How to Use Peloton Without a Subscription (It Can Be Done!)

Once you’ve purchased your Peloton bike or Tread, you’re ready to get riding. But along with the payment plan for the equipment, you now must tack on an additional $39 per month for their subscription to classes. This may not seem like much, but when combined with the hefty price of the bike or Tread, it’s enough for some to call it quits. When the subscription feels like too much, can you use Peloton without it?

You can use Peloton without a subscription, but you are limited to 3 pre-recorded lessons that you can access through your equipment. Peloton doesn’t offer any more content unless you sign up for a Digital Membership or Connected Fitness Membership. A Digital Membership subscription costs $12.99 per month, and Connected Fitness costs $39 per month.

Now that we know Peloton owners have a few different options for their subscription, let’s take a deeper look into the different subscriptions, what they offer, if it’s worth it, and other common questions Peloton users have. Let’s dig in!

Peloton Subscription Details

Peloton has two different types of subscriptions, also known as memberships. This includes:

1. Connected Fitness Membership: standard All-Access membership
2. Digital Membership: geared towards those who do not have Peloton equipment but still want to take part in the classes.

Let’s take a look at the difference between the two.

Connected Fitness Membership

The Connected Fitness membership is Peloton’s $39 a month subscription that most have heard about. This membership provides all access to all their live and on-demand classes for your workout and is highly encouraged for those who have purchased a Peloton bike or Tread.

With this membership you can access classes straight onto the tablet on your equipment and track your stats during your workout, such as projected speed, distance, and calories burned. It also tracks your best and average of all three metrics in real-time.

Another perk of the Connect Fitness membership is being able to see your position on the leaderboard. This means you can compete with others which can help to increase motivation and make you feel like you are a part of a community. Don’t worry though, your instructor and your teammates are not able to see you doing your workout, just your stats.

Digital Membership

The digital membership is another membership option available through Peloton that was created for those who do not have a Peloton bike or Tread but wish to have access to the live and on-demand. The digital membership is $12.99 a month and can be accessed through the Peloton app on your phone, smart TV, computer, or tablet. This membership offers all the same live and on-demand classes as the Connect Fitness membership. However, you will not have access to your stats or other metrics during your workout.

This membership makes it easy for those who have a different brand of stationary bike or treadmill at home or the gym to still be able to take peloton classes but not have to pay for the pricey equipment. Peloton also has a large variety of different classes that don’t require a peloton bike or Tread, such as yoga, strength, and running.

For those who are interested in purchasing a Peloton bike, the cost starts at about $1,495 for their original bike and about $2,245 for their Bike+ model. The treadmill, also known as Tread, starts at about $2,495 and Peloton’s Tread+ starts at about $4,295.

As you can see, the price is a lot higher than your standard stationary bike or treadmill. Peloton offers financing options to make it more accessible. For more information on the cost and how to purchase a Peloton bike or Tread you can visit the Peloton Website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Included in the Peloton Subscription?

The Connect Fitness App provides you with access to thousands of classes, including both live and on-demand. These classes are further distributed into 12 different types, including strength, running, cycling, yoga, meditation, cardio, stretching, walking, bike Bootcamp, tread Bootcamp, pilates, and barre.

Peloton instructors also teach in classes that have various themes, such as the Beatles Peloton, the Elvis Remixes, or the Power of Sleep. When searching for classes you can filter by class type, level of difficulty, instructor, length, music genre, body focus, and more so that you can find classes that fit your personality, preferences, and goals.

Because the Connect Fitness membership is made for those who have purchased the Peloton bike or Tread, it also provides exercise metrics during your workout. You can also connect your bike to your Apple GymKit to sync your workouts metrics. These metrics include power, cadence, resistance, and heart rate.

It also stores your workout history, milestone achievements, streaks, and badges. Although none of these are essential to a great workout, they can help to motivate by showing your improvement and how you rank with others.

As mentioned above, Peloton’s digital membership does not provide the access to see your metrics but still provides all the same classes as the Connect Fitness membership. This is ideal for those who have their own equipment at home or prefer to use their other fitness classes that don’t include a bike or Tread.

Although you won’t have access to your metrics, if you already own a smartwatch, you can use this to keep track of your workouts instead. These use the same information that the Peloton equipment will use to determine your heart rate, calories burned and so forth.

Does Peloton Offer a Free Trial?

A subscription is an investment and sometimes we don’t know if it will be worth it or if we will like it. Because of this, Peloton now offers a free 30-day trial for their online membership. This free trial is what is included in the digital membership so you can test out the classes to make sure they suit what you are looking for in an online class.

For those new to Peloton and unsure if they want to purchase a bike or Tread yet, you can also try a 30-day home trial with the bike or tread, risk-free. For this, you won’t have to try the app as the bike will include 30-days classes just like the Connect Fitness app if you decide to purchase the equipment. Peloton will even remind you 7 days before your free trial ends, so you don’t get charged if you don’t love it. This risk-free opportunity allows anyone to sample the Peloton membership and/or equipment before buying. What’s not to love about that?

Is the Subscription to Peloton Worth it?

There are many perks to the Connect Fitness membership and the digital membership, depending on what you are looking for in an online workout class.

Both memberships provide access to thousands of live and on-demand classes. However, only Connect Fitness allows you to track your stats and see your position on the leaderboard. It does come with a higher price tag at $39 a month; combined with the added cost of either the Peloton bike or Tread, the costs can add up.

The digital membership is more inexpensive, at $12.99 a month, and versatile for those looking to have access to Peloton classes without having to purchase the equipment. You can also access their classes on your smartphone, smart TV, tablet, or computer. This membership is less of a financial burden and allows more freedom to use the classes for a guideline but not be tied to a heft Peloton bill.

In the end, which membership is worth it depends on what you are looking for in your workout. Those who love the sense of community and friendly competition group classes bring will likely thrive with the Connect Fitness membership if they have a Peloton bike or Tread.

For those who just want to have access to some online classes but prefer to work out at the gym or with their own stationary bike or treadmill, the digital membership is a great price and versatile for your needs.

For those who do not have a Peloton bike or Tread, it is not recommended to purchase the Connect Fitness membership as you would be paying for extra perks that you do not have access to. If you are on the fence, take advantage of their free 30-day home trial to see if the Peloton life works for you before you invest.

Is a Peloton Subscription Right for Me?

Peloton is a fantastic product that has been great for many people. However, that does not mean that it is right for everyone. A peloton bike or Tread with a membership included can be best for those who prefer social workout settings to keep motivated, want to get into a consistent workout routine, are motivated by performance stats, have multiple people in their household who would use it, and those who don’t mind paying the extra fee.

Those who would not benefit from a Peloton with a membership include those who would not use on-demand classes, already have a fitness routine, do not feel performance stats increase motivation, and those who cannot afford the additional fee.

If you are looking to purchase a stationary bike or Tread but aren’t interested in the membership, consider shopping around. There are other stationary bikes and treadmills without all the extra bells and whistles that will cost you a lot less, such as the Bowflex C6 exercise bike or Echelon Fit Smart Connect Bike.

Can I Use My Peloton Without a Subscription?

If you are looking to use your Peloton bike or Tread without a subscription, you can access your three free classes and the “Just Ride” feature straight from the touch screen on the tablet connected to your equipment. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to find these features. Keep in mind, even if you don’t have the Peloton membership, you still need access to an internet connection to access the information and classes on the tablet.

Step 1: Turning on your Equipment

The back of the Peloton bike and Tread has a power cord that needs to be connected to an outlet. You will see a green LED light come on to confirm it is connected to power. The power button is located at the bottom of the touchscreen tablet. Once you press this button, the WIFI networks will load, and it will ask you to connect to a network.

Step 2: Access Pre-Loaded Classes and “Just Ride” Feature

If you are still on the fence about the Peloton subscription, consider registering your account to save you a step later. Once your screen has loaded, you will see the “Just Ride” feature available under live classes and the three pre-loaded classes under on-demand classes.

Although it may not seem like a lot, these classes and the “Just Ride” feature can help you get acquainted with your Peloton equipment and work your way up to the Peloton subscription for classes if you are interested.

Step 3: Get Moving

Once you have located your “Just Ride” and pre-loaded classes, select which workout you want and get moving! You can repeat any of the classes as many times as you want.

Can I Pause My Peloton Subscription?

For anyone who has ever been hit with an unexpected financial challenge, you will be relieved to know that Peloton allows members to pause their memberships. This pause can last anywhere from 1 to 3 months as you need. You can easily pause your Peloton membership online by filling out a quick form on their website. If you prefer not to complete the online form, you can also reach out to Peloton support at 1-866-679-9129.

Can I Cancel My Peloton Subscription?

If you are no longer interested in keeping your Peloton membership, you can cancel at any time. The process to cancel your membership is the same as If you were to place it on pause. You can either complete the form on their website or place a call to Peloton support at 1-866-679-9129 and request to cancel.

If I Cancel My Peloton Subscription, What Will I Have Access to?

Once your membership is terminated and the last billing cycle you paid for has ended, you will no longer have access to any Peloton live or on-demand classes. If you currently have Peloton equipment, such as the bike or Tread, you will no longer be able to view your stats.

You will have the choice to choose between three pre-loaded classes on your equipment if you wish to take a class. Otherwise, your Peloton bike or Tread will be the same as any other stationary bike or treadmill.

If you have any questions about terminating or canceling your Peloton membership, you can read their terms and conditions on their website here.

Can I Share My Peloton Subscription?

A Peloton All-Access membership, also known as the Connect Fitness membership, can be shared by all members of the same household. This means, anyone that lives with you can use your Peloton membership for up to a limit of 20 users.

If you have both a Peloton bike and Tread, you can use one membership for both pieces of equipment. However, if you have a Peloton bike and a Peloton Bike+, which is Peloton’s updated model, you will need two separate memberships.

Those who have the Peloton app cannot share their membership unless they provide their username and password to others. However, only one person can access the Peloton app on a device at one time.

Those who have Peloton equipment, as well as more than one family member interested in using it, will benefit the most from sharing their membership.

Can I Use Tread Without a Subscription?

Just like the Peloton bike, the Peloton Tread comes with three pre-loaded classes on the product itself. If you choose not to purchase the membership, you can still use your Tread. However, you will not get all the benefits of the classes and personalized workout metrics.

Peloton Connected Fitness vs. Digital Membership

When comparing the Peloton All-Access Connect Fitness membership to their Digital membership, there are pros and cons to both. To determine which is right for you, consider your fitness goals, exercise habits, and current lifestyle. If you are still unsure, look at the chart below which breaks down the main differences between the two, along with the pros and cons of both.

A full membership to Peloton grants you everything Peloton offers for the price of $39 a month, in addition to the price of their equipment. If you do not want to or cannot afford their equipment, Peloton’s digital membership is the way to go.

Related Questions

Can You Use Peloton Without Internet?

Although there is a pre-load feature for Peloton classes to avoid spotty connection during your workout, Peloton will not work without internet access. For those who have a poor WIFI connection or spotty internet service, the pre-load feature is a great option to keep you from struggling with lag time before and during your workout. If you have a poor connection year-round, consider investing in a personal hot spot. This is a feature on your phone that allows you to access the internet through another device by sharing cellular data. Keep in mind how much data you have available with your current mobile plan if you plan to rely on this hotspot frequently for your Peloton.

What Is the Peloton Just Ride Feature?

For those who are not interested in purchasing a Peloton membership for their Peloton bike or Tread, or who simply don’t feel like taking a class, you have the option to use the “Just Ride” feature. This lets your Peloton know you are going to be working out without using a class and will grant you access to see a few metrics, such as cadence, resistance, and speed.

Can You Use Peloton Without Cycling Shoes?

If you are new to Peloton, you may have noticed the clips in their bike pedals. These are made for special bike cleats that keep your feet from slipping out of place during your ride. Although these shoes are not required for riding the Peloton bike, they are highly encouraged. Not only will these cycling shoes allow for improved performance during your rides, but they can also help to prevent injury from your foot slipping off the pedals during a workout. If you choose to wear sneakers during your Peloton workout, make sure to attach toe cages to keep your shoes from slipping.

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