Apple Fitness Plus boasts a plethora of workouts including plenty of cycling. However, while most Apple Fitness Plus workouts can be done with nothing more than your body and some space, or maybe a few dumbbells, a cycling workout requires some more serious kit.
Naturally, you'll need a bike. While you might already have a bicycle for the outdoors, if you're a beginner, want to avoid the elements, or would simply rather cycle inside, then the best exercise bike for Apple Fitness Plus is the next best thing. There are plenty to choose from, and while they all do broadly the same thing, they're distinguished by a range of features including weight and size, add-ons, and more.
If you wan to take your indoor cycling to the next level, we've also included a number of connected bikes, including the most well-known of them all, the Peloton Bike+. As getting the most out of these usually requires you to use a dedicated app, Apple Fitness Plus might be less of a concern, but you should consider all available options. based on your needs and budget.
Quick List
Best overall
This fully adjustable indoor bike from Joroto is fully-adjustable, smooth to ride and whisper quiet while in operation. It features a digital monitor to accurately track your workout data, as well as a multi-use bracket capable of supporting your iPad. You'll find cheaper, lighter alternatives, but the Joroto X2 is our top overall pick.
Best mid-range
Got some extra cash to spend on your fitness mission? Schwinn's 800IC Indoor Bike certainly isn't cheap, but for your money you get over 100 resistance levels, Bluetooth connectivity and a companion app. As for the bike itself, dual-sized pedals and adjustable components make for an exercise bike that feels your own.
Best high-end
If you want the best of the best, you need the Peleton Bike+. This smart exercise bike has a premium build and a large built-in touchscreen display that lets you stream thousands of live and on-demand classes. Plus it’s fully compatible with Apple GymKit, which is rare for home-use bikes. With 100 magnetic resistance levels, it’s like bringing a professional gym into your living room.
Best for realistic riding
The BowFlex VeloCore Bike’s USP is its ability to lean from side to side, replicating the feeling of riding a real road bike. With an adjustable HD touchscreen and 100 magnetic resistance levels, it’s a pricey bike operating in the same space as Peloton, but the innovative lean mode might be enough to, well, sway you.
Best Peloton alternative
The Echelon EX-3 Smart Connect Bike is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Display, coined by iMore) exercise bike that lets you replicate the Peloton experience by pairing with the Echelon Fit app on your iPhone or iPad and taking part in classes. It’s super quiet, comfortable to ride and a good alternative to the more high-end options.
Best all-rounder
There's a good case for the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike being the goldilocks pick of this selection. More affordable than some of its contemporaries but not lacking in features, it's an easy-to-use winner. The belt-driven flywheel rides smooth and quiet, but with a 270lbs weight limit to consider, make sure you're able to ride before buying.
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Most compact
The main problem with a lot of indoor exercise bikes is that people don't typically have as much room for one as a gym does. Exerpeutic's foldable bike is ideal for space-saving, and while it isn't as feature-packed as some of the bikes in this list, it's perfect for moderate intensity fitness.
Best for comfort
If comfort is your priority and space isn't a concern, Schwinn's 270i Recumbent Bike features a padded, contoured seat with a ventilated back and integrated fan that keeps you cool as you chase those PBs. As it doesn't support upright cycling it's a more niche proposition, but with 25 resistance levels and QuickKeys that allow you to instantly change the intensity, the 270i could be exactly what you're looking for.
Best for working
Kill two birds with one stone with this innovative bike from Flexispot, which combines cardio work with the other kind. It's a pretty modest offering compared to rivals, with just eight levels of resistance, but it's the only bike in the list that has a surface for your laptop.
The best exercise bike overall
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The best exercise bike overall
There are a lot of great exercise bikes that help you take advantage of your Apple Fitness Plus membership, but the Joroto X2 Indoor Bike is our top pick. Its wide seat and handlebars can be adjusted to accommodate people of different heights, while the steel toe-caged pedals also have adjustable straps. You get a quartet of support knobs located under the front and rear stabilizer that are designed to keep the bike stable on different surfaces.
Like a lot of indoor bikes, the X2 uses magnetic resistance, which basically means there are magnets (seven on this particular bike) on either side of the chromed flywheel. When it starts to move, these magnets get closer to, without ever touching, the flywheel. The higher you set the resistance, the closer the magnets get to the flywheel. This results in a smooth ride that can be easily adjusted based on how hard you want to work. The belt drive system is also extremely quiet, so you won’t have to worry about disturbing your neighbors.
The X2 features a digital monitor that tracks data like speed, time, calories and distance, and for tracking your progress via the Apple Fitness Plus app there’s a multi-function holder that will support most iPads.
Transportation wheels at the bottom of the frame make it easy enough to move the bike between rooms, but at 42.6kg it’s pretty heavy; certainly more so than some of the other bikes on the market, so bear that in mind.
The best mid-range bike
Schwinn’s 800IC Indoor Bike occupies the mid-range category of indoor exercise bikes. It’s a lot cheaper than a Peloton, with some advanced features that make it more expensive than some other bikes featured in this list. It’s a fully adjustable magnetic resistance bike with 100 resistance levels, and is both smooth and very quiet to ride.
The large backlit LCD console displays all your important data, but the bike also has built-in Bluetooth for heart rate tracking and connecting to various fitness apps such as JRNY, Peloton and Swift via iOS. You can ignore all of this if you’re only interested in popping on your Apple Watch and tracking your workouts through Apple Fitness Plus, but it’s there for those who want it.
Other features include dual-sided pedals that allow you to choose whether or not you want to use foot straps, dual water bottle holders and cradles for 1.5kg dumbbells if you want to incorporate some arm exercises into your routine.
Downsides? This isn’t a new model and the price is still quite high, but for keener cyclists it might be worth it. It’s a durable bike too, with the magnetic resistance system meaning you shouldn’t have to worry about regular repairs.
The best high-end bike
Peloton isn’t the only connected fitness brand in town, but it’s still the best known, and the Peloton Bike+ is the best smart exercise bike. An enhanced version of the standard Peloton Bike, it has a 23.8-inch anti-glare HD touchscreen that can rotate 360 degrees, while front and rear-facing speakers help maintain an immersive interactive workout.
If you're buying a Peloton you’re going to benefit from the Peloton app, which offers a wide variety of both live and on-demand classes with professional instructors. Classes can be easily filtered by length, difficulty, type, instructor and more. You can also program the bike to use an auto-resistance mode that adjusts the magnetic resistance automatically when the instructor calls for it, so you only have to worry about pedaling.
The Peloton Bike+ can connect to heart rate monitors, and if you’re an Apple Watch user you can pair it with the Peloton Watch app to track different metrics this way during a class.
It might be a premium bit of kit, but the Peloton Bike+ takes up less space than you might think. At 120 x 60cm its footprint is about the size of a small yoga mat, but as it can’t be folded you’ll still need to find somewhere for it to live when not in use.
The main negative to consider is price. The bike itself costs just under $2500 and a membership will set you back a further $44 per month.
The best bike for realistic riding
Exercise bikes are great for exercising in your home, but as they tend to be fixed in position, they can’t replicate the feeling of riding a road bike. Unless your exercise bike is the BowFlex VeloCore Bike, which features lever-activated leaning tech that allows you to lean from side to side during your ride. If you want to feel like you’re racing as you chase those PBs, it makes for a more satisfying and immersive workout. There is a stationary mode for lower intensity riding.
The VeloCore Bike is equipped with either a 16-inch or 22-inch HD touchscreen and has the JRNY connected fitness app built in, with a two-month free trial awarded to all new members. Like Peloton, this allows you to take a ride range of classes, led here by virtual instructors, with your progress tracked. You can even stream Netflix or Disney+ shows at the same time. There’s no GymKit support like you get with Peloton, though, or a dedicated Apple Watch app.
The VeloCore Bike offers 100 magnetic resistance levels that transition smoothly. Both the handlebars and seat are adjustable and the pedals are dual-sided, offering you the choice between clips and toe cages. Dual water bottle holders ensure you stay hydrated throughout your ride.
Like a Peloton, the VeloCore Bike is an investment, and an expensive one, so if you’re going to be spending that kind of monkey it’ll be because you really want the freedom of leaning that not many exercise bikes offer.
The best Peloton alternative
The Echelon EX-3 Smart Connect Bike is a BYOD (bring your own display, coined by iMore) exercise bike that lets you replicate the Peloton experience by pairing with the Echelon Fit app on your iPhone or iPad and taking part in classes. It’s whisper quiet, comfortable to ride and a good alternative to the more high-end options.
If you’ve been eyeing up a Peloton Bike but are put off by the price and long-term commitment, the Echelon EX-3 Smart Connect Bike is a great alternative. The major thing to note here is that, unlike the Peloton Bike+, this one doesn’t come with a dedicated display. Instead, you supply your own, in this case most likely an iPad, and pair the bike with the iOS-supported Echelon Fit app.
From here you have access to thousands of live and on-demand classes with professional instructors, with support for the Apple Health app and interactive leaderboards for competitive types. The bike connects to the app as soon as you begin pedaling and from there you’re free to select the type of class you’re looking for. Away from the bike, the Echelon Fit app also offers workouts such as kickboxing and pilates. How much you get out of it, then, depends on your willingness to really take advantage of the companion app and its various subscription plans.
As for the bike, you get 32 levels of resistance from the 14kg magnetic flywheel, an adjustable seat, height-adjustablr epadded handlebars and whisper quiet performance. None of this is as premium as what you get with the Peloton Bike+, but you’re paying a lot less, so that’s hardly a complaint.
The best all-rounder
Sturdy, smooth, silent, customizable and affordable, the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike ticks most of the boxes you want an exercise bike to tick. It’s an upright bike with a belt-driven 35lbs flywheel and adjustable resistance. This bike uses a friction resistance system with no fixed levels. Instead, you just turn the knob until you find your desired amount of resistance. While not as smooth as the magnetic alternative, it still feels great to ride.
You don’t get app connectivity but there is a mounted LCD monitor and a holder for your iPad. You’ll need to fork out more for Bluetooth capability, but Yosuda’s bike is built like one you might find in a gym, and as long as you’re wearing an Apple Watch, Apple Fitness Plus can take care of the rest.
The steel-frame bike weighs in at just over 30kg, making it lighter than some of the other bikes we recommend and therefore easier to drag into another spot or room using the transport wheels.
Lacking in flashy features but well built and adjustable to your height and reach, the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike is our all-rounded pick.
The most compact bike
Indoor exercise bikes are great when you’re using them to keep fit, but if your home is on the smaller side they can just get in the way when not in use. If space is an issue, you should definitely consider a bike like this one from Exerpeutic, which folds up for storage, halving in size so you can put it in a cupboard or lean it against the wall.
While best suited to moderate intensity activity, you’re still getting a smooth belt-driven bike with an 8-level magnetic tension system adjustable via a dial. While not as adjustable as some competitors, it’s comfortable thanks to a large padded saddle, and surprisingly sturdy, with a maximum weight capacity of 136kg.
You get a built-in round LCD display that is larger than you might expect for a bike of this, with displayed data including distance, calories burned, time, speed and heart rate. On the handlebars you’ll find hand pulse sensors for real-time heart rate monitoring.
The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike is unapologetically streamlined, both in terms of physical design and features, but its handy folding design and solid performance make it a good choice for the space-conscious.
The best bike for comfort
Upright bikes are great for fitness, but they aren’t suitable for everyone. If you have mobility issues, or are in recovery from injury, a recumbent bike might be better for your needs. They’re low impact and go easier on your joints, and Schwinn’s 270i is one of the better ones you can buy for your home.
It offers 25 resistance levels with QuickKeys for fast level-switching, goal tracking and 29 different workouts, a number of which are focused on heart rate. You can set four custom user profiles, which is ideal for families, and there are two backlit LCD displays employed for displaying ride data. A USB port is useful if you’re streaming a show while you work out.
The 270i Recumbent Bike is all about comfort. As well as an adjustable seat, pedals and angle-adjustable handlebars, there’s lots of padding and ventilation on the back, with an integrated fan to help you keep cool. And as for motivation, a pair of sealed acoustic chamber speakers mean you don’t need headphone for music.
The obvious marks against Schwinn’s bike are its sheer size, and its inability to be used for upright training. But if a recumbent design is what you need and your budget can stretch to it, the 270i might be what you’re looking for.
The best bike for working
And now for something completely different. Part exercise bike, part standing desk, FlexiSpot’s Desk Exercise Bike is for getting work done while you work out. It’s designed for low-impact cycling as opposed to intense training, but you still get eight levels of magnetic resistance and a small LCD display for keep track of your time, distance, speed, calories and so on.
The seat is adjustable between 75-94cm and you do so using a small lever. The bike arrives all but fully assembled too. All you need to do is attach the 20 x 22.8-inch desktop.
For added convenience, the bike is equipped with four wheels, one on each of its four legs, so moving it between rooms is a breeze. And if you’re worried about stability, the wheels have 360-degree gravity sensor locks so you won’t be rolling around on the floor.
Naturally, Flexispot’s innovative bike falls short if you’re serious about your fitness, but if your job is laptop-based and you’ve found yourself wishing you could move more, it’s ideal.
Q&A
Does Apple Fitness have stationary bike workouts?
Yes, Apple Fitness Plus has lots of stationary bike workouts that give you the sensation of riding on flat roads as well as climbing hills. The best bit is you can modify the workout to fit your needs and preferences.
Can you use Apple Fitness+ with a Peleton Bike?
While the Peloton Bike+ is GymKit enabled to sync with your Apple Watch, you can't use Apple Fitness Plus on a Peloton. That said, there are accessories like the PeloGadget which allow you to mount your iPhone or iPad onto your Peloton to use instead of the regular display.
Can I use my Apple Watch with a stationary bike?
Yes, your Apple Watch can pair and sync with Apple Fitness Plus to keep track of your cardio data as you workout on a bike.
Things to consider when buying an exercise bike
Any stationary exercise bike can be used with Apple Fitness Plus, so making the right decision can be tricky.
For the best all-around bike at an affordable price, we suggest the Joroto Indoor Cycling Bike. It offers four-way adjustments to accommodate riders of all sizes, a nice, heavy, 35-pound flywheel, micro-adjustable resistance, and a handy tablet, water bottle, phone, or free weight holder.
If you're looking for the best high-end option, you can't go wrong with the Schwinn Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike. It features dual-pedal options with SPD clips or shoe cages, 100 micro-adjustable resistance levels, a color LCD monitor for key stats, four-way adjustments, a set of weights, and an integrated multi-media device holder so you can ride with Apple Fitness Plus.
If you want something more budget-friendly, you'll be very happy with the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike. While not as smooth to ride as some of the pricier bikes, it features a sleek design, an LCD display, and a tablet holder so you can follow along on your iPad.
For the perfect workout companion, pair one with an Apple Watch to unlock even more Apple Fitness Plus functionality. Check out our picks for the best Apple Watch, and get yours with one of these sweet Apple Watch deals. You may also want to check out our guides for the best treadmills and rowing machines to use with Apple Fitness Plus.
