Let us get right to the point. You want the great workouts from the Peloton app without being forced to buy the very expensive Peloton treadmill. The good news is you can. The hard part is figuring out which treadmill works best. I have tested several to find the answer. This guide will show you the best treadmills for the Peloton app, based on real use, not just the sales pages. You will see how each machine holds up for running, how easy it is to use the app, and if it is a good deal for the money. My testing shows that the best choice is not the same for everyone. It depends on your budget, your space, and how hard you train.

How We Found the Best Treadmill for Peloton

To give you honest advice, I put each treadmill through the same set of tests. I wanted to see how they perform in the real world, exactly as you would use them. I looked at more than just the speed and incline. I focused on the things that matter when you are following a Peloton class on your own tablet or phone.

Here is a simple table of what I tested and why it matters to you.

What I Tested	How I Measured It	Why You Care
Screen Setup	How stable is it? Does it swivel? Is it easy to see?	A wobbly screen ruins your focus during floor exercises.
Running Feel	How noisy is the motor? How soft is the belt? Does it shake?	You need a smooth, quiet run to hear the instructor and music.
Size and Storage	How much room does it use? How easy is it to fold and move?	This is critical for small apartments or shared living spaces.
Controls	How fast do speed and incline change? Are the buttons easy to use?	Peloton classes change pace often. You need to keep up.
Overall Value	What is the total cost? How good is the warranty? How hard is it to put together?	The price tag is only the beginning of the story.

I used a decibel meter to check noise levels. I used a timer to see how fast the incline changed. I measured the space around each machine for off-treadmill workouts. Every test was done to help you make a better choice.

What to Know Before You Buy a Treadmill for Peloton

You do not need to be an expert, but knowing a few things will help you understand the reviews. Let us break down the key points.

Understanding Treadmill Power

You will see “HP” or horsepower listed. The most important number is “CHP” or Continuous Horsepower. This tells you the motor’s power during steady use, not just a quick burst. For following running classes on the Peloton app, a motor with at least 3.0 CHP is a safe bet. If you mostly walk, you can get by with less.

The Two Peloton Memberships

This is a key detail. Peloton sells two main plans.

• The App Membership is the cheaper one. It gives you all the classes on your own phone, tablet, or TV. You do not get all the live leaderboard stats, but you get all the content.
• The All-Access Membership is more expensive and is required if you own a Peloton Tread or Bike. It lets everyone in your house have their own profile on the machine itself.

This guide is for people using the App Membership. This means the treadmill you choose does not need to have Peloton built-in. It just needs to be a great platform for your own device.

5 Things to Check Before You Choose

1. Your Viewing Experience. Where will you put your tablet? Is there a good shelf? Does it swivel for off-treadmill work? This is the most overlooked part of the setup.
2. Motor Strength and Noise. A weak motor will struggle during sprint intervals. A loud motor will drown out the instructor and make you worry about disturbing others.
3. Belt Comfort and Size. A longer belt is better for running. A belt with good cushioning protects your knees and joints during long runs.
4. How Much Space It Uses. Check the dimensions when the treadmill is open and when it is folded. Make sure you have extra space around it for arm exercises and yoga.
5. Response Time. When the instructor says, “Take the incline to 8%,” you want your treadmill to respond quickly and smoothly. Slow controls can break your workout rhythm.

The Best Treadmills for Peloton App Tested and Reviewed

Here is my detailed look at each treadmill. I set each one up, used it with the Peloton app for multiple classes, and pushed it to see its limits.

1. The Premium All-Rounder: Peloton Cross Training Tread

This is the machine made by Peloton itself. It is built to work perfectly with their world-class classes. But is it worth the high cost for someone who already plans to use the app?

• Key Facts: Premium Price | 3 HP Motor | 12.5 MPH Max Speed | 24″ Swivel Screen | Requires All-Access Membership
• The Good: The screen and software are perfectly connected. The large running belt feels solid. The swivel screen is a game-changer for full workouts.
• The Not-So-Good: It is very heavy and needs professional setup. The required monthly membership is expensive.

How Does the Swivel Screen Change Home Workouts?

This was the first thing I tested. The 24-inch screen moves a full 360 degrees. I could easily turn it to the side for a strength workout or toward the floor for yoga. The movement is smooth and the screen is rock-solid. It does not wobble. This feature completely changes how you use the machine. You are not just getting a treadmill; you are getting a full home fitness studio. The screen is also very high quality, making the classes feel immersive and engaging.

Is the Running Experience Worth the High Price?

The running belt is 59 inches long. This is plenty of space for tall runners to use a full stride. The belt has a texture that provides good grip. The machine feels incredibly stable, even when running at high speeds. There is no shaking or flexing. The cushioning is firm but effective at reducing impact on your joints. During a 30-minute run class, the machine felt consistent and powerful. The motor is quiet, letting you focus completely on the music and the instructor’s voice.

The Real Cost of the Peloton Ecosystem

This is the big question. The treadmill itself has a high initial price. But you also must pay for the All-Access Membership every single month to use the machine. You cannot use the cheaper app membership.

If you calculate the total cost over two years, the membership fee adds a significant amount to the total price. This makes the Peloton Tread a long-term investment. It is the best experience you can get, but it comes at a steep ongoing cost. It is a fantastic product, but the value depends entirely on your budget and your commitment to using all its features.

2. The Smart Console Choice: NordicTrack T Series

The NordicTrack T Series is a popular treadmill with a built-in screen that uses iFIT workouts. But how does it work when you ignore iFIT and just use the Peloton app?

• Key Facts: Mid-Range Price | 3 CHP Motor | 12 MPH Max Speed | 10″ Tilting Touchscreen | Requires iFIT Membership for its features
• The Good: The screen tilts for a better view. The folding design saves space. The motor is strong and quiet.
• The Not-So-Good: The screen is small for Peloton classes. The iFIT membership is an extra cost if you want those workouts.

Is the 10-Inch Screen Good for Peloton Classes?

The screen is a tilting 10-inch touchscreen. For iFIT, it works fine. But for the Peloton app, it is small. I loaded the Peloton app through the web browser. The video played, but the text and instructor were harder to see than on a larger tablet. The tilting feature is useful, however. You can angle it down slightly for off-treadmill work, which is better than a fixed screen. For the best Peloton experience on this machine, you might still want to place your own larger tablet on the console and just use the built-in screen for the treadmill controls.

Testing the Manual Controls for Peloton Workouts

The NordicTrack has a great feature called SmartAdjust with an iFIT membership. It automatically changes your speed and incline. But this does not work with the Peloton app. So, I tested the manual buttons.

The speed and incline controls are placed on the front handlebars. They are responsive. When I pressed the incline up button, the treadmill started moving smoothly. The changes are not instant, but they are quick enough that you can keep up with class cues. The console is simple to understand, making it easy to switch between walking and running speeds during an interval class.

How Much Space Does the Foldable Design Really Save?

This treadmill is designed to fold up. I tested the folding mechanism. It is simple and uses a hydraulic system so it does not slam shut. When folded, the footprint becomes much smaller. It is easy to roll away on its wheels for storage. If you have a small room or need to put the treadmill in a closet after each use, this is a huge advantage over the non-folding Peloton Tread. For apartment living, this practical feature can be a deciding factor.

3. The Powerful Budget Workhorse: Generic 400 lbs Capacity Treadmill

This treadmill does not have a well-known brand name, but its specifications are impressive. It promises a powerful motor and a high weight capacity for a budget price. My goal was to see if its performance matches its specs.

• Key Facts: Budget Price | 5.0 HP Motor | 10 MPH Max Speed | No Built-in Screen | Works with Fitness App
• The Good: Very strong motor for the price. High weight limit. Comes with a cooling fan and knee pads.
• The Not-So-Good: The build quality is not as premium. The console feels basic. Maximum speed is lower than more expensive models.

Testing the Powerful 5.0 HP Motor for Running

The most surprising feature is the 5.0 horsepower motor. On paper, this is more powerful than the motors in the Peloton and NordicTrack treadmills. I tested it during a Peloton HIIT run class with many speed changes.

The motor is indeed very strong. It had no trouble with the demands of the intervals. It also lives up to its claim of being quiet. The noise level was low and consistent, allowing me to hear my tablet clearly. The motor did not strain or sound labored. For runners looking for a powerful, quiet motor on a budget, this treadmill delivers excellent performance. The 10 MPH top speed is enough for most runners, though very competitive sprinters might find it limiting.

How Well Does the Auto Incline Work with Peloton Classes?

This treadmill has a 15-level automatic incline. This is a rare feature in this price range. I tested how quickly it moves between levels during a Peloton hill run.

The changes are not as fast or as quiet as on the Peloton or NordicTrack models. You can hear a distinct motor sound as the incline adjusts. However, it does work. You can set the incline from the handlebar buttons without interrupting your run. This is a major advantage over treadmills where you have to manually adjust the incline by hand. It lets you fully follow the instructor’s guidance, which greatly improves the workout experience.

Is the Included Fitness App a Good Partner for Peloton?

This treadmill connects to the “FitShow” app via Bluetooth. The app can show your heart rate and other stats if you hold the sensors on the handlebars. However, I used it primarily with the Peloton app.

The console has a small shelf that is perfect for a tablet or a large phone. It held my device securely during runs. The included brushless cooling fan is a nice bonus that actually works well. For the Peloton app user, this treadmill acts as a simple, powerful platform. You ignore its own app and just use your tablet for Peloton. It does this job very well, providing a solid and responsive running surface for a fraction of the cost of the big brands.

4. The Compact Smart Screen Option: SYTIRY Incline Treadmill

The SYTIRY treadmill tries to bridge the gap between budget and smart features. It has a built-in 10-inch touchscreen with WiFi, aiming to be an all-in-one entertainment and fitness center.

• Key Facts: Budget Price | 3.25 HP Motor | 9 MPH Max Speed | 10″ WiFi Touchscreen | Manual Incline
• The Good: Built-in smart screen. Very compact and foldable design. Good for small spaces.
• The Not-So-Good: The motor is less powerful. The incline is manual. The top speed is best for walking and jogging.

Can You Use the Peloton App on the Built-In Screen?

This was the most important test for the SYTIRY. The treadmill has a 10-inch Android-based touchscreen with WiFi. I tried to install the Peloton app directly, but it is not available in its app store. Instead, I accessed the Peloton website through the web browser.

The browser can load the Peloton website and play class videos. The experience is functional, but not perfect. The screen is a little small, and the interface is not as smooth as using a dedicated tablet. A better option is to use the screen’s built-in apps like YouTube for entertainment and simply place your own tablet running the Peloton app on the console. The built-in screen is a nice bonus, but it is not the best way to access Peloton content.

Who is the 3.25 HP Motor Best For?

The SYTIRY has a 3.25 HP motor. I found this motor is best suited for walking, jogging, and hiking classes. It operates quietly, which is good for apartments.

When I pushed it to run at its top speed of 9 MPH, it felt less powerful and stable than the Generic model with its 5.0 HP motor. The deck had a bit more vibration. This is not a treadmill for serious runners. However, for users who primarily walk, do jogging intervals, or follow Peloton hiking classes, the motor is more than adequate. It is a motor designed for comfort and moderate use, not for high-performance running.

How the Compact Design Fits in Small Spaces

This is where the SYTIRY shines. It has the smallest footprint of all the treadmills I tested. It is also very easy to fold up and move around.

When folded, it takes up very little space, making it ideal for a small apartment, an office, or a room where you need to clear the floor after every workout. The trade-off for this small size is a shorter and narrower running belt. Taller users might find it a bit cramped for a comfortable run, but it is perfectly fine for walking and light jogging. If saving space is your top priority, the SYTIRY is the most practical choice.

Direct Comparisons

Now that you have seen the details, let us put them side-by-side to answer specific questions.

Peloton Tread vs. NordicTrack T Series

This is a choice between a seamless experience and more flexibility.

Feature	Peloton Tread	NordicTrack T Series
Best For	The ultimate, no-compromise Peloton experience.	Runners who want a great machine and app flexibility.
Screen & App	Perfect, built-in integration. Large, swiveling screen.	Smaller, tilting screen. Better for using your own tablet.
Monthly Cost	Requires the expensive All-Access Membership.	iFIT is optional for Peloton app users.
Space	Large, heavy, and does not fold.	Folds easily to save space.

The Winner? For the true Peloton enthusiast who wants everything in one place and money is not the main concern, the Peloton Tread is the best. For everyone else who wants a strong, foldable treadmill and the freedom to use the cheaper Peloton App, the NordicTrack T Series offers much better value.

NordicTrack vs. Generic Model

This compares a known brand with a high-value generic option.

Feature	NordicTrack T Series	Generic 400 lbs Treadmill
Best For	A trusted brand name and smart features.	Maximum power and high weight capacity on a budget.
Motor Power	3 CHP – Strong and reliable.	5.0 HP – Very powerful and quiet.
Incline	12-level electric incline.	15-level automatic incline.
Build Quality	Solid and feels premium.	Functional, but feels more basic.

The Winner? If you value brand reputation, a proven track record, and a good folding design, choose the NordicTrack. If your main goal is to get the most powerful and capable motor for running for the lowest possible price, the Generic 400 lbs Treadmill is an incredible deal.

The Final Decision: Our Top Pick for Most People

After all this testing and comparison, one treadmill stands out as the best overall choice for most people using the Peloton app.

Our top pick is the NordicTrack T Series.

It wins because it finds the best balance. It has a strong and reliable motor from a company you can trust. It folds up easily, which is a must-have feature for many homes. It gives you the option to use iFIT classes, but it also works perfectly with the Peloton App on your own device without forcing you into an expensive monthly payment.

The Peloton Tread offers a better, more connected experience, but its very high total cost makes it a special choice. The Generic treadmill is more powerful for the money, but the NordicTrack provides better all-around build quality, a larger running surface, and a more user-friendly design. For the person who wants a great running machine that will last for years and fits a real-life home, the NordicTrack T Series is the most reliable and smartest choice.

Answers to Common Questions

Do I need a Peloton membership to use a non-Peloton treadmill?

No. You only need the cheaper Peloton App Membership. You can use it on your own phone or tablet with any treadmill.

Can I get the auto-follow feature with the Peloton App?

No. The auto-follow feature, where the treadmill changes on its own, only works if you have a Peloton Tread and the All-Access Membership. With other treadmills, you change the speed and incline yourself.

What is the best way to mount my tablet?

Look for a treadmill with a large, stable console shelf. Some have a slot to securely hold the tablet. Avoid shelves that are too small or angled, as the tablet could slip off during a run.

How important is treadmill cushioning?

Very important. Good cushioning reduces the impact on your knees, hips, and ankles. This makes running more comfortable and helps prevent injuries over time. All the treadmills tested here have some form of shock absorption.

Is a more expensive treadmill worth it for the Peloton App?

It depends on your use. For daily running, a more expensive treadmill like the NordicTrack or Peloton will be more durable, stable, and comfortable. For walking or occasional jogging, a budget model can be a perfectly good choice.