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Lindsay Boyers CNET Contributor
Lindsay Boyers is a certified nutritionist and published book author who writes articles and product reviews for CNET’s health and wellness section. Her work also appears on mindbodygreen, Healthline, Verywell Health and The Spruce. When she’s not actively searching for the best products at the best prices, she’s most likely creating new recipes, reading in her hammock or trying to force her cats to love her.
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There are plenty of great cardio workouts out there, but nothing quite matches the impact of an effective cycling session. It engages multiple muscle groups while combining strength and endurance training. However, biking outdoors can be challenging, especially in winter weather. Fortunately, you don’t have to give up cycling altogether during the cold and rainy season. An indoor bike trainer lets you ride without enduring harsh weather — and you might even enjoy indoor training so much that it becomes your go-to method year-round. The best indoor bike trainers can provide a high-quality workout in the comfort of your own home. We’ve rounded up a variety of options to match your riding style, experience and training goals.
Adjusting to indoor riding might take some time, but the best indoor bike trainers replicate the feel of the road, with realistic resistance, climbs and descents. Standard exercise or spin bikes lack features that mimic real road riding, offering only progressive resistance and little else. We’ve tested indoor bike trainers from top brands to find the best options for different preferences and budgets.
What is the best indoor bike trainer overall?
Finding the best indoor bike trainer can be a lot of work since there are so many to consider. There’s the roller trainer, friction trainer, magnetic trainer, direct drive trainer and a simple stationary bike stand. If you want to go a little more high-tech, there are also a bunch of smart bike trainer options. I’ve scoured the internet, read cycle trainer reviews until my eyes started to cross and tested a variety of the top models to give you some guidance.
I’ve found indoor bike trainers for cyclists at different skill levels and with different budgets. Each of these selections has been thoroughly tested unless otherwise stated (I did include a small section of top options that we haven’t yet tested). Whether you’re brand new to indoor cycling or a pro looking to upgrade your cycling gear, you’ll find something here that fits.
Best indoor bike trainer for 2025
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| Indoor Bike Trainer | Trainer type | Max power | Max incline | Weight (lbs) | Dimensions (inches) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer | Direct drive | 2200 watt | 25% | 47.3 | 22.6 x 29.5 | $900 |
| Wahoo Kickr Snap | Flywheel | 1500 watt | 12% | 38 | 29 x 26 x 16 | $300 |
| Alpcour Fluid Bike Trainer | Fluid | N/A | N/A | 25.2 | 19 x 19 x 18 | $190 |
| Saris Aluminum Rollers | Roller | N/A | N/A | 6.5 | 33 x 21 x 7 | $300 |
| Kinetic Rock and Roll Trainer | Flywheel | 1800 watt | 10% | 36 | 27 x 26.75 x 11 | $530 |
I considered several different factors while looking for a quiet bike trainer that also offers several levels of resistance. I compared all the available options and found the best indoor bike trainers at several different prices. Then, I thoroughly tested them.
Trainer type: There are different types of indoor bike trainers to consider, including:
- Roller: While you can simply put your bike on the rollers and ride, this type of trainer requires more balance and technique. However, it is affordable and requires less setup.
- Friction: Allows you to keep your bike’s rear wheel on, applying resistance directly to the rear wheel. They are more affordable, but may not feel as realistic as other bike trainers.
- Magnetic: Creates resistance using a magnetic flywheel and magnets. A handlebar-mounted cable is usually used to adjust resistance.
- Direct drive: You remove your bike’s rear wheel and attach the trainer directly to your bike’s drivetrain. They tend to have a higher price tag, but can connect to apps and provide a more realistic ride feel.
- Flywheel: A disc-shaped device that connects to the pedals with a chain or belt.
- Fluid: A flywheel mechanism is driven by the bike’s rear wheel, but an impeller spinning in fluid inside the flywheel provides resistance. As you pedal faster, the temperature increases and causes the fluid to thicken, providing more resistance.
Road feel: Direct-drive bikes and those that connect to apps with simulated workouts can provide a more realistic road feel. However, these tend to be more expensive.
Size: Some indoor bike trainers can be folded and easily stored, while others require more space.
Assembly: Some bike trainers require less assembly, like rollers, while others may require you to remove your bike’s rear wheel. Depending on your bike, you may need to buy separate tools.
Your bike type: Before purchasing a bike trainer, you should always make sure that the bike trainer is compatible with your specific bike model.
Follow the specific user guides for your bike and bike trainer to make sure everything is installed correctly. A bike trainer isn’t necessarily bad for your bike, but it can put pressure on the components that come in contact with the trainer.
If you’re concerned about wear and tear, consider using an older or spare bike on the trainer and reserving your road bike for the road.
Whether or not it’s worth it to get a bike trainer depends on your cycling goals, the environment you live in and your budget. Do you want to train frequently and need to be able to fit in that training whenever is convenient? Do you live in a climate with weather that keeps you off the road or trail for long periods? Do you have the extra cash to devote to a trainer?
Those are all factors to consider before you buy. Weigh how often you think you’d use a bike trainer with their average price and decide if the value is there for you.
We like the Wahoo Kickr Snap trainer best for beginners. The setup is easy, it works with third-party apps (including a free month-long trial of Zwift) and it has a quiet ride that closely mirrors riding on the road.
Read more details about the Wahoo Kickr Snap in the best bike trainer for beginners section above.
A spin bike, also known as a stationary bike, can only be used in one place. It features a saddle, pedals and handlebars that are attached to a stationary base that keeps the bike in place while you pedal. As for a bike trainer or indoor trainer, it is designed to attach to a road or mountain bike to provide resistance. For the latter, there are multiple types, such as direct-drive, flywheel and roller trainers.
While indoor bike trainers can typically fit a wide range of bikes, you will need to check the bike trainer specifications to ensure that it will fit your specific bike.
