Should I buy a Peloton?

Is a Peloton Worth the Money? A Complete Financial Breakdown

Peloton positioned itself as a luxury fitness experience. But is the math actually favorable compared to alternatives? Let’s analyze when Peloton makes financial sense and when it doesn’t.

The True Cost of Peloton Ownership

Upfront costs:

Ongoing costs:

• All-Access Membership: $44/month ($528/year)
• Extended warranty (optional): $175 for 3 additional years

Essential accessories:

• Cycling shoes: $50-150
• Heart rate monitor: $50-80
• Bike mat: $40-70
• Weights for bootcamp: $50-100
• Headphones: $30-200

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Peloton Bike (standard):

• Equipment: $1,445
• Delivery: $250
• Subscription (5 years): $2,640
• Accessories: $200
• Total: $4,535 ($76/month)

Resale value after 5 years: ~$400-600 Net cost: ~$4,000 ($67/month)

Peloton Bike+ (premium):

• Equipment: $2,495
• Delivery: $250
• Subscription (5 years): $2,640
• Accessories: $200
• Total: $5,585 ($93/month)

Break-Even Point: How Many Rides Until It Pays Off?

This is the key question: How many times do you need to ride before Peloton becomes the cheaper option?

Peloton vs Boutique Spin Classes ($35/class average):

After break-even, every class is essentially $2.54 (just subscription) vs $35 at a studio.

Peloton vs Gym Membership ($50/month):

Note: Gym offers more variety, so this comparison only works if cycling is your primary workout.

Peloton vs Budget Spin Bike + App ($400 bike + $13/mo app):

The Peloton premium buys: integrated metrics, leaderboard, better build quality. Worth it for motivation, not pure savings.

Your personal break-even formula:

Break-even rides = (Peloton cost) ÷ (Alternative cost per session)

Example: $2,223 ÷ $35/class = 64 rides to break even

Reality check by usage:

• Use 1x/week: Break-even in 15 months vs spin classes
• Use 3x/week: Break-even in 5 months vs spin classes
• Use 5x/week: Break-even in 3 months vs spin classes

The Opportunity Cost: What If You Invested Instead?

That $1,700 upfront (bike + delivery + accessories) is real money. What if you invested it instead?

$1,700 invested vs spent on Peloton:

The real comparison:

• Peloton 5-year cost: $4,535 (equipment + subscription)
• Alternative: $1,700 invested + $50/mo gym = $4,170 total, with $470+ in investment gains
• True Peloton premium: ~$835 over 5 years when accounting for opportunity cost

But consider this:

• If Peloton gets you exercising when a gym wouldn’t, the health ROI dwarfs investment returns
• A $1,700 investment growing to $2,384 over 5 years = $684 gain
• Consistent exercise adds years to your life and reduces healthcare costs by thousands

Bottom line: The opportunity cost matters, but only if you’d actually use the cheaper alternative. Money in an index fund doesn’t improve your cardiovascular health.

Peloton vs Alternatives: The Comparison

Peloton vs Spin Studio Classes:

SoulCycle/Equinox/local studio: $25-40/class

• 4 classes/week = $400-640/month
• Annual cost: $4,800-7,680
• 5-year cost: $24,000-38,400

Peloton: $76/month (including equipment amortized)

• 5-year cost: $4,535

Savings with Peloton: $19,465-33,865 over 5 years

If you’d actually attend boutique spin classes, Peloton is a massive value.

Peloton vs Gym Membership:

Mid-range gym: $40-80/month

• 5-year cost: $2,400-4,800
• Plus: Access to all equipment, classes, amenities

Peloton: $4,535 over 5 years

• But: Only cardio and on-demand classes

Verdict: Similar cost to premium gyms, more expensive than budget gyms. But if you value time savings and at-home convenience, Peloton wins.

Peloton vs Cheaper Home Bikes:

Budget spin bike ($300) + Peloton app ($13/month):

• 5-year cost: $300 + $780 = $1,080

Peloton Bike:

• 5-year cost: $4,535

Peloton premium: $3,455 over 5 years

That premium buys: accurate metrics, leaderboard competition, bike integration, better build quality, and the full Peloton experience. Worth it for some, not others.

The Cost Per Class Analysis

If you use Peloton 4× per week (208 classes/year):

• Year 1 cost: $2,245 (equipment + subscription)
• Cost per class: $10.79

Years 2-5:

• Annual cost: $528
• Cost per class: $2.54

Over 5 years (1,040 classes):

• Total cost: $4,535
• Cost per class: $4.36

Compare to:

• SoulCycle: $30-40/class
• Gym spin class: $5-15/class (with membership)
• Free YouTube workout: $0

The Time Value Calculation

Studio class total time:

• Getting ready: 15 min
• Commute: 20 min each way
• Class: 45 min
• Post-class (changing, etc.): 15 min
• Total: 115 minutes

Peloton class total time:

• Getting ready: 5 min
• Class: 30-45 min
• Total: 35-50 minutes

Time saved per workout: 65-80 minutes

At 4 workouts/week, that’s 4-5 hours saved weekly, or 200+ hours annually.

If your time is worth $25/hour: $5,000 in time value annually If your time is worth $50/hour: $10,000 in time value annually

For busy professionals, the time savings alone can justify Peloton’s cost.

Who Should Buy a Peloton

Peloton makes financial sense if you:

• Would otherwise pay for boutique spin classes
• Value time highly (busy schedule, long commute to gym)
• Have 2+ household members who’ll use it
• Are self-motivated and will actually use it
• Prefer cycling/running as your primary cardio
• Want a complete, integrated experience

Peloton doesn’t make financial sense if:

• You’d use a $300 bike just as much (be honest)
• You prefer gym variety (weights, machines, pool)
• You’re motivated by in-person energy only
• You’re not sure you’ll stick with cycling
• Budget is tight and $44/month subscription is a stretch
• You live somewhere with great outdoor cycling year-round

The Honest Usage Question

Peloton reports impressive stats:

• Average user: 17+ workouts per month
• 12-month retention: 92%

But these are people who kept their subscription. The used market tells another story—plenty of barely-used Pelotons available.

Before buying, ask yourself:

• Have I consistently exercised at home before?
• Will I actually wake up early/stay up late to use it?
• Do I have a track record of using fitness equipment?
• Am I buying this because I want to exercise or because I want to want to exercise?

A $1,500 bike becomes worthless if it’s a clothes rack.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Budget option: Peloton app + any bike

• Spin bike: $300-500
• Peloton app: $13/month
• Loses: Metrics, leaderboard, integration
• Keeps: Classes, instructors, content
• 5-year cost: $1,080-1,280

Mid-range option: Echelon or Bowflex

• Echelon Connect: $600-1,200
• Subscription: $35/month
• Quality: Good, not Peloton-level
• 5-year cost: $2,700-3,300

Refurbished Peloton:

• Peloton-certified refurb: $1,145 (save $300)
• Facebook Marketplace: $500-900 for used bikes
• Risk: No warranty, unknown history

The Subscription Lock-In Question

Without the subscription, Peloton bikes are limited:

• Just Ride mode (basic cycling, no classes)
• No access to 10,000+ classes
• Essentially a $1,500 exercise bike

This is Peloton’s business model—the subscription is where they profit. Budget $44/month forever, or plan to sell the bike.

If you cancel subscription:

• Bike loses 30-50% of its value
• You’re stuck with expensive basic functionality
• Consider this before buying

Making the Decision

The 30-day test: Peloton offers a 30-day return window. Use it. Try the bike for a full month, tracking your actual usage. If you’re not using it 3-4x/week after the honeymoon phase, return it.

The math summary:

Peloton is worth it if: You’d otherwise spend more on boutique classes OR you highly value time savings and will actually use it consistently.

Peloton isn’t worth it if: A cheaper option would get you exercising just as much.

The question isn’t “Is Peloton good?” (it is). The question is “Is Peloton worth the premium for MY situation?”

About This Calculator

Cost data from Peloton official pricing and fitness industry surveys. Subscription costs and features current as of January 2025. Resale values based on marketplace listings. Class costs vary by location and studio. Your actual usage will determine true value.