Can You Use Peloton Without a Subscription? Here’s the Lowdown
If you’re anything like me, the allure of the Peloton bike, treadmill, or rower is hard to resist.
But what about that monthly All-Access Membership fee?
It can make a serious dent in the monthly budget, right?
When buying Peloton equipment, the appeal is the live and on demand classes, but sometimes life gets in the way, and you need to cancel or pause the membership.
But don’t worry, there’s a way to cancel your Peloton All Access subscription and still be able to use your Peloton bike, treadmill, or rower.
In this blog post, we’ll cover what you’ll have access to on your equipment, the pros and cons of canceling your membership, and more.

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Understanding Peloton
If you’re new to Peloton, you might wonder if you can use it without a subscription.
Peloton is a fitness company that offers a range of exercise equipment, including stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowers. They’ve gained popularity in recent years because of its live and on-demand fitness classes that you can access from the comfort of your home.
Peloton requires a subscription to access its live and on-demand classes.
Without a subscription, you won’t be able to access the classes, and your Peloton bike or treadmill will essentially become a regular exercise machine.

If you decide to use Peloton without a subscription, you can still use the equipment to do your own workouts.
You can manually adjust the resistance and incline on the bike or treadmill to create your own workout routine.
Related Post: How to Improve Your Peloton Output

Peloton Without Subscription
If you’re wondering whether you can use Peloton without a subscription, the answer is yes.
However, you won’t have access to all the features that come with a subscription.
In this section, we’ll go over the basic features you can use without a subscription and the limitations you’ll face.

Basic Features
Without a subscription, you can still use the Peloton bike, rower, or tread to do workouts.
You’ll be able to see your speed, resistance, and other basic metrics during your workouts. You’ll have access to the “Just Run”, “Just Row”, and “Just Bike” features on the equipment, but you won’t have access to the scenic run, rides, or row classes.
In addition, you’ll only have access to 2 sample on demand classes. Without a subscription, you won’t have access to any other on demand or live classes.

Limitations
The main limitation of using Peloton without a subscription is that you won’t have access to the full library of workouts.
You’ll only be able to access a limited selection of workouts, and you won’t be able to customize your workouts based on your preferences.
Another limitation is that you won’t be able to track your progress over time. Without a subscription, you won’t have access to the metrics that track your progress and help you set goals, like the FTP test or PRs in classes.
You’ll need to track your progress manually if you want to see how you’re improving over time.
If you’re just starting out and want to try Peloton before committing to a subscription, using the basic features may be a good option for you.
However, if you want to access the full library of workouts and get the full Peloton experience, you’ll need a subscription

Alternatives to Subscription
When it comes to workout apps, there’s a vast sea of choices beyond the Peloton realm.
Sure, the Peloton All-Access Membership comes with its own unique perks – high-energy live classes, a massive library of on-demand workouts, and that charmingly tough love from your favorite trainers (Yes, Jess Sims, I am looking at you!).
But there are plenty of alternatives that can cater to your fitness needs without straining your wallet.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of my personal favorites:
Fitbod
If you’re into weightlifting and strength training, Fitbod might just become your new best friend. It creates personalized workout plans based on your goals, the equipment you have available, and how often you want to work out. It even has a Peloton mode!
Aaptiv
Aaptiv offers audio-only workouts guided by professional trainers. They cover everything from running, strength training, yoga, to cycling. It won’t be able to show on screen, but you can stream the classes from your phone or tablet and join in.
Nike Training Club
This is a fantastic resource, particularly for those who enjoy a more holistic approach to fitness. It offers more than 185 free workouts across strength, endurance, mobility, and yoga.
And if you ever wondered what it’s like to work out like Serena Williams or Cristiano Ronaldo, this app is for you.
Zwift
Now, if you’re a bike lover who misses the camaraderie of group rides, Zwift may be your ticket. This app transforms your indoor cycling workout into a fun, interactive experience where you can join virtual group rides or races.
Fair warning: It can get quite competitive, and before you know it, you might be squeezing in extra sessions to climb the leaderboards!
Zwift has also come out with a running version, so if you have the Peloton tread, you can also get in on the Zwift action.

Remember, all these alternatives can be paired with your Peloton equipment to give you a well-rounded, comprehensive workout regime that suits your needs.
So even without a Peloton subscription, your fitness journey can still be versatile, fulfilling, and, yes, a whole lot of fun.
Cost Comparison
When considering whether or not to subscribe to Peloton, it’s important to weigh the costs and benefits.
Let’s take a look at the cost comparison between using Peloton with and without a subscription.
First of all, purchasing a Peloton bike or treadmill is a significant investment. The Peloton Bike starts at $1,895 and the Peloton Tread starts at $2,495.
However, once you’ve made the initial investment, you can use the equipment without a subscription.
Without a subscription, you’ll still have access to the basic features of the Peloton equipment, including the ability to ride or run.
However, you won’t have access to the full library of Peloton workouts, which includes live and on-demand classes in a variety of disciplines, such as cycling, running, strength, yoga, and meditation.
You also won’t have access to Peloton’s personalized training plans or metrics tracking, or FTP tests.

Peloton Subscriptions
If you decide to subscribe to Peloton, there are a few options.
The All-Access Membership, which includes access to all Peloton equipment and classes, costs $44 per month.
Alternatively, you can subscribe to just the Digital Membership, which provides access to the full library of Peloton workouts on your phone, tablet, TV, or web browser, for $12.99 – $24 per month, depending on your membership level.
One thing to note is that if you subscribe to the Peloton digital app, you won’t be able to stream it on your equipment. The app can only be accessed on a phone, tablet, or tv.
You also won’t be able to have more than one membership, so if your family is planning to use it you’ll either have to get individual memberships or share one leaderboard name.
If you’re happy with the basic features of the equipment and prefer to work out on your own terms, you can save money by using Peloton without a subscription.
Or you could save even more money and buy a Non-Peloton branded equipment.
However, if you want access to the full range of Peloton workouts and features, a subscription may be worth the investment.

Subscription or Not: Making Sense of Your Peloton Purchase
Before we dive into this, let me make something clear: I adore my Peloton equipment.
Seriously, I’ve named my bike ‘Betsy’, and we’ve had some truly epic sweat sessions together, especially in our Power Zone classes.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge a critical point — a good chunk of what makes Peloton special is indeed the All-Access Membership subscription.
The Peloton equipment — whether it’s the bike, treadmill, or rower — is beautifully designed, technologically sophisticated, and dare I say, almost looks like a piece of modern art in my home office (a sweaty, high-intensity art, but art nonetheless).
But here’s the thing: without the subscription, much of the Peloton experience gets stripped away.
Let’s be real: the biggest draw of Peloton is the immersive, interactive fitness experience it provides.
We’re talking about live classes led by rockstar trainers, on-demand workouts across various disciplines, and the competitive leaderboard that keeps your inner competitor going strong.
You’re not just buying a piece of equipment; you’re investing in an entire fitness community and experience. Without the subscription, you’re left with a high-end piece of fitness machinery and two pre-recorded classes.
And that’s where the value-for-money question sneaks in.

Peloton’s machines are premium products with premium price tags. If you’re not planning to use the subscription, you might want to explore similar but more cost-effective equipment out there.
Brands like Echelon, NordicTrack, and Schwinn offer great alternatives with comparable quality and no mandatory subscriptions.
Keep in mind, fitness is not a one-size-fits-all journey. If you’re just as enamored with Betsy as I am, or if the ease of having your workout options built directly into your equipment appeals to you, Peloton might still be the right choice for you, subscription or not.
But if it’s the fitness experience you crave without the hefty membership fee, rest assured, there are plenty of roads that lead to fitness Rome!
Conclusion
So, there you have it!
It’s completely possible to use your Peloton equipment without the All-Access Membership subscription, but remember, it’s like going to a party and not indulging in the buffet – you’re missing out on a substantial part of the experience.
The key takeaway here is to ensure that your investment aligns with your fitness goals and budget.
If you’re not up for the subscription, there are plenty of alternative apps and equipment to help you sweat it out. Regardless of your decision, keep that fitness fire burning and continue striving for a healthier, happier you.
And remember, the best workout is the one that you’ll stick with.