This Peloton Ellipitical Workout Guide is NOT sponsored and was written based on my honest experience as a busy mom working on her fitness!
Back when we had the Peloton All-Access Membership, my mom discovered a cool little trick using her Apple Watch and the Peloton Digital App.
Since she didn’t have access to our Peloton Bike at home but DID have an elliptical, my mom tried doing a tread workout using her equipment!
This guide will show you what we figured out.
Keep reading to learn:
- will Peloton have an elliptical
- what is better Peloton or elliptical
- can you use an elliptical for Peloton bootcamp
- is the elliptical machine good for losing belly fat
- Peloton bike vs elliptical price points
- whether or not we still recommend purchasing a Peloton
- best elliptical machine for home
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used throughout this post. You can read our full disclosure here.
Peloton Elliptical Workout Guide: Here’s How to Do It
Getting a great elliptical workout with the Peloton digital app is very doable!
And you’ve got several ways to do it:
- Bike Classes
- Tread Classes
- Bike Bootcamp
- Tread Bootcamp
Bike Classes
Peloton’s bike classes focus on resistance (how hard it is to turn the pedal), cadence (the speed at which you’re turning the pedal), and output (a combination of the two).
While your elliptical won’t give you the same numbers as a Peloton bike does, you can adjust numbers accordingly throughout your workout to follow the instructor’s pace.
Wearing a fitness tracker and syncing it with the Peloton digital app will show you your heart rate and an estimate of calories burned though!
Tread Classes
Peloton’s tread classes focus on incline (how steep the treadmill is), pace (number of minutes per mile), speed (how fast you’re running), and output (a combination of the other three).
Depending on your elliptical, you may or may not be able to adjust the incline when it’s time to do so during tread classes.
Can you use an elliptical for Peloton bootcamp?
Yes, you can use an elliptical for Peloton bootcamp classes!
I love these, they’re an incredible workout that delivers a full-body experience.
Bike Bootcamp
Personally, I think Bike bootcamp classes work best for elliptical users.
You’ll start off on the elliptical for 10 to 15 minutes then switch to floor work for another 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the length of the bootcamp class you’ve selected).
The nice part about using an elliptical is that you won’t have to worry about switching your shoes between using your machine and lifting weights though, haha.
Tread Bootcamp
Tread bootcamp classes are similar to Bike bootcamp classes.
The only difference is the type of machine you’re using during intervals and the instructors that are teaching the classes!
Our Experience
We found the bike classes to be better suited for use with elliptical machines!
Try both and see how you feel.
Instructors can also make a big difference!
Our favorite cycling instructors are:
- Ben Alldis
- Sam Yo
Will Peloton have an elliptical?
At the time of writing this post, Peloton hasn’t announced any plans to release an elliptical machine of their own.
There are a ton of great elliptical machines available on Amazon that you can do the Peloton workouts I mentioned above on though!
Here are our top picks:
Best All-Around Elliptical Machine
We like this elliptical because of its simple interface and great compact size. Compared to other larger models, it takes up much less of a footprint!
Best Budget Option
This highly rated elliptical is super affordable and 90% pre-built! It’s also easy to move around should you decide to put it in a designated fitness room later on.
Best Elliptical Splurge
This machine by Sole is SOLID and whisper-quiet, so you can use it even when the kids are asleep – winning! It has a large 7.5″ LCD display console and comfortable oversized foot pedals!
If you’re serious about fitness and want to invest in a high-quality machine, this is a fantastic choice!
Related: How to Use the Peloton Digital App without the Bike (or Tread!)
What is better Peloton or elliptical?
It depends on the type of workout you enjoy and your comfort level!
I loved my Peloton while I had it but I sold it because there were a few issues that rubbed me the wrong way.
Both my mom and husband also used the bike but couldn’t handle how uncomfortable the seat was.
I’ve seen some other riders replace their seats but it never bothered me and I was the one using the bike 95% of the time.
Over time, the front wheel started to develop a squeaky sound as did the pedals.
Tightening the bike after every few rides alleviated the noise but it always came back.
There were also a lot of interface changes, tech issues (the network being down and not able to do classes!) and then later, the company completely removed several popular rides – many in the scenic category that A TON of users loved!
These days, I do my cardio outdoors by going for walks with my girls but I won’t deny it, I miss spinning sometimes.
I may pick up a simple spin bike in the future again one day (probably in the fall when it rains 90% of the time in Vancouver) but I would NOT purchase a Peloton again!
This cheap YOSUDA indoor cycling bike is on my radar!
I like how simple it is but there’s an iPad mount in case you want to listen to music or watch a fitness class while you ride.
My mom is in her 60s and swears by her elliptical – she’s actually got two now so her and my dad can exercise together.
She prefers the full-body workout in one shot and it’s helped her lose about 50 pounds as well.
I like to do cardio and strength training and prefer focusing on my legs and then my arms!
A spin bike also takes a fraction of the footprint that an elliptical does so consider your space.
I would choose an elliptical over a spin bike if you:
- like to workout with your legs and arms at the same time
- have a large space
- prefer standing throughout your workout
- want a more solid machine
I would choose a spin bike if you:
- have a small space
- prefer cardio focused on your legs
- like to do a combination of sitting and standing during your workouts
More Fitness Equipment Tips:
Is the elliptical machine good for losing belly fat?
Yes, working out on an elliptical machine can help you lose weight in your waist area!
My mom dropped 6 dress sizes (from size 16 to 10) with a combination of:
- her elliptical machine
- Peloton bike and tread workouts (on and off the elliptical)
- a healthy diet
- Noom
You can read about my Peloton weight loss story here to see how I dropped 32 pounds in 3 months.
Peloton bike vs elliptical price points
The most basic Peloton Bike starts at $1,195 USD but you won’t be able to use it without a pair of cycling shoes so, you’re looking at about $1,260 USD just to get started.
The subscription for the Peloton bike is another $44 USD ($55 Canadian) a month or $528 USD ($660 Canadian) a year.
The budget-friendly Niceday elliptical we talked about earlier costs half the price and can be used with Peloton workouts on the digital app.
At $12.99 USD a month ($16.99 Canadian) or $155.88 a year ($203.88 Canadian).
So, your elliptical will cost less than half the price of a Peloton your first year and then one-third of the price annually after that.
Do you recommend Peloton?
At this point, I would NOT purchase a Peloton!
Although this company helped get me on my way to 35 pounds of weight loss (I’m down 50 total since I sold my bike), there are other companies and options I’d recommend over Peloton.
You can read my full Peloton regret post here and what I’m doing instead to stay active today!
Best Elliptical Machine for Home
The Schwinn Fitness 430 Elliptical is a reasonably priced excellent piece of workout equipment!
It’s also a nice little size that won’t take up as big of a footprint as other ellipticals on the market.
The simple interface is easy to use and means there’s less to go wrong in the future – a potential issue with high-tech smart fitness equipment like Peloton!
However, if you do decide to try the Peloton fitness app, you can easily run it on your phone and screen mirror it to a television in your home.
You could also get download the Peloton app on a Smart TV but if you want to see statistics like heart rate and calories burned on screen, you can only do this by casting the app from your phone!
There’s no way to sync an Apple Watch (or other heart rate monitor) with Smart TVs which is the reason you need to use your phone.
Related: How to Cast Peloton Digital App from Your Phone to Your TV
Final Thoughts: Peloton Elliptical Workout Guide
Converting Digital App workouts to a Peloton elliptical experience is easy and cost-effective!
If you’ve already got an elliptical at home, don’t worry about wasting money on a new fancy piece of workout equipment from a brand that may or may not be here in the future.
For $12.99 USD a month ($16.99 Canadian), the app membership gives you access to ALL Peloton classes and can even be synced with a heart-rate monitor like the Apple Watch!
The All-Access membership that you NEED to get for the Peloton Bike and Tread costs $44 USD ($55 Canadian) and isn’t worth the cost unless you have several family members using it regularly.
I decided to ditch my bike and subscription and am enjoying the $660 savings of working out on my own or with the occasional fitness video online.
My mom is still going strong on her elliptical and enjoys the occasional free online fitness class as well!
Will you give Peloton digital app workouts a try on your elliptical? Loved the Schwinn Fitness 430 elliptical?
I’d love to hear your story in the comments below!
Happy exercising, friend!
