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Indoor training is an excellent way of maintaining cycling fitness year-round. With so many options available, finding a smart trainer that delivers quality performance without a premium price tag can be hard, so we’ve brought together some of the best budget-friendly smart trainers, highlighting which models offer the best value for money and why.
Van Rysel D100 Home Trainer with Zwift Cog (£279.99)
Let’s start with the cheapest smart trainer available. The D100 is the most basic turbo trainer in the Van Rysel range. This one comes with a Zwift Cog pre-installed, which fits pretty much any bike with an 8- to 12-speed drivetrain, and includes a two month Zwift subscription for £279.99. It’s also available without the Zwift Cog and Click for £229.99.
The D100 is simple, easy to set up and rides well, so, what’s the catch? While it’s limited to 600 watts and doesn’t transmit cadence data, it still delivers a solid experience for riders focused on steady endurance sessions or general fitness training, though those focused on Zwift racing or cadence-based sessions may want a little more.
If those factors aren’t deal-breakers, the D100 remains one of the most affordable direct-drive smart trainers available, offering good value for money.
Van Rysel also has the D500 trainer (£349.99), which more than doubles the peak power to 1,500W and simulates gradients up to 15%. Sitting above both models is the RCR Home Trainer (£749.99), which we are hoping to review soon.
Wahoo Kickr Core 2 (£499)
If the first generation Kickr Core is anything to go by, then this is going to be excellent. Wahoo has increased the price to £499, but several updates help to justify the increase. The first is Race Mode, which sends data more frequently to apps like Zwift, meaning your sprint efforts register faster and more accurately during virtual races.
There’s now also WiFi connectivity for easier updates and device syncing, plus a bridge function that allows data such as heart rate to be sent through the trainer – particularly useful for Apple TV users.
The 1,800W max resistance and 16% max gradient remain unchanged, which is more than enough for most riders. Power testing showed impressive accuracy, matching the Magene PES P515 power meter within a fraction of a watt.
Assembly is straightforward, and there’s also a small but handy improvement to the Zwift Cog. It can now be adjusted relative to the derailleur position, so there’s no need to reindex gears to achieve smooth shifting.
Cycplus R200 Smart Trainer (£299)
For £299, Cycplus are claiming accuracy of +/- 1% which is incredible for the money if true. Key figures include 2,200W max resistance and 19% max gradient simulation, ideal for tackling steep climbs on apps like Rouvy.
The Cycplus R200 has an interesting design, resembling a very small rear wheel – some will like it, others maybe not, but we have one in for testing with a full review on the way. Early feedback has been very positive.
Elite Suito (£399)
It might be considered ancient in the fast-moving world of tech, but the Elite Suito still holds its own, and you can often find it for around £399.
With data accuracy of +/- 2.5%, a max resistance of 1,900W, and the ability to simulate gradients up to 15%, it remains a capable smart trainer even today.
Being around five years old, it does miss out on modern features like WiFi connectivity, bridging functions, and race modes. However, there are plenty of knocking about at serious discounts, and if those features aren’t deal-breakers, it’s definitely worth considering.
What really makes the Suito stand out is its foldable design. For riders who can’t leave a trainer set up all the time, that compact storage option is a real bonus.
JetBlack Victory Smart Trainer with Zwift Cog (£399)
Taking the prize for the top-rated budget smart trainer is the JetBlack Victory Smart Trainer with Zwift Cog. It’s quiet, offers up to 1,800W of resistance and simulates gradients up to 16%. Power readings are accurate and it delivers everything you’d expect from a premium setup – all for £399 with the Zwift Cog included. It’s outstanding value, easily undercutting the Kickr Core 2 on price.
One area where the Victory really stands out is connectivity. It supports Bluetooth and can even act as a Bluetooth bridge for other sensors – ideal if you’re running Zwift on Apple TV and limited to two connections. ANT+ compatibility is also included, as you’d expect.
Impressively, the Victory is WiFi-enabled – a rare feature at this price, and it even includes a USB-C port that will allow a hardwired connection for completely dropout-free performance. In race mode, it transmits power data ten times per second, giving you that extra edge in sprints. These are exceptional specs for what’s technically a budget-level trainer.
Power accuracy is another strong point. We benchmarked the Victory against a Rotor 2INpower meter, and the two were almost perfectly aligned throughout testing. The Rotor tends to read slightly high compared to other power meters, but it’s consistent and reliable, and the Victory mirrored its numbers impressively closely. During sprint efforts, the Victory did over-report by a fraction.
Let us know which turbo you’d have in the comments section below, and check out our full buyer’s guide to the best turbo trainers to see more options
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