# How to use Zwift or the Peloton app with any exercise bike

Source: https://rowandspin.co.uk/blog/using-zwift-or-peloton-app-on-any-bike
Published: 2026-10-12
Publisher: Row and Spin

**In short:** You can follow the Peloton app on any bike, because its classes work by cadence and resistance cues; you just read your own console. Zwift needs power or speed data to move you in its virtual world, so it works best with a bike that sends watts over Bluetooth FTMS or ANT+, a smart trainer, or power pedals. A cadence sensor alone adds rpm but not watts.

Apps like Zwift and the Peloton app have made home riding far more varied, but they handle data very differently. Before you buy sensors or a new bike, it helps to know what each app needs, what a basic spin bike can and cannot send, and how Bluetooth and ANT+ fit in. This guide walks through the options, from a simple cadence sensor to a smart bike, and gives steps for getting connected. App menus change, so check Zwift's and Peloton's support pages for current pairing steps.

## Peloton app vs Zwift: what each one needs

The **Peloton app** is built around instructor-led classes. The instructor calls out cadence ranges and resistance changes, and you follow them on whatever bike you have. You do not need any data link to take part. Data from a standard bike does not usually feed into the app's class metrics, so most riders read their bike's console or a separate sensor display.

**Zwift** is a virtual world. Your avatar moves according to the power you produce, so Zwift needs a source of watts, or a supported speed-based estimate, to work properly. With cadence only, you can open structured workouts and see rpm, but your movement in the world will not reflect your effort in a meaningful way. Check Zwift's support pages for the current list of supported devices.

In short: the Peloton app is the easier fit for a basic bike, and Zwift is the better fit for a bike that sends watts.

| Set-up | Peloton app | Zwift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic bike, no sensor | Follow classes by feel | Not really usable |
| Bike plus cadence sensor | Follow classes, see rpm if paired or on another app | Cadence only, no power |
| Smart bike with FTMS (watts) | Follow classes, numbers on bike console | Full use, power and cadence |
| Road bike on a smart trainer | Follow classes | Full use, often with resistance control |
| Bike with power meter pedals | Follow classes | Full use, measured power |

What each set-up gives you

## Sensors: cadence, speed and power

A **cadence sensor** clips or sticks to the crank arm and counts pedal turns. Most modern ones use an accelerometer, so there is no magnet to fit. They broadcast rpm over Bluetooth, ANT+ or both, and they are the cheapest way to add a number to a basic bike.

A **speed sensor** is designed to sit on a road wheel hub. A spin bike has no road wheel, and fitting one to the flywheel does not give a speed that apps can turn into a true power figure. For spin bikes, speed sensors are rarely worth buying.

A **power meter** measures force and cadence together and sends real watts. On a spin bike the practical option is power meter pedals, which fit a standard 9/16 inch pedal thread. They move with you between bikes. Our guide to [spin bike shoes and pedals](https://rowandspin.co.uk/blog/spin-bike-shoes-and-pedals) explains how to fit pedals.

## Bluetooth, ANT+ and FTMS explained

**Bluetooth** is built into phones, tablets and most laptops, so it is the simplest connection. Most bike sensors and smart bikes now use it. Some older devices only allow one Bluetooth connection at a time, so a sensor paired to one app may not show up in another until you disconnect it.

**ANT+** is a separate wireless standard common on sports sensors and bike computers. It often needs a USB dongle on a computer, and few phones support it. Many sensors broadcast both.

**FTMS** (Fitness Machine Service) is a Bluetooth standard that lets a bike send power, cadence and resistance to apps, and on some bikes lets the app change resistance. If a listing says FTMS or names Zwift or Kinomap support, the bike is likely to work with those apps. Bikes such as the BH Osaka H9110 list FTMS, and our [Peloton alternative guide](https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-peloton-alternative-bike) includes several app-ready models.

## How to connect a bike or sensor to an app

These steps cover the general process. Exact menus differ between apps and versions, so follow the app's own help pages where they differ.

1. Check what your bike can send: look for FTMS, Bluetooth, ANT+ or named app support in the manual.
2. If it sends nothing, fit a cadence sensor to the left or right crank arm, or fit power meter pedals.
3. Wake the bike or sensor by pedalling for a few seconds.
4. Close the maker's own app if it is open, so it does not hold the connection.
5. Open Zwift or the Peloton app and go to the pairing or devices screen.
6. Select the power source, cadence source and any heart rate strap from the list.
7. Ride for a minute and check the numbers respond to your pedalling.
8. If nothing appears, restart Bluetooth, replace the sensor battery and try again.

Note: If your bike needs mains power for its console, use the supplied adapter and keep the cable clear of the pedals and flywheel. Do not open the console housing; contact the maker's support for electrical faults.

## Smart trainers vs smart bikes

A **smart trainer** holds your own road bike. Direct-drive trainers replace the rear wheel; wheel-on trainers press a roller against the tyre. Most measure power and can change resistance to match hills in Zwift. They suit people who already own a road bike that fits them well.

A **smart bike** is a complete indoor bike with power measurement and app connectivity built in. It needs no road bike, is usually easier to share between riders, and often has a heavier, quieter feel. A standard spin bike plus power pedals sits between the two.

Whatever you choose, make sure the bike fits you. See our [spin bike set-up guide](https://rowandspin.co.uk/blog/how-to-set-up-a-spin-bike), and for zone-based training read [cycling power zones explained](https://rowandspin.co.uk/blog/cycling-power-zones-explained).

[See app-ready bikes](https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-peloton-alternative-bike)

## Frequently asked questions

**Peloton or Zwift: which is better for a home bike?** They do different jobs. The Peloton app suits instructor-led classes on any bike. Zwift suits riders with a power source who like virtual routes, group rides and structured workouts. Many riders use both.

**Do I need a spin bike cadence sensor?** Only if your bike shows no cadence and you want rpm for classes. If your console already shows rpm, a sensor adds little unless you want the number inside an app.

**Is there a spin bike with an RPM monitor built in?** Most current spin bikes show rpm on the console. Check the listing for cadence or RPM. Our [best spin bike guide](https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-spin-bike-uk) and [budget spin bike guide](https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-spin-bike-under-500) list console data for each bike.

**Can Zwift control my bike's resistance?** Only if the bike or trainer supports resistance control, usually through FTMS or a trainer standard. A manual friction bike cannot be controlled by an app.

## Buying guides on this topic

- https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-peloton-alternative-bike
- https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-spin-bike-uk
- https://rowandspin.co.uk/best/best-spin-bike-under-500