The best smart trainers - known to some as indoor trainers, bike trainers, or turbo trainers - allow you to connect to apps like Zwift, MyWhoosh or TrainerRoad and cycle indoors. This is useful when the weather is bad, or dangerous and icy, but also allows you to concentrate on improving your cycling fitness in a traffic-free environment.
For the uninitiated, a smart trainer mounts to your bike - usually in place of the rear wheel - and links to indoor cycling apps, allowing you to control your in-app avatar's speed by pedalling harder, and ride with fellow cyclists from around the world in virtual worlds online. It can automatically adjust resistance to simulate gradients or let you follow a workout.
They typically cost from around £300/$300, but top models may exceed £1,500/$1,500.
If you’re still unsure which smart trainer is right for you and want an explanation of the jargon, head below to our How to Choose and Everything You Need to Know sections at the end of this guide for more detailed advice and helpful insights.
Quick list: Best smart trainers
Offering 1,800 watts of resistance and 16% gradient simulation, the Kickr Core 2 is a solid smart trainer at a competitive price. You can add a discounted year's Zwift subscription too.
The Elite Justo 2 balances excellent ride feel and accuracy with features such as built-in WiFi, automatic calibration, and detailed pedal-stroke analysis.
The Kickr V6 is excellent for competitive riders thanks to its WiFi and Race Mode, enabling ultra-fast, stable data transfer and three simultaneous Bluetooth connections to avoid dropouts.
An excellent option for the budget-conscious, the D100 is set up ready for Zwift on a budget. It only offers 600 watts of resistance and accuracy within +/-5%, but it's suitable for entry-level use.
Read more below
The Tacx Neo 3M is the most feature-packed, and most expensive, trainer on this list. With a virtual flywheel, rough-road feedback, and power-free operation for car-park warmups, it’s the ultimate choice for feature-hungry riders.
Read more below
Wahoo's Kickr Rollr is an outlier amongst smart trainers with a design that's more akin to a set of rollers. The wheel-on design makes fitting your bike to the Kickr Rollr very easy, plus there are no drivetrain or axle compatibility issues when using different bikes.
Read more below
Last updated January 2026
The guide was updated to ensure all smart trainers are relevant and current and latest developments, including Zwift-Ready trainers covered.
Best smart trainers 2026
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Best Overall
✅ You want the basics done well: The Kickr Core 2 is a smart trainer that connects to every available indoor cycling app, with better resistance and accuracy than most will ever need. It foregoes extra features such as folding legs and side-to-side movement to keep the cost down.
✅ You want multi-bike compatibility: The Kickr Core 2 with Zwift Cog comes with a singlespeed sprocket that is compatible with most modern groupsets, so you can easily swap between bikes if, say, you and your partner want to ride. It also offers virtual shifting (when using Zwift), which is silent.
❌ You need better power accuracy: Some high-stakes esports races mandate power accuracy better than 2%, which means the Kickr Core 2 can't be used.
❌ You need extra features: The more expensive Kickr V6 offers 5 degrees of side-to-side movement, ethernet connectivity, extra simultaneous Bluetooth connections, foldability, a carry handle and adjustable feet. If you need any of these, then look beyond the Kickr Core 2.
The Wahoo Kickr Core 2 is available in two guises. The standard Kickr Core 2 includes an 11-speed Shimano-compatible cassette. The Kickr Core 2 with Zwift Cog, meanwhile, includes the Zwift Click and Zwift Cog, which adds Zwift's single sprocket cassette and virtual shifting.
The Kickr Core 2 with Zwift Cog is recommended if you want virtual shifting (this will only work in Zwift itself, not Rouvy, MyWhoosh, etc), and the Kickr Core 2 is the one for mechanical shifting and if you want a wider choice of indoor cycling apps.
It features a 1,800-watt maximum resistance, 16% gradient simulation and a power accuracy of 2% and the Core 2 includes Wi-Fi for faster, more reliable data transmission. It doesn't fold away, nor does it come with a carry handle (although at ~15kg, I never have much issue moving it as the fixed feet are quite easy to grab).
The Kickr Core is not going to trouble the likes of the Kickr, the Justo 2 or the Tacx Neo 3M on specs, but at around half the price of the Kickr V6 (depending on where you shop, as deals are occasionally available on both), its value is unmatched, and the Zwift Cog virtual shifting removes one complication from your indoor training. It's also compatible with the Zwift Ride smart frame if you want to upgrade to a complete indoor bike setup later.
Read our Wahoo Kickr Core 2 trainer review for more details.
Best for analytics
✅ You want top specs, but don't need the added movement tech: The Justo 2 has best-in-class resistance specs, accuracy of +/- 1%, Bluetooth/ANT/WiFi/ethernet connectivity and additional pedalling analysis metrics. The only things it lacks is additional movement, as found on the Kickr Move and Tacx Neo 3M, but if you don't need that, then this will save you money.
✅ You want Elite Square / Rizer compatibility: The belt-drive, virtual shifting and upfront controls of the Square make for a silent ride, while the Rizer lifts the front end as if you're climbing. Both are expensive accessories, but if you want to take your indoor game to the next level, the Justo 2 will help you get there.
❌ You're on a budget: If you don't really care about the side-to-side movement or extra accuracy, the Kickr Core 2 is a great bike trainer that offers basic functionality for less.
❌ You want added fore/aft movement: The Kickr Move and Tacx Neo 3M offer most of the same specs, but their higher price gets you added realism features such as increased movement back and forth.
The Elite Justo 2 is a high-quality smart trainer that looks great, offers excellent specs, and just about beats the Kickr V6 as a full-featured trainer thanks to its analytic capabilities.
Those top-line specs include 2,300 watts of resistance, simulated gradients of up to 24% and power accuracy within 1%. It will also self-calibrate, fold away neatly for storage, and comes with 'Flex Feet' that offer side-to-side motion for comfort.
In an upgrade over the original Justo, the 2 comes with WiFi connectivity on top of the Bluetooth, ANT+ and ethernet connection options. It also now comes with a 12-speed cassette.
Its flywheel is lighter than the Kickr at 6.2kg, but the ride feel and inertia don't suffer as a result. The lighter flywheel means the total unit weight is also lighter at 17kg, but despite this, it's actually slightly harder to carry around. This is because it uses a leather loop instead of a solid handle - the only real downside.
I particularly like that it can be used without mains power, which makes it a viable option for race-day warmups. I also like the pedalling analysis it provides via the My E-Training app, for which a free three-year subscription comes included.
Best for Zwift racing
✅ You can find it on offer: The Kickr V6 and the Elite Justo 2 are so close that if you can find this one on sale, it's the one to buy (unless you really want pedalling analysis tools).
✅ You race online and train often: The Kickr V6 is a high-spec trainer, with best-in-class accuracy, every available form of connectivity, a high-frequency race mode, and Wahoo's Erg Easy Ramp technology that helps you get the pedals turning again if you stop on a climb or mid-interval.
❌ You can find the Elite Justo 2 for less: For the same reasons as above, if you find the Justo 2 for a cheaper price, then buy that one instead.
❌ You're on a budget: If you don't care for the extra accuracy, WiFi connectivity or added niceties, and you just want to get onto Zwift for minimal cost, the Kickr Core will do this for less.
The Wahoo Kickr V6 comes in a very close second place if you're looking for a high spec trainer, losing out for a few small reasons: It can't be used without mains power, it doesn't provide detailed pedalling analysis, and the max power and gradient are slightly lower (albeit still more than most people will ever need). Those few things aside, it performs incredibly well with an excellent ride feel, comprehensive connectivity, and the same retail price, so it shouldn't be ignored, especially if you can find it at a discounted price.
If you're looking for a budget offering to get rolling indoors, then the Wahoo Kickr Core will do that at a much lower price though. But when it comes to the best smart trainers, things like pedalling inertia (from the heavier flywheel) and the amount of available resistance will improve the quality of the ride. There's also an improvement in how accurately your power output is transmitted to your chosen indoor cycling app.
The Kickr's top-level specs are 2200-watt resistance, 20% gradient, 1% accuracy and five-degree left-right movement courtesy of the Axis feet. It comes with a cassette included, folds down for storage and will automatically calibrate itself when you ride.
The Elite Justo 2 offers a slightly better package if we're just looking at those features, but where the Kickr stands out against that and other similarly-priced trainers is connectivity. All smart trainers will offer Bluetooth and ANT+ connections, but the Kickr offers three simultaneous Bluetooth connections (which is great for avoiding dropouts), as well as WiFi (which allows your Kickr to talk to your computer via your home WiFi network) and Direct Connect via an adaptor and an ethernet cable for a totally wired connection.
When connected via WiFi, the Race Mode function can be switched on, to offer 10x faster data transfer for a competitive edge, making it our top pick for Zwift racing and other competition.
It also offers a feature called ERG EasyRamp, which allows you to restart hard intervals gradually, rather than a leg-sapping standing start if ever you stop mid-effort.
It's worth noting that the Kickr Move (below) also offers all of these features alongside even more movement courtesy of a sliding track. If you want the bells and whistles, that is an excellent trainer, but the price is even higher.
You can read more in our Wahoo Kickr v6 review for more information.
Best budget smart trainer
✅ You want a low-priced Zwift Cog trainer: The D100 is one of the cheapest trainers with Zwift Cog and Click.
✅ You want low weight: At 10.5kg, the Van Rysel trainer is easy to move around and store.
❌ You want higher peak power: The 600W max power is on the low side and too low for higher intensity training or online racing.
❌ You want to use apps other than Zwift: Zwift Cog and Click only works with Zwift, so if you want to try other indoor apps, you'll need a standard cassette. You can swap it out, but you'll need to buy the cassette separately (and some tools).
Decathlon's entry into the trainer market comes with its usual very competitive pricing. You can buy the D100 without a cassette, but this option with Zwift Cog and Click and a two-month Zwift subscription is a good entry point into indoor cycling.
The 600W peak power and 6% maximum gradient are low if you ride hard or do really get into indoor riding, but for more casual use and easier riding, it will give you a solid workout and a good introduction to indoor apps. Decathlon has higher spec models if you want higher power and gradients.
Best premium option
✅ You want the best money can buy: The Neo 3M offers top-tier specs, fore/aft movement, WiFi and ethernet, detailed pedalling analysis, mains-power-free use, and in-trainer vibration for simulated rough roads.
❌ You don't need the movement or the WiFi connectivity: The Neo 2T offers similar functions at a lower cost, although it doesn't include a cassette.
❌ You only want the fore/aft movement: The Wahoo Kickr Move offers more movement for less money. A Kickr Core on a high-end rocker plate would also offer better movement, if that's more important to you than the trainer specs.
The Neo 3M from Tacx (a subsidiary of Garmin) is the most expensive option on this list, and the most expensive direct-drive trainer on the market (excluding smart bikes, of course).
On paper, its specs are similar to the not-quite-as-expensive Wahoo Kickr Move: 2,200 watts of resistance, 1% accuracy, 25% gradient simulation, feet that let it move back and forth as well as rock left and right, and Bluetooth/ANT+/Ethernet/WiFi connectivity.
However, where it edges ahead is in the virtual flywheel, a feature originally seen on the Neo 2T (below). This adjusts the inertia based on your weight and better simulates that real-ride feel, speeding up when descending in-game, just like you would in the real world. It also means the responsiveness of ERG Mode is incredibly accurate, and means the Neo 3M can work without mains power, so it can be taken to the car park for your next race warmup.
Like the Neo 2T and the Justo 2, it offers individual pedal stroke analysis. It also has a rumbling feature that literally shakes the trainer when you go over rough ground in Zwift, and Garmin listened to our complaints (maybe) by adding a carry handle to make it easier to move around. It does still weigh 52lbs (23.5kg), so try not to make it a habit.
To summarise, the Tacx Neo 3M is a 'bells-and-whistles' trainer for those who want the very best ride feel, all the added features and the most amount of 'future-proofing' available. I find it hard to justify the cost over the Neo 2T, the Justo 2, the Kickr V6, or the largely similar Kickr Move though.
Head over to our Tacx Neo 3M review to find out more.
Best wheel on trainer
✅ You and your partner use the same trainer: The Kickr Rollr lets you fit and remove your bike in seconds, as there's no wheel to remove or cassette to swap.
✅ You want a hyper-realistic ride feel: Your wheels spin on the rollers, rather than being bolted into a static trainer, letting your bike move left and right as it does outside.
❌ You want more accurate power measurement: The Kickr Rollr's power estimate is less accurate than other trainers. If you want accuracy, the added cost of a power meter will make this an expensive solution
The Wahoo Kickr Rollr is technically a wheel-on smart trainer, but it's unlike anything else on this list. For many years, a roller system had the most natural ride quality available when riding inside. The downside though was the ease of falling off; if you weren't careful, you'd find yourself on the ground. As smart trainers rose in popularity, the fact that rollers lacked a hard connection to the bike meant that it was difficult to integrate resistance and power measurement. With the Wahoo Kickr Rollr, the brand thinks it's overcome these challenges.
There's no system for bolting your bike to the trainer because all you do is set the bike onto the trainer and secure the front wheel with a hoop. The rear wheel moves just like it would on traditional rollers, but there's no risk of falling, so it's possible to integrate resistance.
Wahoo originally stated that you needed a separate power meter, but it has now upgraded the Kickr Rollr so that it transmits power, although it says that the numbers are less accurate than its other trainers.
The ease of use of the system makes it ideal for those who want a natural feel and fast bike connection. If you've got multiple bikes in the household and everyone has different groupsets and tyres, it's still just as easy to put the bike on and get started riding. It's also a good choice if you prefer riding outside, already have a power meter, but sometimes need another option.
One thing to consider is that Zipp has specifically warned against using its wheels with the Wahoo Kickr Rollr. We will keep an eye on the news as it develops, but for now at least, you'll want to swap wheels if you've got something from Zipp.
Want to know more? Have a look at our Wahoo Kickr Rollr review.
Best natural ride feel
✅ You want best-in-class fore and aft movement: Thanks to an eight-inch roller track and a fairly free left/right movement, the Kickr Move is the one to buy if you want added realism.
❌ You want pedalling analysis too: If you want to analyse your pedal stroke in detail, the Neo 3M does this while offering some fore/aft movement too.
❌ You only want the movement, but don't need the specs: A budget-friendly Kickr Core and a high-end rocker plate will offer better movement for a similar total outlay.
The Wahoo Kickr Move takes the Kickr V6 from above and essentially mounts it onto an eight-inch rolling track that lets your bike slide forward and backwards, as well as rock side to side slightly. This means it has all the great specs and connectivity of the Kickr, but with additional comfort and ride realism.
That extra functionality does come at a cost, though, so you'll have to decide whether that's something you want from your indoor setup. Bear in mind that for less money, you could pair a Kickr V6 with a budget rocker plate.
In my experience testing the Kickr Move, the extra movement meant I was engaging my core more when riding. That was slightly more tiring to begin with, but after a few rides, it felt great and led to more comfort towards the end of long rides. This is more reflective of real-world riding and offers a more rounded workout, hence I've awarded it the best smart trainer for a realistic ride feel.
Just be careful when setting up that your Kickr is perfectly level though. I found myself settling into a not-quite-upright position on the first few rides because the feet weren't level, and the lateral movement, albeit minimal, is quite 'free'. This could lead to pedalling imbalances over the long term.
For more details, check out our Wahoo Kickr Move review.
Best portability
✅ You want a lightweight trainer that can be tidied away easily after use: At 14.5kg, with folding legs and a carry handle, the Suito is one of the easiest smart trainers to put away at the end of a ride.
❌ You value high flywheel inertia: Low inertia means the flywheel will stop sooner when you stop pedalling, and take a little more energy to keep on top of the gear when you are. The flywheel of the Suito isn't as draggy as a wheel-on trainer, but it's the lightest on this list.
The Elite Suito is a fairly entry-level turbo trainer. It comes completely assembled, with the 11-speed Shimano cassette fitted, so setup is simple for anyone using an 11-speed groupset. It's also available without a cassette, marketed as the Suito-T, which will be of use to anyone running 10-speed, 12-speed, or SRAM groupsets.
Once ready, the Suito is adequately quiet in operation. It provides resistance up to 1,900 watts, power readings accurate to within +/-2.5%, and can simulate gradients up to 15%.
It has foldable legs, with adjustable feet to stabilise on uneven ground, plus a carry handle. While its 3.5kg flywheel results in less inertia and a less realistic ride feel, it's still a world apart from that 'pedalling through treacle' feeling from years gone by.
It also means it's lighter, which, when combined with the folding legs and carry handle, means you're getting an excellent trainer for packing away at the end of the ride. There are many who choose to leave their smart trainer ready to go all the time, but if you have to tidy up after yourself, then the Suito might make life that little bit easier.
Want to know more? Have a look at our Elite Suito review.
Also consider
✅ You want the great flywheel feel of the Neo 3M at a cheaper price: The Neo 2T offers the same motorised flywheel, with downhill freewheel simulation.
✅ You don't need WiFi or ethernet, but want pedalling analysis tech: You can probably find the Neo 2T cheaper than the Elite Justo 2, so if you're interested in that pedalling analysis software, but don't need the added features, this could get you there for less money.
❌ You want future-proof tech: The Neo 2T is around five years old and has been superseded by Tacx. It's still supported for now, but we don't know how long that will last.
❌ You want something that you can easily put away after a ride: The Neo 2T does have folding legs, but it's heavy and doesn't have a carry handle.
This has been superceded by the newer Neo 3M, but given it's still sold at retailers around the world and supported by Tacx, it's still worth considering if you find it on sale. It offers a clever motorised flywheel that not only replicates a flywheel much heavier than it actually is, but also provides added features such as pedalling analysis and vibrating when you travel over rough roads. The Neo 2T, like the Neo 3M and the Justo 2, can also accelerate the flywheel during descending, replicating real-life gravity.
Using electromagnetic resistance, Tacx says it can simulate up to a 125kg flywheel and offers 2,200 watts to fight against and a max incline of 25% with 1% accurate power readings. It's also compatible with 135x10, 142x12 and 148x12mm axles without the need for extra adaptors. Like the Justo 2, it can even be unplugged and still function, meaning it's workable for your pre-race car park warm-up.
On top of those features, there's a bit of side-to-side movement built into the design, and if that's not enough, you can add the aftermarket Garmin Tacx NEO Motion Plates for around 5cm of fore/aft movement as well. The Neo 2T also offers advanced power metrics like left/right balance and pedal stroke analysis.
The legs do fold, but it doesn't have a carry handle, so at 21.5kg, it's quite a difficult one to move.
Read more in our Tacx Neo 2T review.
✅ You want a great ride feel: The Direto feels very realistic when freeriding, making it a great option for zone 2, social riding and exploring virtual worlds.
✅ You want longevity: The Direto is well-built and durable, so it should last many training seasons.
❌ You want a really good ERG mode: The ERG mode and interval performance are bettered by other trainers.
❌ You want movement: The Direto doesn't rock, unlike many top spec trainers.
This high-spec trainer comes at a decent price and has a good reputation for durability. It has 2300 watts of resistance, 24% gradients and 1.5% accuracy. It's not as cheap as the similarly specced Saris H3, and the flywheel could be heavier, but it comes with a cassette and is fairly portable at 15.8kg. We like it, and if you can find it on offer, then don't rule it out. You can buy it with Zwift Cog and Click pre-installed for out-of-the-box virtual shifting, or with an 11-speed cassette, while the Direto XR-T is sold without a cassette.
Read our Elite Direto XR review for more.
How to choose
To the uninitiated, bike trainers (commonly known as turbo trainers, indoor trainers, or when applicable, smart trainers) can present a confusing minefield of options, but that's where we can help.
Here's what you should consider when choosing, while further down we have more detailed explanations of the choices.
- Smart or dumb? 'Standard' dumb trainers might be incredibly cheap, but they don't offer any of the connectivity of a smart trainer to ride on indoor apps such as Zwift. With that said, they are still produced and widely popular due to their budget-friendly price. We'd recommend going for a 'smart' trainer, which will have Bluetooth and let you connect to indoor cycling apps.
- Wheel-on or direct drive? Direct-drive bike trainers, where the trainer mounts directly to your frame in place of the rear wheel, are more common. They are generally more expensive but the ride quality is worth the extra outlay. Wheel-on trainers are usually 'dumb', and much cheaper. There are a few 'smart' wheel-on trainers which sit somewhere in the middle, but the price of budget direct drive trainers is so low now that it's rare. Wheel-on trainers are usually louder and don’t offer the same power-measuring accuracy as their direct drive counterparts. Tyre wear can be an issue, but you can buy a trainer-specific tyre with harder rubber to slow that down.
- Does it come with a cassette? Some do. Some don't. And some come with Zwift's Cog and Click 'virtual shifting' device. You'll need to budget for a cassette if one is not supplied.
- Is it compatible with my bike? Most trainers can be used with most bikes, although in some cases you may need to purchase a set of adapters for some axle standards. It's worth checking compatibility if you have a bike with unusual axle spacing like a track bike or a mountain bike. Direct drive trainers typically come with a Shimano HG11 freehub, so if you have a SRAM 12-speed or Campagnolo groupset, you may need to purchase a separate freehub. If you're planning on riding exclusively on Zwift anyway, then you can cut this corner by just getting the Zwift Cog and Click, because it's compatible with most groupsets from the off.
- How much resistance do I need? The resistance a trainer offers to pedalling (a.k.a. its power) is measured in watts. Unless you're a pro-level sprinter, pretty much any trainer will offer enough resistance. If you're planning to do a lot of sprint intervals, then the 600 watts limit of the Van Rysel D100 might be restrictive, but even that'll be enough for amateurs.
- How steep a gradient? Again, most trainers can simulate a steep enough uphill to satisfy most riders, but you might want to look for a maximum grade of 15% or more if you plan to train for the hills.
- How heavy is the flywheel? How realistic the ride feels is largely dependent on the trainer's flywheel weight. The heavier the better, but that does make moving the trainer around tricky, although some of the more expensive trainers use electric flywheels to get around this problem.
- Does it rock left and right? A rigid interface that holds your bike bolt upright can feel uncomfortable and unnatural. It also increases the strain on your bike frame. So many trainers now offer side-to-side motion through a small angle, while others can be fitted with rocking feet as an extra-cost accessory. The very best smart trainers, such as the Wahoo Kickr Move and the Tacx Neo 3M, also move front to rear, for added realism.
- How easy is it to store? A heavier trainer is harder to move around, and one that doesn't fold down for storage is more of a problem if you can't leave it out.
- What connectivity options are there? Not normally an issue, but make sure your trainer can support Bluetooth. ANT+ is usually a given, but rarely will a laptop or tablet let you connect without an extra dongle. If you intend to race online on Zwift or another app, WiFi connectivity and/or the option to add a wired data connection will give you faster, more reliable data transmission.
- How noisy? Some trainers are noisier than others, particularly wheel-on trainers. If you have neighbours, you may want to look at the noise output.
- Does it need a power supply? Most smart trainers need an external power supply to provide their full functionality, so make sure that one is close to where you intend to place your trainer. Some can be operated without power, which is useful if you want to use your trainer for warm-ups at a race, but don't expect to get onto Zwift without a power supply, as you'll lose out on a lot of the functionality.
Smart trainer jargon explained
There are lots of technical terms related to smart trainers. Here's a quick run-down of some key ones:
- Smart trainer - A smart trainer can be linked to a device to run an indoor cycling app to vary the resistance automatically.
- Dumb trainer - A dumb trainer requires you to set the resistance yourself.
- Direct drive trainer - A trainer where you remove your rear wheel and connect your bike directly to a cassette mounted on the trainer. A direct drive trainer will also be smart.
- Wheel-on trainer - A trainer where you place your rear wheel on a roller and clamp it in place. Some wheel-on trainers are smart, some are dumb.
- ERG mode - In ERG mode, the trainer's resistance is varied automatically, so it's not dependent on your pedalling cadence.
- Connectivity - Trainers usually offer an ANT+ connection to cycling computers and a BLE connection to smartphones, tablets etc, used to run your cycling app. Many trainers now also include Wi-Fi, while in some cases you can make a wired connection to a home network for even faster data transfer.
- Resistance - The amount of effort you need to put in to turn the pedals. For reference, top sprinters may put out around 2,000 watts, so most trainers will be fine for amateurs.
- Gradient - How much the trainer can increase the resistance to simulate a climb in an indoor cycling app.
- Zwift Cog - A single speed cassette that fits to the trainer and provides virtual shifting - usually orange in colour.
- Indoor cycling app - An app, run on a computer, tablet or smartphone that simulates riding outdoors and includes a virtual world or real-world footage. Zwift is the best known, but others include Rouvy and MyWhoosh.
- Accuracy - A smart trainer will include a power meter to measure your output. Accuracy measures how closely it tracks your actual output.
Everything you need to know
What's wheel-on and what's direct drive?
Within smart trainers, there are two options: wheel-on and direct drive. Just as the names suggest, wheel-on lets you keep your rear wheel on your bike, and places a roller against your tyre to provide resistance.
Direct-drive trainers connect a cassette to the trainer itself and remove the rear wheel altogether. This means your pedalling turns the flywheel directly, rather than turning a wheel and then relying on friction between your tyre and a roller.
Wheel-on trainers are fast becoming obsolete as the price of direct drive trainers continues to fall.
Direct-drive turbo trainers are better, more common, and generally more expensive (albeit not in every case). Wheel-on smart trainers are slightly more budget-friendly, and standard (non-smart) turbo trainers are regularly the cheapest.
Of course, there is a trade-off. The wheel-on trainers are usually louder and don’t offer the same power-measuring accuracy as their direct drive counterparts. Tyre wear can be an issue, but you can buy a trainer-specific tyre with harder rubber to slow that down.
If you are starting from scratch and are a little unsure about what other equipment you need to start riding indoors, have a look at our comprehensive guide to indoor cycling. However, our quick rule of thumb is that if you can spare around £400 / $500, then a direct drive smart trainer will be the best option for future-proof tech and ongoing enjoyment. Some are now cheaper than this.
Which is the best smart trainer?
Our top pick for the best smart trainer is the Wahoo Kickr Core 2. Of course, the best smart trainer is the one that fits your budget, space and app preferences as well as training style.
That said, in our rigorous testing, we found that the Kickr Core 2 offers top functionality, including Wi-Fi connectivity, and a decent level of resistance at a great price.
Are smart trainers worth it?
Short answer: It depends.
If you train indoors regularly and consistently throughout the year, then smart trainers are absolutely a worthwhile investment. Essentially, smart trainers will take your training commitments to the next level with immersive workouts, responsive resistance, and seamless integration with cycling apps like Zwift.
'Standard' trainers might be incredibly cheap, but they don't offer any of the connectivity to ride on indoor apps such as Zwift. With that said, they are still produced and widely popular due to their budget-friendly price.
Smart means they can connect (usually via Bluetooth or ANT+, but increasingly via WiFi or direct ethernet ports), to your electronic device (phone, laptop, tablet and most of the best cycling computers) to offer variable resistance which is controlled by indoor cycling apps such as Zwift or workout sessions downloaded to your cycling computer from coaching software such as TrainingPeaks.
When buying, look for connectivity specs and compatibility claims. If it has Bluetooth or ANT+ mentioned, or it claims to be compatible with Zwift, then you're looking at a smart turbo trainer.
Standard bike trainers forego this connectivity and are much cheaper. They either offer a progressive resistance curve (the harder you pedal, the more it resists) or a manual controller that lets you choose a resistance level.
How do I find a trainer that's compatible with my bike?
Bikes use a variety of axle and freehub standards these days, so it's essential to check which your bike uses and make sure the turbo trainer you buy comes with the correct adaptors.
Axles
Most modern road or gravel bikes use either a 135mm quick-release (QR) skewer or a 142x12mm thru-axle. All of the trainers above are compatible with both, although you may, in some cases, still need to purchase a thru-axle separately. We've outlined the compatibility of each trainer to help you decide which is the best turbo trainer for you.
Many mountain bikes these days use a slightly wider 148x12mm Boost thru-axle, so if you're a mountain biker and wish to use it on the trainer, then you'll need to consider this when buying.
If your turbo trainer of choice doesn't come with the correct adaptor to suit your bike, then it will most likely be available as an aftermarket extra purchase, but of course, this is a cost you may be able to avoid.
Freehubs
When it comes to direct drive trainers, you'll need to consider whether the freehub is compatible with a cassette that is compatible with the groupset on your bike.
The agreed-upon standard is for a turbo trainer to come with a freehub that's compatible with 9, 10 and 11-speed Shimano/SRAM cassettes. If you're using a groupset of that spec, you'll probably find you have no issues with freehub compatibility. However, if you're using Campagnolo, Shimano Micro Spline 12-speed (but not road-going 12-speed), or SRAM 12-speed groupsets, you'll need a different freehub, which will be an additional purchase to consider.
Cassettes
If buying a direct drive turbo trainer, it's also worth considering whether or not your prospective new turbo trainer comes with a cassette or not. Some turbo trainers come with an 11-speed cassette included, which can help save money (assuming it's compatible with your bike, of course).
Others allow you to choose a cassette when buying, which simplifies things if you know what cassette you have on your bike. We've made it clear for each of the turbo trainers above which, if any, a cassette is included.
What is Zwift Cog?
Many trainers now offer compatibility with Zwift Cog and Click or come with Zwift Cog pre-installed. You'll spot the orange disc mounted where you'd usually see a cassette and trainer packaging will include a Zwift Ready logo.
Zwift Cog provides virtual shifting. Its single sprocket eliminates the need to purchase a cassette where one isn't included with your trainer. The Zwift Click controllers mount to your handlebars, connect wirelessly to Zwift Cog and allow you to shift through 12 virtual gears.
Zwift Cog helps reduce wear on your drivetrain and lowers noise output, while the Click devices also include controls for many functions in the Zwift app, so you don't need to interact with your computer, phone or tablet when using Zwift.
Note that Zwift Cog and Click only work with the Zwift app, so you're tied into Zwift and can't swap to other indoor cycling apps such as Rouvy and MyWhoosh.
Can a bike trainer ever damage my bike?
Riding a bike on an indoor trainer can place a unique set of forces through certain parts of your frame and in particular, the rear dropouts. It's first important to check that your bike is actually compatible with use on a turbo trainer. Most new bikes are, but your bike's manual should offer details, and Wahoo has its own bike compatibility chart for extra help.
Correct installation of your frame and regular checks are important to ensure nothing is ever damaged. Don't just clamp your bike onto a trainer and ride it all winter without checking things over, especially after a few hard sessions. Make sure your bike is still fully anchored and can't move on its anchor points or fall off the trainer.
It's also really important to protect your bike and components from corrosive sweat if you're doing a lot of riding on your indoor trainer. We like to drape a towel over the handlebars to catch the majority of the sweat, and a wipe down after each use and regular bike wash will keep everything working as it should.
For a more detailed answer, check out our in-depth article covering whether a trainer can damage your frame.
What is ERG mode?
ERG mode is where the trainer will tailor the resistance to help you hit your target power, and is a feature of all smart turbo trainers. For example, let's say you're riding a preset workout and your target power is 200 watts. ERG mode will provide the right resistance for 200 watts regardless of whether you're pedalling at 60RPM or 150RPM.
This means you can focus more on the pedalling and less on shifting gears or ensuring you remain on target. It's also a big point of differentiation for every smart trainer.
The hardware can almost instantly lock you to a specific power level, but our bodies don't respond like that. Our pedalling isn't perfect, and our power output vs cadence varies. The way that different manufacturers tune the software to respond to those realities changes the feeling of the ride.
Some companies are faster for tighter adherence to specific power outputs. Wahoo follows this strategy. Other companies, like Elite, intentionally respond a little slower to provide a more natural feeling ride, even if your intervals aren't as tight. You'll want to think about how you ride when you consider which brand of trainer is right for you.
Some brands' trainers feature what Wahoo calls 'Easyramp' to slowly increase the resistance if you drop out of the ERG mode power curve, so you're not battling against a high resistance to get up to speed again.
You can read more in our ERG mode explained post.
Which apps are compatible with my smart trainer?
When it comes to communication with your device, almost every smart trainer can connect via Bluetooth Smart FTMS (the Fitness Machine Service designed specifically for Bluetooth fitness equipment) or ANT+ FE-C. Both allow your trainer to speak to and receive commands from your computer, meaning you can ride in ERG mode or have the resistance affected by the terrain in Zwift.
ANT+ FE-C can generally accept multiple connections at once, so you can record data on multiple devices or have your trainer controlled by TrainerRoad whilst following roads in Zwift for entertainment. Bluetooth is usually limited to one concurrent connection, although Wahoo devices support up to three.
As of around 2016, virtually every smart trainer on the market is dual-band, meaning they work on both protocols, so no matter if you're using a Garmin cycling computer or your Bluetooth smartphone, your smart turbo trainer should be able to speak the right language.
Remember, a standard trainer forgoes this technology, so it cannot communicate with your device at all.
What's the best alternative to Zwift?
Although Zwift is arguably one of the most popular cycling training apps, there are viable alternative apps such as TrainerRoad and Rouvy.
TrainerRoad is great for structured workouts, while Rouvy offers excellent real-world routes. Plus, there's also MyWhoosh if you're looking for a free, competitive alternative. Read our guide to the best indoor cycling apps for more details.
Which indoor trainer would we buy?
We think the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 offers excellent value with solid performance and app compatibility, making it a top choice for most indoor cyclists. For greater affordability, it's worth looking at Decathlon's Van Rysel branded trainer range.
What else do I need for indoor cycling?
Glad you asked. We have a whole post on how to set up your indoor training space and how to get the most from your indoor set-up, but here's the extras we'd prioritise, in descending order of importance.
- A towel. Indoor cycling is hot work, so be ready to wipe yourself down. As mentioned above, a towel is also the best way to protect your bike from sweat, which can damage handlebars, brake levers and other components..
- A fan. Unless you're aiming for heat adaptation, additional airflow will keep you more comfortable, so a fan to move air around you is a useful extra.
- A big bottle. Make sure that you stay hydrated with an extra-large water bottle or two.
- A floor mat. An indoor cycling floor mat will protect your carpet from your sweat and indentation. It will also provide some damping to reduce vibration and noise.
- Entertainment. Riding indoors can be pretty mind-numbing. Set up a playlist and invest in headphones to keep yourself occupied.
- A climb simulator. If you really want to get into the experience of riding Alpe du Zwift, a climb simulator such as the Wahoo Kickr Climb or Elite Rizer bolts to your bike's front axle and raises it when you're going uphill, lowering it when you come back down, helping to engage the muscle groups you use when climbing outdoors.
- Indoor cycle clothing. There's a whole plethora of indoor cycling clothing sold, from shoes to caps and everything in between. Designed to be lightweight, an indoor cycling kit might keep you a bit more comfortable, but not much more than summer cycle clothing.
- Food. If you're riding longer indoor sessions, you'll need to keep fuelled. Check out our guide on how to fuel your indoor training before, during and after your ride.
What other indoor cycling options are there?
If you don't have a suitable bike, don't want to use your bike for indoor cycling or have deep pockets, there are a couple of other options.
The best exercise bikes offer a one-stop indoor bike, allowing you to leave your outdoor bike outdoors. The best known is Peloton. Most exercise bikes don't connect to indoor cycling apps such as Zwift, but there are exceptions.
A smart bike replicates the bike-plus-smart trainer package in one piece of equipment, allowing you to follow structured workouts and ride on cycling apps. The best smart bikes offer easy adjustability, and some even tilt when you ride uphill on Zwift. They're very heavy and pretty large, so you'll need a dedicated training space. They're also significantly more expensive than a trainer.
Zwift Ride circumvents some of the disadvantages of other smart bikes. It includes a metal frame that connects to a Zwift-ready smart trainer. It's sold stand-alone or as a package with the Wahoo Kickr Core 2. It's a bit easier to move around than a monolithic smart bike and significantly cheaper, but it does tie you into using Zwift as your indoor app.
How do we test?
We take testing very seriously at Cyclingnews. When we test indoor cycling gear, we take it through a range of real-world use cases, including structured interval workouts, long endurance rides, virtual races, and simulated climbing efforts using apps like Zwift, TrainerRoad, Rouvy, and MyWhoosh. This helps us understand how each smart trainer performs across different training needs and riding styles.
For this guide, we tested a wide range of smart trainers over hundreds of hours riding across thousands of virtual kilometres. Our team includes seasoned cyclists, all with over a decade of indoor training experience, bringing both expert insight and first-hand comparison knowledge to the process.
We're well aware that different cyclists have different budgets and training requirements. With this in mind, we've provided options that cover both high-end and entry-level options as well as different use-cases.
Testing is the backbone of the tech department at Cyclingnews, and how we test is taken seriously. If you'd like to find out more, check out our how we test page.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on all-things tech.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing since 2005, and training indoors since 2018, on Zwift, TrainerRoad, MyWhoosh, Rouvy, RGT (now discontinued) and many more. He's tested more than 50 smart trainers and smart bikes, assessing them for accuracy, reliability and ease of use.
