You might assume Peloton is the best smart stationary bike because it's the most popular. But, in reality, the best option is the one that motivates you to hop back on day after day. Fortunately, our top picks offer plenty of variety in terms of class styles. During Peloton cycling classes, the screen is full of stats to look at, including your your cadence (how fast you're pedaling, measured in rotations per minute, or RPMs), resistance (your level of difficulty on a scale of 0 to 100 percent), and output (how much power you're exerting, measured in Watts). The leaderboard, which ranks class participants by their total output, is a key part of the experience. Peloton also offers other social features, including the ability to video chat with other members as you work out and congratulate people with virtual high fives for milestones like their first or hundredth ride. Echelon offers a similar experience, but its community isn't as large and its classes don't have quite the same production value as Peloton. On Peloton, it can feel like you're watching a TV show, complete with costume changes and a live DJ.  Your goal on SoulCycle isn't to work your way up a leaderboard, it's to move your feet in time with the music. When you finish a SoulCycle workout, a summary screen shows your Beat Match score from zero to 100%, which indicates how much of the time your cadence matched the rhythm of the music.  The iFit app, available on NordicTrack, ProForm, Freemotion, and Matrix machines, stands out for its outdoor content. It gives you access to a library of over 17,000 trainer-led workouts filmed in 40 countries spanning all seven continents. Although trainer-led workouts have their perks, sometimes you just want to zone out and ride. Bikes from Bowflex and SoulCycle let you watch Netflix and other video streaming services while you ride, a feature not available on Peloton.  The Carol Bike doesn't try to replicate a group fitness experience or entertain you, but instead promises to deliver the benefits of a 45-minute run in less than a minute. Its primary workout protocol consists of three weekly rides, each of which lasts less than nine minutes and requires just 40 seconds of hard effort. These reduced exertion high-intensity training (REHIT) workouts aim to trigger your body's "fight or flight response," causing it to burn the sugar stored in your muscles as fuel. We're currently testing the Carol 2.0, so stay tuned for our full review.