Best smart trainers 2025: 8 top-rated turbo trainers for every budget
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Best smart trainers 2025: 8 top-rated turbo trainers for every budget

Our pick of the best smart trainers to get you spinning indoors this winter

Simon von Bromley / Our Media


Best smart trainers at a glance

Best overall: JetBlack Victory

JetBlack Victory Best Overall
JetBlack's Victory takes our Best Overall award. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

The JetBlack Victory offers a realistic ride feel, quick gradient response, and impressive data accuracy at an excellent price. It’s quiet, easy to set up, and includes a Zwift Cog. However, power smoothing in ERG mode can’t be turned off, limiting data analysis.

Best in class: Wahoo KICKR V6

Wahoo KICKR with best in class banner
Wahoo's KICKR V6 takes our Best in Class award for its excellent performance. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

The Wahoo Kickr V6 is a top-tier smart trainer with easy setup, WiFi connectivity, great ride feel, and accurate power data. It supports sprints up to 2,200W and 20% gradients. Though expensive, it delivers exceptional performance and quiet operation.

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Best budget: Van Rysel D100

Van Rysel D100 with Best Budget banner
Van Rysel's D100 offers great performance at an impressive price point. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

The Van Rysel D100 is a budget-friendly direct-drive smart trainer with accurate power data, with a Zwift Cog and Click shifter included. Its 600W max power and inconsistent cadence data are drawbacks, but overall performance is impressive for the low price.

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Smart trainers not only enable you to avoid foul weather, but the latest generation are an essential training tool, opening up virtual worlds for easy access workouts.

Combined with the best indoor cycling apps, smart trainers have revolutionised indoor training, making a fun and interactive experience out of what was once considered self-flagellation by many.

If you’re looking to invest in an indoor training setup, you're in the right place. We've put the latest smart trainers through their paces to find out what's really worth spending your money on.

For more information on how to choose the right indoor trainer for your needs, read our full buyer's guide at the end of the article.

Editor's note: this article was updated on 16 October 2025 with our latest high-scoring reviews, including the Wahoo KICKR Core V2, and removed older entries. We have also given awards to the best trainers we've tested.

Best smart trainers in detail

JetBlack Victory 

JetBlack Victory Best Overall
JetBlack Victory Best Overall Simon von Bromley / Our Media
  • £399 / $399 / €449.95 as tested
  • Pros: Great value; easy setup; quiet; accurate data; ride feel
  • Cons: ERG mode power smoothing can’t be turned off

The JetBlack Victory outshines the competition and sets a new standard for mid-range smart trainers.

With a ride feel that’s very similar to the Zwift Hub, pedalling feels fluid and realistic, while the trainer responds to changes to in-app gradients quickly. 

Our tester found the JetBlack Victory has excellent data accuracy, which exceeds the expectations of its £400 price tag. 

Added to this, the Victory is easy to set up and comes with a Zwift Cog. It’s also relatively quiet at 65db and the noise levels hardly increase when you start sprinting.

One drawback is you can’t turn off power smoothing in ERG mode. This might not be a concern for you, but it’s frustrating if you want to analyse your raw power data. 

Specs

Max power: 1,800 watts | Max simulated gradient: 16 per cent | Weight: 12.9kg | Flywheel weight: 4.7kg | Noise: 65dB | Cassette included: Zwift Cog

Saris H3

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Saris H3
The Saris H3 is very quiet for a smart trainer. Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
  • £749.99 / $1,099.99 as tested
  • Pros: Ride feel; price; low noise
  • Cons: No cassette included

The H3 sits at the top of the Saris smart trainer range and builds on the popular H2. Reducing the noise levels was one of Saris’ top priorities and it has certainly achieved good things with the H3. At only 61dB at 20mph (measured on an iPhone app), it’s very quiet indeed.

The ride feel is good, with the stout 9kg flywheel contributing to a very realistic experience. At 21.3kg, it’s also a very solid platform, and while this makes it quite hard to move around, Saris has at least included a handle in the design, which makes things considerably easier.

The H3 is capable of 2,000 watts of power and 20 per cent gradients. Power figures were within the claimed +/- 2 per cent accuracy, which should be more than good enough for most riders. At £749.99, it’s also competitively priced, so there’s a lot to like.

Specs

Max power: 2,000 watts | Max simulated gradient: 20 per cent | Weight: 21.3kg | Flywheel weight: 9kg | Noise: 61dB | Cassette included: No

Wahoo Kickr Core 2

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Wahoo Kickr Core 2 smart trainer
The Kickr Core 2 remains an excellent choice for the mid-market. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
  • £499.99 / $549.99 / €549.99 as tested
  • Pros: Great build quality; accurate; connectivity options; quiet
  • Cons: No carrying handle

The Kickr Core remains an excellent trainer in its second generation, with excellent build quality, accurate data and new connectivity options making it a serious contender.

Like the previous generation, the Kickr Core V2 possesses a great ride feel, and the use of Zwift's Cog and Click cassette makes it easy to live with too.

Our tester found the trainer was pretty quiet on high-intensity effort, connecting easily to training apps.

There is one drawback here, in the fact that the design leaves no place for a handle, which makes moving the unit quite difficult.

It has also become more expensive than the previous trainer, though you are getting more.

Specs

Max power: 1,800 watts | Max simulated gradient: 16 per cent | Weight: 18kg | Flywheel weight: 5.4kg | Cassette included: Yes

Wahoo Kickr V6

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Wahoo KICKR with best in class banner
Wahoo KICKR with best in class banner Simon von Bromley / Our Media
  • £1,099 / $1,299.99 / €1,299.99 / AU$1,795.95 as tested
  • Pros: Excellent ride feel; accurate data; quiet; WiFi connection
  • Cons: High price in a competitive market

The Wahoo Kickr V6 is the brand's top-of-the-range model. The V6 replaced the Wahoo Kickr V5 in 2022.

Setting the unit up is very easy, especially with the addition of WiFi connectivity. While we've rarely had issues with Bluetooth connections, a WiFi connection means you should be able to connect to the trainer anywhere in your house that has a reliable 2.4Ghz connection. It also simplifies over-the-air firmware updates.

Wahoo includes a cassette and a generously sized power cable, so you shouldn’t need an extension lead.

The Kickr V6 is mechanically almost identical to the V5. Once your bike is installed, the trainer offers a very solid platform for sprints of up to 2,200 watts and gradients up to 20 per cent. There are trainers out there that offer higher top-end numbers, but this should be plenty for the vast majority of riders.

The Kickr V6 offers a fantastic ride feel, thanks to its relatively large 7.25kg flywheel. Like the outgoing trainer, it’s also wonderfully quiet.

Our testing showed the trainer's power accuracy aligns with Wahoo's claimed range of +/- 1 per cent. Like the V5, the trainer features automatic calibration.

The Kickr has never been a cheap smart trainer, and a £100 price hike for the latest model doesn't help that, but it does everything you need brilliantly and without fuss. Leaving value aside, our tester wrote: "the Wahoo Kickr V6 is easily one of the best smart trainers available".

Max power: 2,200 watts | Max simulated gradient: 20 per cent | Weight: 21.9kg | Flywheel weight: 7.3kg | Noise: 61dB | Cassette included: Yes

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Elite Direto XR

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Elite Direto XR
The Elite Direto XR is quiet and reliable. Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
  • £824.99 / $949.99 / €849.99 as tested
  • Pros: Good ride feel; accurate data; folding legs
  • Cons: Construction feels a little cheap

Priced between the cheaper Suito and top-of-the-range Drivo II, the Direto XR is an update to Elite’s Direto X direct-drive smart trainer, getting a heavier flywheel (5.1kg), an increase to the maximum simulated gradient (24 per cent) and a higher maximum power (2,300 watts).

The trainer comes with absolutely everything you need out of the box, including an 11-speed cassette. We wish the legs had a quick-release mechanism for folding them away, but the unit's (relatively) light 15.8kg weight makes it less of a chore to move around than others.

In testing, we found the trainer to be pleasingly quiet, with excellent ride quality and accurate power numbers to boot.

Specs

Max power: 2,300 watts | Max simulated gradient: 24 per cent | Weight: 15.8kg | Flywheel weight: 5.1kg | Cassette included: Yes

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Elite Zumo

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Elite Zumo
The Elite Zumo is one of the cheapest direct-drive smart trainers available. Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media
  • £449 as tested
  • Pros: Attractive price; integrated handle; ride feel
  • Cons: Power data on the low side; cadence isn't that accurate

With an RRP of only £449, the Elite Zumo is one of the cheapest direct-drive smart trainers available.

It does an impressive job of replicating the premium user experience you get with pricier direct-drive trainers, and marks a genuine step up from wheel-on options, as long as you don’t mind the relatively low maximum resistance figures.

Serious esports racers may want to use an on-bike power meter to drive their avatar, though, because the Zumo’s internal power meter consistently read a few per cent lower than expected.

For general indoor riding though, the Elite Zumo is a great-value package.

Specs

Max power: 1,350 watts | Max simulated gradient: 12 per cent | Weight: 13.08kg | Flywheel weight: 4.2kg | Noise: 69dB | Cassette included: No

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Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer

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    Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer
    Pinnacle's HC Turbo Home Trainer is a cheaper direct-drive trainer with impressive specs. Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media
    • £499.99 as tested
    • Pros: Easy to set up; high maximum gradient; reasonably quiet
    • Cons: Sporadic power data drift; non-folding legs; SRAM XDR or Campagnolo freehubs not available

    The Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer is a budget-conscious, direct-drive smart trainer from the in-house brand of UK cycling retailer Evans Cycles.

    With a comprehensive specification for its price, the Pinnacle trainer impressed in use, offering easy setup, good ride feel and quiet operation.

    In terms of data accuracy, our tester noted some sporadic power drifts and the cadence measurement wasn't always spot-on, but pinpoint perfect power accuracy is a rare feature at this price and these faults didn't overly affect the ride experience.

    Overall, if you're looking for a direct-drive smart trainer on a tight budget, the Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer is well worth consideration.

    Specs

    Max power: 2,500 watts | Max simulated gradient: 20 per cent | Weight: 14.8kg | Flywheel weight: 5.7kg | Noise: 65dB | Cassette included: No

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    Van Rysel D100

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    Van Rysel D100 with Best Budget banner
    Simon von Bromley / Our Media
    • £259.99 / €299.99 as tested
    • Pros: Direct drive design at a low price; good ride feel; generally accurate power measurement
    • Cons: 600 watt maximum power output is limiting; no the most accurate cadence data; no ANT+ FE-C connectivity

    The Van Rysel D100 offers great value for money being one of the cheapest direct-drive smart trainers on the market and including Zwift Cog and Click shifter.

    Despite the low price, the D100 shares a similar shape to trainers three times it's price and offers generally accurate power data.

    We did find the 600 watt maximum power output to be limiting, but for those not looking to push past this intensity then it could reasonably be overlooked.

    The cadence data wasn't as consistent as other trainers we have tested, but considering the price of the trainer it's performance is very impressive.

    Specs

    Max power: 600 watts | Max simulated gradient: 6 per cent | Weight: 10.78kg | Flywheel weight: 3.2kg | Noise: 58dB | Cassette included: Zwift Cog included

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    How we test smart trainers

    Simon von Bromley riding a Giant TCR on a Wahoo Kickr Move smart trainer
    Simon is our smart trainer guru, with heaps of experience in training for time trials. Our Media

    Simon von Bromley – senior technical writer

    I’ve been BikeRadar’s main smart trainer tester for the past few years, and have tested nearly all of the latest models.

    With the rise of indoor cycling apps, such as Zwift, Rouvy and TrainerRoad, having a smart trainer that can accurately translate your input at the pedals to numbers these apps can use is more important than ever.

    Given this, I benchmark each smart trainer against at least two additional power meters, by simultaneously recording data from test rides.

    By comparing the data captured from each source, I can then determine whether the numbers produced by a trainer are within acceptable error margins (as defined by the manufacturer's claims), compared to power meters I’ve previously cross-referenced against other devices.

    I also do a series of rides designed to test a smart trainer’s responsiveness and ride feel, including virtual group rides and races, simulated climbs and ERG mode workouts.

    Lastly, I use my phone to record decibel data from each smart trainer, to determine how loud it is during use.

    As with all products, I also consider how easy a smart trainer is to set up and live with, and whether it offers good value compared to the competition.

    Why you can trust BikeRadar

    BikeRadar has been an authority on bikes and cycling tech since its inception in 2007, delivering the world’s best riding advice.

    We have experts testing all types of bikes, parts, clothing and accessories, from road, mountain and gravel bikes to commuting, bikepacking and electric bikes. 

    Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products in the real world, always reflecting on performance, value and the wider market when delivering their verdicts and review ratings.

    We have more than 15,000 product reviews available at your fingertips, as well as expert buying, maintenance, training, skills, health and fitness advice. 

    Our annual Bike of the Year test is an industry benchmark and the BikeRadar team consists of some of the most experienced riders and testers in the business.

    What to look for when buying a smart trainer

    What is a smart trainer?

    Tacx Neo 3M smart trainer
    Smart trainers have revolutionised indoor training. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

    Smart trainers are interactive turbo trainers that connect with indoor cycling apps such as Zwift, TrainerRoad and MyWhoosh, to control the trainer’s resistance and replicate hills, headwinds and drafting effects inside virtual worlds.

    These apps can also guide you through power-based interval workouts, with the resistance automatically adjusting to keep you in the required training zones (this is known as ERG mode).

    If you're unsure which of these apps is best for you, read our Zwift vs Wahoo vs TrainerRoad comparison article.

    Today's smart turbo trainers work by communicating with third-party apps on smartphones, tablets and computers using wireless ANT+ frequencies or Bluetooth.

    It sounds complicated, but most of these trainers and apps will automatically search for and connect to each other with the click of a button, so in practice, it’s usually very simple.

    Wheel-on or direct drive?

    Simon von Bromley of BikeRadar riding a Giant TCR road bike on a Wahoo Kickr Core smart trainer
    Direct-drive trainers tend to be quieter than wheel-on trainers. Our Media

    There are two main types of smart trainer: wheel-on and direct drive.

    Wheel-on smart trainers

    Wheel-on smart trainers function like classic, ‘dumb’ turbo trainers – you clamp the rear axle into a support while your rear wheel rests on a roller drum. This drum is connected to a resistance unit that communicates with your chosen hardware and app to control the resistance you feel through the wheel.

    These are typically the cheapest and lightest types of smart trainers, but they can cause wear on your tyres (though specific trainer tyres are available to mitigate this issue), their power measurement is generally less accurate and the ride feel often isn’t as good as direct-drive trainers.

    This is most often the noisiest type of indoor trainer, too.

    Direct-drive trainers

    Direct-drive trainers require you to remove the rear wheel and connect your bike to the trainer via a standard cassette. These are heavier and more expensive than wheel-on trainers, but prices are getting more competitive and they have a number of advantages.

    Outside of the obvious one – a lack of wear on your lovely rear tyre – they also tend to be quieter and offer a more realistic, road-like ride feel. They are also usually much more feature-rich and accurate – in terms of power measurement – than wheel-on trainers.

    Of course, price is always going to be a major consideration. So we’ve tested a range of options to suit as many budgets as possible, but there’s no denying these trainers aren’t cheap.

    However, compared to a road bike groupset upgrade, or even a new winter road bike, they can offer good value if you want to be able to consistently and enjoyably train indoors.

    Price

    Zwift Hub
    The Zwift Hub is one of the most competitively priced smart trainers at £499 / $499. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

    How much you have to spend will ultimately dictate what kind of smart trainer you get, but it's certainly possible to put together a good indoor cycling setup on a tight budget.

    Smart trainers at the lower end of the price scale tend to compromise on things such as power accuracy and noise levels, but should still offer an immersive experience. High maximum power outputs or leg-breakingly steep gradients are nice to have, but far from essential, so don't be swayed by on-paper spec alone. Do you really need a trainer capable of handling a 2,000-watt sprint?

    If you've got lots of money to spend, then, as usual, you'll have far more options to choose from.

    In our experience, the biggest leap in performance comes around the £500 mark, where direct-drive models start to appear. The ride feel, noise levels and power accuracy all typically take a big step up at this point, and beyond that it's all marginal gains.

    Flywheel

    Elite Zumo
    In theory, heavier flywheels should create a better ride feel. Simon Bromley / Immediate Media

    A flywheel helps to create a road-like feel due to the kinetic energy they’re able to store, and the resultant inertia they give – essentially, when you stop pedalling it should feel like you're coasting on a real road.

    It’s generally considered that the heavier the flywheel, the better the ride feel ought to be, but this isn’t always the case. Construction, materials and design all play a role, and some brands are in fact now using virtual flywheels with magnets.

    Though more expensive, virtual flywheels have the advantage of being able to change the level of inertia depending on the virtual terrain – so climbing should feel different to riding on the flat, just like in the real world.

    Weight and packability

    Elite Suito smart turbo trainer
    Some smart trainers, such as this Elite Suito, have legs that fold in for easier storage. Simon Bromley/Immediate Media

    Trainers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Wheel-on trainers are, more often than not, the lightest and most packable kind of trainer.

    Direct-drive trainers tend to be much bulkier. Though size and shape can vary wildly – with some models folding up to a very slim form – they tend to all be pretty heavy regardless.

    If you’ve got a dedicated pain cave, it may not matter at all how big and heavy your trainer is. But if you have to set it up and pack it down before and after every session, then you’ll need to take this into consideration, especially if you can't fold down the supporting legs of a trainer or it lacks a carry handle.

    Power and gradient

    Rider on indoor trainer
    The Wahoo KICKR Climb replicates gradients. Scott Windsor / Our Media

    Trainers have different maximum power figures that correspond to the amount of resistance they’re able to generate. They typically range from around 1,500 watts to over 3,500 watts.

    1,500 watts should be plenty for most people, and 2,000-watt models ought to be enough for practically everyone except professional sprinters.

    The gradient figures relate to the maximum incline a trainer can simulate – given in per cent, like on the road. Again, a lower figure isn’t going to hinder your training, it simply means those trainers won’t be able to simulate the virtual world perfectly whenever the gradients go beyond what the trainer is capable of.

    However, many indoor cycling apps, including Zwift, automatically set the difficulty level to 50 per cent, so a 10 per cent 'real life' gradient will feel like five per cent on a smart trainer.

    Unless you're planning to change the app's difficulty setting, this may mean you don't need as high a spec as you think.

    Noise

    Wahoo Kickr Core 2 smart trainer
    Direct-drive trainers are much quieter than wheel-on setups. Simon von Bromley / Our Media

    Indoor trainers used to be notoriously noisy, but there have been vast improvements made over the past few years. Wheel-on trainers are still typically louder than direct-drive trainers, but the gap has narrowed somewhat.

    Direct-drive smart trainers are typically the quietest, with some models being so quiet that the sound from your drivetrain becomes the main source of noise.

    For both types of trainer, though, the noise levels tend to increase as your power output and the flywheel speed go up.

    If you want to be able to do interval training sessions inside your house or flat early in the morning, perhaps before your partner/family/housemates wake up, or after work when they’re trying to watch their favourite series in the next room, a quiet trainer is a must.

    If you have your trainer set up in a garage, on the other hand, it's less of an issue.

    Useful accessories

    Garmin HRM Pro heart rate monitor-1
    A heart rate monitor can provide even greater insight into your training. Jack Luke / Immediate Media

    Once you've got all of the essential items, there are still a few extra turbo trainer accessories that can make your indoor cycling sessions even more enjoyable.

    First of all, most smart trainers need to be plugged into the mains electricity supply in order to function properly. A good-quality extension lead might therefore be necessary, depending on where you’re going to set up the trainer, because the supplied plugs don’t always have super-long wires.

    We recommend using Bluetooth to connect all of your hardware together, but if you have ANT+ accessories (such as an older power meter or a heart rate monitor) that you also want to connect, then you’ll need an ANT+ dongle for your laptop or tablet.

    You might need a riser block for your front wheel. Whether you do depends on the model of trainer, but it’s worth checking – those trainers that need a riser block to level you out don’t always come with one included.

    Even if your trainer doesn't technically need one to level the bike out, using a front wheel riser block can also increase stability, as it helps to stop your front wheel from moving underneath you. They’re not that expensive, either (unless you want it to be, in which case Wahoo will sell you its Kickr Climb gradient simulator).

    A trainer mat of some sort – preferably one that’s rubberised underneath to help it stay in place – will help catch your sweat, and will also help dampen vibrations and keep noise levels down, especially if you’re using your trainer on a wooden floor (which tends to amplify the sounds).

    Sweat nets that cover your top tube, steerer tube and stem might also be a good investment to protect them from perspiration and corrosion (also, read our advice on using a carbon bike on the turbo trainer).

    However, what you really want is a big, powerful fan. Something around 20 inches will do, or if you’re really flash you can get a ‘smart’ fan such as the Wahoo Kickr Headwind.

    If you’re using a laptop or a tablet, a specific stand or table to hold it in front of you is very useful as well, or if you want to use a TV, the Apple TV box is able to use the Zwift app.

    What about smart bikes?

    Wahoo Kickr Bike climbing.
    Smart bikes are expensive, but they do everything a smart trainer does and more. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media

    If you're really dedicated to indoor cycling, there is another tier of smart cycling device available; the smart bike.

    The best indoor bikes offer all of the features a top-end smart trainer does, plus more, making them a perfect fit in the best Zwift setup. Once assembled, they'll always be ready and waiting for you to jump on and start pedalling, and they're essentially maintenance-free too.

    The downsides? First of all, they're typically very expensive. You'll also need a dedicated space to use it in, as they're far too big and heavy to put away for storage when not in use.

    Why should you train indoors rather than just ride outside?

    This is a fair question and one that really has a very personal answer.

    However, most of us will probably admit that we don’t enjoy getting wet, cold or dirty.

    Furthermore, if you live in a particularly busy part of the world, training indoors can be much safer. If you’re doing hard intervals to exhaustion or training in a time-trial position out on the open roads, you really need to be careful of traffic.

    Training indoors can save you from all of that, and in a more positive light, training indoors can be extremely time-efficient if you're following a Zwift training plan, or something similar on another platform.

    Virtual riding is now so popular that there are organised online group rides and Zwift races, so you can indulge your competitive urges at all hours to make it more fun.