Best Online Cycling Classes of 2022

Photo composite of woman riding stationary bike. — Byrdie / Design by Amelia Manley

Cycling classes have encouraged millions to pedal through heart-pumping and challenging routines with up-tempo music, swanky interiors, and top-of-the-line spin bikes. But with more bikes available at competitive prices, as well as reliable trainers to stabilize your equipment, creating your very own spin studio from the comfort of your home has become a popular option.

A stream of on-demand and live-stream spin classes are available at the touch of a button, so you’ll never miss a workout. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best online cycling classes for varying budgets, styles, and goals.

The 6 Best Online Cycling Classes of 2022

Best Overall: Peloton
Best for Community: CycleBar
Best Variety: Studio SWEAT OnDemand
Best for All Levels: LES MILLS On Demand
Best Experience: SoulCycle on Equinox+
Best for Solo Riders: CardioCast

Best Overall: Peloton

Key Specs

Fees: $44 per month (doesn't include Peloton bike)
Types of Classes Offered: Live and on-demand
Free Trial: No

Why We Chose It

With Peloton, customers experience affordable luxury with its first-rate line-up of classes. Both live stream and on-demand videos are filmed with state-of-the-art technology for a polished, in-studio experience.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Wide selection of live classes and on-demand workouts
Suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced cyclists
All-access membership includes a library of on-demand classes

Cons

All-access membership doesn't come with bike
Add-on equipment is a separate cost

Peloton has risen to cult status among cycling and fitness enthusiasts as a pioneer in the high-tech home workout market. The brand’s immersive workouts are designed to empower clients through each and every session while generating a community of like-minded fans.

Although you can cycle your way through Peloton workouts with your indoor bike of choice, the full Peloton experience requires a specialized brand bike, with an estimated delivery time of one to two weeks. The basic bike, without additional equipment, costs around $1,445 with payments as low as roughly $47 per month and comes with a 30-day at-home trial and a 12-month limited warranty. Add-ons, such as cycling shoes, weights, and heart monitor straps, are separate from the cost of the bike.

Additionally, you’ll need to sign up for the Peloton All-Access Membership for around $44 per month to get full access to the bike’s features and to stream class content. But with 24-hour access to live classes—each accompanied by a DJ for a blast of motivation—many subscribers feel the price tag is worth it. Whether it’s a 20-minute ’80s Rock Ride or a 45-minute HIIT & Hills class, there is a workout to suit every day of the week.

If live classes aren’t your jam, Peloton provides access to more than 4,000 on-demand rides for every level, length, and fitness goal. There are also “intimidation-free” rides for beginners to get into the swing of cycling, as well as pro-cyclist classes for the experts.

In addition, Peloton offers a dynamic range of classes led by top trainers, with strength, yoga, running, stretching, and meditation, for a cost of roughly $13 for a Peloton Digital Membership, which doesn’t require brand hardware and allows single-user access to the Peloton App class library.

Best for Community: CycleBar

Woman at spin class — Rob and Julia Campbell/Stocksy United

Key Specs

Fees: $29.99
Types of Classes Offered: On-demand
Free Trial: Yes

Why We Chose It

CycleBar brings the community vibe to each of its workouts, with an all-encompassing social and friendly vibe.

Pros

Affordable, on-demand service with polished videos
Classes for all levels
No additional equipment required (other than your bike)

Cons

Reviews note less class variety compared to other cycling services
No live classes

CycleBar’s low-impact, high-intensity classes are provided through Xponential+ and foster community within every workout and at all levels. Blending strength and endurance with hill climbs and drills, the company's on-demand content brings more than 200 hours of both audio and video sessions to your phone, tablet, or TV screen.

Just like the in-studio workouts, a range of classes can be found within the on-demand lineup, including Xpress 30-minute cycles, 45-minute Classic rides, and 45-minute Empower sessions. And, most of them incorporate a bar into the workout to target the upper body.

You can drill down your options to ride with your preferred trainer or select a program for a spark of motivation, including the 28-Day Beginner challenges for first-timers. New content is also added on an ongoing basis to keep your rides energized.

Additionally, there is a library of restorative classes off the bike that target various muscle groups and aid your recovery. Or, you can join in on a ride at a live studio, where you can choose from six different classes. New riders can bag a seven-day free trial before committing roughly $30 a month for membership.

Best Variety: Studio SWEAT onDemand

Key Specs

Fees: $15.71 (per month annually) to $19.88 (monthly)
Types of Classes Offered: On-demand and live
Free Trial: Yes

Why We Chose It

Studio SWEAT onDemand receives high praise across online reviews. Filmed in the California-based gym, classes provide clear, simple instructions for riders to follow (ideal for new and inexperienced riders) with a variety of classes led by trainers who have a down-to-earth appeal.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Wide variety of classes for all levels, with off-the-bike workout options
All indoor spin bikes suitable for workouts
No additional equipment required for spin classes (other than the bike)

Cons

Limited live classes
Expensive to download a single video relative to the monthly all-access cost

Studio SWEAT onDemand classes are streamable from virtually any device, including the company's app. With plenty of classes to choose from, there's no risk of workouts becoming repetitive.

Members can search by date, length, title, trainer, and type, including beginner 10-minute Saddle Up sessions and a 20-minute Rhythm Ride, going all the way up to advanced cycle classes. New workouts are released routinely to keep the content fresh.

Membership also grants access to other workouts for a well-rounded routine. Boot camp, HIIT, yoga, body sculpt and stretch courses are all available for the taking. The seven-day free trial is perfect for sampling an array of classes before converting to the roughly $ 20-a-month fee, or about $189 for a full year.

For an additional $5 a month, members receive customized workout plans, nutrition tips, offline downloads, and a discount on merchandise. Studio SWEAT onDemand also has the option to convert your home into a spin studio with its bike bundle, starting at roughly $899 for a Spinner L9 Chain consumer-grade bike and a 12-month all-access plan.

Best for All Levels: LES MILLS+

Key Specs

Fees: $7.49 (monthly with annual membership) to $14.99 (monthly)
Types of Classes Offered: On-demand
Free Trial: Yes

Why We Chose It

As an established global brand with a loyal following, LES MILLS+ delivers value, quality, and variety. Members have access to quality, signature classes and immersive bike rides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

A good range of high-energy signature cycle classes, suitable for all levels
Free 30-day trial
Great overall value with a low monthly cost

Cons

Not all courses are filmed in front of a live audience
Darker backgrounds can make it difficult to see clearly what trainers are doing

Known for its empowering, in-studio workouts, LES Mills provides the goods with its on-demand classes, streamed from your phone straight to the TV.

In the cycling category, LES MILLS+ offers The Trip, a 40-minute virtual cycle workout through "digitally-created worlds" for a moment of escape; an RPM class that blends hills, sprints, and flat cycling to level up your biking abilities; and a 30-minute Sprint class for a blast of HIIT and big calorie burn at any time.

Membership provides access to cycling sessions and over a thousand sweat-inducing workouts across strength training, cardio, dance, abs, and flexibility. The monthly membership cost is roughly $15; three months is about $36; and the annual fee is approximately $120.

Best Experience: SoulCycle on Equinox+

Key Specs

Fees: $39.99 per month
Types of Classes Offered: On-demand and live
Free Trial: Yes

Why We Chose It

Founded in 2006, SoulCycle is a top-of-the-line cycling brand, now available at home via Equinox+. It’s widely known for providing an engaging and motivating experience.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Multi-camera shots and upscale lighting emulate the in-studio experience
Cycling classes available for all levels
Wide variety of courses across various lengths

Cons

For the price tag, the app may not be worth using solely for cycling classes
Crossover in music between many classes

Equinox+ combines a fitness collective of cult-favorite brands under one virtual roof. SoulCycle made the cut, offering daily live cycle classes between 45 and 60 minutes long from the comfort of your own bike.

The pre-recorded courses range from 20 to 60 minutes, including titles you’d see in the studio like “Rise and Ride.” Most classes are suitable for all fitness levels, with some incorporating light weights to work the upper body, as well as a stretch sequence to finish.

Equinox+’s stream of on-demand SoulCycle classes can be tailored to your schedule if you prefer to work out on your own time. However, for the live experience, classes from “SoulCycle Studio Stream” cost about $20 each unless live-streamed to the SoulCycle at-home bike, in which case they are included in the cost of an Equinox+ membership.

Access to the Equinox+app is included in the cost for Equinox membership holders or else is priced at roughly $40 per month with a seven-day free trial.

Best for Solo Riders: CardioCast

Key Specs

Fees: $7.50 (monthly for annual membership) to $9.99/month
Types of Classes Offered: On-demand audio
Free Trial: Yes

Why We Chose It

For solo riders, CardioCast has an extensive selection of guided cycling workouts led by expert trainers no matter your biking level. Each session is backed with music matched to the workout intensity to motivate you through daily workouts when you’re not with a group.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Wide variety of cycling classes and other guided-workouts
Affordable
Instructors provide options to modify your ride, making classes suitable for all levels

Cons

No capability for personal music integration
Classes are audio only

If you prefer to cycle the road alone, CardioCast may be the workout for you. With glowing reviews across the board, the on-demand, audio-guided workout app is the fitness tool you didn’t know you needed. CardioCast boasts hundreds of workouts across Beats Ride, where you ride to the beat, and a Classic Ride, which is interval-based.

The app recommends using an indoor, weighted flywheel bike or an outdoor bike with a stationary trainer, stable enough to support you through a full range of movements. There is also a follow-along Set Up Your Ride guide to ensure your workout is safe and efficient.

The app offers a seven-day free trial before a monthly cost of roughly $10 kicks in, with the option to pay every three months (for about $25) or annually (for around $90). Compared to most other online cycling classes, the price for CardioCast is low, especially when you consider that the app has a variety of other workout options, including running, walking, jogging, and bodyweight boot camp sessions for cross-training purposes.

Final Verdict

Whether you’re a die-hard cyclist or a casual rider, there is an online cycle class for every taste and budget. Our top pick is Peloton because its useful technology is ideal for an awesome in-studio experience. Aside from cycling, brands like Studio SWEAT onDemand have more affordable and diverse workouts for a well-rounded fitness experience. For solo riders who prefer to work without a screen, plug into CardioCast for your very own guided classes with a personal instructor in your ear.

Comparing Online Cycling Classes

How to Choose an Online Cycling Class

The best online cycling class for your best friend may not be the right fit for you. When shopping around for the right online cycling class for yourself, there are several factors to take into consideration, including:

Price: You should be able to comfortably budget for the monthly (or annual) cost of the app. If it’s a higher-priced platform, consider whether or not there is a free trial option, if there are any commitments, and how easy it is to cancel the service.
Format: Are you looking for live classes, on-demand classes, or audio guides? Make sure whatever platform you choose has a wide range of options in your preferred format.
Range of workouts: If you enjoy several types of workouts, not just cycling, some platforms offer classes in everything from yoga to HIIT to boxing.
Experience level: A good online class will challenge you without being impossible to finish. Make sure whatever platform you choose has classes that aren’t too easy, but also not so difficult that you won't stick with it.
Device compatibility: Consider what device you'll use for streaming classes. If it’s app-based, check to make sure it’s compatible with your device.
Reviews: What are other users saying about the app? If people report a lot of bugs or complain that it’s hard to navigate, then it may end up being more of a headache than it’s worth. However, some sites pad their reviews, so be wary of thousands of overly positive reviews on a site or app.
Extra features: Not every platform offers the same features, so pay close attention to the details such as a workout history log, distance tracking for outdoor cycling, and access to community chats and groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Bike Can I Use for Online Cycling Classes?

There are many options for indoor stationary bikes, including budget-friendly ones (under $300) and luxury price ranges. For more serious riders who pedal daily, it’s wise to invest in a higher-quality bike that will stand the test of time.

How Do I Adjust My Seat and Handlebars?

Your seat should be high enough to allow your knees to bend at a 90-degree angle, with a soft bend maintained at the knee as the leg extends. The handlebar should also be adjusted to maintain a slight bend in the elbow and raised higher if bending over pulls too much along the back at any point. Read individual guidelines when setting up your bike and check with your chosen online class for additional safety recommendations.

Is It Safe to Do an Online Cycling Class Every Day?

The frequency depends on your individual goals, fitness level, and training style. Cycling, although an all-over body workout, puts a lot of stress on the lower body, and it’s best to balance this with other forms of exercise. Make sure to mix and match intensity, length, and class style for the best results.

Should I Wear Special Shoes for Online Cycling Classes?

Cycling shoes are recommended because they have a much stronger grip and tougher exterior, allowing maximum power with each stroke. Most bikes will require bolted cleats to clip into the bike for better efficiency while pedaling, allowing for a push-and-pull movement in both directions. Non-clip-in cycling shoes for outdoor and indoor bikes are designed to be more sturdy than the average athletic sneaker, which is primarily built for support and flexibility.

Are Online Cycling Classes Worth It?

Whether or not investing in online cycling classes is worthwhile depends entirely on what you enjoy, your personal goals, and your budget. If you live somewhere that is friendly for bike travel and you enjoy riding outside, then it’s probably not worth investing in something like a Peloton. However, if you’re a fan of the class atmosphere—and the community that comes with it—then an online class might be the perfect option.

In addition to the vibe and community online cycling classes offer, there are a variety of health benefits that make the cost and time investment worth it. Cycling is a fun, low-impact way to improve your strength and cardio, build muscle, burn calories, and improve balance, coordination, and posture. Indoor cycling at home is also a nice option for beginners who are intimidated by in-person classes, people with a busy schedule, and those who don’t have a nearby cycling studio for in-person classes.

Methodology

We chose these cycling workouts based on their consistently high ratings across reviews in terms of affordability, quality, and diversity. We sought to include workouts that foster a community, welcome all levels, have a variety of workouts, and provide a good user experience.

Edited by Ally Hirschlag

Updated by Ashley Ziegler