The Best Bike Trainers of 2023

With its price point, quietness, and ease of use, the Wahoo KICKR ($1,300) got our highest vote after thousands of miles. From unpacking to riding, it took us three minutes to be on the bike pedaling. For people with kids or who don’t have a lot of tools around, this is huge.

As far as we know, this is one of the few bike trainers on the market that comes with the 11-speed cassette already preinstalled on it. And if your bike is a 10-speed like a few of our bikes are, it works just fine.

However, if you do find that you need an adapter, it comes with them for both 1×10 and 1×12. Also, for anyone who is sharing the trainer with others, the switch out takes all of 30 seconds.

Another major feature that we loved was the fact that it came with its own app that’s easy to use and gives all the necessary information on a big screen. Unlike other trainers where you have to join a training app that costs up to $40 a month, the Wahoo comes with its own that records all of your workouts.

If you want or like a training app (like Zwift or Sufferfest), it connects quickly and reliably. It also automatically connects to my Garmin fenix Solar watch, which I was really excited about. Whatever it is you are using, the Wahoo will instantly connect and does a great job of switching rapidly and smoothly between watts, resistance, and grades.

For accuracy, the Wahoo claims to come in at ±1% when measuring your actual wattage. We do not yet have a separate power meter to test this, but so far, we believe them. When testing responsiveness, it performed amazingly well. There was absolutely no lag time when we increased or decreased the power.

Another great out-of-the-box feature is the axis feet. This creates a more realistic feel by letting the unit and rider have a 5-degree side-to-side range of motion. Another noteworthy feature is its noise factor, or rather its lack of it. Compared to other trainers we have tested, this one is the quietest of them all.

And if you want to simulate the outdoors even more, the Wahoo KICKR has the widest range of add-ons we have seen. The fan ($250) is both quiet and easy to control from your device. It eerily feels like a true outdoor ride minus the sunlight, of course.

We have not yet tested the KICKR CLIMB add-on. However, we have heard that if your budget can handle it ($600), it adds a fun and even more realistic experience for climbing and descending hills.

The only con we found with all of our tests is that the flywheel is exposed. For safety reasons, we have to point this out, as it can get very hot. For those with curious pets or children, this could be very dangerous.

The best option for riders on a budget, Alpcour’s Bike Trainer Stand ($220) provides a solid number of features in a surprisingly inexpensive package. The mag accommodates mountain and road bikes, while the magnetic flywheel provides six levels of resistance to simulate hills and intervals.

We like the handlebar-mounted cable controller, which lets you adjust the settings on the fly, so you can adjust your intervals and hills as needed.

The mag wheel has built-in noise reduction to minimize whir, while the reduced friction increases the life of your bike. The wide base and low stance provide a low center of gravity for better balance. The heavy-duty stainless-steel frame is mounted on anti-slip rubber pads to keep you in place while cranking up a simulated hill.

The mounting is fast and simple. Your bike clicks in via a quick-release lever, so the second the weather clears up, you can dismount your bike and hit the road.

It’s designed mostly for indoor use, but its portability makes it a good choice for race-day warmups. The trainer folds and can be stored and transported in the included bag, making it easier to haul around than most wheel-on trainers.

Coming in very closely behind the Wahoo KICKR was the Saris H3 ($1,000). This direct drive trainer is quiet, durable, and reliable. For those looking for something that doesn’t break the bank, is completely easy to transport, and is simple to jump on and ride, the Saris may be just the thing you’re looking for.

While not as silent as the Wahoo, it’s only slightly louder. The assembly also took a bit longer, requiring some tools and some reading. Once set up, however, it was extremely easy to switch bikes out.

This trainer features fully encased and protected components and a precision-balanced flywheel. These features make this trainer a great choice for parents of curious small children and pets, with nothing that could hurt their tiny hands (or paws).

And while we have not been able to test its durability completely, we think the Saris will outlast many of its competitors because of its internal cooling system.

The Saris does come with a very rudimentary app that lets you change the wattage settings. However, it doesn’t record any of your workouts or give you real-time feedback.

It does come with a free month membership to Zwift which is a fun training and racing program. However, you do have to pay up to $35 a month for Zwift after your first month.

For folks who are into getting on it and going right into a prescribed workout, this is an awesome feature. It connects very quickly and switches between wattages, grades, and resistance seamlessly.

For those who are looking for an actual Saris app, be prepared to be disappointed. However, my Garmin fenix watch connects, and I can easily choose my own workout through my watch.

As for accuracy, the Saris has a precision readout of ±2% when measuring your wattage. It is also very responsive when increasing or decreasing power. For a more realistic feel, it doesn’t have the natural side-to-side degree that the Wahoo has right out of the box. However, Saris does make the Nfinity Trainer Platform, which is amazing, in our opinion

For the rider who only has one bike — or who doesn’t want to mess with putting their wheel on and taking it off every time they hop on their trainer — the Garmin Flow Trainer is a great option. And at $369, it’s a budget-friendly option.Plus, it easily connects to any bike you own. We tried our mountain bikes, road bikes, and tri-bikes on it, and all easily mounted in under a minute.

The Tacx Flow quickly connects to many different apps including Zwift, Tacx, TrainerRoad, Strava, and smartwatches. This connectivity makes it easy for anyone to jump on it and customize their ride.

While it does only simulate a 6% grade for hill climbing (compared to the Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP, which does 12%), for most people this is plenty.

After training on the Flow for a few weeks, I loved being able to warm up on it before going on big efforts with my team. After my 20-minute spin, I would simply release my back wheel and be off riding outside, feeling primed and ready for my sprints.

As more and more races come back, I see this as being a perfect warmup trainer for racers. It is compact, lightweight, and ultradurable, making it the perfect traveling companion for serious cyclists.

It is a tad noisier than the direct-drive trainers we tested, but it is barely noticeable. I still heard my labored breathing over any other noise my bike or the trainer were making.

The simplest form of bike trainer is the roller. Basically a treadmill for your bike, a roller trainer consists of rolling tubes that your bike rides freely on top of.

This trains not only your fitness and endurance but also your balance and bike control, as you have to work to keep the bike on the rollers. The Saris Aluminum Rollers trainer ($300) is our favorite of this type for its combination of simplicity and sturdy design.

The durable steel frame sports a 16-inch wheelbase that provides plenty of room for any bike size. Plus, it gives the rider a decent amount of room on which to move around.

Designed for indoor or outdoor use, the rubber foot pads make sure that the rollers are the only things that move. The precision-lathed aluminum rollers won’t warp when exposed to heat or direct sunlight. This makes it ideal for warming up right before a big race.

Also, because it doesn’t need any power to run (besides your own), the lack of a battery makes it extremely light and portable at under 20 pounds.

Wahoo Fitness’s KICKR SNAP trainer ($400) is a convenient, easy-to-set-up smart bike trainer that provides a realistic ride via an app or computer software. The convenient wheel-on design makes it easy to add a mountain or road bike and get your workout started without fuss. For hill climbs, the trainer adjusts to simulate inclines of up to 12%.

Once you’re in it, the high-strength carbon steel and wide stance keep your bike secure and stable while you train. The trainer works with flat-mount and disc brakes, as well as with quick-release axles.

The SNAP’s app works on smartphones, tablets, or computers to control the resistance via Bluetooth. The ANT+ lets you connect the trainer to GPS devices independently of the Bluetooth function.

This makes it possible to connect to smartphones and GPS devices simultaneously. LED indicator lights provide a visual indication that the SNAP is powered up, connected, and transmitting via Bluetooth and ANT+.

The broad compatibility means that the KICKR SNAP works with a wide range of training software, and it works with aftermarket power meters. It also works with the Zwift online platform, so you can track your workouts and train and compete in a virtual environment.

The NEO 2T Smart Trainer ($1,400) from Tacx provides the quietest, most vibration-free ride on this list. The redesigned magnets reduce internal air displacement, cutting noise and keeping a more accurate feel to simulate climbs and acceleration.

It mounts on your bike’s rear axle and is designed for use with a variety of bikes. Only 135×10 and 135×12 bikes need adapters.

The NEO 2T is compatible with cycling software like TrainerRoad and Sufferfest. It allows the app to control the trainer, allowing it to mimic the terrain presented on the app. You can participate in online races or simulate rides half a world away.

A great feature adds vibration to accurately simulate riding over gravel or cobblestones, so you can train indoors on the same surfaces that you train on outside. It also compensates for weight, speed, and incline to give you the most realistic ride possible. The Ant+ cycling dynamics measure the exact position of your legs during your ride. With this feature, you can analyze your pedal stroke via third-party software like a Garmin Edge bike computer.

It’s also the only trainer that doesn’t require calibration, as its sensors can accurately measure your power output within 1%.

When you’re not using it, it folds away for easy storage or transport. It could use some handles, as carrying it feels a bit awkward.

While easier to mount and generally less expensive than direct-drive trainers, wheel-on trainers tend to make more noise. The CycleOps Fluid2 trainer ($300) is an exception to the rule.

With decibels in the mid-60s at speeds of 20 mph, this wheel-on trainer is barely louder than your average conversation. Its large, individually balanced flywheel gives a road-like feel and smooth resistance. And the patented fan design keeps the unit cool and lengthens its lifespan.

It fits common road and mountain bikes from 26- to 29-inch wheel sizes and up to a 2.0 tire. The quick-release level makes it easy to mount and unmount your bike quickly when the weather clears up.

The tension is adjustable via the clutch knob. However, there’s no way to adjust it mid-ride, so pick your poison and go to work. We love that it’s compatible with indoor cycling apps, so you can track your stats with a speed sensor.

One of the best direct-drive trainers for the price, Tacx’s Flux S Direct-Drive Smart Trainer ($750) can hit inclines up to 10%, which is enough to train for the Alpe d’Huez (it only hits 11% for a kilometer). It’ll provide up to 1,500 W of resistance, which is plenty for top-tier cyclists.

The Flux S also sports all the features of a smart trainer. It can connect to a wide range of apps via its ANT+ and Bluetooth capability. It works with apps like Zwift, TrainerRoad, Sufferfest, and Strava, as well as its in-house software to give you workouts, simulate routes, and allow you to virtually race your friends.

Even without the connected features and software, the Flux S is plenty smart. The trainer follows a progressive power curve, increasing resistance as you ride faster, replicating the feel of riding on a flat road.

The Flux S works with roadies, tri-bikes, and mountain bikes, and it’ll fit 130mm rear forks on race bikes and 135mm rear forks on mountains. If your bike has a different width, adapters are available.

It can be difficult for beginners or cyclists on a budget to find a decent bike trainer for under $200. But the Sportneer Bike Trainer Stand packs a solid number of features and a surprisingly quiet ride for only $150.

The smooth-spinning wheel is designed to be used with your regular tires. Sportneer’s specialized noise-reduction wheel reduces friction, which can wear your tire down over time. Plus, the trainer’s quiet whirring will be a huge benefit for any potential roommates, significant others, or cantankerous neighbors.

Setup is simple — once you swap out your rear wheel locking pin for Sportneer’s, the big red level handle locks your bike in and you’re good to go. It also comes in handy when the weather clears up or you just want to get outside. Just pull up the lever, and your bike disengages.

A cable with six resistance settings runs from the hub and attaches to your handlebars, letting you switch between settings on the fly. The stand is set wide, and the feet are adjustable to minimize shaking and increase stability.

If you want a trainer that will put you through the wringer, the Suito Interactive Trainer from Elite ($800) will happily do so. With a 1,900W power output and the ability to simulate slopes up to 15%, you’ll be able to prep for whatever mountain rides are in your future. This direct-drive trainer sports a preinstalled Shimano 105 11-speed cassette and sports a quick plug-and-play setup, meaning you’ll be on it and riding in no time.

The steel frame and wide support base provide stability and durability, while the streamlined design allows it to work with a wide range of bicycle models.

On the tech side, ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth capability let it interact with any app or device via iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. As a bonus, Elite has partnered with Zwift to provide buyers with a free 1-month subscription to Zwift and a free 12-month subscription to My E-Training.

The Suito has built-in sensors that measure power, speed, and cadence, so you don’t have to apply any sensors to your bike as well.