With many gyms closed and people spending more time at home than ever before, the demand for effective, engaging at-home workouts has skyrocketed. Two of the biggest names in this booming industry are Peloton and Beachbody. While both provide extensive libraries of video workouts led by professional trainers, each program has its own unique features, content, and style.
So how do you decide which one is right for you and your fitness goals? In this comprehensive Peloton vs Beachbody comparison, I‘ll dive deep into the key differences between these two wildly popular yet distinct workout platforms. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to determine the best fit for your preferences, lifestyle, and budget. Let‘s get started!
Peloton Overview
Founded in 2012, Peloton started with a simple yet innovative concept – bring the high-energy experience and top-notch instruction of boutique fitness classes into people‘s homes. While the brand is most well-known for its state-of-the-art indoor cycling bike, Peloton has expanded over the years to offer a wide range of workout types, including running, strength training, yoga, and more.
A Peloton membership grants you access to thousands of live and on-demand classes via the Peloton App. You can use the app along with the Peloton Bike or Tread, or take the classes using whatever equipment you already have at home. The app features a polished interface with detailed filters to search for classes, performance tracking, a social community to connect with other members, and more.
Peloton‘s rise in popularity has been nothing short of astounding. The company‘s annual revenue has grown from $60 million in 2015 to over $1.8 billion in 2020, even in the midst of the pandemic. Peloton now boasts over 3 million paying subscribers who stream an average of 24 workouts per month. The brand‘s success points to the massive appeal of its high-quality, energizing workouts combined with the convenience and flexibility of exercising at home on your own schedule.
Beachbody Overview
With a history dating back to 1998, Beachbody is an OG in the world of home-based workouts. The company initially made a name for itself with hit workout programs like P90X, Insanity, and Slim in 6, which were first released in DVD format. As technology evolved, Beachbody embraced the shift to online streaming and now offers a huge library of digital workouts through its On Demand membership.
Alongside the 1500+ workouts, a key component of Beachbody is nutrition. The company provides customized meal plans, recipes, and supplement recommendations to complement its many workout programs, taking a holistic approach to health and fitness. This emphasis on nutrition is a major selling point for people looking for an all-in-one solution to reach their goals.
Beachbody‘s workout programs are mainly centered on the concept of interval training and muscle confusion. Most programs are designed to be followed for a set period of time, such as 30, 60, or 90 days, and include a set schedule of different workouts for each day. The structure and intensity gradually ramp up over the course of the program. This progressive approach is intended to maximize results and prevent plateaus.
While Beachbody may not have the same prestige factor as Peloton, its workout programs have still attracted a massive following over the years. Beachbody has over 2 million active subscribers and has generated over $1 billion in revenue. The company‘s continued success is a testament to the effectiveness and variety of its programs.
Workout Comparison
Both Peloton and Beachbody provide an extensive selection of workouts to cater to a wide range of fitness levels, interests, and goals. Let‘s take a closer look at how their offerings compare:
Peloton Workouts
Peloton‘s workouts are primarily centered around its Bike and Tread, but there‘s far more variety than just cycling and running. The Peloton app has thousands of classes across 10+ categories:
- Cycling
- Tread Running
- Outdoor Running (audio)
- Walking
- Bootcamp
- Strength Training
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Stretching
- Cardio Dance
Within each category, there are classes of varying lengths (from 5-90 minutes) and difficulty levels (beginner to advanced). There are also plenty of class formats to keep things interesting, like theme rides, live DJ rides, interval training, HIIT, pilates, barre, and more. With 30+ new live classes streaming every day and thousands more in the on-demand library, it‘s nearly impossible to get bored.
Peloton‘s instructors are a huge part of the experience and bring an addictive, magnetic energy to every workout. The roster includes former Olympians, professional dancers, celebrity trainers, and more. Peloton members often develop a cult-like devotion to their favorite instructors.
While having a Peloton Bike or Tread certainly enhances the experience, the vast majority of classes can be taken with minimal or no equipment. Most of the strength, yoga, and bootcamp classes utilize dumbbells, resistance bands, or bodyweight only. So even if you don‘t want to shell out a few grand for a Peloton machine, you can still get a killer workout with just the app and some basic equipment.
Beachbody Workouts
Beachbody‘s On Demand platform houses 1500+ workouts from 80+ programs. Some of the most popular programs include:
- 21 Day Fix: A nutrition-focused weight loss program with 30-minute workouts and color-coded portion control containers
- P90X: Tony Horton‘s classic 90-day program focused on "muscle confusion" to build strength and muscle
- Insanity: Shaun T‘s infamous cardio-based program with intense plyometric drills
- 80 Day Obsession: Autumn Calabrese‘s total body program focused on ab and glute work
- Morning Meltdown 100: 100 unique workouts designed to be done first thing in the morning
- LIIFT4: Joel Freeman‘s 4-days-a-week weightlifting and HIIT program
No matter your goal – weight loss, muscle gain, improved endurance, yoga zen – there‘s a Beachbody program for that. Most programs include a variety of workout styles to target different areas of fitness and prevent boredom. Workouts range from 10-60 minutes and can be modified for different skill levels.
The majority of Beachbody workouts require minimal equipment like dumbbells or resistance loops, but there are also many bodyweight-only programs. Beachbody does sell equipment bundles for certain programs, but these are optional.
Unlike Peloton, Beachbody‘s workouts are all pre-recorded rather than live. However, the On Demand library is constantly growing with new program releases every couple months. Working out with Beachbody feels more like following a set curriculum, whereas Peloton allows for more freedom and flexibility to take any class you want at any time.
The Apps
Both Peloton and Beachbody have robust apps that put the full workout experience right at your fingertips. Here‘s how the two apps compare:
Peloton App
Peloton‘s app has a sleek, intuitive design that makes it easy to find your perfect workout in seconds. The main screen showcases new live classes about to begin, recommended on-demand classes based on your history, and any upcoming bookmarked classes on your schedule.
You can search and filter the on-demand library by class type, instructor, length, music genre, difficulty level, and equipment needed. This allows you to get super specific, whether you‘re looking for a 30-minute 90s hip hop yoga flow or a 45-minute advanced cycling intervals class.
During on-demand workouts, you‘ll see your stats like cadence and resistance if using the Bike or Tread. For non-equipment workouts, you‘ll see elapsed time, number of people working out with you, and a list of songs in the class playlist. You can give the playlist a thumbs up or thumbs down to influence future music selections.
The app syncs with most heart rate monitors and fitness trackers to log your workout and metrics like heart rate and calories burned. You‘ll see your personal record (PR) numbers and a leaderboard showing how you stack up against others who have taken the class. This adds a competitive element that‘s seriously motivating.
The app‘s social features are also a huge highlight. You can follow friends and instructors, see who‘s working out, and give virtual high fives. There‘s even a video chat function to do workouts together in real-time. The community element makes it feel like you‘re part of something bigger, even when you‘re sweating solo at home.
Beachbody App
Beachbody‘s On Demand app is your one-stop hub for following the company‘s many workout programs. The main screen showcases featured classes, your recently watched videos, and any upcoming scheduled workouts on your calendar.
You can browse programs by fitness level, workout type, duration, or trainer. Each program page includes before and after photos, meal plan details, required equipment, and reviews from other users. You can preview workouts, download them for offline access, and create a personal schedule of classes.
The app also includes a comprehensive nutrition section with customized meal plans, grocery lists, and recipes that sync up with whatever workout program you‘re following. You can swap out recipes based on dietary preferences and even order the recommended supplements right in the app. This takes all the guesswork out of nutrition and makes it easy to stay on track with both diet and exercise.
Like Peloton, the Beachbody app integrates with Apple Health and other trackers to monitor your workouts and progress over time. You can also connect with a personal coach who acts as a virtual trainer, answering questions and providing personalized meal and workout recommendations to help you reach your goals.
While Beachbody‘s app may lack some of the bells and whistles of Peloton‘s (like live classes and leaderboards), it excels in the areas of nutrition support and structured programming. This makes it a great choice for people who want more of a start-to-finish total fitness plan rather than a buffet of classes to choose from.
Pricing
So what will a Peloton or Beachbody membership set you back? Here‘s the full breakdown on pricing:
Peloton Pricing
– App Membership: $12.99/month for access to all classes across devices
– Peloton Bike Basics Package: $1,495 for the bike, delivery, and 1-year warranty
– Peloton Bike+ Basics Package: $2,495 for the upgraded bike with enhanced features
– Peloton Tread Basics Package: $2,495 for the treadmill, delivery, and 1-year warranty
– Additional equipment like shoes, weights, headphones, heart rate monitor, etc. sold separately
The All-Access Membership ($39/month) is required with Bike or Tread packages for access to classes. If you finance your Bike or Tread, the cost of the first year of the All-Access Membership is included in your monthly payments.
Beachbody Pricing
- Beachbody On Demand (BOD) Membership: $99/year for access to the full workout library, meal plans, and 10% off Beachbody merchandise
- BOD + Shakeology: $160.95 for annual BOD access plus a 30-day supply of Shakeology superfood supplement shake
- BOD + Shakeology + Performance Line Supplements: $229.95/year for the above plus pre-workout, post-workout, and creatine supplements
- Additional equipment bundles and accessories available for purchase with certain programs
It‘s also worth noting that Beachbody has a network marketing arm called Team Beachbody. Coaches can earn commissions for selling Beachbody products and recruiting other coaches. While the Team Beachbody opportunity is completely optional for customers, some may feel that it cheapens the brand‘s image.
Pros and Cons
To sum it up, here are the main pros and cons of Peloton vs Beachbody:
Peloton Pros
– Huge variety of live and on-demand classes across 10+ workout categories
– Energetic, motivating instructors with big personalities
– Immersive leaderboard and community features
– Polished, user-friendly app with robust workout filtering
– Minimal equipment needed for many classes
– Financing available for the Bike and Tread
Peloton Cons
– Expensive upfront cost for Bike or Tread
– No structured, program-based workouts
– Some early complaints of sub-par music selection due to copyright issues
– Less focus on nutrition compared to other fitness programs
– Competitive elements may be intimidating or off-putting to some
Beachbody Pros
– Wide range of workout programs for every fitness level and goal
– Comprehensive nutrition plans with recipes, grocery lists, and supplements
– Workouts can be downloaded for offline access
– 1-on-1 coaching option for personalized support
– Lower cost than Peloton with no equipment required
– 30-day money back guarantee
Beachbody Cons
– No live classes, all workouts are pre-recorded
– Some may find the set program schedules repetitive
– Constant product upselling can be annoying
– Beachbody coaches and MLM structure are controversial
– Less emphasis on community and social features compared to Peloton
The Final Verdict
After an exhaustive analysis, it‘s clear that both Peloton and Beachbody provide fun, effective workouts for getting fit at home. However, the "best" option truly depends on your unique needs and preferences.
If you thrive on the energy of live classes, have a competitive streak, and value a strong sense of community, Peloton is the way to go. The premium equipment and production value create an immersive experience that feels worth the high price tag for many. Financing options and the ability to access the classes with just the app also make Peloton accessible to a wider audience.
On the other hand, if you‘re looking for more structure and guidance in your fitness journey, Beachbody is the clear winner. The carefully curated programs and robust nutrition support set you up for success by taking all the guesswork out of what to do and eat. And with such an extensive library, it‘s easy to find a program that fits your goals and schedule. Beachbody is also the more budget-friendly option, especially if you can resist the constant supplement upsells.
Whichever you choose, you really can‘t go wrong. Peloton and Beachbody are both excellent resources to help you get active, have fun, and see serious results without ever leaving your living room. The most important thing is to pick a program you‘ll actually stick with. Consistency is key no matter who is guiding you through the reps. So lace up those sneakers, fill up that water bottle, and get ready to sweat with the best of ‘em!
