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Peloton makes a range of home exercise machines and equipment, including bikes and treadmills. It also offers apps that host online fitness classes.

This article provides information about the Peloton brand and its products. It also describes possible health benefits of Peloton’s equipment and services and lists some alternatives.

Product recall

As of May 2021, Peloton announced a voluntary recall of the Peloton Tread and Tread+ treadmills due to safety concerns. The company recommends that customers who already own one of the treadmills stop using it and contact Peloton for a full refund.

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Peloton is an exercise media and equipment company founded in 2012.

Its best-known products include stationary exercise bikes, treadmills, and an app for online fitness classes. Peloton also sells sports apparel and accessories designed to complement its flagship products.

Peloton has a mixed reputation.

The user review website Trustpilot gives Peloton an average of 1.6 stars out of 5. Most of the negative reviews focus on poor customer service and long delivery times.

However, Peloton UK has a Trustpilot score of 4.1 stars. Many positive reviews focus on the quality of the equipment, and users also describe the classes as motivating and helpful.

Reviews are more positive on the Peloton website. It is important to note that many companies filter these reviews. Customers may also be more likely to leave feedback if they have a positive experience.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and was correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

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Peloton sells two bikes and one treadmill. Below, we compare these products:

Peloton BikePeloton Bike+Peloton Tread
Pricestarts at $1,495starts at $2,495starts at $2,495
Displayadjustable 22-inch (in) HD touchscreenrotating 24-in HD touchscreen23.8-in HD touchscreen
Features• built-in sound system
• adjustable resistance knob
• enhanced built-in sound system
• automatic resistance knob
• adjustable control knob
• up to 12 kilometers (km) per hour
• up to 12.5% inclination
Free trial30-day free home trial30-day free home trial30-day free home trial
Warranty12-month limited warranty12-month limited warranty12-month limited warranty

Peloton Bike

Peloton’s flagship products are their stationary exercise bikes — the Peloton Bike and the Peloton Bike+. Both include:

  • access to the Peloton app and Peloton classes
  • a 12-month limited warranty
  • delivery and assembly included
  • a 30-day free home trial

The Peloton Bike has the following features:

  • an adjustable 22-inch HD touchscreen
  • a built-in sound system
  • a resistance knob to adjust workout intensity

Peloton Bike+

The Peloton Bike+ expands on the original model by including:

  • a rotating 24-in HD touchscreen
  • an enhanced built-in sound system with quad speakers
  • a resistance knob that automatically adjusts to match the intensity in the Peloton classes
  • Apple GymKit integration

Some people may wish to wear a heart monitor while working out on an exercise bike.

Learn about the best heart monitors to use with the Peloton bike here.

Peloton Tread

Peloton also sells this treadmill as part of its Tread range. The model comes with:

  • access to the Peloton app and Peloton classes
  • a 12-month limited warranty
  • delivery and assembly included
  • a 30-day free home trial

Additionally, the Peloton Tread features:

  • a 59-in running space on a traditional running belt
  • a 23.8-in HD touchscreen
  • speeds of up to 12 km per hour
  • up to 12.5% inclination
  • adjustable control knobs

The Peloton App provides a wide range of live exercise classes. These include:

  • indoor and outdoor running classes
  • cycling classes
  • yoga and meditation classes
  • coaching for strength and stretching

Professional coaches and trainers host these classes throughout the week.

The Peloton App also allows people to track their progress and work out with other users.

The app comes free with the purchase of a Peloton Tread or Bike product. A person can also buy it, without any equipment, for a monthly subscription fee.

Peloton sells accessories and sports apparel, including:

  • a range of workout clothes
  • earbuds
  • a heart rate monitor
  • cycling shoes with cleats
  • free weights
  • resistance bands
  • water bottles
  • a workout mat

A 2018 review observes that a lack of physical activity may worsen certain health conditions. These include:

On the other hand, exercising too often or with too much intensity can also have negative health effects. For example, research shows that about 15–33% of people who cycle long distances experience knee pain or knee injuries.

Running can also lead to injuries. One study reports that running has a higher risk of injury than walking, cycling, or swimming. Most of these injuries affect the knees, shins, and feet.

It is important do do warmup and cool-down stretches before and after exercise to help reduce the risk of injury.

Many other brands make home exercise equipment and offer online classes. Some alternatives to Peloton include:

The following table compares these brands, based on a range of features.

PelotonNordicTrackBowflexEchelon
Equipment• exercise bikes
• treadmills
• exercise bikes
• treadmills
• rowing machines
• touchscreen fitness mirrors
all-in-one home gyms• exercise bikes
• treadmills
• rowing machines
• touchscreen fitness mirrors
AppPeloton AppiFitJRNYEchelon membership
App features• live classes
• access to trainers and coaches
• progress tracking
• stream workouts
• daily workouts
• unlimited access to trainers
• automatic adjustments
• daily workouts
• on-demand classes
• streaming entertainment
• unlimited profiles
• live classes
• on-demand classes
• up to 5 profiles
Subscription price$12.99 per monthstarts at $14.99 per month$19.99 per month$34.99 per month
Warranty12-month limited warranty3–5 year warranty2–15 year warrantystarts at a 1-year warranty

Below are some frequently asked questions about Peloton.

Is buying a Peloton worth it?

A person may find Peloton equipment worth purchasing if they use it regularly. Opting for a home exercise bike or a treadmill may cost less than a gym membership in the long term.

Which Peloton bike should I choose?

Different Peloton bikes may suit different people. For example, people interested in trainer-led classes might prefer the Peloton Bike+, which automatically adjusts its resistance to the setting that the trainer suggests.

A person looking for more standard equipment may prefer the Peloton Bike.

Can I lose weight with Peloton?

Any form of exercise can help a person lose weight.

Exercise and a healthy, balanced diet can help a person reach their fitness and health goals.

Are Peloton bikes safe?

Fitness equipment is generally safe if a person follows the manufacturer’s instructions.

However, Peloton recalled its Tread and Tread+ treadmills in May 2021 due to risks of injury. It had not announced a recall of any other equipment at the time of publishing.

Peloton sells a small range of exercise bikes and treadmills, a dedicated app with online fitness classes, and various sports clothes and accessories.

Many similar brands sell home exercise equipment and classes. Before making a decision, it can help to check customer reviews from a range of sources.