the bike stays stable, and the caged pedals keep your feet secure during your workout without the need for clip-in cleats.
ON SALE!
Buy: LABODI Exercise Bike $199.99
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike
BEST BUDGET BRAND
Sunny Health & Fitness makes excellent spin bikes, especially affordable ones like this 44lb flywheel model complete with a 4-way adjustable seat and a tablet holder. It’s got transportation wheels on the front, and an emergency stop for breaking in case the pedals get away from you. The belt drive system is built for quiet, smooth magnetic resistance and the compact frame can support up to 300 pounds.
Buy: Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike $557.00
Sunny Health & Fitness Exercise Bike
ALSO CONSIDER
This is another highly-rated exercise bike from Sunny Health & Fitness that has a slightly heavier flywheel, so it’s great for heavier riders or those who want to prioritize stability with their spin bike. Otherwise, it has a pretty standard design with caged pedals, a four-way adjustable seat and two-way adjustable handlebars, a smooth leather pad resistance system and a resistance knob in the center. The multi-grip handlebars are great for grasping mid-workout and it’s got a bottle holder for conveniently positioning your hydration.
SAVE $70!
Buy: Sunny Health & Fitness 49 Pound Flywheel Bike $326.61
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