The closing of gyms (and everything else) last year led to a surge in home gym equipment sales. Peloton, the reigning king of indoor cycling, saw huge boosts in sales. And other fitness equipment companies like MYX Fitness and Schwinn benefited as well.
With Peloton’s starting price for their base model bike coming in at $1895 and their new Plus model costing $2495, many consumers are questioning whether they need to drop that kind of money to get a good sweat session at home. Spoiler alert: You don’t!
Today, I’m going to compare two very popular Peloton alternatives that appeal to a broader audience thanks to their low cost: the Schwinn IC4 vs the MYX II Fitness Bike. Both of these bikes are significantly cheaper than the Peloton while managing to offer some incredible features that you can’t even get with Peloton!
Next, I’m going to give you an overview of each bike and then put them side to side to demonstrate the differences and similarities between the two options as well as show you how they compare to Peloton.
Schwinn is a name that’s synonymous with bikes. Maybe you even had a Schwinn bike growing up! So it makes sense that they’ve jumped on the connected home bike bandwagon and created one that’s designed to compete with the likes of the rest.
The IC4 is one of the most affordable options on the market, coming in at just $899 + $156 for their Explore the World subscription. Schwinn riders describe this bike as having the look and feel of an upscale studio bike, thanks to its 100 resistance levels and sleek look.
The concept of this bike is interesting because they actually made it so it’s completely compatible with the Peloton App. If you aren’t aware, you don’t actually need to own a Peloton bike or tread in order to enjoy their programming (which is their real claim to fame), you can subscribe to the app and get full access to their live and on-demand classes and ride along on whatever bike you happen to have.
Here are some of the top features and benefits of the IC4 bike:
- It has Bluetooth Connectivity that’s designed to work with popular cycling apps such as Peloton®, Explore the World™, Zwift®, and more.
- It features smooth, Magnetic Resistance which provides a smooth, quiet ride with 100 micro-adjustable resistance levels.
- There’s a generous LCD Display that tracks your time, distance, calories, and RPM's while also monitoring your heart rate with the included Bluetooth® heart rate armband.
- It comes standard with Dual Link Pedals with Toe Cages for use with standard toe cages or SPD clips
- It has both horizontal and vertical adjustment of the seat and handlebars for maximum versatility
- Integrated Device Holder that’s designed to keep you engaged during your workout
- Premium Grip Handlebars that provide superior comfort during your ride
- Dual Water Bottle Holders
If you’re comparing this bike to Peloton, you’ll save over $1330 in the first year by choosing the IC4 over the original Peloton (which costs $2388 for the first year including the annual membership).
MYX II Fitness Bike Overview
The MYX II Fitness Bike is a completely new experience that stands apart from many of its competitors due to the fact that it’s a complete home gym, not just an exercise bike. The system comes with a limitless library of workouts to choose from, and new classes are added daily. They don’t just offer cycling classes, they offer the full gamut of fitness classes, from yoga and Pilates to strength training and HIIT. Plus, they just announced their MYX+Openfit and BODi integrations on the heels of the exciting merger with Beachbody. MYX now has more class options than ever and access to live, interactive classes!
The most unique, and perhaps the most compelling reason to choose MYX is the fact that they offer a swivel screen for the ultimate in at-home training. Instead of straining your neck trying to position yourself to see the screen when you’re performing floor exercises, the MYX’s screen is on a swivel base that allows for 180 degree turns to adjust to where you need it to be. This is a revolutionary feature that, up until recently, was unique to MYX. Peloton just added a similar feature to their new release, the Peloton Plus ($2495).
Some of the top features and benefits of the MYX Fitness Bike include:
- It comes standard with a large, Moveable HD Touchscreen for optimal viewing
- There are tons of training options (spin, HIIT, strength, yoga, and more)
- The bike is designed as a high-quality, commercial-grade bike
- It features personalized heart rate monitoring
- It easily connects to Bluetooth headphones
- It’s possible to Integrate with Apple for additional tracking
- The class scheduler is included and helps keep you on track and progressing appropriately
- There are two color options to choose from (white or gray)
- It’s very compact and lightweight when compared to competitors
- There’s a great payment plan available for those who qualify
- The company offers a generous 11-year warranty
If you’re comparing the MYX Bike to Peloton, you can expect to save around $850 in the first year when compared to purchasing the original Peloton model.
Interested in learning more about the myx? Head on over to our complete myxfitness review, or see it head to head vs the peloton exercise bike - either way you'll get that much closer to getting the best exercise bike at home!
Here's a short video that you may like:
MYX Fitness Vs. Schwinn IC4: A Head-to-Head Comparison
I find that sometimes the best way to decide which bike it best for you is to see them lined up side by side for comparison. The table below will show you all the most important information you need to know when deciding between these two great budget connected home bikes.
Compare | MYX | Schwinn | Peloton |
|---|---|---|---|
Starting Price: | $1,399 save with code FITHEALTHY50) | $899.99 | $1,895 |
Weights Included? | Yes with myx plus - kettlebell, dumbbells, mat and roller | Yes, 2 small dumbbells | No |
Membership cost: | $29 / mo | $13 (+ you’ll need a subscription to Peloton or Zwift, too) | $39.99 / mo |
Pedals: | SPD and Cage | SPD and Cage | SPD only (purchase separate clips) |
Access to classes: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Swivel Screen? | Yes | No | No |
Buy Now | myxfitness.com - $50 off use code (FITHEALTHY50) |
The Bottom Line
In an effort to help you avoid the pitfalls of decision fatigue and overwhelm, I’m going to break this down for you as simply as I can.
Both the Schwinn IC4 and MYX II Fitness bikes will provide you with a great experience and will allow you to effectively workout from home, however, the one you choose will depend on your personal style and preferences.
The biggest difference between these two specific bikes is the fact that MYX comes included with an HD touchscreen (that swivels!) and the IC4 does not have a screen, which means that you’ll need to use your phone or tablet to stream your workouts. Which brings me to the next big difference, the MYX bike comes with full access to hundreds of workouts right on their own app, provided by their own instructors. Schwinn, on the other hand, designed their bike so that you can use whatever cycling app you want.
If you desperately want the Peloton experience aka access to their famed instructors and live classes, but can’t afford or don’t want to spend the money on their bike, the IC4 is a great choice. You get to stream all the Peloton workouts for less than $1000.
If you want to have an immersive, versatile experience and don’t care about accessing Peloton’s programming, the MYX Fitness Bike is one of the best connected home bikes on the market right now for the price. You get a premium quality bike that includes everything you need and then some, for a fraction of the price.
Don’t forget, I also have an exclusive coupon code for you to use on your purchase if you decide to go with the MYX bike.
Use the code FITHEALTHY50 for $50 off your bike!