Echelon spent August 2026 rolling out Workout Builder AI, a feature that generates personalized seven-day strength and recovery programs based on a rider’s goals, equipment, and schedule. It’s a separate $14.99/month app product rather than something bundled directly into the EX-5’s console, but it signals where Echelon is pushing its ecosystem next: cheaper hardware, software-driven personalization, and a direct pitch at buyers who find Peloton’s connected-fitness pricing hard to justify. That pitch is worth testing against the numbers, because Peloton didn’t stand still either — the Bike+ was rebranded to the Cross Training Bike+ with a Peloton IQ movement-tracking camera, and the price climbed from $2,495 to $2,695 along with a jump in membership cost to $49.99/month.
The EX-5 is Echelon’s answer to that gap: a screen-free smart bike built around 32 resistance levels, a flexible device holder, and a membership that costs roughly $10-15 less per month than Peloton’s. This review breaks down whether that trade-off actually holds up, and how the EX-5 compares to both a budget-priced screen-free rival in the Schwinn IC4 and the premium connected bike it’s positioned against.
Quick Comparison
| Spec | Echelon EX-5 Smart Connect Fitness Bike | Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike | Peloton Cross Training Bike+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 8.5/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Price | Check price | $795.99as of Oct 11, 2026 | $2,695 |
| Resistance Levels | 32 magnetic | 100 magnetic | — |
| Flywheel Weight | 28 lbs | 40 lbs | — |
| Dimensions | 58" L × 20" W × 54" H | 54.6" L × 30.7" W × 51.8" H | 54" L × 22" W × 60" H |
| Machine Weight | 124 lbs | 106 lbs | — |
| App | Echelon Fit (Premier membership required for full library) | — | — |
| Seat Adjustment | 4-way | — | — |
| Handlebar Adjustment | 4-way | — | — |
| Device Holder | Fits phones and tablets 5.5"–12.5" | — | — |
| Max User Weight | — | 330 lbs | — |
| App Compatibility | — | Peloton, Zwift, Explore the World, and more | — |
| Frame Warranty | — | 10 years | — |
| Screen | — | — | 23.8" HD touchscreen, 360° swivel |
| Resistance | — | — | Auto-Follow (automatic) + manual |
| Camera | — | — | Peloton IQ movement-tracking camera |
| Audio | — | — | Sound by Sonos speakers |
| Membership | — | — | All-Access Membership $49.99/month (required for full features) |
| Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price at Peloton → |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price. Numbers shown were verified on the "as of" date.
Echelon EX-5 Smart Connect Fitness Bike
Echelon EX-5 Smart Connect Fitness Bike
Pros
- 4-way seat and 4-way handlebar adjustment covers a wide range of rider heights — taller and shorter riders both get proper fit geometry instead of compromising
- 32 magnetic resistance levels give enough granularity for structured interval and endurance training without needing a 100-level dial most home riders never fully use
- Device holder accommodates phones and tablets from 5.5" to 12.5" and flips 180 degrees, so the screen stays visible during off-bike floor segments
- At 124 lbs and 20" wide, it's narrower and lighter than most connected bikes — fits tighter gym corners and against walls more easily
- Echelon Premier membership runs $39.99/month (or $33.33/month paid annually) — meaningfully cheaper than Peloton's $49.99/month All-Access tier
Cons
- No built-in touchscreen — you supply your own device; stepping up to the EX-5s adds a screen at a real price jump
- Full Echelon Fit content library sits behind the Premier membership; the free tier doesn't reflect what the bike can actually do
- 28 lb flywheel is lighter than the Schwinn IC4's 40 lb flywheel, so sprints and standing climbs feel less smooth and momentum-driven
- Amazon listing frequently shows no live price — checking Echelon's own site before buying is worth the extra step
The EX-5 skips a built-in touchscreen entirely, relying instead on a device holder that flips 180 degrees and fits phones and tablets from 5.5” to 12.5”. That design choice keeps the machine’s footprint down — 124 lbs and just 20” wide — and keeps the hardware price meaningfully below bikes with embedded screens, including Echelon’s own EX-5s variant.
Fit and Adjustability
4-way seat and 4-way handlebar adjustment is the EX-5’s strongest selling point against competitors at a similar price. Riders well outside the “average” height range often struggle to get proper knee and hip alignment on bikes with only 2-way adjustment; the EX-5’s extra range of motion solves that without upgrading to a pricier frame.
The Echelon Fit App and Membership
The bike’s resistance dial and console are only half the product — the Echelon Fit Premier membership ($39.99/month, or $33.33/month billed annually at $399.99/year) unlocks the full class library, live and on-demand. That’s a real discount against Peloton’s $49.99/month All-Access tier, but it comes with the same trade-off every connected-fitness subscription carries: cancel the membership and the hardware’s day-to-day usefulness drops sharply, since the free tier doesn’t represent the full experience.
Echelon’s new Workout Builder AI, launched in August 2026, sits outside this membership as its own $14.99/month iOS app. It’s not confirmed to integrate directly with EX-5 owners’ existing Echelon Fit accounts, so treat it as a separate purchase decision rather than an automatic bonus that comes with the bike.
Where the EX-5 Falls Short
The 28 lb flywheel is the EX-5’s clearest weak point. It’s lighter than the Schwinn IC4’s 40 lb flywheel, and riders who do a lot of standing climbs or hard sprints will feel less momentum carrying through the pedal stroke. The Amazon listing for the EX-5 also frequently shows no live price, which means checking Echelon’s own site before buying is the more reliable path to an accurate number.
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Pros
- Works with virtually every major fitness app via Bluetooth — Peloton, Zwift, Explore the World, Apple Fitness+ — no ecosystem lock-in
- 40 lb flywheel delivers a noticeably smoother, momentum-driven pedal stroke than the EX-5's 28 lb flywheel on sprints and standing climbs
- 100 magnetic resistance levels give finer progression than the EX-5's 32 levels for structured interval programming
- Dual-sided pedals accept both SPD cleats and standard athletic shoes with no adapter needed
- Includes a Bluetooth heart rate monitor, 3 lb dumbbells, and a bike mat in the box
Cons
- No built-in touchscreen, same limitation as the EX-5 — you supply your own tablet or phone
- Console display is basic — speed, distance, RPM, and calories only, with no embedded app ecosystem
- At 106 lbs and 30.7" wide, it takes up more floor space than the EX-5's 20" footprint
At $795.99, the IC4 undercuts the EX-5 on price while out-performing it on flywheel weight and resistance granularity — 40 lbs and 100 levels against the EX-5’s 28 lbs and 32 levels. It also skips any proprietary app ecosystem entirely, pairing over Bluetooth with Peloton’s own app, Zwift, Apple Fitness+, and others, so riders aren’t locked into a single company’s membership pricing.
The trade-off is size: at 106 lbs and 30.7” wide, the IC4 takes up noticeably more floor space than the EX-5’s narrow 20” frame, which matters in a tight garage or spare-room gym layout.
Peloton Cross Training Bike+
Peloton Cross Training Bike+
Pros
- Peloton IQ's movement-tracking camera adds real-time form correction, rep tracking, and weight suggestions for off-bike strength segments — a feature neither the EX-5 nor the IC4 offers
- 360° swivel screen transitions cleanly between cycling and floor workouts without repositioning a phone or tablet
- Hands-free voice control through a built-in microphone lets riders adjust resistance or start workouts mid-ride
- Live leaderboard and class library are the deepest and most polished of any connected bike platform
Cons
- $2,695 price tag is nearly 3x the EX-5's typical street price and sold only direct from Peloton — no Amazon purchase, no local retail pickup
- $49.99/month All-Access Membership is now the most expensive mainstream connected-fitness subscription, and the hardware's value drops sharply if you let it lapse
- At 60" tall and sold direct-only, delivery and setup require scheduling with Peloton's delivery partners rather than standard shipping
The Cross Training Bike+ is what the EX-5 is implicitly positioned against, and the gap in both price and polish is real. Peloton IQ’s camera-based form correction and rep tracking during off-bike strength segments is a feature category neither the EX-5 nor the IC4 competes with at all — it’s the single clearest reason to pay triple the price.
But that reason only matters if the buyer actually uses strength-training content regularly. For riders who mainly want cycling workouts with a flexible device mount, the Cross Training Bike+‘s $2,695 hardware cost and $49.99/month membership are a hard price to justify next to the EX-5’s lower membership fee and similar core cycling experience.
Buying Guide: Choosing Between These Three
Decide on screen vs. device holder first. The EX-5 and IC4 both skip a built-in display, which keeps the hardware price down but means supplying your own phone or tablet. If a built-in screen with camera-based coaching matters enough to justify a 3x price jump, the Cross Training Bike+ is the only option here that delivers it.
Flywheel weight affects feel more than resistance level count. The IC4’s 40 lb flywheel produces a smoother, more momentum-driven stroke than the EX-5’s 28 lb flywheel, regardless of how many resistance levels either bike offers on paper.
Membership cost compounds over years of ownership. Echelon Premier at $39.99/month ($33.33/month annual) saves roughly $120–200 a year against Peloton’s $49.99/month All-Access tier. Over a 5-year ownership window, that gap can exceed the price difference in the hardware itself.
Footprint matters in small spaces. The EX-5’s 20” width is the narrowest of the three and the easiest to fit against a wall or in a garage corner; the IC4’s 30.7” width and the Bike+‘s 22” width both need more clearance.
FAQ
Is the Echelon EX-5 a good Peloton alternative? For riders who mainly want cycling workouts and are comfortable supplying their own device, yes — the EX-5’s hardware and membership cost roughly a third of the Cross Training Bike+‘s combined price. It can’t match Peloton IQ’s camera-based strength coaching, so it’s a weaker fit for buyers who specifically want that feature.
Does the Echelon EX-5 have a touchscreen? No. It uses a device holder that fits phones and tablets from 5.5” to 12.5” and flips 180 degrees. The EX-5s variant adds a built-in screen at a higher price.
Do I need an Echelon Premier membership to use the EX-5? The bike functions without one, but the free tier doesn’t reflect the full class library. Premier membership costs $39.99/month or $33.33/month billed annually.
What is Echelon’s new Workout Builder AI? Launched in August 2026, it’s a separate $14.99/month iOS app that generates personalized seven-day strength and recovery programs. It is not confirmed to be bundled with the Echelon Fit Premier membership that EX-5 owners use for class content.
Is the Echelon EX-5 or Schwinn IC4 the better buy? The IC4 wins on flywheel weight, resistance granularity, and app flexibility, and costs less. The EX-5 wins on adjustability range and footprint, and its membership platform is more built-out than relying on third-party apps.
Verdict
The EX-5 earns its spot as a legitimate budget-conscious alternative to Peloton’s connected-bike ecosystem, not because it matches the Cross Training Bike+ feature-for-feature, but because it covers the core cycling experience at a fraction of the combined hardware-and-membership cost. The 4-way adjustability and narrow footprint make it a strong fit for smaller gym spaces and a wider range of rider heights.
Buyers who specifically want camera-based strength coaching and the deepest class library on the market should still look at the Peloton Cross Training Bike+, accepting the 3x price gap that comes with it. Buyers who want the smoothest pedal feel without paying for any app ecosystem at all should look at the Schwinn IC4 instead. For everyone else trying to get the Peloton-style experience without the Peloton-style bill, the Echelon EX-5 is the strongest pick of the three.