Peloton is a hardware-focused fitness ecosystem centered around proprietary stationary bikes and treadmills with live and on-demand classes, while Apple Fitness+ is a software-only subscription service compatible with Apple devices offering diverse workout types. Peloton requires significant upfront equipment investment ($1,445-$4,295), whereas Fitness+ works on devices you likely already own for $11.99/month.
Peloton vs Apple Fitness+ — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Hardware-centric fitness platform centered on stationary bikes and treadmills with live and on-demand streaming classes.
Software-based fitness subscription service offering diverse workout types optimized for Apple devices with Activity Ring integration.
Business Model. Equipment Required. Workout Variety. Monthly Subscription Cost. Community Features. Content Library Size. Instructor Quality/Celebrity
Choose Peloton if you want an immersive, community-driven cycling experience with live classes, motivational leaderboards, and don't mind the substantial upfront hardware investment—it excels for serious fitness enthusiasts committed to regular cycling. Choose Apple Fitness+ if you prioritize workout variety, already own Apple devices, prefer affordability with flexibility, and want convenient workouts across multiple exercise types integrated with your health ecosystem.
Peloton: Bike+ model only | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 22 inches | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Heart rate monitor | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Cycling specialist | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Vertical only | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Not available | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Standard coverage | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 5.8 million members | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 2.66 million subscribers | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Live and on-demand | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Limited studio-based | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Basic recommendations | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Instructor-curated playlists | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Standard captions and adjustments | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Fifth consecutive year of revenue decline | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Very High - leaderboards, challenges, social features | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Newer entrant - growing | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 3 (bikes, rowers, treadmills) | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 12 years (founded 2012) | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: No - manual adjustments | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 100 levels | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: $1,495-$1,995 | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 5.8 million | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: $12.99-$44 | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: $656.5 million | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 2.66 million | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: Yes - daily live classes | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 0% to 15% | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 2 (bike, treadmill) | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 90+ Peloton studios | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 20+ (cycling, running, strength, yoga, cardio, meditation) | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 23.8 inches (Bike Plus) | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: $1,445 (Bike Plus) | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 33 months to match SoulCycle cost | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: 150+ weekly live cycling | Apple Fitness+: N/A
Peloton: $44/month (with bike) / $24/month (standalone) | Apple Fitness+: $9.99/month
Peloton: $1,495-$2,445 (Bike or Treadmill) | Apple Fitness+: $0 (uses existing devices)
Peloton: 6 (Cycling, Running, Strength, Yoga, Stretching, Cardio) | Apple Fitness+: 11 (Cycling, Running, Strength, Yoga, Dance, HIIT, Pilates, Rowing, Core, Meditation, Cool Down)
Peloton: 2.3+ | Apple Fitness+: Integrated with Apple Fitness (not separately tracked)
Peloton: Limited (no native watchOS app) | Apple Fitness+: Full native watchOS app with real-time metrics
Peloton: Proprietary Peloton hardware + optional iPad/phone | Apple Fitness+: Any Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV)
Peloton: $44.00 | Apple Fitness+: $11.99
Peloton: $1,495 (Bike) to $4,295 (Bike+ with accessories) | Apple Fitness+: $0 (device-agnostic)
Peloton: 10,000+ | Apple Fitness+: 2,000+
Peloton: 150-200 estimated | Apple Fitness+: 200+
Peloton: 50+ (cycling-heavy) | Apple Fitness+: 20+ (diverse types)
Peloton: 4.3 | Apple Fitness+: 1.5 estimated
Peloton: 22 (Peloton Bike+) | Apple Fitness+: N/A (uses personal device)
Peloton: Peloton bikes/treadmills only + app on iPhone/iPad | Apple Fitness+: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Apple Watch
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: $10.99/month
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: $131.88/year
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: Apple devices only (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV)
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: 0 locations
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: No (bodyweight or optional light weights)
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: 11 fitness types
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: 40+ instructors
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: Full (all workouts on Apple devices)
Peloton: N/A | Apple Fitness+: Apple Devices Only (iOS, watchOS, tvOS)
How to choose between Peloton and Apple Fitness+
Peloton vs Apple Fitness+ — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Peloton vs Apple Fitness+. Contains 96 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Peloton vs Apple Fitness+ — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Peloton vs Apple Fitness+.
Can you use Peloton without buying the bike?
Yes, Peloton offers Peloton App+ for $44/month, which provides access to 10,000+ on-demand classes for strength, yoga, cardio, bootcamp, and more on your phone, tablet, or TV. However, the core Peloton experience centers on its proprietary bikes/treadmills where you get live classes, real-time leaderboards, and metrics integration. The app-only option lacks live class participation and community leaderboards.
Do you need an Apple Watch for Apple Fitness+?
No, Apple Fitness+ works on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac without an Apple Watch. However, having an Apple Watch significantly enhances the experience—it displays real-time heart rate, calories burned, cadence, and automatically closes your Activity Ring. Without it, you can still complete workouts but miss these live metrics and the Activity Ring integration that motivates many Apple users.
Which is better for weight loss—Peloton or Apple Fitness+?
Both can support weight loss equally effectively—results depend on workout consistency and intensity, not the platform. Peloton's community leaderboards and live classes provide stronger extrinsic motivation for accountability. Apple Fitness+ offers greater variety (20+ workout types vs cycling-heavy focus) making it easier to prevent workout boredom. For weight loss success, choose based on what motivates you: competitive community (Peloton) or diverse, convenient workouts (Apple Fitness+).
Is Peloton cheaper overall than Apple Fitness+ after 5 years?
No. Over 5 years: Peloton = $1,495 bike + ($44/month × 60 months) = $4,135 total. Apple Fitness+ = $11.99/month × 60 months = $719.40 total (or $1,379.40 with Apple One Premier). Peloton costs 5-6x more over 5 years. Peloton's value proposition centers on premium hardware, immersive community, and specialized cycling expertise—not affordability.
Can you do live classes on Apple Fitness+ like Peloton?
No, Apple Fitness+ is purely on-demand with no live classes or real-time leaderboards. You cannot compete with instructors or other users in real-time. This trade-off prioritizes flexibility (workout anytime) over the motivational community aspect that Peloton's live classes provide. If real-time instructor engagement is important to you, Peloton is the only option.
How to Choose Between Peloton and Apple Fitness+
Business Model: Peloton has Hardware + Subscription ($1,495 bike + $44/month), while Apple Fitness+ has Software only ($11.99/month).
Equipment Required: Peloton has Proprietary Peloton bike or treadmill ($1,445-$4,295), while Apple Fitness+ has Any Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac).
Workout Variety: Peloton has Cycling-focused with strength, yoga, bootcamp (50+ class types), while Apple Fitness+ has 20+ workout types including cycling, strength, yoga, dance, pilates, HIIT, core, mindfulness.
Monthly Subscription Cost: Peloton has $44/month for Peloton App+, while Apple Fitness+ has $11.99/month (or included with Apple One Premier at $22.99/month).
Community Features: Peloton has Real-time leaderboards, live classes with instructor shoutouts, 4.3M+ active members, while Apple Fitness+ has Activity Rings sharing, no live leaderboards, integration with Apple Watch metrics.
Content Library Size: Peloton has 10,000+ on-demand classes across all formats, while Apple Fitness+ has 2,000+ workouts with 200+ new releases monthly.
Instructor Quality/Celebrity: Peloton has Celebrity trainers (Jess King, Robin Arzon, Cody Rigsby), brand recognition, while Apple Fitness+ has Established Apple instructors (Sam Sanchez, Molly Fox, Gregg Cook), less mainstream fame.