Can You Use the Peloton Bike Without a Subscription?
By Trae Jacobs,
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Peloton Bikes are pricey, and the monthly subscription cost makes it even more expensive to use. While you can use the Peloton without a subscription, you’ll miss out on many of the best features.
What Peloton Features Can I Use Without a Subscription?
You don’t need a Peloton subscription to use your workout bike. Without a subscription, you’ll have access to:
- The “Just Ride” feature
- The Free Experience
- Two pre-recorded classes
Just Ride
Peloton’s “Just Ride” feature is exactly what it sounds like. You can use your Peloton Bike like any other workout bike, riding along and tracking your distance as you go. However, without a subscription, you won’t be able to take any of the scenic rides they offer.
The Free Experience
Not all of Peloton’s classes are hidden behind a paywall. When you’re browsing through classes, you’ll see a few labeled “Free Class” or “Free Class Limited Time.”
Without a subscription, you can take any of Peloton’s Free Classes and up to five Free-for-a-limited-time Classes. However, you won’t be able to record your metrics, and limited-time classes will not save to your Workout History.
Two Pre-Recorded Classes
Using a Peloton Bike without a subscription gives you access to two pre-recorded classes. But, these classes are pre-selected for you, and you won’t be able to record your metrics or save the classes to your profile.
These classes are perfect for beginners because they focus on your form and fitness, while other Peloton classes tend to be more challenging and focus on building up speed.
What Features Do I Get with a Peloton Subscription?
Peloton offers all Bike users a 30-day free trial. If you don’t want to pay the monthly membership fee after that, you’ll need to cancel before the trial ends.
As of 2023, the Peloton All-Access Membership costs $44 per month. Subscribing gives you access to the following:
| Feature | Description |
| Live classes | Classes streamed live from Peloton’s studio and taken with other live users. You can interact with your instructor and other participants. |
| On-demand classes | Previously recorded classes from Peloton’s studio. |
| Workout programs | Programs to help you create a routine and meet your workout goals. |
| Challenges | Create goals and track milestones. |
| Other workouts | Workouts you can do without your Peloton equipment, including yoga, meditation, Pilates, strength, outdoor running, and more. |
| Scenic rides | Rides taken while you view a moving landscape on your screen. |
| Lanebreak workouts | Immersive workouts inspired by music. |
| Live metrics | Link your workout tracking device to measure calories burned, heart rate, and more. |
| Leaderboard | See how you stack up against others who’ve completed the same workout. |
Even though the Peloton All-Access Membership is expensive, it tends to be the best way to keep you motivated and on track with your goals.
What’s the Difference Between Digital and All-Access Membership?
Peloton offers two subscription levels — the Digital Membership and the All-Access Membership. The All-Access Membership gives you access to classes on your bike, while the Digital Membership requires you to watch on your phone.
There’s a big price difference between the two options. As of 2023, the Digital Membership is $12.99 per month, while the All-Access Membership is $44 per month.
But, the Digital Membership is less inclusive than the All-Access Membership. While each family member can have their own profile with the All-Access Membership, a Digital Membership only includes one profile.
You’ll have access to all Peloton workouts and rides, as well as the Leaderboard, but you’ll need to watch from your phone or cast it to your TV. Some TVs and streaming devices, including the Firestick, even offer a dedicated Peloton app for this purpose.
Should I Get a Peloton Subscription?
The main advantage of having a Peloton subscription is gaining access to all the features mentioned above, which give you a more complete workout and a better way to track your fitness progress and goals.
However, the price of the Peloton All-Access subscription is pretty high, and it’s only gone up over time. The monthly cost recently increased from $39 to $44, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it went up again.
I think it’s worth it. Plus, if you have Apple TV, you can do floor based workouts easier on the big screen.
Whether or not you should sign up for a Peloton subscription depends on how often you plan to workout, how committed you are to it, and what you can afford.
For example, if you already have a dedicated workout space in your home, you could probably cancel your gym membership and replace it with Peloton’s live and on-demand classes.
Since they also offer strength training, cardio, and more, you won’t be compromising on the quality of your workout.
However, if you only use your Peloton a couple of times a week and don’t have much space to workout in your home, it’s probably better to stick with the free version.
In all honesty, you already spent all this money on the bike. If you didn’t plan on getting a subscription, there are many less expensive bikes out there that may be a better fit for you.
How to Use the Peloton Bike Without a Subscription
Before you start using your Peloton Bike, make sure it’s connected to the internet. If you haven’t connected your Bike to the internet before, follow these steps:
- Press the power button on the back of the touch screen to turn it on.
- A list of Wi-Fi networks should appear on the screen. Select yours and input the password.
You’ll see all the classes and features you’re eligible for on the screen. You can choose a workout from the available options or take advantage of one of the following.
Watch Peloton-Inspired Workouts on YouTube
There are a lot of creators on YouTube who create Peloton-inspired workouts. You can open the video on your touch screen using Peloton’s web browser, or stream it to your TV.
I recommend using Peloton’s hidden web browser. Here’s how to open it:
- Find the three dots in the bottom-right corner of your Peloton home screen.
- Tap “About” on the pop-up.
- Tap seven times rapidly on the bottom-right corner of the new pop-up.
- Select “WebView Browser Tester.”
- Type YouTube.com into the address bar and select your favorite workout video.
TV Fitness Apps
If you’ve positioned your Peloton Bike in front of your smart TV, check your TV’s app store for free fitness apps. LG has a great one called LG Fitness.
Browse through different apps until you find one that offers Peloton-inspired workouts. Then, just put it on your TV and begin your workout!
FAQ: Using a Peloton Bike without a Subscription
Can You Pause a Peloton Subscription?
Peloton allows users to pause their subscriptions in one, two, or three-month intervals. You can unpause your subscription at any time you’d like.
However, keep in mind that you won’t be able to access any workouts or features that require a subscription while your membership is paused.
How to Cancel and Reactivate a Peloton Subscription
Follow the steps below to cancel your Peloton All-Access subscription:
- Open the Peloton website on your web browser.
- Select “My Account” at the top of the page.
- Scroll down until you see “Billing.” Then, select “Cancel Subscription.”
- Confirm you want to cancel your subscription.
If you ever want to reactivate your Peloton subscription, you can follow these next steps:
- Open the Peloton website.
- Select “My Account.”
- Press “Reactivate Subscription.”
Can You Use Other Peloton Products Without a Subscription?
No matter which Peloton product you own, you need a subscription to access all the content. This applies to:
- Peloton Bike and Bike+
- Peloton Tread
- Peloton Guide
- Peloton Row
However, Peloton Guide users do have another option — the Peloton Guide Membership. This is slightly less expensive than the All-Access Membership, but you won’t be able to access scenic or Lanebreak workouts.
Can You Use a Peloton Bike Offline?
You can’t browse or stream Peloton workouts from your touch screen without an internet connection. However, you can pre-download workouts on the Peloton app to take with you on the go.
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