Peloton vs Beachbody: Which Fitness App Delivers Results?

13 min readUpdated September 8th, 2023

SLWritten By Sara Lindberg

OVERVIEW

Peloton

Best for Connected Equipment

🔥 Get a 30 day risk-free home trial

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BODi

Best for at-home guided workouts

Peloton’s affordable monthly subscriptions (🔥 Get a 30 day risk-free home trial) with access to one of the most extensive libraries of live and on-demand classes makes it a great fit for users who want more variety, lively group classes, and a lower monthly fee.

BODi (14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee), on the other hand, offers more structured programs such as the BODi Blocks, eating plans, cooking shows, mindset content, and personal development, in addition to live and on-demand classes, but it comes with a more expensive price tag and limited subscription options, making it more suitable for people who want pre-designed workout programs, and nutrition support.

Peloton vs. BODi

Varies by equipment and subscription

Peloton

Best for Connected Equipment

30-day Home Trial
Peloton Bike Rental Program
Various Equipment to suit your preference
App that works with and without equipment

🔥 Get a 30 day risk-free home trial

Peloton Overview

Peloton might be best known for its ultra-popular Bike, Bike+, Row, and Tread machines, but it’s the Peloton app (which does not require a Pelton machine) that is actually helping users access a diverse range of workouts at home, the gym, and on the go.

That’s because the Peloton app allows you to stream live and on-demand classes with an iOS or Android-supported device such as a tablet, smartphone, TV (Android, Fire, Apple, Roku), or computer.

Peloton offers two types of memberships: The Peloton app, which we refer to in this article, and the All-Access Membership, which requires a Peloton machine. The All-Access Membership is exclusive to Peloton equipment owners and allows you to stream classes directly to the connected touchscreen that comes with the Bike, Bike+, Row, or Tread.

The Peloton app, on the other hand, is available to anyone and does not require Peloton equipment like the Bike, Row, or Tread, so that you can use it with any cardio machine at the gym or at home. However, if you take any of the strength, Pilates, yoga, and bootcamp classes, they may incorporate weights, exercise bands, mats, or other fitness equipment.

This subscription-based interactive fitness platform allows you to stream live and on-demand classes from a variety of fitness genres, including running (treadmill and outdoor), rowing, cycling, strength, bootcamp, boxing, yoga, Pilates, stretching, barre, meditation, walking, and hiking classes. It also features comprehensive programs for marathon training, a beginner yoga series, or a four-week Pilates program.

Plus, you can track your progress over time, including metrics like distance, speed, calories burned, and heart rate, which allows you to see improvement and set new goals.

The Peloton app also has a large and active community of users who can connect and interact with each other. You can follow other users, join groups, and participate in challenges to stay motivated and accountable.

We really like the filtering tool and how Peloton organizes and displays classes. With the filtering tool, you can search by workout type, instructor, duration, music, language, and difficulty.

Once you select a class, you’ll see more information about the workout, like the plan, song list, body activity, and ratings. What’s more, you can search for live classes through the schedule feature or sort through on-demand workouts. In general, classes range from 5 to 90 minutes.

The Peloton App costs $12.99 per month after a 30-day free trial period for new users. This fee only covers a single user, so if you have multiple people wanting to use the app, you'll need a subscription for each person.

You can find the Peloton App on the Peloton website, Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon App Store. If you have or are considering purchasing a Peloton cardio machine like the Bike, Bike+, Row, or Tread, you’ll need to sign up for the All-Access Membership, which costs $44 per month.

We feel that the Peloton app truly offers something for everyone. That said, it may not be as personalized as other fitness apps offering more individualized workout plans and routines.

But if you want access to live and on-demand classes, regularly updated content, expert instructors, an energetic community, and an easy-to-use interface, you can’t go wrong with the Peloton app.

Peloton Equipment List

The Peloton Free app, Peloton App One, and Peloton App+ do not require a Peloton cardio machine. If you have a Peloton Bike, Bike+, Row, or Tread, you’ll want to choose the Peloton All-Access Membership. If you have the Guide, you’ll subscribe to the Peloton Guide membership.

All Peloton apps feature classes that use bodyweight only, along with various fitness equipment. In general, you may see the following equipment used in Peloton classes:

Dumbbells
Kettlebells
Yoga Mat
Resistance Bands
Yoga Block
Yoga Strap
Foam Roller
Looped Resistance Bands
Heart Rate Monitor
Exercise Bike
Treadmill
Rowing Machine
Cycling Shoes

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Peloton Workouts

Peloton workout programs and classes currently being offered include:

Strength: No-equipment strength classes, free weight routines, and Pilates and barre classes round out the strength program with the Peloton app.

Cycling: Low-impact, Bike bootcamp, HIIT, intervals and arms, and endurance rides are just a few classes you can take on a Peloton Bike/Bike+ or your own exercise bike.

Running: From fun runs and endurance runs to HIIT, hills, and intervals, the running section of the Peloton app has everything you need to improve endurance and build strength with the Peloton Tread or your own treadmill.

Rowing: Combining the best of cardio and strength, Peloton rowing classes include Tabata rows, endurance rows, beginner rows, and more. Stream on the Peloton Row or use your own rowing machine.

Yoga: Supportive yoga instructors offer sequences and classes of all levels ranging from prenatal and restorative to slow flow and power flow.

Meditation: Guided meditations ranging from 5 minutes to 30 minutes will teach you techniques to calm and center your mind while bringing a sense of restful rejuvenation to your body.

Stretching: Classes specifically designed for pre and post-running, riding, and to help benefit muscle development and recovery. You can also choose stretching classes based on where you’re experiencing muscle tightness, so you can focus your attention on loosening up and lengthening out specific areas.

Walking: Peloton Tread walking classes offer everything from low-impact walking workouts to walking programs to build endurance.

Outdoor: Get outdoors for an audio-guided cardio walking or running workout from Peloton’s running instructors. These classes are set to music and include live metrics.
Cardio: Cardio workouts and classes that go beyond cycling, rowing, walking, and running. From boxing and HIIT to dance cardio and family fit, Peloton has tons of cardio workouts to get your blood pumping.

Peloton Plans

Plan Type	Price	Offers
Peloton App Free	Free	Access to a limited number of classes.
Peloton App One	$12.99/mo or $129/year	Access to all classes including strength, cardio, Pilates, meditation, outdoor running, and more. Up to 3 cardio equipment classes each month including cycling, running, walking, and rowing.
Peloton App+	$24/mo or $240/year	Access to all classes including strength, cardio, Pilates, meditation, outdoor running, and more. No limit on cardio equipment classes including cycling, running, walking, and rowing. Access to exclusive classes, programs, and challenges and you can use a compatible cadence monitor with any cycling workout to track live metrics.
Peloton All-Access Membership	$44/mo	Includes App+ membership and content exclusively for Peloton equipment.
Peloton Guide Membership	$24/mo	Includes App+ membership and content exclusively for Guide.

Peloton Pros

Free 30-day trial
Affordable monthly fee
Does not require Pelton equipment
Compatible with several devices
Pairs with Apple Watch
Thousands of live and on-demand classes
New classes and workouts added daily
High-quality, motivating instructors
Explicit music warning notification and filter

Peloton Cons

Some workouts require equipment
Can only create one user profile
Music is pre-selected by instructors
No customized workouts

12 months for $179

BODi

Best for at-home guided workouts

🔥 14 Day Free Trial

BODi Overview

BODi, previously referred to as Beachbody, is an all-in-one digital streaming health and wellness platform featuring fitness, nutrition, and mindset classes, content, tips, and strategies.

According to the Beachbody website, Beachbody On Demand (BOD) and BODi are now one platform. The company calls BODi its “Health Esteem” destination that focuses on accepting and embracing the person you are today and championing who you wish to become.

You can instantly stream BODi workouts anytime, anywhere. You’ll also get additional program materials, nutritional guidance, and community support with each fitness program.

You’ll find something accessible to every fitness level, and many programs do not require any equipment. Plus, the BODi website and app offer a localized experience for Spanish-speaking users in the U.S. and French-speaking users in France and Canada.

A BODi membership gives you access to unlimited streaming of thousands of live and on-demand classes, personal development content, eating plans, new monthly recipes, and exclusive access to cooking shows such as FIXATE and Mindset Menu.

And to ensure you reach your goals, accountability groups will connect you to a Coach and your very own workout community who can help keep you motivated.

The three BODi app membership types include:

12-month membership for $179
6-month membership for $119
3-month membership for $89

BODi is a costly investment, with a three-month minimum commitment. And while the fee is higher than many competitors, the company offers a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Each membership is set for automatic renewal unless you cancel before your credit card is charged, so make sure to note your first day after the free 14-day trial. Plus, some workouts require equipment, such as dumbbells, resistance bands, or a yoga mat, which may be an additional expense for users.

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BODi Workouts

BODi has hundreds of programs and workouts. Some of the more popular programs include:

P90X: Tony Horton’s revolutionary full-body resistance training workouts that focuses on muscle building, core, and plyometrics.

21 Day Fix: Autumn Calabrese’s 30-minute workouts focusing on strength and cardio. Also includes meal plans.

Shaun T Fitness: 14 Shaun T programs featuring bodyweight-only routines.

PiYo: Perfect combination of Pilates, yoga, and cardio.

Insanity Max: 30: Cardio and HIIT daily workouts.

Cize: Dance cardio workouts

80 Day Obsession: Autumn Calabrese’s 80 workouts.

Barre Blend: Fun fusion of ballet barre, Pilates, and cardio interval training.

BODi live and on-demand classes include:

Cycling
Strength
Cardio
Bootcamp
Pilates
Barre
Core
Yoga
Meditation
Dance

The Fitness section on the BODi app is by far the most extensive and useful part of the program. In addition to thousands of world-class workouts, including cardio/HIIT, cycling, barre, core, strength, bootcamp, yoga, Pilates, and meditation, BODi also has a structured program called BODi fitness Blocks. These Blocks help with motivation and staying on track.

Each BODi fitness Block features five workouts a week for three weeks, with new Blocks starting each month. They built in an optional fourth week called a UP (Unconditional Progress) week to promote rest and functional recovery before starting a new BODi Block.

Since a new Block drops every month, you can choose Block based on your goal and how intense you want to get.

BODi Blocks include:

Beginners Only Block: Low-impact workouts for beginners
Iron Block: Traditional weight lifting focusing on lean mass and definition
Bike Block: Clip in for a fun, high-energy mix of cycling and strength training
Super Block: Workouts with Super Trainers as they remake hit programs
All-Bodi Block: Innovative strength training, cardio, core, and mobility work

The nutrition section consists of simple eating plans with over 1,000 recipes, which is an excellent tool within the BODi app. We also like the mindset section, which features weekly video sessions to start and end the week in the best way possible.

You also get monthly master classes from personal development experts, tips and tools for the journey, and community support to celebrate wins and share challenges.

BODi is compatible with iOS and Android-supported mobile devices, as well as with Apple TV devices, Chromecast devices, Fire TV devices, Roku devices, and certain software and browsers for computers and laptops.

You can download the BODi app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and begin streaming 1,500+ world-class BODi workouts and meditations.

Overall, BODi is a great choice if you’re looking for a platform that offers structured programs and routines, like the Blocks. We also appreciate the nutrition and mindset content, which makes the experience more holistic. Another notable feature is that most BODi workout videos have more than one trainer demonstrating different levels, such as how to make the workout low-impact.

This allows users to modify routines based on their fitness level, ability, and health.

BODi Plans

Plan Type	Price	Offers
3-Month Membership	$89	Access to all workout programs, BODi Blocks, nutrition plans and recipes, master classes and personal development, tracking tools, BODi community, and 30-day money-back guarantee.
6-Month Membership	$119	Same as a 3 month plan, just billed annually.
12-Month Membership	$179	Same as a 3 and 6 month plans, just billed annually.
BODi Bike Studio	Varies, but includes price of bike and 3-year BODi membership.	Access to all workout programs, BODi Blocks, nutrition plans and recipes, master classes and personal development, tracking tools, BODi community, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

BODi Pros

Fitness, nutrition, and mindset content
30-day money-back guarantee
14-day free trial
English, Spanish and French-speaking
Tracking tools
Ability to connect with a Coach
Supportive community
Personalized recommendations

Cons

Only 3, 6, and 12-month subscription plans
Pricier than competitor platforms
Some workouts require equipment
No customized workouts

Peloton vs BODi

Peloton and BODi have several similarities, like focusing on providing accessible and convenient workouts for all fitness levels, but they also have some critical differences worth noting. Both Peloton and BODi offer a diverse library of workouts catering to different preferences, fitness levels, and goals.

Peloton’s lineup of classes include treadmill, rowing, cycling, strength, bootcamp, boxing, yoga, Pilates, stretching, barre, meditation, outdoor running, walking, and hiking classes. BODi offers cardio/HIIT, cycling, barre, core, strength, bootcamp, yoga, Pilates, and meditation, in addition to nutrition and mindfulness content.

While the content and workout genres might be similar, how the classes are delivered differs slightly. That’s because Peloton offers both live and on-demand classes, while BODi focuses more on pre-recorded, on-demand workouts. This may not be an issue for some people, but for others, having access to live classes is a real motivator to stay accountable and on track.

Therefore, if you’re looking for expert instructors, excellent music, and energy-charged live and on-demand classes, you can’t go wrong with Peloton.

They consistently earn top honors from users for class selection, fitness modalities, and diverse content. Plus, they offer workouts for beginners to advanced levels. Peloton is also known for having energetic, highly skilled instructors who make the classes engaging and interact online and in the studio with participants.

We also like the interactive tools, achievements, badges, monthly challenges, and events that help with motivation.

Both platforms have active communities, but Peloton's community is more focused on the live classes, while BODI’s community is more focused on social media and support groups. Speaking of support, one key difference between the Peloton and BODi app is the ability to connect with a team of coaches. BODi allows users to access a coach for support, motivation, and personalized recommendations. Peloton does not offer this service.

Another notable difference is the nutrition plans and tracking tools BODi offers that help you stay on track with eating, meal planning, and weight loss. We like the diverse recipes and healthy meal ideas included with the app as well as tools to help track food intake and macronutrient goals.

That said, before rebranding, Beachbody was known for focusing on weight loss and aggressive marketing strategies to sell diet programs, meal replacement shakes, and other products.

It’s worth noting that they are getting better about this, which is why the company rebranded the Beachbody On Demand app to BODi, allowing them to take a more holistic approach to fitness.

That being said, we think the verdict is still out on the direction they will go, and because of that, feel that Peloton is a better choice for most people, especially if you don’t need the nutrition features.

Now that you have a broad overview of the pros, cons, and details of the Peloton and BODi app, it’s time to take a side-by-side look at these popular fitness platforms.

Features Comparison Table

Features	Peloton	BODi
Live and on-demand classes	Yes	Yes
Workouts for home, gym, and other settings	Yes	Yes
Equipment and non-equipment based classes and workouts	Yes	Yes
Free classes	Yes (limited)	No
Comprehensive workout programs	Yes	Yes
Single month membership option	Yes	No
Eating plans, recipes, and meal planning	No	Yes
Ability to connect with a coach	No	Yes
Supportive community	Yes	Yes

App Name	Price	Trial Period	Compatibility	Best For	Key Features
Peloton	$12.99 per month for app that is available to anyone$44 per month for all access membership that requires Peloton equipment	30 days	iOS and Android	All fitness levels, live and on-demand classes, expert instructors, active community, people who own Peloton equipment	Thousands of live and on-demand classes, personalized recommendations, metrics tracking, community support, integration with Peloton equipment, affordable monthly fee
BODi	12-month membership for $179 6-month membership for $1193-month membership for $89	14 days	iOS and Android	Workouts, comprehensive fitness programs, eating plans, challenges	Extensive library of on-demand fitness programs, nutrition plans, shopping lists, community support, challenges and rewards, 30-day money back guarantee

How to Choose a Fitness App

Whether you go with Peloton, BODi, or another fitness platform, there are several factors to consider before paying for a fitness app subscription. While not an exhaustive list, here are some factors to keep in mind when shopping online for a fitness app.

Fitness goals: Different apps cater to various fitness goals, such as weight loss, muscle gain, cardio fitness, mindfulness, yoga, and more, so make sure to Identify your fitness goal and choose an app that aligns with it. A fitness app should meet your needs and help you achieve your health goals. This will likely look different for each person, that’s why it’s important to set your fitness goals before choosing an app. Once you’ve established what you want to accomplish, you can compare your goals to various apps and see if the features match your needs.

Features: One of the easiest ways to scan the features is to read the about page and go through all the FAQ’s (frequently asked questions). Most high-quality fitness platforms do an excellent job of detailing what the app can and cannot do. For example, do you want a platform that offers live and on-demand classes or an app that designs workout routines based on your preferences? Also consider features like nutrition content, metrics tracking, community support, and access to experts.

Compatibility: You’ll want to make sure your electronic devices are compatible with the operating system. This may include a smartphone, tablet, computer, fitness tracker, smartwatch, or TV. Most apps work with iOS and Android-supported devices. That said, some are only compatible with Apple products, so make sure to read the fine print.

Cost: Some fitness apps are free, while others require a monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription. On average, most fitness apps cost between $12.99 and $29.99, with some going as high as $100+ per month. You may get a lower price by paying for several months up front, but this has risks if the app does not have a money-back guarantee.

Free trial: Many fitness apps offer a free trial period or a free version with limited features. A free trial can range from seven to 30 days, with the most common lasting 14 days. Another way to test an app is to use the free version if it has one. While it may be limited in features, it will give you an idea of the app’s capabilities and you may decide the free version is enough for your needs.

Doctor’s Recommendation: Before getting started with any fitness app, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor, especially if you have any health or medical conditions that may impact your ability to exercise safely. And, if you need hands-on adjustments or in-person supervision while exercising, you may want to ask your doctor, physical therapist, or other healthcare provider if they think this platform is appropriate for your needs.

The Bottom Line

Peloton and BODi are excellent fitness apps that are easy to use and offer superior content. That’s why it’s difficult to say which one is the best. Overall, both apps provide an outstanding workout platform, quality instructors and coaches, and frequently updated content. However, Peloton comes out on top for affordability and the number of live and on-demand classes available to members. We also think the instructors are slightly more motivating, entertaining, and engaging.

The BODi app is better if you want structured programs, such as the Blocks, with a set number of workouts designed to challenge you as you get stronger and fitter. We also think BODi is better for people wanting nutrition guidance. If you’re still unsure about which app best fits your needs, you can always sign-up for the BODi free 14-day trial orPeloton’s 30-day trial.