Best Exercise Bike With Virtual Courses to Keep You Engaged (2025)

The NordicTrack X24 made it to the top of our list for the best exercise bike with virtual courses because this iFIT-enabled cardio machine delivers much more than just a virtual course. Earning a 4-out-of-5 workout experience rating from Garage Gym Reviews Everything Lead Reviewer Lindsay Scheele, CF-L1, CPT, CNC, this sturdy bike has a solid steel frame that gives it tremendous stability.

Most importantly — at least when it comes to taking virtual courses — X24 features a 24-inch touchscreen that brings the iFIT programming to life. With your iFIT monthly membership, you will have access to trainer-led outdoor rides through breathtaking terrain all over the globe, and Google Maps technology, which allows you to drop a pin and select bike routes nearly anywhere in the world. 

“There are so many options for workouts to choose from,” Lindsay says. ” The machine will automatically adjust the intensity of your workout so smoothly that I didn’t even notice until it got harder or easier depending on what the class was doing.”

And if you want to switch things up, you can also use iFIT for studio cycling classes and full-body workouts off the bike including dumbbell strength training, bodyweight routines, and yoga. It’s also worth noting that NordicTrack offers AutoAdjust technology, which automatically adjusts the resistance on your bike according to the terrain or the instructor’s coaching cues. Because of all of these factors, we give the X24 a 5-out-of-5 rating in both tech capabilities and programming.

Another standout feature is the fact the X24 can incline up to 20% and decline to -10%. The AutoAdjust feature will not only control your resistance, but the incline and decline settings, too. You will also have controls on your handlebars and the touchscreen. We give a 5-out-of-5 rating in the customizations category because of this.

“It responds super fast with no lag time when you make adjustments,” Lindsay reports.

RELATED: Best Exercise Bike With A Screen 

Keep in mind that at nearly $3,000, this bike isn’t exactly budget-friendly. However, it’s packed with a ton of user-friendly features that makes it a worthwhile investment if you’re a fan of the immersive iFIT experience.

“Definitely check this one out if you’re are looking for a comfortable bike with lots of programming options,” Lindsay says.

We’ll be honest: The ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 is just a standard magnetic exercise bike. It comes with 24 levels of digital resistance, adjustable seat and handlebars, plus a 250-pound weight capacity. All of these stats are average—maybe actually a bit subpar—but where this bike really shines is in the tech capabilities and programming, both of which we rated a 4 out of 5.

The Studio Bike Pro 22 is equipped with a 22-inch swivel touchscreen where you can stream iFIT programming, allowing you to take studio classes, off-bike classes like strength training, and maybe most impressively, scenic rides. Interested in mountain biking through beautiful mountain ranges or on backwoods trails with an instructor? This is your jam. 

Maybe even cooler, the Studio Bike Pro 22 comes equipped with automatic resistance adjustment—during a ride, the trainer will control the resistance so you don’t have to worry about anything besides trying to keep up the pace. “This was weird at first,” says GGR performance editor and one of the testers of this bike Anthony O’Reilly, “but you quickly get used to it. It’s a great tool to help focus on the workout at hand.” 

Although we like the iFIT trainer adjustments, the actual adjustments of the seat and handlebars, plus other ergonomics, are just standard, so this category earns a 3.5 out of 5. 

Lastly, in terms of portability, this bike gets another 3 out of 5 rating. While it’s average-sized for an exercise bike and weighs 144 pounds, there are wheels to help move it around. However, both of our testers found that the large screen makes moving the bike a bit cumbersome; keep this in mind if portability is important to you!

Read our full (and honest) ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 review for more information.

The Echelon EX-8s is our top pick for best high-end exercise bike that delivers virtual courses. Much like the other stationary bikes on this list, you’ll also have access to on-demand classes and live workouts through the brand’s Echelon Fit app. 

Echelon scenic rides are self-guided, which allows you to be in control of your workout with the added stimulus of riding through destinations like Rome, Hong Kong, or the French Alps.

Caroline tested the Echelon EX-8s and reports the scenic rides are “reminiscent of Bowflex’s JRNY and NordicTrack’s iFIT cycling classes,” she says. 

And much like the other popular apps on the market (especially brands competing with Peloton) Echelon also offers more than just cycling workouts. Your Echelon monthly subscription also gives you access to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, strength training, pilates, and other styles of cardio. We like the programming here, but feel it’s not quite to the caliber of something like Peloton, so we rated it a 4 out of 5.

RELATED: Echelon vs Peloton

Similar to the Peloton Bike, the EX-8 indoor cycle bike features studio classes, leaderboard competition, and live fitness classes in addition to virtual scenic courses. 

That said, what Echelon has over the Peloton Bike is the 22-inch rotating touchscreen so you can adjust the screen to view workouts off the bike. This, plus the speakers, Bluetooth, camera, and even USB ports led us to rate the EX-8s a 5 out of 5 for tech capabilities.

The Echelon also features dual-sided pedals for clip-in cleats or toe cages for regular cross-training shoes, unlike Peloton that pigeon holes users to using specific cycling shoes. 

It’s also worth noting that the all-access membership for Echelon costs $34.99 per month, which is just under Peloton’s $44 monthly fee. One thing we also think you’ll want to be aware of is the fact that the Echelon warranty is extremely short and only lasts one year, earning it a 2 in this category. 

If you want to read more about our experience, check out the Echelon EX-8s review. 

The Peloton Bike is well-known for its live classes, leaderboard competition, and virtual community. However, to keep up with the list of growing Peloton competitors, the brand now features scenic virtual rides and classes for All-Access members. Peloton programming gets a 5 out of 5, and here’s why according to GGR head of content Nicole Davis: “It’s hard to replicate the experience Peloton creates in their classes. The instructors are top-notch, plus there’s someone for everyone, and there are so many options for classes, you probably wouldn’t get bored for a long time.”

You can access the new category by navigating to “more rides” on the 21.5-inch touchscreen display. You’ll even have three different options to choose from when selecting your virtual courses including: 

• Travelogues: These are instructor-led scenic classes with automatic resistance and incline controls.
• Distance workouts: This feature gives you responsive video playback that is consistent with your own speed. 
• Timed workouts: This feature offers you distance-based timelines instead of timed countdowns (plus customized playlists). 

These virtual courses are not specific to the Peloton Bike either— you can also find these features on the Peloton’s treadmill and rowing machine. 

We know that compatibility is also important for home gym owners, so I’ll mention that the Apple Watch pairs seamlessly with Peloton equipment to track your progress and monitor your heart rate. You can read more about our full hands-on experience in our Peloton Bike review. 

If you can’t or don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an exercise bike but are still interested in adding one to your home gym to use for virtual courses, consider the Sunny Health & Fitness Synergy magnetic bike. For the price—oftentimes on sale for around $300, earning a 5 out of 5 in this category—you get a lot. 

While this bike doesn’t have built-in programming or a touchscreen, it does have a device holder for you to utilize your smartphone or tablet with an app like Peloton, which you would have to pay a monthly fee for, or free classes, like those Sunny offers for free on its website. While the experience isn’t exactly the same as if you were using programming connected to a bike via Bluetooth, it’s still a great option for those on a budget. 

One reason why we recommend this bike as the budget option is simply because of the build itself. This magnetic bike utilizes micro-adjustable resistance, which we like as it makes it a very customizable experience. It also has a four-way adjustable seat and multi-grip handlebars, plus a 275-pound weight capacity, which is a bit below the 300-pound average but not bad for a budget option. Our testers rated it as a 5 out of 5 for durability, saying that it doesn’t shake at all in use, even while up in the saddle.

All in all, if you are interested in taking classes on an exercise bike and don’t want to break the bank, consider the Sunny Synergy Bike with your own device to create your own experience. Also, check out our Sunny Health and Fitness Exercise Bike reviews for more info on their full line.

If you’re stuck deciding how you want to entertain yourself during indoor bike workouts, look no further than the Bowflex VeloCore. With this bike, you’ll have access to the Explore the World app within Bowflex’s JRNY programming, which features over 200 different destinations to choose from for virtual courses.

The Explore the World is not trainer-led, but you will have real-time metrics displayed on the screen while you ride. Plus, one of the most unique things about the VeloCore is the leaning feature that allows you to lean into corners and turns—just like you would on the road! Tech capabilities earn a 5 out of 5 here.

RELATED: Indoor vs Outdoor Cycling

Former GGR writer and product tester Caroline Lubinsky ordered, assembled, and tested the VeloCore and notes that “Explore the World is a good way to zone out and play your own music or podcast,” she writes. “You can simply enjoy your scenic ride with no virtual coaching.”

You’ll have the option to go at your own pace or participate in scenic rides as a part of the JRNY adaptive workout experience. The JRNY app is designed to deliver personalized and adaptive workouts based on your fitness level and your progress. In other words, the software is going to create a baseline and deliver you more difficult workouts over time and when you make progress. This earns the dynamic programming a 5 out of 5.

In addition to Explore the World features, JRNY also allows subscribers to have access to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. While all these services are sold separately, we think it’s worth mentioning that most cardio equipment with built-in touchscreens doesn’t have software that can support third-party apps and entertainment. 

JRNY also offers studio classes in cycling as well as strength training and other forms of cardio. If you’re interested in additional information like what it was like to assemble this indoor cycling bike, check out our Bowflex VeloCore review.