- (Tariq) Zwift by far is the most popular
indoor cycling app out there.
But it's not for everyone.
The good news is there are other alternatives out there
and in this video I will take you through
nine different apps you can use
to help you log those miles indoor.
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Hey, what's up guys.
Tariq here from Smartbiketrainers.com.
So why nine apps?
I do like odd numbers and even numbers
are just not as cool.
That's a fact.
But I've seen some kind of an update
to these apps the past twelve months.
So they get updates on a regular basis.
So, they basically work.
Most of them have a monthly subscription fee.
But also I will tell you about
two totally free apps that are actually good.
So, make sure to stick around for that.
And if you find this video helpful,
don't forget to hit the like button and share it.
Also I would love to know which app you like to use
or apps if you prefer
to use more than one app at a time.
So let me know down in the comment section.
There are two type of apps out there.
Apps that are geared towards structured training,
so they give you a plan and a specific workout
and you follow that workout.
Then you have apps that try to simulate
real life course routes
and apps that usually have real life video
of a certain route in a certain location.
Or more of a gamified virtual riding experience
simulating real world routes or made up courses.
Some apps offer both the structured workout experience
and the real world virtual riding experience.
So, I am going to break it down
into two separate categories and walk you through each one.
Rouvy has been around for a long time,
and it is packed with features.
A monthly membership subscription fee
will cost you around $6.25 per month for a basic membership
or $10 per month for their premium membership.
The premium membership offers the virtual routes
and you can invite more family members
which is great value if you have
more than one cyclist in your household.
With Rouvy you get the following,
virtual routes you can create and ride your own routes
or search their large GPS database
for regular routes or video routes.
They also release the augmented reality
which I've talked about
and I will link to that video up here.
It is basically your own avatar
placed on a real life course.
With Rouvy you can do group rides and races.
You can sync to training piece
and pull down the workout of the day.
Build your own structured workout or pick a workout
from their large workout library.
Rouvy works with most most
ANT plus FEC Bluetooth smart trainers.
As well dump trainer with speed sensor
or just the power meter.
Next up is FulGaz.
FulGaz has plenty of high definition rides.
As of today, they have 415 routes
or about 5000 miles of routes to explore.
FulGaz works best on Apple TV
and it is compatible with most Bluetooth smart trainers
and even the Kickr Climb Tacx Neo virtual road feel.
It's also available as a native app
on the iPhone or the iPad.
FulGaz does not offer workout library
or workout control features.
So it's good for someone who like
to ride and experience real courses.
FulGaz costs 9.99 per month or $89.99 per year.
And they do have a 14 day free trial.
So give them a try.
VirtuGo is new to the scene.
They just left beta and started charging
a monthly subscription fee.
VirtuGo is like Zwift with made up virtual world
and a couple of real life courses
but more emphasis on structured training.
They have different training programs
for road racers, climbers, time trialist, sprinters.
They have a decent training library
which you can browse through
and view description and session details
and add your training library
and assign it to your calendar.
However, it is only ANT plus FEC compatible as of today.
So you need to get an ANT plus dongle
and it's a beast of a software
and requires a good computer
with a decent graphic card to run.
It is compatible with Mac and Windows
and they do not have a mobile version as of yet.
VirtuGo bills in Euro and it's 5.95 Euros per month
which is about six and half dollar, US dollar
which isn't too bad.
Now, let's move on to the structured side of things.
Trainer Road is one of my favorite.
I have been using it since 2011,
when they were in beta stage.
Trainer Road offers a huge library
of power-based cycling workout.
It's like having a cycling or triathlon course
for $15 per month.
Once you are setup and running with Trainer Road,
you will need to set your FTP.
And each training plan starts with the ramp FTP test
then you can browse through hundreds of workouts
or create your own via Trainer Road workout creator.
They also have a well designed structured training plan
for triathlete, off-road cyclists,
roadside racers etcetera.
Their training plans are divided into
high, medium and low volume
and you can even customize the start date
and end date of each plan
and move the workouts around to fit your own schedule.
They also have a great analytics tool
to analyze your indoor or outdoor rides.
Trainer Road has a great and a busy community
on their forum and Facebook
and also they have an amazing podcast.
So make sure to check that one out as well.
Trainer Road is $15 per month or $129 per year.
And I am gonna let you on in a little secret here,
if you have a friend with a Trainer Road subscription
ask him or her to send you a 30-day free trial code.
They said they don't have one,
then it's time to look for a new friend
with a Trainer Road subscription of course.
Trainer Road is compatible with iOS devices,
Windows, Mac and Android devices.
And works well with Bluetooth FTMS
and Ant plus FEC trainers.
Next up is The Sufferfest.
They have been around for a long time
and releasing updates and new videos on a regular basis.
I think it was the first structured cycling video
I ever watched and I actually enjoyed.
For $12.99 per month or $99 per year,
you get unlimited access to a huge library
of structured cycling, triathlon and running workouts
with video footage of professional races
and fun story lines.
Also, with membership you get access to yoga,
mental toughness training and strength training.
It's the only app that goes beyond cycling
with additional workouts to compliment your cycling
and make you a better overall athlete.
Okay, The Sufferfest runs on iPhone, iPad, Windows or Mac.
And it is compatible with ANT plus FEC trainers
and Bluetooth FTMS trainers.
Next is Xert.
Xert is different.
The way Xert works, it analyzes your current fitness
based on power data you feed it
and runs some magic algorithm behind the scene
and recommends a workout for you
based on your current fitness and your goals.
Also Xert calculates your FTP on the fly
so no need to do an FTP test.
It's pretty cool and you can use their Web player
to connect to your smart trainer, or power meter
or their new Xert iOS app.
Also, all their workouts are available
to download in Erg or Zwift file
if you want to use it with Zwift for example.
Xert works with ANT plus FEC trainers
or Bluetooth FTMS compatible trainers or any power meter.
They also have a Garmin connect app
which you can use on your Garmin Edge device
to do you workout outside if you want to.
Or do a race.
Xert also give you a detailed look at
analysis at your fitness and calculate
your fitness signature and your maximum
available power on the fly.
So if you are in a race and trying
to hold onto that final sprint,
the Garmin Connect app will tell you
how much speed power you have second by second.
And it's pretty good at estimating that.
Xert costs 9.99 per month or $99 per year
and they do have 30-day free trial.
Velopro is another AI training application.
Basically, you fill out information about yourself,
fitness goals, training schedule, races
and they will take all that information
and build a custom plan for you on the fly.
You can browse a calendar to see details
for upcoming workouts and your completed rides.
You can mark days off if you want to
and the software will adjust the schedule for you.
You can also mark certain workouts
as indoor workouts or outdoor.
The default is usually set as an outdoor workout
but if you mark it as an indoor workout
then you can download an Erg or Zwift file
and use it with Zwift for example.
It doesn't have a workout player or anything like that.
So you need to either download the workout
or write it down and just do it like an old time.
Velopro cost $10 per month or $27 per quarter
and they also offer 30-day free trial.
Velopro and Xert training plans
work well for cyclists, not so much for triathletes.
Okay, if you do not wanna pay anything,
these are the two free apps for you.
RGT Cycling is a high quality indoor cycling app
with close to real life graphics on real courses
with realistic motion, breaking into corners,
drafting etcetera.
It is probably the closest thing you will get to Zwift
without paying a monthly subscription fee.
The app is graphic intensive
but they recently released and Apple TV app
along with a companion app
to control all aspects of the software.
Actually you do need to use the companion app
to even control the software on Windows or Mac PC.
It works very well on Apple TV
but the graphics are scaled down a bit
and it isn't as high quality as
what you would get on a 4K gaming PC.
If you don't have a gaming PC
the Apple TV is a way to go with RGT.
RGT is free and you can download it right now
I did a full review on it a couple of months ago
and I will link to it up here,
it is available for Mac, Windows and Apple TV.
The next free app and one of my favorites is
Maximum Trainer.
Maximum Trainer is an open source available
for Windows and Mac and you can use it to do
structured training and
watch Netflix at the same time if you want to.
So, with Maximum Trainer you can build
your own workout using the workout builder
or use one of the workouts available
on Ergdb.org.
I did a full review on Maximum Trainer
awhile ago and if you are interested in that one,
I will link to it up here and down in
the description below as well.
Okay, these are the nine good alternatives to Zwift.
Now keep in mind that most of these lack
that social side that you applied in Zwift
even though RGT Cycling is free,
most likely you will be riding all alone.
And maybe that's what you're looking for.
Okay, that is all I have today.
Let me know which one you use or recommend
down in the comments section and
if you don't use any and just go old school
with your par meter and Garmin device, let me know.
Okay, hope you enjoyed this video.
Hit the like button if you did, share it
and subscribe if you haven't subscribed yet.
Thanks for watching and I will see you in the next video.
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