Peloton Tread vs Tread+ Comparison 2024

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The Peloton Tread and Peloton Tread+ are the only 2 treadmills where you can stream Peloton’s All-Access Membership and utilize all of Peloton’s features. If you’re here, you’re probably wondering which of these treadmills is better and which one is better for you.

You can use the Peloton App with any treadmill on the market, and if you’re looking for another high-quality brand besides Peloton, check out our top recommendations here. If you want to compete on the leaderboard, stream Peloton Lanebreak, and use the Auto-Incline in Peloton’s workouts, then you’ll need to buy the Peloton Tread or Tread+.

The Peloton Tread is the best option for most people. It is the less expensive option of the 2. It is also quieter and smaller than the Tread+. It has a slightly smaller screen, but the 24” touch screen is still beautiful and large.

The Peloton Tread+ is for serious runners and workout enthusiasts who want a challenging treadmill to run on. The Tread+ features a flat, rubber slat belt that will probably cause you to fatigue faster than running on the Tread. So, if you want to be challenged, this one is it. It feels firmer underfoot though, so keep this in mind if you have joint issues. The Tread+ offers Free Mode. This is where the belt can be disengaged from the motor so you can control the pace yourself. This adds another training element to the Tread+.

Both treadmills are non-folding and difficult to move. The Tread is easier to move and more compact than the Tread+. It’s best to have a designated space for both treadmills, but the Tread takes up less space and is the more convenient treadmill for most people overall.

In-Depth Comparison of the Peloton Tread vs Tread+

Dimensions/Storability

Something to keep in mind with both the Peloton Tread and Tread+ is that they are heavy, non-folding treadmills.

If you need a treadmill that folds up, check this list. The Tread is lighter and more compact than the Tread+ though. Its dimensions are 68” L x 33” W x 62” H. It takes up less floor space than the Tread+. The Tread+ is 75” L x 36.5” W x 72” H. It’s a good idea with both treadmills to factor in a few extra feet surrounding the decks to get on and off and to use the treadmills safely.

Both treadmills can be moved, but they’re both pretty heavy. The Tread weighs 290 lbs and the Tread+ weighs a whopping 455 lbs. The Tread is hard to move, but the Tread+ is significantly heavier and harder to move. To move both, you need to lift up the back of the decks to engage the front wheels. Some will be able to move the Tread, but most people will likely need another hand or 2 to move the Tread+.

Peloton All-Access Membership

Peloton’s equipment, including both treadmills, offers streaming from the All-Access Membership. The member is likely a big reason why you’re considering either of these treadmills. You can use the Peloton Tread and Tread+ without a subscription to Peloton, but the only components on the screen are manual mode to track your metrics and a featured Peloton workout. There isn’t much functionality or content on the screen without the membership.

With the membership, you’ll pay $44 per month and have access to a growing library of thousands of trainer-led workouts. The classes are filmed live and on-demand. You can schedule your workouts ahead of time, take them live, or take them whenever you want.

The classes are filmed in a variety of disciplines for the treadmill, including, walking, jogging, hiking, intervals, tread boot camp, and running. You can also follow up your workout on each treadmill with a strength training, yoga, or stretching workout on the mat.

The bulk of the workouts are filmed in professional indoor studios.

Peloton does have outdoor filmed workouts in different locations, but the majority of the classes are filmed inside.

The big draw that makes Peloton’s training content stand out is the instructors. Each of them are kind of like mini-celebrities. They have significant social media followings that help draw in more people to their classes. Plus, they are all world-class with knowledge and engaging personalities to back it up. They encourage accountability and community in each of the workouts.

Peloton also helps to encourage community among its members with the leaderboard. It is on the right side of the screen on the Tread+ and Tread. You can swipe it away since it can be intimidating to compete against thousands of other people, but it can also be a good way to connect with others. Giving and receiving virtual high-fives is fun.

Peloton also stands out with the music. Every workout features a curated playlist of hit songs specifically picked by each instructor. This way, you listen to the music with them. Music is a great way to get extra motivation and Peloton’s trainers plan each workout around the music so when you sprint during interval workouts, the music matches the intensity to add even more energy to the workout. Peloton features different series of workouts that often take place around musicians or themes, too.

When you don’t want to follow along with an instructor, you can take Peloton’s Lanebreak workouts. These are gamified workouts that feature a wheel, which is your avatar, that moves down 6 different lanes to hit targets and collect points. You change your speed and incline to change lanes in order to hit the targets. Each Lanebreak workout is structured as a complete workout. There are different times to choose from, just like the trainer-led classes.

Peloton’s library is pretty easy to navigate. You can narrow your search by using the search bar to type in specific keywords or use the different filters to find a specific class.

Peloton also has an entertainment section that features streaming apps such as Netflix, Max, Disney+, YouTube TV, and the NBA App. These are available to stream directly from each Peloton treadmill’s screen. You’ll just need your login, or your mom’s, for each app to stream.

Keep in mind that you have to subscribe to Peloton’s All-Access Membership to get all of these features, including streaming from Netflix. Without the membership, Just Run (also available with the membership) and a featured Peloton trainer-led workout is only available on the Peloton Tread and Tread+’s screens.

Peloton Tread vs Tread+ Console

The Peloton Tread and Tread+ have pretty much the same consoles. The big difference in each treadmill is the screen size.

Peloton Tread Console

The Peloton Tread, which is the lower-end model of the 2, has a 23.8” touch screen.

This is my favorite screen size. It tilts up and down for better visibility. It doesn’t pivot to either side like the NordicTrack Commercial Series treadmills though. This would be nice for off the treadmill workouts.

Your metrics like speed, pace, incline, distance, and watt output are displayed in every class, clearly on both treadmills. You can also pair a compatible heart rate monitor to track your heart rate on the screen, like your Garmin or Apple Watch. (This should hopefully be available on the Tread+ too).

Adjusting the Peloton Tread is pretty easy with the roller adjustment knobs on each handle.

You just roll your palms over them to adjust the speed (on the right) and incline (on the left). These adjust the speed by 0.1 mph and the incline by 0.5%. It’s a little hard to get to exact speed levels like 3.4 mph, but these are easy enough to use to adjust the Tread quickly.

You can also press the middle of these knobs to jump to the next whole speed and incline level. There are also 3 preset speed levels you can set on the screen to jump to.

The Peloton Tread has Auto-Incline. This feature adjusts the incline level of the deck to match the instructor’s cues in each of the classes. This makes the incline more hands-free. Not completely hands-free as treadmills from NordicTrack and ProForm, however, when using AutoAdjust in iFIT workouts. These adjust the speed and incline settings.

The speakers are front-facing to project right at you and they offer plenty of volume. You can’t connect your phone or other devices through Bluetooth to listen to content through them though. The speakers only play the content available with Peloton’s membership.

There isn’t a fan, so you’ll need your own. There is a storage tray with 2 cupholders. It’s pretty minimal, and not best for large water bottles. There is a small cubby for your phone in the middle though. Keep in mind that there isn’t a device rack to place your device to stream content from.

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Peloton Tread+ Console

The Peloton Tread+’s console is pretty much the same as the Tread. The Tread+ has a larger, 32” touch screen. The screen also tilts up and down and doesn’t pivot. On both treadmills, you should be able to see Peloton’s training content from the back of both treadmills though. So you can utilize each of the treadmills’ screens for training off the decks.

The Tread+ screen is one of the largest that we’ve seen on fitness equipment. It’s easy to use and easy to navigate Peloton’s content. The display in each class and feature is the same on the Tread+ as it is on the Tread. All of the software is the same. This means that the metrics tracked are the same. We also assume that the Tread+ can be used with Garmin and Apple Watches and that the Auto-Incline feature is available.

The Tread+ has the same roller adjustment knobs as the Peloton Tread. These work the same as the Tread, you roll them forward to increase the speed and incline and back to decrease them. When you press them, you can jump to even metrics and you can set 3 preset speed settings on the screen.

The speakers are a soundbar that points at you with plenty of volume. The console also doesn’t have a fan. It has a storage tray, but it is a little flimsy. There are 2 cupholders, but your water bottle will probably rattle a little while running. There is also a spot for your phone. I like the cubby on Tread for your phone, better than the spot on the Tread+. There isn’t a device rack on the Tread+ either.

Both the Peloton Tread+ and Tread have a Tread Lock feature that locks the screen to put each treadmill to sleep after 45 seconds of inactivity. They each require a 4-digit passcode to unlock and use. This is for safety.

Build Quality

The Peloton Tread and Peloton Tread+ have similar designs but different features and functionality. The Tread+ has more training features with its flat, slat belt.

Both treadmills have a 300 lb weight limit. We expected this weight limit for the Tread, but we hoped the Tread+ would be able to handle a little more weight, considering it weighs 455 lbs.

Peloton Tread vs Tread+ Frame

The Tread and Tread+ are similar from the carbon steel uprights up to the console. They have different decks, however.

The decks are both supported by a carbon steel frame.

The handles are made out of carbon steel on both treadmills. The Tread has a silky texture overtop that feels luxurious, while the Tread+ has a “molded grip” on the handles. Neither feels slippery when you’re sweaty.

Both screens tend to shake when running at high speeds though. Both screens only attach to the console by a single steel bar, so this design is less stable than other treadmills like the NordicTrack Incline Trainers. With how large both of the screens are, we expect some shake, but both Peloton treadmills have a bit more screen shake than other treadmills we’ve tested with similar screens.

Peloton Tread vs Tread+ Motor

They vary greatly with their motors. The Peloton Tread has a 3.0 HP DC motor and the Peloton Tread+ has a 2.0 HP AC motor. The Tread doesn’t have a better motor than the Tread+ because it has a higher horsepower, though. AC motors are made for commercial-grade treadmills used in public gyms and DC motors are made for home treadmills.

This doesn’t exactly mean the Tread+ is made for commercial use, but it has a more powerful motor than the Tread. It is a home treadmill, just like the Tread. AC motors are typically louder than DC motors. The Tread+ is definitely a louder treadmill than the Tread, so the Tread might be better for more homes.

Both can handle running and a lot of use.

When we had the Tread+, it handled regular running well. We have had the Peloton Tread for over 2 years and it has handled regular use.

Both treadmills have a 12.5 mph max speed. The Tread+ inclines a little more than the Tread. It has a 15% incline, while the Tread goes up to 12.5%. Both feature good incline ranges, but if you want to really amp up your training with the incline, I would check out the NordicTrack X32i and X22i. They incline up to 40% and decline to -6%. Neither Peloton declines.

Peloton Tread vs Tread+ Deck

The decks are where these treadmills differ the most. The Tread has a standard belt with a red centerline down the middle. The Peloton Tread+ has a rubber slat belt. Both decks are 20” wide, but the Tread+ is 67” long versus the Tread’s 59” long deck.

These lengths support all stride lengths so walkers, joggers, hikers, and runners of all abilities will have room on both. The Tread+ belt disengages from the motor. The “Free Mode” is where you can control the pace of the belt yourself. The belt is heavy, so this creates resistance for your legs in order to move the belt. You’ll most likely have to hold the front handle on the Tread+ as leverage to get the belt moving and to keep it moving. This feature is only available when the deck is flat. It adds another element to your training though.

These treadmills also differ in how they feel overall to run on.

This is because of the different decks. The Peloton Tread has a regular belt and deck with cushioning. The cushioning is the give in the deck underfoot when each foot lands while running on it. The Tread feels firm underfoot, but there is still give in the deck to help lessen the impact on your joints.

The Tread+ doesn’t have any give in the deck. The rubber slats are absorbent, but since there isn’t any give underfoot, it feels very firm to run on. In fact, when we had the Tread+, it caused a lot of our team to fatigue faster while running on it. It feels more like running outside on an outdoor track, than other treadmills with regular cushioning.

The Tread+ also has a safety guard at the back of the deck. This is a new feature that was added after the treadmill was recalled for safety issues. The guard is designed to immediately stop the belt once it is pulled. Slat belt treadmills, especially motorized ones, run the risk of fingers, paws, hair, shoelaces, or other small items getting caught in between them. The guard helps prevent anything or anyone from getting pulled underneath the deck.

The Peloton Tread+ isn’t a new treadmill. This safety guard was added to the previously recalled treadmill.

It’s important to note that all treadmills, especially motorized treadmills, can be dangerous. It is important to keep the area where you’re using either of these treadmills, as well as others, clear from small children and pets.

Overall, the Peloton Tread is going to be the best option for most people. If you are looking to do serious training on a treadmill, you might want to look into the Peloton Tread+.

Warranty

Peloton includes less of a warranty with both treadmills than most other popular brands. The Tread has a 5-year frame, 3-year motor and belt, and 1-year touch screen and original components warranty. The Tread+ has a 5-year frame, motor, and belt, and 1-year touch screen, and most components warranty. We like to see treadmills, especially ones that cost a few thousand dollars to have at least a 10-year+ frame warranty.

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BottomLine/Recommendation

Our overall recommendation between the Peloton Tread vs Tread+ is the Peloton Tread. This is the treadmill that will make sense for most people. It has a traditional belt and a quieter motor. It also has smaller dimensions and is a little lighter in case you need to move it.

If you want a treadmill to use Peloton’s training content along with features like the leaderboard and Lanebreak workouts, then you’ll need to buy either the Tread or Tread+. The Tread+ is better for serious training and those who want (and can afford) an expensive treadmill that is hard to run on. The flat, slat belt will probably fatigue you faster than the Tread’s deck, but it disengages from the motor for more training options.

Both treadmills have large touch screens to stream Peloton’s subscription workout classes. The content is one of our favorites to train with. Peloton nails trainer-led studio fitness classes. If you are only interested in following along with Peloton’s star-studded lineup of instructors, you can use the Peloton App on your device while running on a non-Peloton treadmill. We have plenty of recommendations here. There are also many that we recommend that come with engaging trainer-led content of their own.

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