If you want a good cardio session but don’t want to brave the elements — whether heat, cold, rain or snow — an indoor exercise bike is a solid way to burn some calories from the comfort of your own home. To help you navigate which ones offer the best ride, we’ve rounded up a list of several highly rated stationary bikes under $500 that align with expert guidance.
Today’s home bikes span a range of styles and price points. While the pros we spoke to recommend a more expensive bike for serious tracking and online connectivity, they were quick to point out that there are plenty of more affordable exercise bikes that provide everything you need.
“As with any piece of exercise equipment, the best one is the one you are going to use consistently,” says Chicago-based certified personal trainer Eric Ridings.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best budget exercise bikes | The best budget exercise bikes to consider in 2024 | How to shop for budget exercise bikes | What kinds of accessories can I buy for my exercise bike? | Why trust NBC Select?
How we picked the best budget exercise bikes
To compile this list, we spoke to personal trainers about what features you should look for in an affordable exercise bike that will give you a great cardio workout. Based on their expert advice, we picked 13 highly rated bikes, paying special attention to the following criteria:
- Maximum weight capacity: We looked for stationary bikes that can hold at least 265 pounds.
- Adjustability: All of the bikes we recommend have either adjustable handlebars and seats (or a combination of the two).
- Resistance: All of the bikes considered offer a resistance knob so you can customize your workout routine.
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The best budget exercise bikes to consider in 2024
The exercise bikes in this roundup are readily available at NBC Select reader-favorite retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Target, along with popular brands, including Sunny Health, Nautilus and Echelon. As an added bonus, most of these stationary exercise bikes give you a 30-day return policy if you’re not fully satisfied with your new purchase. All of these bikes have a customer rating of at least 4.3 stars.
Best overall budget exercise bike: Yosuda Pro Magnetic Exercise Bike
- Quiet handling
- Easy assembly
- Dim backlight on LCD screen
This bike from Yosuda has a magnetic drive system, so it’s super quiet, according to the brand. It also has an LCD monitor that tracks calories burned, speed, distance and time spent pedaling, as well as a resistance knob with 100 micro-adjustable levels so you can customize your exercise routine. A dedicated holder allows you to position a tablet so you can ride along to a workout app, and it has a padded seat, toe-caged pedals and non-slip handlebars that can be adjusted four ways to fit your frame and stride.
Maximum weight capacity: 350 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: 30-day full-refund guarantee and 1-year free parts replacement | Rating: 4.3 star-average rating from 1,693 reviews on Amazon
Best budget exercise bike for small spaces:Ativafit Folding Exercise Bike
- Great for small spaces
- Very quiet
- Small seat space
- No warranty
This foldable bike is good for smaller spaces. It has an adjustable seat and eight levels of magnetic resistance, as well as a digital monitor to track time, speed and your pulse. It has a magnetic flywheel that is very quiet, allowing you to watch television or listen to music without distraction while riding, according to the brand.
Maximum weight capacity: 265 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: None | Rating: 4.4-star average rating from 16,538 reviews on AmazonBest versatile budget exercise bike: Kalwol
Best warranty on a budget exercise bike:Luminofit Indoor Cycling Bike
- Adjustable seat and handlebars
- Covered by warranty for a year
- Small LCD display
This bike is made from durable stainless steel and has a heavy-duty flywheel for increased stability while riding, according to the brand. It comes with a four-way adjustable seat and two-way adjustable handlebars and also has a safety brake, which brings the bike to an immediate stop when pushed. The LCD monitor also tracks pulse, time, speed, distance, calories and odometer.
Maximum weight capacity: 330 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: One year for both frame and parts | Rating: 4.6 star-average rating from 222 reviews on Amazon
Best portable budget exercise bike:Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1002 Exercise Cycling Bike
- Connects to free SunnyFit app
- No digital monitor
Sunny Health is a favorite among NBC Select readers and fitness pros alike and is a top pick in our various guides to indoor bikes. This durable steel-frame model sports a 49-pound chrome flywheel (a weighted disk that mimics a bicycle wheel) and wheels for easy portability, according to the brand. Users can also buy the Sunny Bike Cadence Sensor and connect to Sunny’s free SunnyFit app to measure and track cycling metrics.
Maximum weight capacity: 275 pounds | Digital monitor: No (Cadence Sensor sold separately can track metrics) | Warranty: Frame one year, parts three months | Rating: 4.6 star-average rating from 246 reviews on Walmart
Best silent budget exercise bike:JOROTO Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike
- Easy assembly
- Quiet pedaling
- Only tracks speed and distance
A noisy spin bike can make life miserable for anyone you live with or near (like the neighbors downstairs). The Belt Drive Indoor Cycling Bike uses magnetic resistance — in this case, seven magnets create a magnetic field, which you can adjust for stronger or lighter resistance — which the brand says makes the bike “whisper quiet.” It sports a 35-pound flywheel and four adjustable feet to keep your bike stable on various surfaces. .
Maximum weight capacity: 280 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: 1-year of free replacement parts | Rating: 4.5 star-average rating from 6,930 reviews on Amazon
Best chain-drive budget exercise bike:Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B901 Indoor Cycling Bike
- Stabilizers prevent wobbling
- Transport wheels for mobility
- No digital monitor
This chain-drive exercise bike from Sunny Health works similar to an outdoor bike with a chain. It features a 40-pound chrome flywheel, resistance knob, two-way adjustable handlebars and a four-way adjustable seat. Four floor stabilizers at the base of the bike help prevent wobbling on uneven surfaces, according to the brand, and it includes transport wheels to make it easier to move it from room to room.
Maximum weight capacity: 275 pounds | Digital monitor: No | Warranty: 3 months (parts); 1 year (frame) | Rating: 4.4 star-average rating from 7,042 reviews on Amazon
Best digital monitor on a budget exercise bike:Harison Stationary Upright Exercise Bike
- Tablet holder
- Adjustable seat and handlebars
- Small LCD display
The Harison exercise bike features 14 levels of magnetic resistance, a four-way adjustable leather seat with extra padding and adjustable handlebars. There’s an LCD screen that tracks your calories burned, speed, distance, time, as well as a separate tablet holder above the screen and handlebars. It also features nonslip pedals and can safely hold riders up to 350 pounds, according to the brand. .
Maximum weight capacity: 350 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: None | Rating: 4.1 star-average rating from 420 reviews on Amazon
Most versatile budget exercise bike:Echelon Smart Connect Fitness Bike
- Front transport wheels
- Free trial membership
- No digital monitor
This bike has adjustable toe cage pedals, 32 levels of magnetic resistance and front transport wheels so you can move it around your house. It also has a water bottle holder and a spot for your tablet or phone, so you can follow workouts on the companion app. With the purchase of this bike, you get a free 30-day Echelon Premiere membership through the Echelon Fit app, which gives you access to over 3,000 online spin workouts. Classes range from five to 45 minutes long and are designed for everyone from beginners to pros. After the 30-day trial, the app membership is $40 a month.
Maximum weight capacity: 300 pounds | Digital monitor: No | Warranty: 1 year (limited parts and labor) | Rating: 4.3-star average rating from 2,862 reviews on Amazon
Best adjustable budget exercise bike: Pooboo Adjustable Exercise Bike
- Fully adjustable
- Silent wheel
- Monitor batteries not included
Pooboo’s adjustable bike runs on a magnetic resistance system that’s almost completely silent, according to the brand. It has an adjustable padded seat, handlebar and pedals that fit a range of heights from 4’9’ to 6’3”, according to Pooboo. It also comes with Bluetooth compatibility and a monitor to help you track your time while riding. However, the display requires two triple-A batteries that aren’t included with the bike.
Maximum weight capacity: 350 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: None | Rating: 4.5 star-average rating from 9,202 reviews on Amazon
Best Bluetooth connectivity: Schwinn Fitness Upright Bike
- Bluetooth compatibility
- Lots of workout programs
- Additional apps are paid
This option from Schwinn offers 14 workout programs via an LCD monitor that tracks your speed, distance, heart rate, calories and more, according to the brand. It has adjustable handlebars and a foam seat for added comfort, along with a weighted flywheel, which gives a smooth and quiet workout, according to the brand. The bike also comes with Bluetooth connectivity features that allow you to sync your workouts, progress and goals with the workout tracking app of your choice. You can also gain access to structured workouts and virtual biking routes with a paid subscription to the Zwift app, which is an app for indoor cycling.
Maximum weight capacity: 300 pounds | Digital monitor: Yes | Warranty: 2 years for parts, 1 year for electronics, 10 years for frame | Rating: 4.3 star-average rating from 5,190 reviews on Amazon
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How to shop for budget exercise bikes
Here are the most important things Christopher LaMarco, owner of CrossFit Nauset in Orleans, Massachusetts says shoppers should consider when buying an exercise bike on a budget:
- Weight capacity. Most models can accommodate up to 270 pounds, but some can even go as high as 400. Always check the weight capacity, especially if you have different riders who will be using the bike.
- Adjustability. Having the ability to raise and lower the seat and handlebars to fit your frame and stride is important to ensure a correct posture while riding, says LaMarco.
- Display. Without a display, it’s nearly impossible to track your progress and replicate workouts, says LaMarco. You want to track calories burned, distance and heart rate each time you ride, he says.
- Resistance. Having the ability to adjust your resistance allows you to increase your workout level so you can improve speed, power and strength. An exercise bike should offer at least 10 levels of resistance so you can individualize your workout. Having no resistance could increase your risk of injury, says LaMarco.
- Noise level. Exercise bikes are one of the quieter pieces of gym equipment. Still, there are different noise levels depending on the type of resistance or drive mechanism. Magnetic resistance is generally quieter than friction resistance, and chain and belt drives are even noisier. Ideally, you’ll want to try the bike out to see if the noise bothers you before you buy.
- Safety and stability. The heavier the steel frame and flywheel, the more stable the bike, says LaMarco.
- Portability. A bike that comes with transport wheels allows you to more easily move it from room to room if necessary.
- Warranty. Some bikes under $500 don’t offer a warranty, but many do, either on the frame or parts or both.
- Your space. In general, exercise bikes don’t take too much space. However, some are wider and others need good headroom. Consider your space before shopping to see what type of bike fits best.
What kinds of accessories can I buy for my exercise bike?
There are dozens of spinning accessories on the market today, and many are available right on Amazon. LaMarco says one of the best accessories to consider, if your bike doesn’t already have them, are toe clips for the pedals to lock your feet in place. Other accessories to consider are padded bike seats, an electronic fan, a cup holder, a portable electronic device mount, easy-to-grip support handles or an anti-fatigue floor mat.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Eric Ridings is a Chicago-based certified personal trainer and the lead coach at Mobility Works, a strength and conditioning center.
- Chris LaMarco is the owner of CrossFit Nauset in Orleans, Massachusetts.
Why trust NBC Select?
Barbara Booth, Ashley Morris and Justin Redman have published several roundups on best exercise equipment for NBC Select, including Best ellipticals and Best women’s walking shoes. For this piece, Barbara interviewed two experts and researched dozens of exercise bikes, choosing the most highly rated options under $500 that aligned with expert guidance.
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