Cycling is a great way to blow off some steam and get in a great workout, and Peloton is one of the biggest names in cycling fitness. If you want to Peloton but aren't stoked on shelling out a ton of money for the Peloton bike, no worries! You can easily subscribe to Peloton's digital app and use it with the Sunny Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike w/Cadence Sensor & Pulse Rate Monitor (opens in new tab) to get a very similar workout experience for a fraction of the price. In fact, we've gathered several alternative options, so you burn more by "burning" less dough.
Best Overall: Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike, High Weight Capacity + Cadence Sensor & Pulse Rate Monitor SF-B1735
Comfort meets performance with the Sunny Health and Fitness Belt-Drive Commercial Indoor Cycling Bike. This is our best overall because you can tailor the four-way adjustable seat and the pulse grip-equipped adjustable handlebars to suit your riding style. It comes with tennis shoe cages as well as SPD-compatible cage pedals. You can clip in and get the most out of every rotation. It features a 44-pound flywheel with a belt-drive mechanism for a smooth-as-butter ride, and an extra durable leather brake pad so you can stop on a dime.
You can check your workout progress with the performance monitor and track your speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, and calories burned with the touch of a button. This particular Sunny bike is our best overall because it has the built-in tracking system you need to keep tabs on your stats as you follow along with the Peloton app.
Take note that some users reported that the handlebars were crooked and not in line with the bike once assembled. Others complained the seat could get wiggly, but you should be able to tighten it up again, no problem.
This bike features a four-way adjustable seat and adjustable handlebars, and tracks speed, distance, hr, and calories burned.
Best Value: Chain Drive Premium Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1509C
The Chain Drive Premium Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike was designed with a newly improved smoother and quieter chain drive system, four-way adjustable seat, two-way adjustable handlebars, and an adjustable resistance knob. This indoor cycling bike is made for performance, comfort, and durability. It also provides the challenging feel of outdoor riding. The quality of its heavy-duty steel crank and frame is built to withstand time and go the distance with users of all sizes and levels. It has tennis shoe cages and SPD-compatible clips, and a water bottle holder to ensure hydration. It comes at an excellent price for what you get, so it takes the cake as the best value.
Be aware that this bike is a basic level indoor cycling bike. You can follow along with the Peloton classes using your app, but this bike doesn't have any built-in tracking system. You're not going to be able to track your distance, calories, heart rate, or cadence. Some buyers also complained the bike could be noisy.
Easily adjustable, SPD compatible indoor cycling bike with a smooth chain drive system.
Best Budget: Belt Drive Premium Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1509
At this price, this bike definitely won't break the bank, and it's got everything you need when it comes to basic indoor cycling essentials. It features adjustable leather brake pad resistance, a 40-pound flywheel, 4-way seat adjustments, 2-way handlebar adjustments, and transportation wheels so you can roll it from point A to point B. It also has a water bottle holder so you can stay hydrated. Plus, the dual combo pedals give you the option of wearing your sneakers or your spin shoes. The seat is cushioned so you can pedal comfortably.
On the downside, this bike does not host any built-in tracking features, so you'll have to purchase an additional tracker if you want to keep tabs on distance, speed, heart rate, calories burned, etc. Some users also complained of it being noisy when in use, and about the screws in the handlebars shaking loose.
Budget-friendly, adjustable, SPD compatible indoor cycling bike with transportation wheels for convenience.
Best Heavy Flywheel: 48.5lb Flywheel Chain Drive Commercial Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1516
This bike offers all the necessities for an intense, yet enjoyable cycling workout in the comfort of your own home. It features an easy-to-replace crankshaft system, 48.5-pound flywheel, fully adjustable seat and handlebars, micro-adjustable resistance knob, and built-on transportation wheels. The quality of its heavy-duty commercial grade steel crank and mainframe was designed to go the distance with users of all sizes and levels in mind. This bike also has a convenient water bottle holder so you can stay hydrated while riding.
There is no built-in tracking system on this bike, so you'll need to pair it with a cadence tracker if you want those tracking stats.
This bike features an easy-to-replace crankshaft system and a 48.5lb flywheel. It can support riders up to 300lbs.
Best Splurge: AeroPro Indoor Cycling Bike SF-B1711
This bike provides ultimate stability and balance as you cycle when you grab the aero-inspired handlebars and clip into the SPD-compatible pedals. It features magnetic resistance, which means the flywheel never comes into contact with the resistance, resulting in a silent, stable, and virtually low maintenance experience. The closer the magnet, the greater the resistance will be.
It has a 44-pound flywheel that creates more momentum and a smooth-as-butter ride for longer periods so you can ensure you're going the distance. You can keep your refreshment in arm's reach with the conveniently placed water bottle holder. Plus, the saddle and handlebars on this bike are fully adjustable for a completely personalized fit. This bike also features stabilizers, so no matter the surface of your home, you will always have a stable, stationary ride.
This bike is pricey, but it's commercial grade and features magnetic resistance, so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. It does not have a built-in tracking system, so you'll need to pair it with your Peloton app and a fitness tracker to get your stats.
This bike features magnetic resistance, a 44lb flywheel, and floor stabilizers for smooth-as-butter stationary movement.
Bottom line
We get why you'd want to save money and opt for a less expensive stationary bike than Peloton. You don't have to compromise your riding experience, however. You can create a very similar ride by pairing the Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike, High Weight Capacity w/Cadence Sensor & Pulse Rate Monitor (opens in new tab) with your Peloton app by using its built-in cadence, calorie, distance, and heart rate tracker to follow along and get your stats while taking Peloton classes.
Whatever you're looking for in your indoor cycling bike, you can find it here on this list of the best Sunny fitness bikes for Peloton. You can ride any of the bikes on this list in conjunction with using your Peloton app for virtually the same experience for a fraction of the cost. Happy riding!
Nicolette is a freelance writer for iMore. With over a decade of high-level experience as a health and fitness professional, Nicolette has become an expert in the industry. As a writer, quadruple-certified master fitness instructor, DJ/MC, and mom; she’s had the pleasure of working with some of the top websites, studios, and brands in the world throughout her career. A dedicated creative, Nicolette enjoys writing about all things: health, fitness, audio, and home. If she’s not working, you can find her sipping a glass of wine, enjoying a concert, or hanging with her family.
