Zwift vs MyWhoosh: Is it really worth paying for Zwift when MyWhoosh is free?

Zwift claims to be the most popular indoor cycling app, with over a million active users. But there are a whole raft of competitors, each with its own unique take on indoor cycling. MyWhoosh distinguishes itself from other indoor apps in one major regard – it’s free, whereas a Zwift subscription will cost at least £15 / $16.66 a month (paid annually).

Zwift has also released an all-new premium tier this week, at £26.99 / $29.99 per month. Called Zwift Plus, it includes real video routes and a built-in AI coach.

So what do Zwift and MyWhoosh offer, and why would you choose one over the other?

We break down what you get in the two apps and help you to choose between them.

Zwift vs MyWhoosh: Virtual worlds

Unlike Rouvy, which centres on real world video and includes user-generated footage as the basis for its platform, both MyWhoosh and Zwift are based on in-house-developed virtual worlds.

MyWhoosh offers 19 worlds, each with simulations of riding in different areas including the Alps, Colombia, Australia, France, a made-up MyWhoosh world, and various World Championships course replicas such as Canada and the various eSports championships the platform has held.

Zwift too has its own made-up world, known as Watopia, which includes jungle landscapes, volcanoes and the Alpe du Zwift, which is a virtual Alpe d’Huez replica. It’s recently added a loop that simulates the California coast too, complete with breaching whales.

Other Zwift worlds include World Championship circuits around Glasgow, Harrogate and Richmond, as well as a replica of the Champs Elysees in Paris.

The big caveat to this is that the Zwift Plus subscription tier offers an additional stream of real-world video, overlaid with some of the familiar Zwift graphics, where at the time of launch, you can ride in seven worlds: The French Alps, Sa Calobra in Mallorca, Mt Teide in Tenerife, Chapmans Peak in South Africa, The Midnight Sun Road in Norway, Sunset Rise in Utah, and the Glen Etive in the Scottish Highlands.

Zwift vs MyWhoosh: User base

Zwift boasts over a million active users, the largest user base in indoor cycling. Size has benefits, as there’s always someone online to ride with or race against. Wherever you choose to ride, you’ll find others riding there too.

MyWhoosh claims a user base that's half that of Zwift's.

Both platforms rotate the worlds that are available at any given time on a schedule, meaning users are kept to a few worlds at a time, reducing the population sparsity.

Both apps also include virtual riders you can pace yourself against or race with as well.

Zwift vs MyWhoosh: Training

Both MyWhoosh and Zwift offer structured workouts and longer-term training programs that you can follow along in their apps.

Both apps cover the basics such as endurance sessions and zone-based workouts. MyWhoosh impresses with sessions created by none other than Tadej Pogačar's coach.

Zwift's standard tier focusses on simple, static plans, but the real training is unlocked with its new Plus tier, where the app has leveraged Artificial Intelligence to create a training plan that adapts as you train (or skip a session).

Zwift vs MyWhoosh: Racing

Both Zwift and MyWhoosh have a strong focus on racing. MyWhoosh’s racing is centred on its Sunday Race Club, which as its name suggests, takes place on Sundays. This offers real cash prizes, with a prize pot of $1 million each year, allowing elite competitors to earn substantial sums. MyWhoosh also has an agreement with the UCI to host the Cycling eSports World Championships on the platform.

Races are categorised by riders’ power output and MyWhoosh has sophisticated tools to detect potential cheating. It even stipulates that the top-ranked competitors must use the Favero Assioma Pro power meter pedals if they want to be eligible for prize money. This won't affect 99% of users, but signals a clear anti-cheating stance.

Zwift is more open in its allowable equipment choices for competitors, although there’s no hard cash on offer. It too looks out for cheats though, with an entire department dedicated to the cause.

The Zwift Racing League allows users to compete in a scheduled series of events and there are daily races on the platform.

Both apps categorise riders, initially by power output versus body weight. In Zwift you can move up the ranks by improving your Zwift Racing Score with regular competition and good results. There’s a similar progression path on MyWhoosh.

Zwift vs MyWhoosh: Rewards

Both apps give you credit for riding and competing, which you can swap for virtual upgrades. In MyWhoosh, with its ties to the UAE Team Emirates pro teams, its kit choices mirror the team’s equipment.

Virtual bikes include Colnagos, but bikes from Giant, Look and other brands also feature. Kit upgrades include items branded Pissei, the team’s clothing supplier, as well as Ekoi, MET, Scicon and others.

Racing and riding on Zwift earns you Drops, a virtual currency that you can swap for items in its Drop Shop, such as a kit upgrade, new wheels or a new bike.

Serious earners can spend their Drops on a halo bike such as the Pinarello Espada, while partnerships with brands including Canyon and Specialized allow you to upgrade to one of their bikes and give you a slight edge when racing.

There are real-world rewards for top racers in Zwift too. Past winners of its Zwift Academy, including Jay Vine and Neve Bradbury, have been awarded pro contracts and gone on to successful careers at WorldTour level.

Zwift vs MyWhoosh: Subscription cost

MyWhoosh’s main differentiator is the cost of a subscription: it’s free to use. In contrast, a Zwift subscription is paid for by the user.

A Zwift subscription costs £179.99 / $199.99 for a year, representing £15 / $16.67 per month, while paid month-by-month it costs £17.99 / $19.99. There’s a 30 day money-back guarantee on the annual cost and a 14-day free trial when paid monthly.

Zwift's Plus is priced at £27.99 / $29.99.