Whether your goals include weight loss, improved stamina, and endurance, better health and longevity, an upcoming race, or event, or improved mental health, getting in your cardio is a smart and effective commitment to make. Cycling is one of the most popular forms of cardio for a reason—it's effective, fun, and doesn't have to break the bank. There are excellent home stationary bike options available at a variety of price points, and the best exercise bikes under $500 come with great options for programming, comfort and convenience features, and easy storage.
We researched the best exercise bikes under $500 and came up with a list of our favorites. From spin bikes to recumbent bikes and beyond, read on to learn more about our top picks for home exercise bikes under $500 and how to choose one that will best suit your needs.
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The Best Exercise Bikes Under $500 - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Exercise Bike Under $500: Sunny Health & Fitness Synergy Exercise Bike Stationary Indoor Cycling
- Best Foldable Exercise Bike Under $500: Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike
- Best Smart Exercise Bike Under $500: Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Cycling Bike
- Best Exercise Bike Under $500 for Beginners: YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Bike
- Best Magnetic Exercise Bike Under $500: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1918 Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
- Best Upright Exercise Bike Under $500: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2952 Upright Exercise Bike
- Best Compact Exercise Bike Under $500: Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
Best Overall Exercise Bike Under $500 – Sunny Health & Fitness Synergy Exercise Bike Stationary Indoor Cycling
SPECS
- Dimensions: 49" x 22" footprint, 50.5" height, 27" – 37.5" inseam length, 16"- 20.5" handlebar to seat distance, 7" x 10.5" x 1.5" seat dimensions
- Weight: 88.2 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 275 lbs.
A great home exercise bike should offer you a smart and safe workout while making it fun and comfortable for you to ride on a regular basis, and the Synergy Exercise Bike meets all the important criteria. Floor stabilizers allow your bike to adapt to your space and keep your ride stable and smooth, while transportation wheels make it easy to tip and roll your bike away for storage. This bike is known for its excellent construction, quality, and stability, making it the best overall exercise bike under $500.
This stationary bike by Sunny Health & Fitness offers important extras such as a device holder for your phone or tablet, magnetic resistance for an exceptionally quiet ride, a 4-way adjustable seat (plus adjustable handlebars) for customization and comfort, a bottle holder for your water, and dumbbell holder to expand your exercise options. The micro-adjustable resistance knob allows you to increase or decrease your difficulty level on a dime, and the built-in performance monitor gives you real-time feedback on your speed, distance, time, calories burned, RPMs (rotations per minute), and pulse (as detected through the heart rate sensors on the handlebars). Whether you are brand new to home cycling or consider yourself a pro, this bike covers your bases and offers an excellent cardio workout.
What We Like
- Dumbbell holders allow for safe storage of your weights and expanded workout options
- Quality design and stable, smooth ride
- Amenities and extras such as the device holder, water bottle cage, and heart rate sensors
What We Don't Like
- At 88 pounds, this bike is heavier than some other options out there
- Bike doesn't fold any smaller for storage
BUY: Sunny Health & Fitness Synergy Exercise Bike Stationary Indoor Cycling
Best Foldable Exercise Bike Under $500 – Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike
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SPECS
- Dimensions: 19" x 31" footprint, 46" height, 15" x 10" seat, (20" x 22" footprint when folded, 55.5" height)
- Weight: 39 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
When space is precious, having a foldable option can be the difference between being able to purchase a bike for your home or straight up not having the space to house one. This Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike folds up to a footprint of just 20 by 22 inches, allowing you to store it in a corner or closet when not in use. At just 39 pounds, it's much lighter than many other models, making it easier to move for better storage and allowing you to utilize your space for your other needs when not exercising.
With eight different resistance levels that you control manually and a 1.5-inch LCD display to track your time, distance, speed, heart rate, and calories burned, you can achieve an excellent cardio workout on this well-constructed exercise bike. If you want further tracking or to sync with your other apps or devices, you have the option to purchase a separate cadence sensor. A weight limit of 300 pounds makes it more user-friendly than many other models, and the adjustable, wide seat is built for customization and comfort. Magnetic resistance makes for a quiet, smooth ride, making this a good choice for people who share their living space.
What We Like
- Folds up nice and small for easier storage
- Lightweight for easy moving
- Comfortable seat
- 300-pound weight capacity
What We Don't Like
- Wide seat doesn't mirror typical bike saddles, if you plan on using this stationary bike for cross training or off-season riding from your usual mountain or road bike
- This bike is not ideal for users who are shorter than 5'3" or taller than 6'1"
BUY: Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike
Best Smart Exercise Bike Under $500 – Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Cycling Bike
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SPECS
- Dimensions: 22" x 41" footprint, 37.8" height
- Weight: 91 lbs. packaged weight
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
The Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Cycling Bike has 32 resistance levels to allow you to challenge yourself and vary your intensity during your cycling workout. With its adjustable seat and handlebars, you can customize your bike's fit, ensuring a comfortable and ergonomic ride. A water bottle holder allows for easy hydration, and smooth, magnetic resistance offers a super quiet ride. Transportation wheels added to the front of the bike make it easy to move around when needed, and the cage pedals work with any shoes.
With the purchase of your smart bike, you have the option to sign up for (after the free 30-day trial) the Echelon Premier Membership, which grants you access to thousands of live and pre-recorded fitness classes. With this, you can participate in a variety of classes lasting 5 to 45 minutes. In addition to the cycling classes you can take from your stationary bike, there are a variety of others such as HIIT (high-intensity interval training), kickboxing, yoga, and more. You can also share your membership with up to 5 users, as an added bonus. If you want more than just a bike to ride and enjoy the challenge of fitness classes, Echelon is a highly recommended option.
What We Like
- 30-day free Echelon Premier Membership
- Ability to access thousands of classes with Echelon membership for a more holistic workout routine
- 300 lb. weight capacity
- 32 resistance levels to allow for greater variability and challenge
What We Don't Like
- Bike doesn't fold down smaller for easier storage
- Heavier bike is harder to move/less portable
BUY: Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Cycling Bike
Best Exercise Bike Under $500 for Beginners – YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Bike
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SPECS
- Dimensions: 40" x 22" footprint, 45" height, 25" – 35" inseam length
- Weight: 72.75 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 270 lbs.
This spin bike by YOSUDA is built for a smooth, stable ride that beginner cyclists find comfortable and easy to use. The built-in LCD monitor provides feedback on your time, speed, distance, and calories burned, and the tablet holder allows you to set up your screen for online classes, stream your favorite shows, listen to music, or even work while you ride. The adjustable resistance knob allows you to increase or decrease the intensity of your workout incrementally while also serving as an emergency brake if you need to immediately stop the flywheel.
The comfortable seat and water bottle holder are additional amenities for your comfort, and the adjustable saddle and handlebars ensure the right fit while you ride. Durable cage pedals for your feet enhance safety and comfort, and transportation wheels allow you to tip the bike and roll it away when necessary
What We Like
- Water bottle holder and tablet mount are a nice added touch
- Built for stability and smoothness; very sturdy
- This spin bike is set up like many in-studio bikes, which many exercisers prefer for their workout classes
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't fold for easier storage
- No built-in screen for streaming classes (although tablet mount can be used instead)
BUY: YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Bike
Best Magnetic Exercise Bike Under $500 – Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1918 Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
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SPECS
- Dimensions: 42.5" x 24" footprint, 51.5" height, 26.5" – 33" inseam length, 16" - 19" handlebar to seat distance, 10" x 11" x 3" seat dimensions
- Weight: 63.3 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs.
This magnetic resistance indoor exercise bike offers comfort and performance at an affordable price point. A four-way adjustable seat allows for peak customization, the device holder can accommodate your in-workout entertainment, floor stabilizers adjust for any wobbles or an uneven floor, and the micro-adjustable resistance knob allows you to set your resistance at any difficulty you'd like (and also shuts off your flywheel at a moment's notice, if necessary). Transportation wheels allow for easy mobility and storage.
The built-in digital monitor displays your time, distance, speed, calories burned, and RPMs (rotations per minute). Magnetic resistance combined with excellent engineering makes this bike one of the smoothest and quietest rides you can find at this price point. It also preserves the longevity of the bike and makes maintenance very easy, since it uses magnetic force to create resistance and doesn't actually require physical contact between parts. If you're looking for a quiet biking experience in your home, this exercise bike is an excellent choice.
What We Like
- Excellent price for such a quality bike
- Super quiet ride thanks to magnetic resistance
- Device holder gives you flexibility for entertainment and streaming options
What We Don't Like
- 220 lb. weight capacity is more limiting than some other exercise bike options
- No smart programming or training built-in
BUY: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1918 Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
Best Upright Exercise Bike Under $500 – Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2952 Upright Exercise Bike
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SPECS
- Dimensions: 40.5" x 21" footprint, 51" height, 24" – 36.5" inseam length, 11" x 10.5" x 2" seat dimensions
- Weight: 56 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 275 lbs.
For people who suffer from back or neck pain, the extreme bent-over position of many road bikes (and their stationary counterparts) can create further pain points and generally feel uncomfortable. Upright bikes solve this problem by allowing you to get your cycling in while sitting in a more comfortable, upright position. This particular upright bike is well-designed for ergonomic seating and a comfortable ride, all while allowing you to get your cardio in at home.
This stationary upright bike by Sunny Health & Fitness comes with a device holder, 8 levels of adjustable resistance, heart rate sensors, a 4-way adjustable seat, and a monitor that tracks your time, speed, distance, calories, heart rate, and RPMs (rotations per minute). Floor stabilizers and transportation wheels are important added features, and the magnetic tension system ensures a nice, quiet ride at any time of day.
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Quiet magnetic tension system
- Device holder gives you unlimited entertainment/streaming options
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't fold for easier storage
- Upright positioning may not be ideal for dedicated cyclists who prefer more specific biking positioning during off-season training
BUY: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2952 Upright Exercise Bike
Best Compact Exercise Bike Under $500 – Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
SPECS
- Dimensions: 41.3" x 21.4" footprint, 55.6" height
- Weight: 58.4 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
The Schwinn 170 Upright bike is an excellent choice for beginner or expert cyclists alike. This compact bike comes with many added amenities, such as an adjustable three-speed fan, media shelf/device holder, 25 different resistance levels, and a water bottle holder. The sturdy frame and 300-pound weight capacity make it smooth and user-friendly.
This stationary bike by Schwinn comes loaded with 29 pre-programmed workout selections, and its Bluetooth capabilities make it compatible with the Explore the World™ app along with many other popular workout apps and trackers. The Explore the World™ app allows you to cycle along with the visuals of gorgeous, high-definition destinations around the world, making your workouts less drab and more engaging. You can set up to four user profiles if others in your household want to reap the cycling benefits of regular stationary bike workouts. The display keeps you informed about your time, distance, and calorie goals, and it also includes a USB charging port and MP3 input so you can play your music/audio on the bike's built-in speakers.
What We Like
- 300-pound weight capacity and sturdily built frame
- Bluetooth connection to your other trackers and apps
- Amenities such as built-in fans, speakers, device holder, and water bottle holder
What We Don't Like
- Not adjustable for users under 5' or over 6'4"
- Handlebars don't adjust
What to Look for in an Exercise Bike Under $500
Size
Of course, one of the first things you need to consider when you're in the market for a home exercise bike is its size. Ask yourself where you plan on using the bike and where you plan on storing the bike (if they're not the same place!). Take your measuring tape and go stand in the space. What are you really working with here? Once you have some concrete measurements along with an idea of your preferences, you can look at the measurements of the bikes you're considering.
The footprint size (length by width) will be your main consideration but don't forget to take height, possible seat and handlebar adjustments, and folding options into consideration. Also, remember that your legs will be in constant motion when using the bike, so don't try to set yourself up too close to any walls or other equipment!
Weight
The next important consideration to keep in mind is the weight of the bike. Depending on where you plan to use/store your bike and your own lifting and moving capabilities, find a bike that meets your individual weight needs. Do keep in mind that many stationary bikes come with transportation wheels, which allow you to tip the bike up onto those wheels and roll it for portability, so you don't necessarily have to be able to lift the bike completely to move it around.
Along with the weight of the bike itself, don't forget to check out the weight capacity of the bike. You don't want to put yourself at risk by choosing a bike that is not designed to support your body weight.
Pedal Type
Stationary and spin bikes can come with a variety of options for pedals. There are clipless pedals that clip to specialized cycling shoes, flat or platform pedals that you simply rest your feet upon, toe cages that you slip the front of your workout shoes into, and various hybrid options. Each can make for an excellent home biking experience, so all you have to do is choose the one that best meets your own needs. (If you're not sure which you prefer, try sitting on an exercise bike in a store or at your local gym to get a feel for each.)
FAQs About Exercise Bikes
How much should I spend on an exercise bike?
Exercise bikes come in a huge variety of price points, and how much you should spend varies based on your individual needs. As shown by the many reviewed options above for under $500, you don't have to shell out major money to get a high-quality, excellent exercise bike for home use. Look for sizes and weight limits that meet your needs, check the reviews to ensure quality and user satisfaction, and don't fall for the myth that more expensive is always better.
Is 20 minutes a day on an exercise bike enough?
In general, following the physical activity recommendations for adults means getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. (Note that this may vary if you're working towards losing weight or have other fitness goals in mind.) How you break this up depends on your own schedule and preference. You could do 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week or you could do 50 minutes sessions, 3 days a week, for example. The more vigorous your cardio, the fewer minutes you need weekly, so you could also mix in some high-intensity training to reduce your overall time on the bike while still burning calories and adequately working your cardiovascular system.
Can biking burn belly fat?
Typically, unwanted belly fat comes from your body storing excess calories (meaning that you have consumed more calories than you have burned over time). By increasing your cardio via a home exercise bike, you alter this balance in your favor, thereby burning more calories and reducing belly fat. Note that you can't “spot treat" belly fat, but you can reduce overall fat storage in your body and whittle down your core by doing so.
About the Author
Kialei Kappel is a fitness expert with a degree in Exercise Science from BYU, over 10 years of field experience, and more than 10 industry certifications. She is currently working on her Masters in Public Health.
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