The 7 best Peloton alternatives for crushing those New Year's resolutions

The Echelon Smart Connect EX5-S bike is a solid studio-style bike with a large, 180-degree rotating touch screen, similar to the Peloton Bike+ and the NordicTrack S22i. You'll have to pay $39.99 per month for an Echelon app membership with this bike, so the ongoing cost is something to consider.

The Echelon App has a wide variety of live and on-demand rides ranging from beginner level to advanced, and from lengths of five to 45 minutes.  You'll also be able to access Echelon's Fitpass programs, which feature yoga classes, strength workouts, and more, but don't expect to use anything else on this screen. There's no functionality to use other apps, so Netflix and ride is a no-go, and you'll need to use your own TV, tablet, or phone if you want to work out with different fitness programs. 

A stationary bike doesn't need a screen or fancy tech specs to get the job done, and this sub-$300 Sunny bike is a good example of quality simplicity. This bike would be great for riders who want to watch a few episodes of Netflix while pedaling, or who want to stream their own workouts from their TV or phone. This is the lowest-tech bike on this list, so we recommend it for casual riders who don't need all the bells and whistles of a smart connected bike.

While you won't be able to view your stats with this spin bike, it doesn't need to be plugged in, so it can be placed anywhere in your home (or even outside if you have outdoor space). The 40-pound flywheel will give you a stable ride, and it's regularly on sale at Amazon for under $280, so it's a good choice for your wallet. The only real downside is the friction resistance — you won't get really heavy rides with this bike.

The Bowflex VeloCore is a complete system, ready to rival the Peloton in every right. It has a 16-inch screen that is perfect for streaming Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and other streaming services, and even better for accessing its library of on-demand workouts. A one-year JRNY subscription is included so you can access all of this content, and user profiles are easy to set up if there’s more than one person in your household using it.

Beyond that, this bike has 100 resistance levels, comes with a set of dumbbells, and ventures somewhere Peloton hasn’t gone before: You can activate leaning mode to simulate riding a real-life bike. This is called out in their on-demand workouts, and is a great core workout on top of the cardio that biking gives you. If you try it out and don’t love the leaning mode, you can choose to skip sections that use it or do workouts where it's not included.

The only thing you might miss from Peloton is the leaderboard, however, this bike allows you to compete against yourself, automatically adjusting workouts based on your fitness level and the goals you set.

Peloton app fanatics who don't want the Peloton bike price are probably looking for a sturdy, magnetic drive bike that can be used for classes with the iconic Peloton instructors leading the way. 

The Schwinn IC4 only has a small LCD monitor for basic stat tracking, but features a media rack to place your own device on, giving you free-range of online workout choices. If you already pay for the Peloton app, you can sync it from your device to this bike's console — a huge perk for tracking cadence during classes.

This bike is also the only one on this list to boast dual SPD and cage pedals, so you can choose between clip-in cycling shoes or wearing regular athletic shoes during your ride.

Read our full review of the SoulCycle bike.

If getting pumped up by a hype trainer and popular music during every ride is a non-negotiable, the SoulCycle At-Home Bike is the one to grab. It gives you a wholesome studio-style experience that's more focused on riding to the music than trying to race everyone else in the class.

The SoulCycle bike's most motivating feature is called Beat Match, which measures how in sync you are with the music playing during each ride. Instead of focusing on speed, calories, or distance, Beat Match takes you away from the fitness jargon, ideal for folks who just want to have fun during their rides. 

Home exercise bikes that cost $2,500 just aren't in everyone's price range. If you don't need the high-tech, interactive smart features and a giant attached screen, the Echelon GT Connect is a solid option. (Who can say no to that price?) It features SPD shoe clips and a toe cage on the pedals, boasts an impressive 32 levels of resistance, has a smart device holder with 180-degree flip rotation (that's one way of saying it lacks a touchscreen display!), and offers detailed, real-time performance tracking.

You don't have to get locked into a mandatory monthly membership with this Echelon purchase — but note that, if you do choose to take advantage of the Premier subscription, it will cost you about $40/month after a 30-day free trial. As a Premier member, you can elevate your rides with on-demand classes, health data syncing with Apple/Fitbit/beyond, and access to a global community of cycling aficionados (with the potential for in-person events).