The global pandemic led to a seismic shift in the fitness industry as at-home workouts boomed in popularity. Two connected fitness brands stood out in particular – Peloton and Echelon. Both offer stationary bikes, treadmills, subscriptions and equipment aimed at studio-quality workouts from the comfort of your own home.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll analyze Peloton and Echelon’s product offerings, app features, price points, assembly and delivery processes, customer satisfaction and more. The goal? To help you decide which connected fitness ecosystem may be the best fit based on your budget, goals and preferences.
Let’s dive in!
Peloton vs Echelon Product Lineups Compared
Peloton and Echelon both focus primarily on at-home cycling with indoor bikes paired with subscriptions to thousands of online classes. But they also offer other equipment like treadmills. Here’s how the product lineups compare:
Peloton
- Bikes: Original Peloton Bike, Peloton Bike+
- Treadmills: Peloton Tread, Peloton Tread+ (recalled, not currently for sale)
- No rowers or other gym equipment
Echelon
- Bikes: Smart Connect Bike, EX-1, EX-3, EX-5, EX-5s
- Treadmills: Smart Treadmill, Stride Auto-Folding Treadmill
- Rowers: Smart Rower
- Mirror: Reflect 50” Fitness Mirror
Echelon has a wider range of equipment including rowing machines and interactive home gym mirrors. But Peloton offers premium bikes and treadmills specifically designed for intense cardio workouts and their app ecosystem.
Head-to-Head Product Comparisons
Let’s pit Peloton and Echelon’s similar offerings against each other:
Peloton Bike+ vs. Echelon EX-5s
Peloton Bike+
- Price: $2,495 + $44/month membership
- Adjustable 22” HD touchscreen included
- Magnetic resistance, smooth near-silent ride
- Output metric tracking
- Compact footprint, easy storage
- Hassle-free delivery & assembly
Echelon EX-5s
- Price: $1,639.98 + $29.99-$39.99/month membership
- Bring your own tablet or phone
- 32 levels of magnetic resistance
- Performance tracking via Bluetooth
- Space saving design folds away
- DIY delivery & assembly
The Peloton Bike+ scores points for its integrated screen, quality construction and fuss-free setup. But the Echelon EX-5s offers serious value especially if you already own a tablet.
Peloton Tread vs. Echelon Stride Treadmill
Peloton Tread
- Price: $2,495 + $44/month membership
- Slat belt design reduces impact
- Immersive 23.8” HD touchscreen
- 0–12.5 mph speed range
- Free delivery & professional assembly
Echelon Stride Treadmill
- Price: $1,639.98 + $29.99-$39.99/month membership
- Cushioned running surface
- Bring your own tablet/phone
- Speed range up to 12 mph
- Folds away vertically to just 10” deep
- DIY delivery & assembly
The Peloton Tread again wins on integrated tech but takes up more permanent space. The foldable Echelon Stride sacrifices the built-in screen for serious space savings.
App Memberships: Peloton vs. Echelon United
Both Peloton and Echelon back up their hardware with subscriptions granting access to thousands of online classes. Let‘s compare the offerings:
Peloton Membership
- $12.99/month with own equipment
- $44/month for bike/tread owners
- Live & on-demand classes
- Variety of class types like cycling, bootcamp, strength training, yoga and more
- Class metrics integrated with Peloton equipment
Echelon United Membership
- $34.99/month or lower for 1-2 year commitments
- Over 4,000 on-demand classes
- Disciplines like cycling, HIIT, boxing, Pilates and more
- Competition via live leaderboard rankings
- Bring your own devices to sync performance
The Peloton membership feels more polished with two pricing tiers while Echelon United offers longer term discounts. But both provide more classes than you’ll likely ever get through!
Assembly, Delivery and Returns
Getting your equipment delivered and set up is an important consideration. Here’s how Peloton and Echelon handle shipping logistics:
Peloton
- Free delivery included with equipment purchases
- Professional assembly by Peloton team
- 30 day returns available
- Return delivery not covered ($250 bike/$300 tread fee)
Echelon
- Delivery fees vary by location
- DIY assembly with video guides
- 30 day returns accepted
- Free return shipping
Peloton removes hassle by assembling your gear at no extra charge. But returns outside the initial trial period cost big. Meanwhile Echelon saves on the front end with self-assembly but offers free return delivery within 30 days.
Customer Satisfaction Comparison
Reviews and testimonials reveal key insights into quality, value and overall owner satisfaction. Here’s how Peloton and Echelon stack up:
Peloton
- 4.7/5 stars average across websites
- 76% recommend on Consumer Affairs
- Praise for motivating workouts
- Complaints about delivery delays
Echelon
- 4.5/5 stars average ratings
- 84% would recommend per Consumer Affairs
- High value for price praised
- Rare quality issues reported
Both brands rate well overall. Negatives for Peloton center on logistic and hardware problems while Echelon sees few complaints for affordable home gym options.
Promotions and Discounts
Connected fitness gear represents a significant investment. But current deals can make that plunge more budget-friendly.
Peloton
- $350 off the Peloton Bike package
- Peloton Tread discounted by $500 off
- Limited-time free shipping promos
- Rare sales on Peloton apparel
Echelon
- Exclusive bike model only $599 with 2 year membership commitment
- 25% off bikes, treadmills, rowers and mirrors
- 30 day risk free trial on all equipment
- Ongoing membership discounts for 1-2 year sign ups
Echelon offers far more frequent discounts like sitewide sales plus regularly reduced package pricing when you commit to an extended membership.
The Verdict: Which is Better for You?
In this Peloton vs Echelon showdown, both connected fitness players shine in different areas.
Peloton wins on premium design and a seamless end-to-end experience. From best-in-class equipment to motivated instructors and integrated performance tracking, the Peloton ecosystem is greater than the sum of its parts. But the price tag reflects that quality.
Echelon prevails based on affordability and flexibility. For budget-focused buyers, choosing your own devices while still accessing thousands of classes makes Echelon friendly for casual athletes and beginners. Just expect a bit more DIY participation.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to pick your preferred brand:
Go with Peloton if you want:
Top notch gear, hassle-free delivery, polished platform
Pick Echelon for:
Saving money, flexible equipment, more class discipline variety
No matter which option fits your home gym best, you really can‘t go wrong committing to regular exercise and activity! Now go get those endorphins pumping. Your mind and body will thank you.
Looking for more comparisons? Check out:
- Hydrow vs. Peloton
- Tonal vs. Mirror
- NordicTrack vs. ProForm
