If you’re interested in buying a treadmill that doesn’t require paying more for access to its entire workout ecosystem, you’ll have to look beyond the most recognizable brands and do a little digging. Or you can let us do the digging for you.
The most important thing to know while you shop is that there are two types of treadmills that allow you to bypass the single proprietary subscription mandate:
Self-contained treadmills: These treadmills come with a full set of features out of the box (including a variety of programmed workouts that you can access right from the machine’s console). In many cases, you can even create your own custom workout programs right on the machine. Some treadmill manufacturers have free apps that provide a library of on-demand workouts.
Treadmills that work with third-party services: These treadmills work with a variety of on-demand, third-party workout subscription services, rather than a single proprietary service. These allow you to take advantage of trial periods and shop around for the workout subscription that best suits your needs. They generally offer a slate of programmed workouts from the console, too, so connecting with a third-party app isn’t required.
A good way to spot one of these is to check whether the Fitness Machine Service (FTMS) protocol is enabled. FTMS is the Bluetooth standard that enables communication between fitness apps and machines, allowing third-party apps to automatically adjust settings like incline and speed in sync with a workout. Two services that use the FTMS protocol are Kinomap and Zwift. Peloton now offers FTMS compatibility for its App+ and All-Access members, meaning that FTMS-capable treadmills and rowing machines (though not bikes) can operate with Peloton. iFit (which works on NordicTrack and ProForm treadmills) is a closed ecosystem.
To help you shop for the best treadmill that doesn’t require a subscription, we’ve rounded up a few of our top-rated folding and nonfolding self-contained treadmills, as well as top-rated FTMS-capable treadmills that can be paired with different subscription services. For more great treadmills, check out our treadmill ratings, and for more on buying a treadmill for the first time, check out our buying guide.
