Indoor Cycling Apps Compared

Indoor Cycling Apps: What I’ve Actually Used

Indoor cycling app options have gotten complicated with all the platforms competing for attention flying around. As someone who tried most of the major apps over the past few years, I learned everything there is to know about what each one actually feels like to use.

Some I stuck with, others I dropped after a month. Here’s the reality, not just the marketing.

Zwift

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The 800-pound gorilla of indoor cycling. Zwift turns your trainer into a video game where you ride through virtual worlds with other people.

What works: The social aspect is real. Riding with others, even virtually, makes indoor sessions feel less lonely. The racing is addictive – finding a group ride or race at any hour is easy. Workouts integrate well with the game environment.

What doesn’t: The subscription cost adds up. The game can feel repetitive after you’ve ridden the same routes dozens of times. And the gamification sometimes distracts from actual training.

I use Zwift for social rides and when I need motivation. It makes time pass faster than staring at a wall.

TrainerRoad

Polar opposite of Zwift. No virtual worlds, no avatars, just structured workouts and data. TrainerRoad is for people who want to get faster, period.

What works: The adaptive training plans are genuinely smart. They adjust based on your performance, making workouts harder or easier as needed. The workout library is massive. The analysis tools show exactly where your fitness is improving.

What doesn’t: It’s boring. Really boring. You’re staring at power numbers and interval graphs for an hour. No entertainment, no distraction from the suffering.

I use TrainerRoad for serious training blocks. When I want to improve, this is what works best. Just not when I need mental stimulation.

Rouvy

Rouvy films actual roads and plays the video while you ride. Your avatar appears on real footage of climbs and routes from around the world.

What works: Riding up Alpe d’Huez on video feels more real than riding through a cartoon. The route library is impressive – famous climbs, scenic roads, stuff you’d actually want to ride. The augmented reality blending works surprisingly well.

What doesn’t: Video quality varies. Some routes look great, others look like they were filmed on a phone from a moving car. The community is smaller than Zwift, so fewer people to ride with.

Good for when you want to “ride” specific routes you’re curious about. I’ve previewed race courses on Rouvy before traveling to events.

Peloton

The app version, not the expensive bike. Peloton’s instructors lead live and recorded classes with high production value.

What works: The instructors are motivating if you like that style. Classes are varied – HIIT, endurance, recovery, themed rides. Production quality is high. If you need someone telling you what to do, it delivers.

What doesn’t: It’s less cycling-specific than other options. The metrics are basic compared to dedicated training apps. You’re following their structure, not your own plan.

Better for fitness cycling than performance training. If you’re not chasing power numbers and just want a guided workout, Peloton works.

Wahoo SYSTM (Formerly Sufferfest)

Structured workouts with cinematic video content. The videos are dramatic, the workouts are hard, and they include off-bike training.

What works: The workout designs are brutal but effective. Videos featuring pro cycling footage add motivation during intervals. The 4DP power profile gives a more nuanced fitness test than simple FTP.

What doesn’t: The dramatic style isn’t for everyone. Some videos feel cheesy. The app can be buggy.

Good if you respond to motivational content during hard efforts. The suffering is real.

Kinomap

Community-uploaded videos of real routes. Users film their rides and share them, so you can ride someone else’s commute in Tokyo or a climb in the Alps.

What works: Huge route library from all over the world. Resistance matches the terrain in the video. It’s free to use with ads, cheap to subscribe.

What doesn’t: Video quality is inconsistent since users upload everything. Some videos have shaky footage or poor resolution.

Budget-friendly option with decent variety. Worth trying before committing to expensive subscriptions.

What I Actually Use

That’s what makes finding the right indoor app endearing to us cyclists who’ve tried them all. TrainerRoad for structured training when I’m trying to improve. Zwift when I need motivation or want to ride with others. Sometimes I’ll switch between them depending on what phase of training I’m in.

The right app depends on what you need. Entertainment? Zwift or Rouvy. Pure performance? TrainerRoad. Motivation from instructors? Peloton. Budget constraints? Kinomap.

They all connect to the same trainers. Try free trials before committing. What works for someone else might not match how you prefer to train.