Sure, we all have enough screens in our lives, but firing up a virtual workout or the latest episode of Love is Blind on one of the best exercise bikes with screens can help you zone out — or zone in — while breaking a sweat. As more and more brands are releasing app-connected fitness equipment, finding the display, apps, and programming — don’t forget about the actual bike — that are right for you can be a bit of a challenge.
That’s where the fitness pros at BarBend come in. We’ve been spinning the pedals on exercise bikes for years and we rounded up all the best options for streaming workouts and entertainment on quality machines. Whether you’re after a studio-like experience at home or think The Office might help distract you from that next hill, the immersive displays on these bikes should satisfy. Here are our picks for the best exercise bikes with screens — personally tried and tested by our experts.
The 8 Best Exercise Bikes with Screens for 2024
- Best Overall Exercise Bike with a Screen: NordicTrack S22i
- Best Budget Exercise Bike with a Screen Holder: ProForm Carbon CX
- Best Exercise Bike with a Large Screen: Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
- Best Compact Exercise Bike with a Screen: CAROL Bike
- Best Exercise Bike with a Screen with No Subscription: Stryde Bike
- Best Exercise Bike with a Screen for Streaming: BowFlex VeloCore Bike
- Best Recumbent Exercise Bike with a Screen Holder: Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
- Best Exercise Bike with a Screen for Studio Classes: Peloton Bike
How We Tested and Chose the Best Exercise Bikes with Screens
After thousands of rides on more than 20 exercise bikes, the BarBend team of cyclists, certified personal trainers, and CrossFit professionals knows how to separate the studs from the duds. As more at-home fitness equipment becomes app-connected, the prevalence of screens large and small is on the rise. We laced up our clip-ins and fired up the touchscreens to bring you the experience of fitness professionals to help you find the exercise bike to fit your needs.
As we pedaled along to immersive workouts, streamed our favorite shows, and tracked our metrics, we paid attention to the sizes and types of screens, adjustability options, and price tags. Across 13 different categories, we assigned ratings of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) to factors like tech capabilities, durability, and value, among others. Beyond the physical specs and details, we worked hard to convey what it felt like to take a ride on the best exercise bikes with screens. Check out a few of the factors that helped us make our picks.
Display Type and Size
Much like when you’re weighing the iPhone Jumbo against the iPhone Baby, the size of the screen on an exercise bike can make a big difference. We tested bikes with screens from 11 inches to 24 inches — and even a few options with tablet holders — to see how they stacked up in terms of picture quality and overall immersion. But we also considered how those displays impacted a bike’s footprint and stability. The bigger the screen, the more unwieldy a bike can become.
App Integration
As more brands bring app-connected bikes to the market, more fitness apps are joining them. Often, a company will develop their own native fitness app as a companion to their equipment, but some can be used across multiple machines.
Some of the best fitness apps — like Peloton or iFIT — can provide immersive studio-quality experiences with trainer-led classes and even automatic adjustments to incline and resistance. Others may recommend classes using AI or by tracking your metrics. One factor we made sure to note is the additional costs that access to fitness or entertainment apps can incur. Most are monthly or annual subscriptions, so we took note of the apps we think are the best value.
Adjustability
Across most upright exercise bikes, you’ll see resistance levels ranging from roughly 16 to 32, with adjustable seats and handlebars more or less standard. The resistance on the bikes we picked for our list range from 16 all the way up to 100, with one even leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize your ride. Many options here include four-way adjustments — forward, backward, horizontal, and vertical — on their seat or handlebars, as well as interchangeable pedals to accommodate clip-in cleats or running shoes.
Best Overall Exercise Bike with a Screen: NordicTrack S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i is high-tech and high quality, featuring both advancements like a 22” touchscreen display, and solid specs like 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance.
Specs
- Price: $1,999
- Dimensions: 58″ H x 61″ L x 22″ W
- Display: 22” HD touchscreen
- Weight: 205lbs (in box)
- Resistance type: 24 levels of magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 350lbs
Pros
- You can access more than 17,000 live and on-demand iFIT workouts via the 22-inch HD touchscreen.
- The -10- to 20-percent incline and decline range can be manually or automatically adjusted during select iFIT classes.
- There are 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance.
Cons
- To unlock the bike’s full potential, a monthly iFIT subscription — $39.99 per month — is a must.
- Its 205-pound weight and 22-inch display can make transport difficult.
Our pick for the best overall exercise bike with a screen is the NordicTrack S22i, as it pairs a 22-inch HD touchscreen — one of the largest we’ve seen on an exercise bike — with iFIT app integration. Not only does this bike provide 24 levels of magnetic resistance and a wide -10- to 20-percent incline range, but it can work in tandem with iFIT to automatically adjust them to the specifications of a class or scenic ride.
Nine of the 13 categories we rated earned at least a 4.5 out of 5, with its tech capabilities, customizations, and dynamic programming earning scores of 5 out of 5 from certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member Kate Meier. “It is super rare for a bike to offer both incline and decline,” she pointed out. “And the 22-inch HD screen made it feel like I was actually in Hawaii.”
BarBend expert tester and certified nutrition coach Jake Herod highlighted how the screen allows for even more off-bike workouts in his video review below. “The touchscreen monitors tilts, but also rotates 360 degrees so you can hop off and do some strength training or join a yoga class.”
Access to all this iFIT goodness does cost an additional $39.99 per month, but Meier thinks it’s worth it to help the bike reach its full potential. “Without iFIT, you can access a couple free bike workouts, but otherwise, you basically just have a manual exercise bike.”
If you need to move it, though, we’d suggest having a buddy around to help manage that extra-large screen. “It has wheels on the front which definitely help moving it, but since the screen is so big, it kind of throws off its balance,” Meier said.
For footprint and portability, she rated the S22i 3.5 out of 5, as the 9.32 square feet it takes up is almost a whole square foot larger than the average range for stationary bikes.
Read our full NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review.
Best Budget Exercise Bike with a Screen Holder: ProForm Carbon CX
ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike
ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike
The ProForm Carbon CX is a sturdy steel 125-pound build with 16 levels of silent magnetic resistance. In addition to being one of the quietest options on the market, this bike also comes with a free year of iFit and a swiveling tablet holder, so you can stream classes on and off the bike.
Specs
- Price: $399
- Dimensions: 51″ H x 52.5″ L x 21.9″ W
- Display: 180-degree swiveling tablet holder
- Weight: 125lbs
- Resistance: 16 levels of magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 250lbs
Pros
- By swapping out a screen for a swiveling tablet holder, it costs up to $450 less than the average bike with iFIT integration.
- Connect your own device to take advantage of iFIT’s automatic resistance control.
- Its compact design and overall weight of 125 pounds make it easy to move around.
Cons
- Without a built-in screen, you’ll need to use your own device.
- While the included dumbbells may allow for an upper body workout, it lacks other conveniences like heart rate sensors, speakers, or fans.
While the ProForm Carbon CX doesn’t include its own screen, we made it our pick for best budget bike because, as long as you have a tablet or smartphone — like the one you’re probably reading this on — you can still access all the benefits of cycling and iFIT at a fraction of the cost. Its $399 price tag is one-third of the cost of its big brother model, the Studio Bike Pro 22, which has a 10-inch screen. That price even falls below the average range for upright bikes with or without screens — $600 to $2,000.
Simply slide your device in the tablet holder, connect via Bluetooth, and fire up one of iFIT’s 17,000+ live and on-demand classes. So long as your device is connected to the bike, iFIT can make automatic adjustments to your resistance during classes — just like it would on a bike with a built-in screen — so you can focus on your sweat. That tablet holder also swivels 180 degrees, so you can hop off for one of iFIT’s strength training, yoga, or Pilates classes.
[Related: The 9 Best Portable Exercise Bikes]
When I had the chance to try out the Carbon CX, I rated seven categories a 4 out of 5 or higher and was impressed by the compact design when I was moving it around our rubber gym floor. As there was no bulky screen to throw off its balance, I rated its portability 4.5 out of 5. Also, its footprint of 7.98 square feet is right in the middle of the average range for bikes with screens — 7 to 9 square feet.
With the four-way adjustable seat and 16 levels of resistance, I rated its adjustability and customizations a 4 out of 5. Another of our testers, a certified personal trainer who happens to be 6 foot 3 inches tall, raved about the bike’s adjustability. “For a tall person like me, I appreciated that the handlebars and seats were easy to adjust to find my fit,” they said. “I also gave it some bonus points for the auto-adjusting resistance. That’s crazy for such an affordable bike to have.”
Read our full ProForm Carbon CX Exercise Bike Review.
Best Exercise Bike with a Large Screen: Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike
The Echelon EX-8s can glam up your home gym with a dual-flywheel design outfitted with LEDs you can customize by color, tempo, and brightness. The 24-inch touchscreen is curved to offer a deeper sense of immersion during classes on the Echelon Fit app.
Specs
- Price: $3,079
- Dimensions: 65’’ H x 59’’ L x 23’’ W
- Display: 24” curved HD touchscreen
- Weight: 124lbs
- Resistance: 32 levels of quiet magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 300lbs
Pros
- This tech-forward bike has a large 24-inch curved HD touchscreen that can stream 15,000 live and on-demand Echelon Fit workouts.
- Its shock absorption system can help reduce the impact on your knees and ankles.
- Adjust the 32 levels of magnetic resistance via the Bluetooth resistance controller on the handlebars or the knob on the frame.
Cons
- At $3,079, it’s roughly $1,600 more expensive than the comparable Peloton Bike.
- During intense rides, the large screen can become a bit wobbly.
- Its dual-wheel design with pulsating LED lights may be more flash than function.
If you’re looking for NASA-level technology on your exercise bike, the Echelon Connect EX-8s may be your best bet. Our pick for the best exercise bike with a large screen has a curved 24-inch HD touchscreen that brings an immersive feel to the 15,000 workouts you’ll find on the Echelon Fit app. A few studies have shown that the right amount of curve in a screen may actually produce a more pleasurable viewing experience — something seemingly not lost on the fold at Echelon. (1)(2)
Another advanced feature that we had to feel to believe was the built-in shock absorption system. When you rise out of the saddle, the bike will bounce a little bit with you, sort of like the hydraulics in your car. This can help anyone needing to work around knee discomfort or injury by reducing the impact on your joints during the tough, high-resistance portions of your ride.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, its tech capabilities earned a 5 out of 5 score from our tester, a CrossFit Level 1 trainer. The screen — the largest we’ve seen on a bike — can also flip 180 degrees for off-machine workouts like HIIT or kickboxing, which may make the monthly subscription of $29.16 to $39.99 (depending on the plan you choose) a bit easier to swallow.
Our tester rated the app’s programming 4 out of 5, but thought it wasn’t quite ready to compete with more established options like Peloton or iFIT. “I thought the app was pretty built out with over 60 instructors, 40 daily live classes and a travel-the-world series,” they explained. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good app, but not quite a true Peloton alternative yet”
While we appreciated some of the tech, like the dual speakers and Bluetooth resistance controller on the handlebars, other aspects seemed a bit superfluous. “The dual-wheel design has LED rings that light up in sync with your heart rate or the beat of your music,” they said, “but I don’t know if stuff like that can justify the price.”
The technology on the EX-8s may make it feel like a spaceship, but in terms of value, our tester gave it a 3 out of 5. At $3,079, it’s over $1,600 more than the comparable Peloton Bike.
Read our full Echelon Connect EX-8s Exercise Bike Review.
Best Compact Exercise Bike with a Screen: CAROL Bike
CAROL Bike
CAROL Bike
The CAROL bike’s AI capabilities provide you with tailored training, designed to give you the best workout in the least amount of time. Customers have a 100-day trial period to decide whether or not this bike is right for them.
Specs
- Price: $2,595
- Dimensions: 45.5″ L x 22″ W
- Display: 11” touchscreen
- Weight: 120lbs
- Resistance: AI-controlled
- Weight Capacity: 330lbs
Pros
- This AI-powered bike packs a lot of tech into a 6.88-square-foot footprint — roughly 1 square foot less than the average indoor cycling bike.
- Use the 11-inch touchscreen to stream workouts or entertainment from apps like Peloton, Zwift, YouTube, or Netflix.
- The bike’s artificial intelligence uses cardiovascular optimization logic to automatically adjust the resistance.
Cons
- Its best features — AI optimization, science-backed workouts, and software updates — require a $15 per month membership.
- At $2,595, it comes in at roughly $600 most other bikes with screens that we have tested.
- While the heart rate monitor is included, you have to wear it to get the most out of the AI-powered features.
In addition to being our pick for the best compact exercise bike with a screen, the CAROL Bike is also one of the most tech-savvy bikes we’ve seen. It utilizes artificial intelligence to develop personalized HIIT training based on your fitness level. Its 6.88-square-foot frame is about 13 inches shorter than both the NordicTrack S22i and Peloton Bike, and it weighs just 120 pounds. Its 11-inch touchscreen is a fixed Android tablet, so you have the freedom to download workout and entertainment apps like Netflix without being limited to a certain fitness app.
Founded on the science-backed concept of reduced exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT), CAROL Bike’s AI works to learn your personal maximum intensity level — as long as you’re wearing the heart rate monitor — then adjusts the resistance to ensure you reach it during a workout.
According to an American Council on Exercise study, 10 minutes of REHIT on the CAROL Bike provides more cardiorespiratory and cardiometabolic benefits than 30 minutes of continuous moderate-intensity training. (3)
For 11 out of 13 categories, our tester rated the CAROL bike a 4 out of 5 or higher, with its customizations and tech capabilities earning a 4.5 out of 5. “I’m a huge fan of the AI resistance. After I built up speed on a free spin, it applied the ‘correct’ resistance,” they said.
Access to this cutting-edge technology will run you an additional $15 per month, which, on top of the $2,595 price tag, may push this bike out of reach for some people. That’s about $600 more than our best overall pick, the NordicTrack S22i. According to our tester, though, those looking for efficient results may have found their match made in techie heaven.
“I think most people would want to use this bike for HIIT workouts because you can see measurable results in a real short amount of time,” they said.
Best Exercise Bike with a Screen with No Subscription: Stryde Bike
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Specs
- Price: $1,895
- Dimensions: 48” L x 24” W
- Display: 21” HD Touchscreen
- Weight: 135lbs
- Resistance: 100 levels of magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 350lbs
Pros
- Unlike other bikes with screens, the 21-inch HD touchscreen is “unlocked,” so you’re not tied to a particular subscription service.
- Its 100 levels of magnetic resistance are well above the typical range of 16 to 32 levels, putting it on par with the Peloton.
- You can use the Stryde app for $29.99 per month, but it is not required to use the bike.
Cons
- At $1,895, it is around $100 more expensive than the average exercise bike with a screen.
- The Stryde app doesn’t offer live classes, and our tester found its workouts less immersive than ones on apps like the Peloton.
The Stryde Bike is our pick for an exercise bike with a screen with no subscription because, unlike bikes from NordicTrack or Echelon, its 21-inch HD touchscreen is not tied to a particular subscription service. While the Stryde Bike does offer its own app — $29.99 per month — you can also stream content from fitness apps like iFIT or entertainment apps like Netflix and Hulu.
While our tester noted the hundreds of cycling classes on the Stryde app, if you’re paying $29.99 a month anyways, you might as well go with another app. “Compared to something like the Peloton app, it’s just not up to the same quality,” they said. “I think the instructors are better and just the overall user interface is cleaner.”
The freedom the Stryde Bike provides isn’t free. Its $1,895 price tag is at the high end of the $600 to $2,000 average range for upright bikes, but our tester thought being able to use the screen for third-party apps — like Echelon Fit or SoulCycle — was a huge plus, rating its value 4 out of 5.
In fact, it also earned a 4 out of 5 for its resistance range, tech capabilities, and conveniences. The front-facing speakers add to the immersive experience of a virtual studio class, or if you need to keep it down, you can use the Bluetooth connectivity to pair your own headphones.
Best Exercise Bike with a Screen for Streaming: BowFlex VeloCore Bike
BowFlex VeloCore Bike
BowFlex VeloCore Bike
Bowflex features an innovative leaning mode and can support users up to 325 pounds. Plus, you’ll receive a two month free trial to JRNY with your purchase.
Specs
- Price: $2,199 for 22” console, $1,799 for 16” console
- Dimensions: 55.3” H x 59.8″ L x 24.1″ W
- Display: 22” HD Touchscreen
- Weight: 158lbs
- Resistance: Magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 325lbs
Pros
- Bowflex’s JRNY platform can recommend classes based on your fitness level, while offering built-in workouts and entertainment apps like Netflix.
- There are two display options — 22 inches and 16 inches — for $2,199 and $1,799, respectively.
- You can ride in stationary mode or “leaning” mode, which tilts the bike laterally to mimic the turns of a road bike.
Cons
- To access the streaming apps and JRNY’s workouts, you’ll need a subscription — $19.99 per month or $149 per year.
- Our testers don’t think the JRNY workouts are as engaging as other apps like Peloton or iFIT.
- Assembly took our tester 3 hours to complete.
Bowflex’s VeloCore Bike is our choice for best exercise bike with a screen for streaming because its 22-inch HD touchscreen lets you use Netflix, Disney+, and other streamers straight on the display. While a subscription to their JRNY platform is required to fire up these apps, it also supports your fitness journey by recommending classes and workouts based on your fitness level, which only gets more precise with each use. Whether you want to stream a virtual ride with JRNY or your favorite show, the adjustable screen can bring it to life.
With your JRNY subscription — $19.99 per month after a 60-day free trial — you can hit one of over 50 scenic rides from around the world or follow studio classes. The dynamic programming on the VeloCore earned a 5 out of 5 from our tester, who is also a CrossFit trainer. “While you do have to pay to access all the streaming apps, I think having all the programming and metric tracking makes it well worth it.”
[Related: Bowflex C6 Exercise Bike Review]
As you follow one of those rides, the bike’s dynamic “leaning” mode can tilt the bike side to side to simulate the curves in the road or trail on your screen. Our tester pointed out how rare this capability is and, along with the 100 resistance levels, rated the bike’s ergonomics, adjustability, and customizations all 4.5 out of 5. “I haven’t seen many exercise bikes that can lean like this and it really makes the rides feel that much more immersive,” they said.
Across all 13 categories, only two — set up and portability — earned less than a 4 out of 5 from our tester, but both are impacted by the nature of the leaning design. “It took us about three hours to put together and if you plan on moving it, it’s probably best to have some help,” our tester noted.
For such a challenging and uniquely immersive ride, we thought the assembly and the price tag were both worth it. “Of course this is an expensive piece of equipment, but for all you get, it’s honestly pretty reasonable,” our tester said, rating its value 4.5 out of 5. “Other bikes require subscriptions, too, but you won’t get the streaming or the tilt on most of them.”
[Related: The 9 Best Exercise Bikes For Heavy People]
Best Recumbent Exercise Bike with a Screen Holder: Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
The Schwinn 230 has a solid build, a comfortable ride, and a host of user-friendly features. Not only that but an affordable price for the quality with 16 levels of resistance to select from while you follow along to workouts from popular streaming apps like Explore the World and Zwift.
Specs
- Price: $549
- Dimensions: 44.5’’ H x 64’’ L x 27’’ W
- Display: Media shelf
- Weight: 80lbs
- Resistance: 16 levels of magnetic resistance
- Weight Capacity: 300lbs
Pros
- The media shelf holds tablets and phones so you can stream your own workouts or entertainment.
- You can connect your device, then use apps like Zwift or Explore the World to follow virtual rides, sync your metrics, or see live leaderboards.
- Its contoured, ventilated seat and handlebars are both adjustable.
- At $549, it’s at the low end of the $550 to $1,000 average range for recumbent bikes.
Cons
- With no built-in screen, you’ll need to bring your own device.
- When you use your own device in the media shelf, it may block the LCD display.
If you’re debating the merits of recumbent bikes vs. upright bikes, the Schwinn 230 makes a compelling case for the former. As they tend to put less load on the knees, recumbent bikes are helpful for those with chronic joint issues or anyone recovering from, say, an ACL injury. (4) While the 230 can’t brag about a super-sized HD touchscreen, its attractive price tag may be enough to convince you to slide your own device on its media shelf to follow virtual workouts or just catch up on your shows.
The 5.5-inch LCD display is where you can choose from 13 workout programs and track your workout metrics, or you can slot your own device in that spot and connect with Schwinn-affiliated apps like Explore the World.
With over 40 scenic rides on offer, it was easy for our tester — a certified personal trainer — to find an appealing workout. However, they noted that with a device on the shelf, it was tough to see the LCD display. “If you’re tracking your metrics on your device, it may not be an issue, but when I set my phone on the shelf, it blocked the LCD screen,” they said.
[Related: The 8 Best Recumbent Bikes]
While the bike is lighter on tech — 3.5 out of 5 from our tester — than other options on this list, our tester rated their workout experience, portability, and adjustability all 3.5 out of 5 or higher. “At 6 foot 3 inches, I’m the giant on the team, but it was still easy to adjust the ventilated seat to find a comfortable position,” they said.
At just $549 — right at the bottom of the average range for recumbent bikes — we think the 230 is a great value for streaming enthusiasts who need a little less load placed on their knees.
Best Exercise Bike with a Screen for Studio Classes: Peloton Bike
Original Peloton Bike
Original Peloton Bike
The bike that started the Peloton craze offers a 22-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, a five-megapixel front-facing camera, and a built-in microphone. The Peloton membership offers access to thousands of live and on-demand cycling classes as well as progress tracking and leaderboards.
Specs
- Price: $1,445
- Dimensions: 51.25″ H x 51″ L x 24″ W
- Display: 21.5” HD Touchscreen
- Weight: 135lbs
- Resistance: 100 levels of magnetic Resistance
- Weight Capacity: 297lbs
Pros
- Stream Peloton’s world-class live and on-demand workouts on the 21.5-inch HD touchscreen.
- Keep your motivation up with challenges, leaderboards, and the Lanebreak fitness game.
- The 100 levels of magnetic resistance are far above the average range of 16 to 32 levels.
Cons
- To get the most out of the bike, you’ll want to shell out $44 a month for the Peloton app.
- Peloton recommends using Delta-compatible cycling shoes or attaching separate toe cages for a secure ride.
For good reason, Peloton is synonymous with at-home cycling because of the quality of its studio classes, making it an easy pick for our list. With the 21.5-inch HD touchscreen as the vessel, its world-class programming is designed to inspire. I particularly enjoy the humor and motivation provided by instructors like Emma Lovewell and Denis Morton — who just might shout you out when you hit a milestone — as well as the live leaderboards and ability to high-five fellow riders. You can even use the front-facing camera to share a ride with friends and family in real time.
When our tester, a certified personal trainer, set off on their maiden Peloton voyage, they were not disappointed. “The bike itself provided such a smooth ride, but the classes are where it really shines,” they said, rating its dynamic programming 5 out of 5. While you can use the bike in free mode, the real sell of the Peloton Bike is its programming, which costs an additional $44 per month.
[Related: Peloton vs. NordicTrack — How Do They Compare?]
Rotating through the 100 resistance levels with the knob was a breeze for our tester, who rated its overall adjustability and ergonomics both 4 out of 5. “The whole ride was smooth, but even spinning the resistance knob was smooth. Even at peak intensity, a quick turn is all it took.”
Even though $1,445 — plus the monthly subscription — is a hefty investment, a recent update allowing streaming of Netflix, YouTube TV, and other popular streamers has only added to the value — already a 4.5 out of 5 from our tester.
“People looking to replicate a boutique studio class couldn’t find any better,” they explained. “There’s a reason some Peloton instructors are semi-celebrities. The programming is absolutely top-notch, with the screen and instructors bringing the classes to life”
Benefits of the Best Exercise Bikes with Screens
Having a screen on your exercise bike allows for convenient access to virtual workouts or streaming apps like Netflix or Hulu. Whether you follow an immersive ride on Peloton or catch up on your favorite show, a built-in screen can allow you to track your metrics, while perhaps providing an extra dose of motivation. These are a few of the benefits of exercise bikes with screens.
Immersion
If you can imagine the difference between watching a movie on your 6-inch iPhone or on the big screen in a movie theater, then you have a sense of how the size and design of a screen can impact how immersive your cycling experience will be. Taking a live studio class or a virtual ride through the streets of Rome can feel much different on a 24-inch curved HD display than a smartphone in a device holder.
One of the benefits of investing in an exercise bike with a screen is that they can make following a Peloton class or scenic iFIT ride that much more engaging. Following along with a fitness app is one thing, but a hefty screen can help you feel the experience a bit more.
Motivation
For many people — talking to myself here — starting a workout can be the hardest part. The same goes for doing the dishes or vacuuming. If you can listen to a podcast or rewatch your favorite The Office episodes, it can make an arduous task a bit easier to swallow. So it goes with a challenging cycling workout.
Being able to tap your bike’s touchscreen and pull up your favorite show, music, or podcast can make the work that much more palatable. Exercise bikes with screens tend to be a bit more expensive, but factor in if streaming some entertainment will help you feel a tad more motivated to climb aboard.
Metrics
Data, data, data. Many app-connected exercise bikes can easily track your workout history and metrics to help you keep track of your progress toward your fitness goals. A few can even leverage that data to suggest workout classes or even adjust your resistance in real time. Just like any smart device, some of these bikes can gather and sort your information, then provide you with actionable insights to keep you headed in the right direction.
Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or a beginner, before dropping a chunk of change on an exercise bike with a screen, consider why you’re out for one. Do you want a studio-like experience from home? What about firing up Netflix to distract you from your workout? And do you even have space for an exercise bike? Here are a few factors to consider before you click add to cart.
App Integration
Some of the most popular bikes are also those with the best workout programming. Peloton makes a quality exercise bike, but it’s also synonymous with the studio-quality experience of its classes. Before choosing your forever bike, think about what you actually want to use your screen for.
If you just want to catch up on your shows, a curved or swiveling screen may not be necessary. But if you want to immerse yourself in spin classes and also take advantage of off-bike strength and yoga classes, you’ll definitely want a larger display that can be tilted and swiveled.
[Related: What to Look for When Buying an Indoor Cycle]
As some bikes require a subscription to do much besides free mode or manual rides, it’s important to decide exactly what you’ll do with that shiny new screen before committing to it. Certified personal trainer Kate Meier noted this when she used the NordicTrack S22i. “Without iFIT, you’ll essentially just have an exercise in manual mode.”
Available Space
While many home gym essentials are space-eaters, exercise bikes generally only take up around 7 to 8.5 square feet of floor space — around half the size of your average loveseat. (5) However, slapping a 24-inch screen above your handlebars can make that footprint feel more obtrusive, as well as make it difficult to move around. Before you decide which bike and screen are best for you, dig out your measuring tape and use the dimensions we included to make sure it will fit in your training space or living room.
Price
As with any large purchase, it’s important to set your budget before you fall in love with a bike out of your price range. Dropping $3,000 on an exercise bike may not mean much to Jeff Bezos, but for most of us, buying a piece of at-home fitness equipment is a big deal. Check out the range of bikes we included in our list to get a sense of how much the features you’re after will run you.
Because of the technology inherent to bikes with screens, the options here range from $1,445 to over $3,079. However, the two without screens are roughly $850 to $1,000 less. First, establish exactly how much you can spend, then decide if a built-in HD touchscreen is worth it, or if you’re better off sliding a phone or iPad into a device holder.
How Much Do the Best Exercise Bikes with Screens Cost?
Because bikes with screens usually include more technology than typical exercise bikes, having a good sense of the price range of your options is important before diving into your search. Here are the prices of all the bikes we included in our list, along with what made them stand out.
As you can see, the only options under $1,000 swap out touchscreens for device holders where you can set your mobile device. Generally, as the prices increase, so too will the size of the screen, along with other unique tech features like AI-powered or auto-adjusting resistance.
The options we chose range from $399 for the ProForm Carbon CX to $3,079 for the Echelon Connect EX-8s, with many landing near the middle. Keep in mind how your purchase will fit alongside your other financial commitments as you shop around.
Final Word
Whatever your reason for finding an exercise bike with a screen — motivation from a virtual class, checking out exotic routes, or a mental escape with shows or movies — the options on our list can fit the bill. We pedaled through dozens of virtual classes — and caught up on our favorite shows — in search of the best connected bikes to take your rides to the next level.
Creating a virtual spin class experience has never been easier with the deluge of connected bikes hitting the market, so our team of fitness professionals used their experience to help you wade through the specs and features to facilitate a match made in cardio heaven. Before clicking add to cart, think about just how badly you need that immersive, fitness app experience, or just how much cash you can drop on one of these bikes. Once you know what to look for, check out what we learned from our time in the saddle on these bikes with screens.
FAQs
What is the best exercise bike with a screen?
The best overall bike on our list is the NordicTrack S22i because it is so well-rounded. You’ll get the quality features we look for in a bike — a 32-pound flywheel, 350-pound weight capacity, and wide range of magnetic resistance — along with a large 22-inch HD touchscreen where you can access more than 17,000 live and on-demand cardio, strength, and yoga classes from iFIT.
Which exercise bikes can you watch Netflix on?
Many of the bikes on our list feature compatibility with Netflix and other entertainment apps, but some — including the Bowflex VeloCore or Peloton Bike — require subscriptions to their apps to make it happen. One option on our list — the Stryde Bike — is “unlocked,” meaning you can download and use most third-party apps like you would on any smart device. So while a lot of options can stream Netflix, check to make sure whether yours requires a separate subscription to do so.
Do I need a screen on my exercise bike?
When you’re deciding to invest in an indoor exercise bike with a screen, consider how you’ll use it and if that will help you reach your fitness goals. If you want to hop into virtual studio cycle classes, explore scenic routes around the world, or catch up on your shows during a ride, then we think having a smart bike with a Wi-Fi-connected screen may be a good option.
References
- Na, N., Suk, H., Jeong, K. (2015). Do Curved Displays Make for a More Pleasant Experience?. Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering. 9394. 10.1117/12.2078102.
- Choi, K., Bae, H., Ju, S., Suk, H. (2015). Visual Search and Attention: What Eye-Tracking Reveals about Visual Performance in the Curved Display. SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, 46, doi: 10.1002/sdtp.10003.
- Cuddy TF, Ramos JS, Dalleck LC. Reduced Exertion High-Intensity Interval Training is More Effective at Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cardiometabolic Health than Traditional Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(3):483.
- Reiser, R. F., 2nd, Broker, J. P., & Peterson, M. L. (2004). Knee loads in the standard and recumbent cycling positions. Biomedical sciences instrumentation, 40, 36–42.
- Jaramillo, C. (2022, December 29). A guide to sofa dimensions & sizes. SeatUp, LLC. https://seatup.com/blog/guide-to-sofa-dimensions/
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