Studio SWEAT onDemand® & Peloton Cycle
Published on April 14, 2017
A side by side comparison
These facts are based on information from the time the article was originally published.
- Start-Up Costs
- Option to Try It
Before You Buy It? - Ways to Watch the Classes
- The Company, Community,
& Character
Pretty much every time you turn on your TV or log on to your computer you see this ad of a lady riding an indoor cycling bike in her plush New York apartment, right? Me too! It’s funny though because it’s a workout that’s been around since the mid-1980s, Spinning®, a.k.a. Indoor Cycling, but for many of you it’s just now being thrust into your line of sight.
Spinning® is a seriously incredible calorie crushing, body sculpting workout, which is why it’s maintained, and continuously built such a strong following. It’s typically done in a group setting at a big box gym, boutique fitness studio or cycling studio, but lately, a new trend is emerging, working out from home, and it’s taking off like wildfire. Why? Because it’s offering busy health enthusiasts around the world an affordable solution to get it done in a private setting, and on their own schedule.
In this article, we’re going to talk to you about the two top emerging options you can use to jump on board the Virtual Spinning® bandwagon from the comfort of your own home, Studio SWEAT onDemand® (SSoD), and Peloton Cycle.
From the surface Studio SWEAT onDemand® (SSoD) and Peloton Cycle appear similar due to their strong promise, accessible platform, and dedicated target demographic, but when looking through a clearer lens, the differences are what make the companies so distinct and unique. Let’s look at the comparisons!
Start-Up Costs
Studio SWEAT onDemand
Completely Up to you!
*Both companies offer payment plans for Bike Purchases
Use Any Indoor Cycling Bike That Fits Your Budget
and
Pick From Month to Month, 6 Month or 12 Month
Subscription Plans
as low as $19.88
Peloton
*$ 2,732
*Both companies offer payment plans for Bike Purchases
The Breakdown
$1,895 Base Exercise Bike Price, Exclusively Sold Through Peloton Cycle
+$200 Average Delivery Fee
+Sales Tax for Most Buyers
+$468 $39 Monthly Subscription Fee for Required Minimum 12 months
Rather than restricting users to one bike, SSoD suggests at-home cyclists pick any indoor cycling bike that meets their budget or circumstance. Heck, if it were me I would Shop Costco or Checkout the Indoor Cycling Bikes on Amazon for some amazing steals and deals before dropping thousands and committing to paying Peloton $39/mo with a lengthy commitment! You don’t even necessarily have to have a bike in your home; you may just choose to use a bike you have access to, like at your local club, office gym, or hotel workout room. In that case, you can still enjoy all of the benefits of SSoD by just bringing your mobile device to the bike!
Riding at-home is an amazing option though, and Indoor Cycling Bikes are available through numerous online retailers (like Amazon), as well as local fitness stores, or even Costco. When browsing online, search for “Spinning Bikes” or “Indoor Cycling Bikes” and you’ll see several affordable options. You can even go pre-owned if you prefer. SSoD also offers various quality & reliable bikes through their website for as low as $489, and that includes the subscription for classes.
The Peloton bike offers a built-in console that has a great immersive experience, and some fun bells and whistles, like the ability to compete with other Peloton riders. A downside to the built-in console is that you risk the technology becoming outdated. As the console is mounted to the bike, if the hardware becomes obsolete or technology advances and Peloton software does not, you might be stuck with the bike as is. And what if you want to stop paying the $39/mo, then what?
That’s why Cat Kom, founder of SSoD, said she prefers to allow her customer to not only have flexibility when it comes to the bike they ride but also by which means they choose to watch their Spinning classes. She said, “Most people, given the option, would likely prefer to look in front of them to a flat-screen mounted on their wall, rather than down at a screen mounted to a bike, so at Studio SWEAT onDemand we like to offer options for people to watch our classes using things like Apple TV or their Internet Ready TVs. It really allows for more of an in-studio feel that way.” And if you prefer to look down while you ride, you can watch SSoD classes using your phone, a tablet mounted to the bike of your choice, your laptop screen, etc. Whatever suits your mood or budget!
OPTION TO TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT?
Studio SWEAT onDemand
Studio SWEAT onDemand offers a Free 7 Day Trial where they offer over 100 classes you can take for a test ride. This includes not only their world-famous Spin class but their off the bike supplemental workouts, like Yoga and Boot Camp. You can use the free trial through almost any Internet Ready Device (smartphone, laptop, streaming TV, or Tablet) or through their Apple or Android Apps.
Peloton
For Peloton’s full-service option (like you see on their commercials) there is not a Free Trial. It’s a little tough for most people to be able to “try before you buy”, unless you happen to live near one of their showrooms, so to commit to spending $2800+ before trying the bike or classes might feel pretty risky to many consumers. You can, however, get a 14-day free trial to watch classes, but only through an iOS device.
Pricing & Plans Available
Studio SWEAT onDemand
Peloton
Subscription Monthly Cost
as low as
*$9.94/mo
Standard rate: $19.88/mo
@$39.00/mo
**or $19.95+tax mobile app only. App does not include interactive experience or data tracking
Contract Required
NO
YES
A 12-month commitment at $39/mo is required for those using the Peloton Bike. NO
if you just use their iPhone or iPad app.
Free Trial
Live Classes
Sells à La Carte Classes
Custom Workout Design
Pricing Options
Studio SWEAT onDemand
Pick the plan that works best for you
Monthly Recurring
$19.88
ONLY $19.88/mo
Only $19.88! Recurring billing at standard monthly rates
ONLY $19.88/mo
Only $19.88! Recurring billing at standard monthly rates
6 month All Access Pass
Save $20
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $99.28! Recurring billing at standard 6 month rates
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $99.28! Recurring billing at standard 6 month rates
Year Long All Access Pass
Save $50
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $188.56! Recurring billing at standard 12 month rates
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $188.56! Recurring billing at standard 12 month rates
*Cancel Anytime!
**This All Access Pass is for personal use only. For commercial licensing information click here.
-
The All Access Pass
The All Access Pass is a subscription that gives riders unlimited access to a vast library of on-demand workouts on and off the bike. They have hundreds of on-demand classes available now, and that number grows each week as new classes are added to the library. You can buy plans to go month-to-month or save even more with 6 or 12-month options. They also run intro specials throughout the year that bring the price down as low as *$9.94/mo so watch for those deals!
Their newest offering is live-streaming classes, which they started adding recently, though most at-home riders seem to prefer on-demand classes over live streaming. It is nice to know they have both options on the horizon though!
All live streaming classes will be free for those with an All Access Pass.
-
Purchase Single Classes a la Carte
Which can be viewed without Internet access because they are Downloadable. These are a fantastic option for when you only want the occasional video workout, or if you have poor Internet connectivity, as then you can actually download the class you purchased right to your mobile device or computer. Single Classes are only $7.88 each.
-
The Premium Plan
For an extra $5/mo provides a custom weekly workout plan, with suggested workouts for the week that are tailored to your fitness goals and objectives. It’s no secret that when it comes to meeting your fitness goals, motivation is key to success, but it’s hard to pick through hundreds, or even thousands, of workouts to find the ones that are best for you, so the Custom Weekly Workout Plan Pass takes the guessing away. Premium plan members also get unlimited offline downloads, discounts on merch, other fun perks!
Peloton
Peloton does not have the option to buy single classes, but they do have the option to stream unlimited on-demand and live classes. They began with only live-streaming classes, but have since jumped on board by also offering on-demand classes as well, most likely because research is showing the at-home rider’s desire to click play when their schedule allows for it. Riders now often describe the live classes as “novelty”.
Peloton’s full-service option (that you must commit to when you purchase the bike) is $39/mo with a 12-month minimum contract.
If you don’t have their bike, the only other option they currently have is for their iOS app and that is **$12.99/mo.
Studio SWEAT onDemand
Studio SWEAT onDemand offers a Free 7 Day Trial where they offer over 100 classes you can take for a test ride. This includes not only their world-famous Spin class but their off the bike supplemental workouts, like Yoga and Boot Camp. You can use the free trial through almost any Internet Ready Device (smartphone, laptop, streaming TV, or Tablet) or through their Apple or Android Apps.
Peloton
For Peloton’s full-service option (like you see on their commercials) there is not a Free Trial. It’s a little tough for most people to be able to “try before you buy”, unless you happen to live near one of their showrooms, so to commit to spending $2800+ before trying the bike or classes might feel pretty risky to many consumers. You can, however, get a 14-day free trial to watch classes, but only through an iOS device.
Pricing & Plans Available
| Studio SWEAT onDemand | Peloton | |
|---|---|---|
Subscription Monthly Cost |
as low as *$9.94/mo Standard rate: $19.88/mo |
@$39.00/mo**or $19.95+tax mobile app only. App does not include interactive experience or data tracking |
Contract Required |
NO |
YESA 12-month commitment at $39/mo is required for those using the Peloton Bike.NOif you just use their iPhone or iPad app. |
Free Trial |
|
|
Live Classes |
|
|
Sells à La Carte Classes |
|
|
Custom Workout Design |
|
Pricing Options
Studio SWEAT onDemand
Pick the plan that works best for you
Monthly Recurring
$19.88
ONLY $19.88/mo
Only $19.88! Recurring billing at standard monthly rates
ONLY $19.88/mo
Only $19.88! Recurring billing at standard monthly rates
6 month All Access Pass
Save $20
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $99.28! Recurring billing at standard 6 month rates
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $99.28! Recurring billing at standard 6 month rates
Year Long All Access Pass
Save $50
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $188.56! Recurring billing at standard 12 month rates
ONLY $16.55/mo
Only $188.56! Recurring billing at standard 12 month rates
*Cancel Anytime!
**This All Access Pass is for personal use only. For commercial licensing information click here.
-
The All Access Pass
The All Access Pass is a subscription that gives riders unlimited access to a vast library of on-demand workouts on and off the bike. They have hundreds of on-demand classes available now, and that number grows each week as new classes are added to the library. You can buy plans to go month-to-month or save even more with 6 or 12-month options. They also run intro specials throughout the year that bring the price down as low as *$9.94/mo so watch for those deals!
Their newest offering is live-streaming classes, which they started adding recently, though most at-home riders seem to prefer on-demand classes over live streaming. It is nice to know they have both options on the horizon though!
All live streaming classes will be free for those with an All Access Pass.
-
Purchase Single Classes a la Carte
Which can be viewed without Internet access because they are Downloadable. These are a fantastic option for when you only want the occasional video workout, or if you have poor Internet connectivity, as then you can actually download the class you purchased right to your mobile device or computer. Single Classes are only $7.88 each.
-
The Premium Plan
For an extra $5/mo provides a custom weekly workout plan, with suggested workouts for the week that are tailored to your fitness goals and objectives. It’s no secret that when it comes to meeting your fitness goals, motivation is key to success, but it’s hard to pick through hundreds, or even thousands, of workouts to find the ones that are best for you, so the Custom Weekly Workout Plan Pass takes the guessing away. Premium plan members also get unlimited offline downloads, discounts on merch, other fun perks!
Peloton
Peloton does not have the option to buy single classes, but they do have the option to stream unlimited on-demand and live classes. They began with only live-streaming classes, but have since jumped on board by also offering on-demand classes as well, most likely because research is showing the at-home rider’s desire to click play when their schedule allows for it. Riders now often describe the live classes as “novelty”.
Peloton’s full-service option (that you must commit to when you purchase the bike) is $39/mo with a 12-month minimum contract.
If you don’t have their bike, the only other option they currently have is for their iOS app and that is **$12.99/mo.
WAYS TO WATCH THE CLASSES
| Studio SWEAT onDemand | Peloton | |
|---|---|---|
Android App |
|
contains limited features and |
iOS App |
|
contains limited features and |
Other Options to Display Classes |
Note: Browser support for video playback can vary. |
Mounted Bike Console |
The Peloton app mentioned primarily seems to serve as an extension of their regular service and is included for those paying their $39/mo fee, though you can access it without buying their bike for $19.95+tax/month.
On the flip side, and as mentioned earlier, SSoD provides a large variety of options to watch their classes not only for Apple users, but also for Android users, as well as those that prefer to use their PCs, their generic tablets, TVs they already own, etc. Typically, if you can get the Internet on a device, you can use it to watch SSoD workouts, and if you can’t get the Internet, there’s always the option to pick and purchase from a huge inventory of single class downloads. We know there’s still a lot of places where there’s a need for this option, so SSoD is happy to provide it for you.
Now, we’ve got one last important area to cover, and it
might be the most defining subject of all, and that’s…
The Company, Community,
& Character
| Studio SWEAT onDemand | Peloton | |
|---|---|---|
Training with Professionals |
|
|
Personal Interaction with Trainers |
|
|
Community Forums |
|
|
Style |
Reality Base |
World class & cutting edge workouts |
Workout Options |
Peloton uses a somewhat staged environment with more of a DJ driven club environment, and instructors that have similar builds and styles, while SSoD has more of a reality-based athletic environment with everyday people just like you. This gives at-home riders that “in studio” feeling, and really helps them feel as if they are part of a community of like-minded people.
There’s no question that both of these companies are building a following worldwide and are providing fresh and fun at-home fitness experiences that go beyond anything the cycling market has ever seen before. Most of this debate really comes down to the question “which option is best for you?” If you’re looking for an aesthetic and innovative encounter, use Peloton. If you’re more interested in real workouts and a community that keeps the everyday person motivated, and at a price you can afford, check out Studio SWEAT onDemand.
