It’s been more than three years since the start of the pandemic (and the advent of the home gym), but it still seems as if at-home workouts are here to stay.(Opens in a new tab). With ongoing sales and upgrades to Peloton Bikes and Treads and the new(ish) Peloton Guide, the cult-favorite fitness brand is still trying to get new customers to join them.
Smart fitness equipment aside, the best bang for your buck from Peloton is the $12.99 per month digital app.
With the Peloton app(Opens in a new tab)You can access thousands of classes across more than 10 exercise categories, and while you can use your own non-Peloton treadmill or stationary bike, a lot of the classes on the app require very little or no equipment.
Peloton recently raised their prices (again), which makes the Peloton Fitness app subscription even more attractive. OG Peloton bike(Opens in a new tab) Bike is now $1,445 (previously $1,195)(Opens in a new tab) is $2,495 (previously $1,995) and tread(Opens in a new tab) It will run you $3,495 (previously $2,345). The fitness company has launched a revamped cycling program(Opens in a new tab) ($1,145) and a rental program (starting at $89 per month) offer a few cheaper options, but you really don’t need to spend all that money to get the stimulating Peloton experience — and the sense of community that comes with being a regular class participant. .
How much is the Peloton app?
If you already own a Peloton Bike or Tread, you can access the Peloton App that’s included with your $44 monthly membership up to $44.
Peloton’s best mutt of 2023
If you don’t have an expensive cardio machine, you can sign up to get workouts from your mobile device, laptop, or smart TV for just $12.99 per month. The price covers unlimited categories for a single profile, basic metrics tracking (if you have a compatible smartwatch), achievement tracking, and live group workouts. If you are a new user, you will also get a 30-day trial of the app for free.
There are many classes you can take with the Peloton app, even if you don’t have a Peloton bike (or any bike). Stream live and on-demand workouts from your smartphone, tablet or smart TV to turn your living room or any room into a workout studio. Although this app has functionality for Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, and Chromecast, some users have reported that casting exercises are sometimes a glitch, and overall the app is more reliable than a phone or tablet.
Note that you won’t be able to use the live leaderboard feature for cycling or running classes unless you own a bike or tread, so don’t let this feature drive your decision to become a Peloton subscriber. A Peloton app subscription only covers a single user profile, too (unlike the multiple user profiles you can get with a bike or tread full access membership), so don’t count on sharing the Peloton app like you’d share your Netflix password.
What’s the weather like in Peloton?
Peloton’s hardcore community has sometimes been described as cult-like,(Opens in a new tab) And it’s easy to see how obsessed people are with the platform. All of the Peloton coaches are charismatic, magnetic, and fiercely motivated, and they each bring something different to the mat (or bike, or run). With over 60 different certified instructors leading the classes, there is someone out there who will give you the exact kind of motivation you need. If you’re looking for a hardcore cycling instructor, fall in love with Alex Toussaint. Are you looking for a brief yoga instructor to support your practice? Try a class with Anna Greenberg.
Once you’ve found your favourites, sort the classes by teacher.
Credit: Screenshot: Peloton
If you’re a complete beginner when it comes to exercise, it may take a few sessions to get used to the vocabulary of the peloton and the words used to describe specific exercise moves. It’s also a pretty well established community, so you might not feel as involved as you could during the first trimester. When I started, I listened to the coaches yell at casual users and their sights were a little intimidating, as if I was lagging behind in the peloton bandwagon. But once you figure out the jargon, understand the Peloton’s achievement framework, and get to know the coaches, you’ll never look back—and wait for the coach to set your own milestones.
Navigate the app and search for categories
The app’s functionality is very clean – you’ll be able to find a workout that checks any box you’re looking for. Once you select one of the 11 types of exercise, you can segment your exercise search further. Filter by length, ranging from five minutes to 90 minutes depending on the specific activity. There are also options to filter by music genre, teacher, difficulty, and class type.
The app features 11 different types of classes: Strength, Meditation, Cycling, Stretching, Yoga, Running, Running, Walking, Cardio, Tread Bootcamp, and Bike Bootcamp. The intervals range from five minutes to 90 minutes – giving you more incentive to sweat, even if you’re short on time. You’ll also be able to use the handy stack feature, which allows you to do what is essentially a workout class queue. Select a warm-up, stretching, and stretching class, or mix and match classes for a customized, full-body workout.
Although you can’t download pre-recorded classes to take them offline (Wild Yoga is a no-go), there is a feature that lets you pre-load classes to prevent buffering and reduce data usage. However, you will still need an internet connection to start the preloaded lessons.
Finding live lessons is also simple. From the home page (access it from the home icon at the bottom left), you’ll be able to see the day’s live and upcoming lessons, across all genres. Click Live & Upcoming to view live schedules for each class type throughout the week. Filter by yoga, cardio, or other type of class, or by length, instructor, or difficulty. You can also add classes to your personal schedule by clicking the circle to the right of the class you want to take. This is very helpful if you need some motivation to make time for exercise. I found that creating a weekly routine where the workout is scheduled in advance made me more accountable, and led to actually taking the class.
View live and upcoming lessons from the featured dashboard.
Credit: Screenshot: Peloton
Schedule live lessons throughout the week.
Credit: Screenshot: Peloton
motivating features
If you know paying for a fitness app subscription isn’t enough to get you off the couch, the Peloton app offers some interactive tools to keep you coming back for your workouts. The first is called Achievements, which tracks your workouts and gives you badges when you meet certain criteria. This includes badges for the number of classes taken (for example, 10 yoga classes, or 50 cardio classes), badges for specific events such as Latino Heritage Month, daily, weekly, monthly ribbons, and more. Setting a goal to fill out the achievements page with badges is great for trying a variety of workouts.
If you have a team or community motivation style, choose one of the Peloton Challenges. The main challenge that most users choose is “annual,” which records minutes spent active in the app, and assigns you a different tiered badge at the end of the year based on your total workout time. There are shorter challenges as well, such as a monthly challenge that asks you to exercise at least 10 days in one month, or class-specific challenges that will ask you to do a certain number of runs, cardio, or other types in one month.
Completing the workouts earns you badges (a serious dopamine hit).
Credit: Screenshot: Peloton
The Annual Challenge gives you a look at your activity throughout the year.
Credit: Screenshot: Peloton
Is the Peloton app worth it?
It’s hard to get access to board-certified personal trainers, thousands of live and on-demand classes, a dedicated community all in one place, and much less for under $15 a month. After trying almost every type of workout the Peloton app has to offer, I would say the monthly digital membership is a great deal for the price.
You’ll have to self-motivate yourself to sit on the mat or go out for a run (there’s no fancy bike or treadmill that’ll entice you to get a workout in), but the achievements and exercise metrics you can see in the app will give you a little nudge to stay on top of those fitness goals.