The Real Cost of a Peloton
- Peloton Bike: $1,445 upfront
- Peloton membership: $44 per month
- Year 1 total cost: $1,973
- 5 year total cost: $4,085
- Delivery and setup: $250+ extra
The Real Cost of a Budget Bike
- Sunny Health SF-B901B: $249 upfront
- Free workout apps: $0 per month
- Year 1 total cost: $249
- 5 year total cost: $249 — no additional fees ever
- Savings vs Peloton over 5 years: $3,836
What Peloton Gives You That Budget Bikes Do Not
- Built-in touchscreen with live instructor-led classes
- Community features and leaderboards
- Automatic resistance adjustments during classes
- Premium build quality and smooth ride feel
What Budget Bikes Give You That Peloton Does Not
- $3,836 in your pocket over 5 years
- Freedom to use any workout app without subscription
- No monthly fees ever
- No technology to break or become obsolete
Our Verdict
Peloton is a great product but it is extremely overpriced. A $249 bike paired with free YouTube cycling classes or a $10/month app delivers 90% of the Peloton experience at 5% of the cost. Unless money is no object, the budget bike wins.