Last Updated: 3/1/2022
As you start looking at the higher-end of the exercise bike market, the competition narrows and fewer fitness manufacturers make the engaging exercise bikes that many people are looking for. That can make it easier as you read equipment reviews, but it can also add pressure to choose the right stationary bike for your home workouts.
To help you determine what bike might be right for your home workouts, we wanted to compare the Peloton Bike against the ProForm Studio Bike Pro. We have previously reviewed the Peloton Bike and have stacked it up against the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle, as these two bikes are very similarly priced. But if you wanted more bang for your buck, you may have been considering the ProForm Studio Bike Pro. Right now, it is free through ProForm+ when you purchase a 3-year family membership to iFit.
This exercise bike is notably less expensive than the Peloton Bike, but they have enough similar features that we felt that comparing the two could help you decide which bike is right for you.
Peloton Bike & Studio Bike Pro General Spec Comparison
Studio Bike Pro |
Peloton Bike |
Cost
Under $1,000 price range |
Cost
$2,000-$2,500 price range |
Weight Capacity
250 lbs |
Weight Capacity
305 lbs |
Available Programs
iFit membership only |
Available Programs
Peloton subscription only |
Dimensions
52” height, 56.5” length, 21.9” width |
Dimensions
53” height, 59” length, 23” width |
Bike Drive System
Belt Drive with Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel |
Bike Drive System
Transmission Belt Drive |
Incline Range
N/A |
Incline Range
N/A |
Max Resistance
22 |
Max Resistance
0-100 |
Fans
No |
Fans
No |
Heart Rate Monitoring
No |
Heart Rate Monitoring
Depends on package |
Bike Weight
113 lbs |
Bike Weight
135 lbs |
Cost – One of the most significant differences between these bikes is their prices. The Peloton Bike starts in price at $2,245, and there are multiple package prices that offer add-ons with your purchase. You also need to pay for the membership subscription from the start, which is an extra $39 per month.
In contrast, the Studio Bike Pro only costs $1,403. That alone would set this bike apart, but along with that, you receive a membership subscription to iFitCategory Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Weight Capacity – There is a 100-lb weight capacity difference between these two exercise bikes. The Studio Bike Pro comes with a 250-lb weight limit while the Peloton Bike can accommodate a rider who weighs up to 350 lbs.
Category Winner – Peloton Bike
Available Programs – While neither of these exercise bikes comes with built-in programs, they are both designed to allow you to stream thousands of workout programs.
The Peloton Bike comes with the ability to join in on live classes. These classes are streamed directly to your Peloton Bike, and you can enjoy all the feeling of a studio cycling class from your home. The Studio Bike Pro has live classes through iFit too, and it offers a wider variety of classes than Peloton, as iFit has been building up its library of workout classes for longer. Also, you can enjoy more cross-training options through iFit.
However, which one of these options is more important is mainly up to personal preference, which is why the available programs category is a tie.
Category Winner – Tied
Dimensions – Both of these bikes are fairly compact, making them ideal for people living in apartments and smaller homes as well as those with the room for a home gym. But, when you compare them side-by-side, the Studio Bike Pro has slightly slimmer dimensions than the Peloton bike.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Bike Drive System – Operating silently, these exercise bikes both come with manual power transmission drive systems. Both exercise bikes have clear cages over the rotating chain, which we like to see, as it both protects you if something slips and keeps you from catching anything in the belt drive system. But it also allows you to see if something goes wrong, which you can’t if the covering is opaque.
Category Winner – Tied
Incline Range – Neither of these exercise bikes comes with the ability to incline. If you are interested in that feature, a stationary bike like the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle is a good option to investigate.
Category Winner – Tied
Resistance – There are two different styles of resistance available on these exercise bikes. The Studio Bike Pro comes with digital resistance levels, allowing you to change the level of the resistance on the bike with the touch of a button. You have up to 22 levels of resistance available on the Studio Bike Pro.
On the Peloton Bike, you will need to manually adjust the resistance level with the resistance knob on the bike frame. With the manual resistance knob, you can go from 0-100 levels of resistance on the Peloton Bike.
Category Winner – Peloton Bike
Fans – Neither bike comes with built-in fans.
Category Winner – Tied
Heart Rate Monitoring – As far as we have been able to see, the Studio Bike Pro doesn’t come with any heart rate monitoring. With the Peloton Bike, the basic package doesn’t come with a heart rate monitor, but the more expensive packages include at least one ANT+ heart rate chest strap.
Category Winner – Peloton Bike
Bike Weight – Both of these exercise bikes are fairly light, with the Peloton Bike weighing 135 lbs and the Studio Bike Pro weighs 113 lbs.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Look and Feel Of The Bike
Materials – In general, the materials used for the Peloton Bike and the Studio Bike Pro are very similar. There is very little plastic, aside from areas like the adjustment knobs and drive chain covering, which helps reduce the things that can be easily broken. These bikes also have strong steel frames to help support you through your workouts.
Category Winner – Tied
Sturdiness – While the materials are of good quality, the Peloton Bike is built along sturdier lines. The frame of the Peloton Bike is thicker and provides greater sturdiness than the Studio Bike Pro. Also, the weight capacity differences between the Peloton Bike and the Studio Bike Pro also point to the Peloton Bike being more sturdy.
Category Winner – Peloton Bike
Moving the bike – Both bikes are pretty light and come with front wheels to allow you to tilt these bikes and roll them away. However, the Studio Bike Pro is lighter than the Peloton Bike, making it easier to move around. Also, the Studio Bike Pro has larger wheels, making it easier to move this bike over a variety of surfaces.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Seat – The seat on either bike is rather typical for upright stationary bikes, which is to say, not overly comfortable. For both bikes, we would normally recommend replacing the bike seat or adding a cushioning cover if you aren’t used to these narrow seats. However, some of our testers have said that the Peloton Bike seat is less narrow and uncomfortable than the Studio Bike Pro.
Category Winner – Peloton Bike
Pedals – On the Peloton Bike, you only have clip-in pedals. This type of pedal means you can’t wear a regular shoe as you use the Peloton bike. Instead, you need cycling shoes with a tri-bolt cleat.
With the Studio Bike Pro, you can use any workout shoe, as the pedals come with toe cages with adjustable straps. That way, you can lock your feet in place for secure cycling.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Assembly – When you purchase the Peloton Bike, delivery and assembly are included in every package. That’s a nice convenience, as you don’t have to figure out how to put a pricey exercise bike together. As for the Studio Bike Pro, the assembly isn’t overly difficult, especially with how light the bike is overall. But if you don’t want to build it yourself, even with choosing ProForm bike assembly, you will pay $249, making your overall total $1,312. Since that is still far more affordable than the Peloton Bike, you may want to treat yourself to having your Studio Bike Pro professionally assembled.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
User Interface
Peloton Bike
ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Controls – The controls on these bikes are straightforward. On the Studio Bike Pro, you can select any of the digital resistance levels to set your exercise bike’s resistance. For all other control needs, you use the touchscreen to do things like selecting workouts, changing the volume, and check out workout data.
On the Peloton Bike, you need to manually turn the resistance knob to adjust your resistance level. As with the Studio Bike Pro, you use the touchscreen on the Peloton Bike to select classes, scroll through workout data, and more.
Category Winner – Tied
Fan Controls – Neither bike comes with fans.
Category Winner – Tied
Program Selection – While neither of these bikes comes with built-in workout programs, each has the ability to sync with a subscription service that provides thousands of workout programs for you to choose from. This selection depends on your internet connection, and while both bikes can wirelessly connect to the internet, if you have poor wifi, you may want to run an ethernet cable to ensure you stay connected.
When it comes to the Peloton classes selection, you can either use the downloaded app on your smart device or choose from the bike touchscreen directly. There are plenty of ways to sort classes, from the type, length, or trainer. You can also look for and join upcoming live classes, and you can on iFit, too.
With iFit, you have a larger workout library to choose from and more options on how to select exercise programs on your bike. You can create workouts from your computer and save them to your workout profile to use later. That way, you can bike along virtually the area you will be racing next. Or, you can select workouts on your smart device or from the Studio Bike Pro touchscreen. These are a little less organized than the Peloton classes, but the wider variety and greater selection options make this area a tie.
Category Winner – Tied
Visual Display – Both of these exercise bikes have excellent and responsive touchscreens. The touchscreens are water- and sweat-resistant, which protects them as you exercise. However, the Studio Bike Pro only comes with a 10” touchscreen while the Peloton Bike comes with a massive 21.5” touchscreen.
Category Winner – Peloton Bike
Speakers – Neither of these bikes has very good speakers. They do have speakers, but much of the speakers’ volume is wasted as they are positioned on the back of the display. In most cases, we would recommend you use your own headphones to enjoy the classes and various workouts.
Category Winner – Tied
Data Tracking
Data Display – Workout information is vital whether you are working on weight loss or looking to shave time off your racing speed. Below is the information you can have available to you with each of these exercise bikes.
Studio Bike Pro | Peloton Bike |
Cadence (RPM)
x |
Cadence (RPM)
x |
Average Cadence (RPM)
x |
Average Cadence (RPM)
– |
Resistance
x |
Resistance
x |
Watts
x |
Watts
x |
Average Watts
x |
Average Watts
x |
Time Elapsed
x |
Time Elapsed
x |
Distance
x |
Distance
x |
Incline
– |
Incline
– |
Elevation
– |
Elevation
– |
Vertical Gain
– |
Vertical Gain
– |
Vertical Loss
– |
Vertical Loss
– |
Current Heart Rate
x |
Current Heart Rate
x |
Average Heart Rate
– |
Average Heart Rate
– |
Current Heart Rate Zone
x |
Current Heart Rate Zone
x |
Total Calories Burned
x |
Total Calories Burned
x |
Calories Burned per Hr
x |
Calories Burned per Hr
– |
Data Graph
x |
Data Graph
x |
Peloton Bike
ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Category Winner – Tied
ProForm and Peloton Financing Options
Peloton Financing
- Goes through a third-party financing company called Affirm
- Minimal monthly payments of $58/month for 39 months
- 0% APR
- No money down purchases
- Peloton Membership ($39/month) purchase separate
- You can pay off the balance at any time
- Subject to credit approval
ProForm Financing
- No money down, $39 per month, and 0% APR financing for 36 months. Or you can purchase a 3-year iFit family membership and get the Studio Bike Pro for free.
- The ProForm Financing program account is issued and administered by TD Bank, N.A.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
ProForm and Peloton Warranties
Peloton Warranty
- 30-day trial and return period. Full refund minus $250 shipping fee (or higher depending on location) with a potential restocking fee.
- 5-year warranty on frame, 12 months for parts, pedals, touchscreen, and labor. You can purchase extended warranties in addition to your Peloton Bike.
- To be eligible for service under their warranty, you must contact the Peloton support team. You will be asked to provide the serial number of your Bike, and the dated receipt or other proof of purchase indicating the date purchased.
ProForm Warranty
- A 30-day trial period for a full refund (minus shipping and 10% restocking fees)
- 10-year warranty on frame; 2 years for parts; 1 year for labor.
- The warranty extends only to the original purchaser.
- Repairs first need authorization. Shipping to service centers for repairs is at customers cost. Shipping for replacement parts sent to your home is also at your cost. For in-home service, the customer pays a minimal trip charge.
- If you receive a machine that is damaged beyond repair, ProForm will be happy to send a replacement machine or give a full refund.
- All non-UPS shipments are curbside delivery and require a customer signature. Return shipping and a 10% restocking fee will apply.
- Products being returned must be disassembled and packaged in the original box or comparable package. If you do not have a box, we can provide one for you.
- You can expect a refund in the same form of payment originally used for the purchase within 30 days of our receiving your returned product.
Category Winner – ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Overall Favorite
The ProForm Studio Bike Pro
Total Categories Compared: 24
Total Ties Between the ProForm Studio Bike Pro and the Peloton Bike: 9
Total Peloton Favored Categories: 6
Total ProForm Favored Categories: 9
As you can see, the differences between the ProForm Studio Bike Pro and the Peloton Bike are fairly minimal, and there were many features ties between the two exercise bikes. It can be a little surprising, considering the wide price gap between these bikes, but it greatly benefits you if you have been interested in the Studio Bike Pro.
After reviewing this comparison, you can see that you would be missing little if you choose the ProForm option over the Peloton Bike. However, if your main interest is in the live classes, you can currently only get that via Peloton, so you will need to choose the Peloton Bike.
Hopefully, our comparison between the Peloton Bike and ProForm Studio Bike Pro has helped you determine which stationary bike can help you reach your health and fitness goals. You can learn about other exercise bikes by reading our full list of best exercise bikes.
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