The best home exercise bikes offer the convenience of working out at home while still getting an intense, fat-burning cardio workout. Also called spin bikes, they’re pretty much perfect pieces of premium workout equipment as they provide an easy-on-the-joints, low-impact way to get in shape.
Our favorite indoor exercise bikes are all high performers and provide an easy way to get in your daily workouts. Whether you prefer spinning out of the saddle or prefer to stay seated and push it, these bikes are all made from heavy-duty materials that have more than generous weight capacities and provide easy accessibility.
These bikes can also help save on gym memberships without sacrificing precious floor space, and many of them can fit into surprisingly tight quarters in your home. Indoor exercise bikes ultimately end up being easy, convenient and portable, which is the magic combination to help you stick with any exercise program. Plus, many indoor spin bikes also work well with your favorite fitness apps.
When choosing an indoor bike, you generally have two choices. An exercise or upright bicycle will generally run quietly and is a good all-purpose option for anyone looking to get in shape. Cycling or spin bikes have a heavy flywheel that’s meant to more closely mimic a road experience. Additionally, you generally hunch over them as you would on a racing or road bike. In short, an exercise/upright bike is a great option for anyone looking to get or stay fit at home, while a cycling/spin bike is best for cycling enthusiasts. Of course, this is just the general case. What works for you might be different. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best indoor exercise bikes below.
1. Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
There’s a lot to love about the Schwinn IC4 indoor exercise bike. First, unlike most spin bikes, it offers true magnetic resistance with 100 different resistance settings. Magnetic resistance bikes are much quieter than belt-drive stationary bikes, which will make it easy to enjoy your favorite fitness videos while you ride. This smart bike was also designed to integrate with the Peloton app, and with a color LCD screen and built-in heart rate monitoring, you can get real-time feedback on your exercise. The IC4 is easy to set up and adjust, and for the money, it may just be the best indoor spin bike for sale right now.
Pros: Magnetic resistance and heart rate monitoring. Use spin cleats or ordinary sneakers. Connect to fitness apps, including the Peloton app.
Cons: 100-pound bike can be difficult to move. More expensive than most budget and mid-tier spin bikes.
2. PYHIGH Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike
PYHIGH’s stationary cycling bike offers great versatility for a variety of users and body types, but because it’s lightweight it’s also easy to set up and move around. This indoor exercise bike has a 280-pound weight limit, plus great seat adjustment options for taller folks. It also has a two-way adjustable handlebar and a four-way adjustable saddle. There’s a tension rod in the middle of the bike where you can adjust the difficulty of your ride and there’s an emergency stop built-in if the bike gets away from you at any point. The bike also has an LCD monitor for progress metrics (no heart rate monitor, unfortunately) and an iPad/smartphone mount so you can stream in workout classes and participate at home.
Pros: Sturdy construction, adjustable features, stable pedals and steady iPad holder. Seat is more comfortable than the average stationary bike.
Cons: The LCD monitor is not as advanced as other bikes and only shows the most rudimentary metrics. Can develop a wobble after long-term use.
3. JOROTO Belt Drive Exercise Bike
We’re big fans of this sturdy exercise bike, which has an AV-type metal frame and a solid build that can accommodate users up to 280 lbs. The 35-pound flywheel is supported by a 50mm thickened frame tube so you can comfortably ride out of the saddle. It has a smooth, quiet belt drive, a wider seat than other spin bikes and is fully adjustable. The seat adjusts four ways and the handlebars can be raised or lowered depending on your preference. There is also a 10.2″ tablet support that can hold up to a 14″ notebook and it has a digital monitor for tracking stats. The bike also comes with a water bottle holder that’s lower down by the wheel so you can stay hydrated.
Pros: Well-designed frame, supportive and sturdy, heavyweight capacity, large tablet holder.
Cons: No option to clip-in if you prefer using cleats. Maximum resistance lower than other budget spin bikes.
4. Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Bike
The IC3 is the basic version of Schwinn’s famous IC4 spin bike. While you sacrifice the magnetic resistance and Peloton app compatibility, the IC3 is still a fantastic indoor exercise bike. (The IC4 is also more than twice the cost of the IC3). Instead of magnetic resistance, the IC3 has a flywheel powered by a belt-drive. The upside of this is that the resistance levels are infinitely adjustable. Unlike most budget spin bikes, the IC3 belt drive doesn’t make too much noise; however, it’s not quite as silent as Schwinn promises either. This spin bike has a sturdy frame and comfortable racing-style seat, with durable toe cages for people who don’t like spin cleats. You’ll need to use a separate tablet or smartphone to watch exercise videos or simulated courses, but the built-in LCD screen effectively monitors your speed, time, distance and other key metrics.
Pros: Affordable alternative to luxury spin bikes. Highly adjustable resistance. Monitors speed, time, distance, etc.
Cons: Not the quietest option.
5. Nautilus Bike
If you’re looking for an advanced stationary bike, then Nautilus is a great brand to look to. The two blue backlit screens provide detailed information, and the control panel between the handlebars makes it easy to set your resistance levels and even run an onboard fan to get a cool breeze while you ride. Plus, you can connect via Bluetooth so you can sync your ride stats to fitness apps. The handlebars are also designed to accommodate different riding positions, whether you want a relaxed upright ride or you’re hunched over to set a speed record.
Pros: Advanced features including Bluetooth compatibility to sync with fitness apps. Can be used with Nautilus’ app that lets you ride routes around the world. Runs quietly.
Cons: Somewhat heavy, so can be hard to move once set up.
6. Sunny Health & Fitness Exercise Cycling Bike
This exercise bike from Sunny Health boasts top features for a more affordable price, allowing you to rigorously train or exercise. It has a heavy 49 lb flywheel for road-like resistance. You can also fine-tune the resistance using the knob. There are also a variety of convenient features, like an included water bottle cage, multi-grip handlebars and a four-way adjustable seat.
Pros: Adjustable seat, multi-grip handlebars, heavyweight flywheel. Adjustable resistance.
Cons: Seat isn’t very comfortable.
7. DeskCycle Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser
No room for a real bike? Consider this under desk bike that allows you to pedal while you’re working. It’s a great way to stay active on busy days when you might not be able to dedicate even 30 minutes to a workout. Even though it doesn’t have handlebars or a seat, it still has many of the features of a full-size bike. You can adjust resistance levels, and there’s an LCD that shows multiple metrics. Plus, the display is detachable, so you can set it on your desk while you’re pedaling.
Pros: Super compact option that can be used while you work. Multiple resistance modes. Runs quietly so it won’t distract others around you.
Cons: Somewhat expensive.
8. Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike
Peleton ads typically show the bike being used in sprawling, minimalist living rooms (including that one notorious Christmas ad), but this Marcy bike proves that it’s not just people who live in showroom-sized homes that can use exercise bikes. The bike itself folds, and can be easily tucked behind a door or placed in the closet when not in use. The display is a basic LCD screen, but it shows you everything you need to know, including time, speed, distance, total distance, and an estimate of calories burned. There are eight different resistance settings. It’s not as smooth of a ride as a more expensive bike, but it’s a great and affordable way to get a workout.
Pros: Affordable. Folds for easy storage. Multiple resistance levels. Speed, distance and time displays so you can reach the goal that’s important to you.
Cons: Some shorter riders may find it less comfortable.
9. Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike
Investing in a recumbent bike can be a great option for anyone with back or knee problems who may have trouble getting on an upright bike. Plus, it’s just a comfortable way to get some exercise while watching TV. The seat can be moved back and forth, so you can find the optimum distance from the pedals. The simple LCD provides time, speed, distance and calories, and you can adjust the resistance.
Pros: Comfortable option for older riders or anyone who wants a comfortable ride. Seat distance from pedals can be adjusted.
Cons: LCD isn’t backlit, so it can be hard to see at a distance. Takes up a substantial amount of space.
10. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
This bike from Exerpeutic has a similar build design to the Marcy featured on this list, and the X-frame shape allows it to be folded up for easy storage when not in use. There are eight resistance modes so you can find the workout that works for you, and the simple display shows distance, calories burned, time, speed, pulse and scan. Scan automatically toggles through the other features as you ride, and the pulse monitors on the handlebars check your heart rate as you ride.
Pros: Features a pulse monitor. Easy to fold up and move once you’re done riding.
Cons: Pedaling angle is somewhat awkward in relation to the seat, and it’s not the same sitting position as a bicycle.
11. Cyclace Stationary Exercise Bike
This exercise bike from Cyclace has a smooth, quiet belt system for movement and a 36-pound flywheel inside a stable, thick triangular frame. The multi-grip handlebars are great for stability during your workout and the whole bike is fully adjustable to your size and room preferences. The handlebars are adjustable in two directions while the seat can be adjusted forwards, backward, up and down. The LCD monitor on top tracks how long you’ve been on the bike and the seat is comfortable so you’ll feel more inclined to work out for longer.
Pros: Thick steel frame, adjustable handlebars, impressive capacity of 330 lbs.
Cons: Setup can be a bit complicated for one person.