iFit or Peloton: Which is the Best Workout App for You?

We will compare iFIT (the makers of the NordicTrack and Proform treadmills), and Peloton to discuss the differences between their running programs. Which one of these connected fitness platforms is better for runners? Watch the video below to see which one is best for runners.

Peloton and iFit have the best indoor workout apps. They are both products of ICON and Peloton companies, respectively.

Surprisingly, even though they are from two completely different companies, the apps share more in common than their differences. It isn’t easy to choose between the two apps for workouts.

Which is better, iFit or Peloton? Which should I choose? Will I regret choosing Peloton over iFit?. We will answer all your questions in this article. First,

At a Glance

Peloton

The Peloton company is the king of indoor workouts. It began with a spinning bicycle, then a treadmill, then a more sophisticated treadmill, and another treadmill model. Peloton Digital also taps into an external market without access to the equipment.

Peloton tread, tread plus or bike, or bicycle plus, can be used to access the Peloton app and the most sought-after in-built workouts via the touchscreen of the peloton gear. Equipment owners can also receive an unlimited $39 per month subscription to the app. The subscription allows you to create multiple accounts for different users, making it ideal for the whole family.

You can access the Leaderboard by purchasing this subscription. Here you can compete with other riders and possibly make a connection. The touchscreen also records all your metrics, including heart rate, cadence, calories burned, and time and distance traveled.

The peloton bikes also have a scenic ride feature that digital app users can’t access.

Peloton users can also download the digital app for $12.99 per month. It can be used to stream live or on-demand classes via their touchscreen or any other smart device.

Peloton’s digital app is only available to those who use other bikes. The subscription costs only $12.99, and all new users receive a 30-day free trial before they pay for the subscription. The digital app allows only one user account.

Peloton offers access to the many workouts on the on-demand library and 24 hours of live classes. You can also choose to do off-equipment activities like yoga, meditation, or strength training.

iFit

iFit, a workout app by ICON, is older than Peloton by several years. The Icon company is also the parent company to NordicTrack and Proform. Anyway, it reigned the market even when Peloton was still struggling to grasp the market portion. And though Peloton has overtaken it, it still has a substantial share and is among the most incredible competitors that Peloton has.

IFit offers thousands of workouts that users can access on-demand. These workouts are growing by the day. You can also interact with instructors in live classes.iFit exercises include rowing, rowing, strength, and yoga.

There are also live scenic rides, which have helped iFit rise in the world of workouts. This was made possible by the Mt. A team from NordicTrack, including their CEO in March, who made the Everest climb.

Surprisingly the monthly subscription to iFit costs $39, even though it is a family package. An annual subscription costs $180 if you are a single person. A yearly family subscription is available for $396.

The app tracks metrics like cadence, heartbeat, distance, time, calories burned, and heart rate while you’re working out. The app also tracks sleep and other activities.

iFit vs. Peloton

Features

Peloton

iFit

Cost

$39 per month

$39 per month $396 per year $180 per year (individual package)

Live Classes

Present

Present

On-demand classes

Present

Present

Type of classes available

Strength, yoga, Bootcamp , outdoor running , stretching, Bootcamp, meditation, cycling, running

Global workouts, studio classes, live workouts and events, progressive series, challenges, iFit mind, cooking classes.

Equipment workouts

Bike, treadmill, strength

Bike, treadmill, elliptical, rower, strength

Leaderboard

Available

Available

Metrics monitored

Yes

Yes

Sleep monitoring

No

Yes

Other brand equipment membership

$12.99 per month

$39 per month $396 per year $180 per year (individual package)

App availability

Roku, Android, Apple TV, Apple Store, Amazon Appstore

Roku, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Appstore

Bluetooth compatibility

Yes

Yes

Google Map integration

Not available

Available

Challenges

Available

Available

Yoga and strength workouts

Available

Available

Multiple user accounts

Allowed

Allowed

Similarities Between Peloton and iFit

Peloton and iFit share many similarities that make them both a great choice. Let’s look at these similarities.

Classes

Peloton and iFit offer live and on-demand classes. This makes it easy to exercise at your own pace. Live classes give you the feeling of a gym or studio, which can significantly impact your performance.

Leaderboard

Both apps offer Leaderboard features. They also collect your metrics which aid in the Leaderboard competition. They are Bluetooth and Ant compatible, so you can easily read your metrics from the respective devices.

The Leaderboard’s primary goal is to make sure you have competition. This naturally draws out the part of you that wants the best. Your performance will increase as you work harder to get a better place on the Leaderboard.

The Leaderboard is a platform that allows people to interact even though they live miles apart. You get a community that supports you in your fitness goals and boosts your positive emotions.

Available for Non-Brand Equipment Users

The Peloton was created for the NordicTrack equipment and iFit. You don’t have to own this equipment to access the respective apps.

Peloton digital is open to both equipment and non-equipment users. This opens Peloton up to the outside world. The best thing about the app is that it is cheaper than an equipment subscription.

iFit is also available to users of equipment from other brands. You can join the team even if you don’t have the equipment.

Off-Equipment Workouts

On the Peloton, you can do yoga, strength, or meditation. iFit also offers scenic walks, hikes, and mind-calming workouts. You’ll find moments to give your rower, bike, or treadmill a break no matter which app you use.

Differences Between iFit and Peloton

Let’s now discuss why you might choose to take an iFit or Peloton option.

Live classes

Peloton and iFIT both offer live running classes, but Peloton offers a superior experience in nearly every way.

Currently, iFIT offers seven live running/walking classes Monday through Friday. They are all 30 minutes long and take place between 6 a.m. EST and 12 p.m. EST.

Peloton offers more variety than the average seven live classes per week in this category. You can choose from a variety of workouts, and the live times are spread more widely. They also have varying lengths that can last anywhere between 10-60 minutes. You can also take a live class on weekends.

Every day, there is at least one Bootcamp class. These workouts will get you on the treadmill and moving for strength and conditioning.

Peloton’s live classes are also more productive. iFIT keeps its best instructors away from non-live scenic content, whereas Peloton’s top instructors are regularly in live studio classes. iFIT uses random music from 11 radio stations, while each Peloton class is based on a customized playlist.

Peloton’s leaderboard for live classes has a significantly higher number of participants than iFIT. Live classes are enhanced by having hundreds (or even thousands) of people running alongside you.

The number of active members is what makes iFIT’s live classes less full. Peloton and iFIT both have over 6 million members. However, iFIT members are more inclined to stay with what is best on iFIT: on-demand scenic content.

Peloton excels in the studio-class experience

Class Selection

Peloton uses a more buffet-style approach to class selection. Each class is unique and has its own goal. This allows you to mix-and-match as you please. Peloton has two programs that use the treadmill.

iFIT is exactly the opposite. Most of their workouts are part of a larger program. These programs often have a goal, such as improving your 5K or 10k time or training for a marathon.

iFIT features fully built programs whereas Peloton offers more of a ‘Buffet-Style’ selection of classes

The difficulty of these programs varies as well as the number of days they are meant to be used. Some programs will require you to run twice per week. Advanced programs may include six classes per week.

Unique class options

Peloton and iFIT have two distinct types of running classes. Peloton offers Bootcamp classes, while iFIT hosts running events.

Peloton Bootcamp classes are my favorite part about being a Peloton Tread. These workouts combine running with strength training and core work.

Peloton’s Bootcamp classes are a great option to mix strength and conditioning

iFIT has recently introduced Kayla Itsines to its studio to lead the first class. Peloton offers at least one Bootcamp class per day, and there is a lot more to choose from.

Running events are what iFIT excels at. Quite often, iFIT hosts a 5k, 10k and full marathon that you can run in. These can be requested, but they are often available live. Sometimes, iFIT will even mail you a medal!

iFIT features many races that you are take part in, including marathons like the Boston Marathon.

Automated adjustments

Auto incline or decline

Another aspect that helps iFIT’s scenic content, is the fact that almost all its equipment (such as the Nordictrack X22i and 2450), automatically incline or decline. You will feel a change in the gradient when you see it.

The Peloton Tread does not have an automatic incline decrease control. They rely on the instructor for guidance. You will often find that the incline on which you are running is not correct compared to the screen.

Most iFIT-enabled devices have auto-adjusting incline and decline to match the terrain

‘Smart Adjust’ & ‘Active Pulse’

Many iFIT-enabled devices can adjust your speed and incline automatically with the ‘Smart Adjust’ and ‘Active Pulse’ options.

Smart adjust allows you to set your pace according to your fitness level and the coach’s intent for the workout. This feature is pretty accurate most of the times. Sometimes it doesn’t adjust your speed enough for big inclines. However, this could just be me not being a good incline runner. It is possible to adjust your speed whenever you want.

Active Pulse is an optional feature in iFIT. It changes your speed relative to heart rate. “Active Pulse” will monitor your heart rate and adjust your speed to keep you in the right zone for each section of your workout.

Personal preference is for the Smart Adjust option, especially for shorter interval-based workouts. However, for longer endurance runs, I’ll use the Active Pulse.

‘Active Pulse’ adjusts your speed relative to your heart rate zone

Peloton vs iFIT: Scenic runs

Peloton offers better live studio classes than iFIT, but iFIT has more instructor-led scenic content. iFIT shines with its on-demand programs, which often consist of 12-20 workouts.

Instructors from iFIT’s scenic content like Tommy Rivers or Leah Rosenfeld provide some of best instructional running content available on any connected fitness platform. Every program centers around a different location which is always exciting to explore.

iFIT has several of the best running instructors of any connected fitness platform

iFIT does not have a music playlist, but that doesn’t stop the scenic content. Studio classes are limited in terms of what you can see, so music plays an even larger role. To keep you interested, the main focus is on exploring each location.

Peloton has tried a few instructor-led scenic runs but so far they have not succeeded. It’s less like you’re running with the instructor, and more like you’re hovering beside them on a drone. The whole experience is more like a movie than an experience.

Peloton members rarely take scenic rides, just like iFIT members don’t take live classes. Even though there are so few, the majority of these rides have been less than the daily studio class.

Peloton’s scenic runs have you feeling like you are floating on a drone

Range of Equipment Workouts

iFit is an excellent option if your gym has more than a treadmill and a bike. Peloton has only two equipment workouts: a treadmill and a bicycle.iFit, on the other hand, offers elliptical or rower workouts and bike and tread workouts.

Membership

You only have one option for a subscription with Peloton equipment. This allows unlimited access to Peloton workouts, recorded metrics, and unlimited access to the library. If you have one or more accounts, you pay $39 per calendar month.

iFit offers a cheaper option to members who subscribe as individuals. The annual cost is $180, equivalent to $15 per month. Individual memberships to iFit are more affordable than Peloton.

Peloton offers a cheaper monthly subscription and does not include metrics on the Leaderboard. This subscription costs $12.99 and is available on the digital app. The Peloton app is a cheaper option if you look for something even more affordable. Peloton doesn’t require you to save $156 for the entire year. The subscription can be renewed monthly.

Sleep Monitoring, Cooking Classes, and Google Map Integration

The app offers Google Map integration to use it during outdoor adventures. The map can determine the best route for running, biking, or walking.

The app also has a feature that tracks your activity, sleep, and exercise. The iFit app provides a complete fitness plan that includes diet and sleep.

You can monitor your sleep to determine if you are getting quality sleep. Relaxing outdoors can help you improve your sleep.

Immersive cooking classes are another option that will give you a better understanding of healthy recipes to pair with your workouts.

Trainers

Peloton only goes for the best professional trainers, and no offense, but they are the best for pushing you to your goals. Features such as high five and chat on the Peloton allow users to follow up with an instructor.

Their music selection is unbeatable for workouts. Peloton is the best choice if you look for elite instructors to make your workouts more enjoyable.

Digital Resistance Adjustment

The Peloton bike has a resistance adjustment manual, but this has been corrected for the bike plus. Using iFit, instructors can adjust your bike resistance to fit your workout. This makes it much easier, and you can follow your instructor’s level without worrying about being left behind.

So, Peloton or iFit?

It all depends on what you want. The iFit app offers a wide range of equipment, including rowers and elliptical. It can also be used to adjust your bike resistance and monitor your team’s progress digitally.

Peloton is an excellent choice for those who want more incredible community support and instructors that push you to the limits.

What program is the best for runners?

Ultimately, your preference for iFIT or Peloton is a matter of personal preference. Peloton is best for those who are driven by great music and live studio experiences, but not as concerned about having a program that is fully developed.

iFIT is better if you enjoy progressive content and scenic outdoor scenes. You also like the ease of using an automatically adjusted treadmill workout.

Conclusion

What is the difference between iFit and Peloton? Both are great options for indoor training. Both have similar membership subscriptions and feature sets. It is up to you to decide which one is best for you.

Do you want to be a part of an indoor workout filled with laughter, music, and motivation? Peloton is the way to go. Or, you can choose to do a wholesome training that includes monitored sleep and cooking classes.iFit is the best choice.