Zwift Review: Why Is It so Insanely Popular? (2025)

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In this Zwift review, we’ll pedal through the features of this leading indoor cycling app. I will tell you who Zwift is for and whether you should avoid it. I will also unveil some of its unique motivation techniques and much more.

In addition, I’ll put it in context with other alternatives, so you don’t have to try each app separately—I’ve already done that for you!

My Zwift rating at a glance:
Ease of Setup 5/5 | Engagement 5/5 | Community 5/5 | Routes 3/5 | Training 4/5 | UX 3/5 | Platforms Availability 5/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.1/5
More about this indoor cycling apps scoring.

Zwift Summary

What is Zwift?
Zwift is an indoor cycling app designed as a game. It features a unique virtual world where you cycle or run with your avatar. You can ride solo, train, connect with other users worldwide, or race. You gain experience and ‘drops’ by riding and accomplishing challenges that you can later exchange for better equipment.

Who is Zwift for?
Zwift is ideal for people who lack motivation for indoor cycling. It has a sophisticated engagement system. The more you ride, the more rewards you get. Thanks to its user base and community, it makes surviving the winter months and indoor training sessions easier.

Who is Zwift not for?
Zwift is not for people who require route diversity and real-world footage. Since it is a game that should motivate you to train more, it is not the best choice for people who generally don’t enjoy playing games.

My Experience with Zwift

I use Zwift mainly in winter, during testing of smart trainers, and for e-racing. Here are my takes on the ease of initial setup, in-game experience, engagement, and more.

Initial Setup

The initial Zwift setup is straightforward. The device you connect to (laptop, computer, smartphone) has to feature Bluetooth or ANT+ connectivity to pair with your devices (cadence and speed sensors, power meter, trainer, etc.).

There are plenty of tutorials on how to get started with Zwift, so let me jump straight to the pairing process and my experience.

I didn’t experience any problems when connecting Elite Direto 2 (or any other smart trainer) and the HR monitor (Wahoo TICKR).

It took me about one minute to set everything up. It’s super easy.

I recommend using one of these smart bike trainers for Zwift to get the best experience. They will calculate your power and adjust the resistance based on the terrain you ride on. Depending on your bike trainer, these power adjustments are smooth and pretty realistic.

However, you can use Zwift even with a dumb trainer or rollers. You just need a cadence and a speed sensor (so Zwift can calculate your power) OR a power meter.

PRO TIP: Bike trainer accessories will take your indoor cycling to a new level. A fan will keep you cool, and a trainer mat will protect your floor.

In-App Experience

Zwift is unique. Their built-from-scratch world will engulf you if you like computer games. Depending on your goals, you can spin your legs, cruise through different worlds, follow structured workouts or training plans, race, ride in groups, etc.

I used Zwift mainly to prepare for the next season. I took the Zwift FTP Test, enrolled in the ‘Active Offseason‘ plan, and started training.

This 12-week training plan is focused on building endurance and requires about 8 hours of training per week. Shorter and medium workouts for up to two hours were fun. I immediately felt better motivated when I saw completed intervals, achievements, and other challenges. The endurance rides above two hours were a true challenge.

I zwifted while watching movies because three-hour rides on an indoor trainer are boring and require much determination. When you ride, the screen shows you all the important information like your power output (eventually, targeted power), HR, speed, time, cadence, etc. Thanks to this information, the workouts are easy to follow.

In the end, I finished all 58 workouts except one or two. So when I saw the following screen, I felt a sense of accomplishment.

Zwift also includes racing. Participating in Zwift races is a great way to let off steam and clear your head. Thanks to a vast user base, many races are held daily. You can browse them on Zwift Hacks. These were categorized according to FTP, but in 2024, Zwift introduced the Zwift Racing Score. This score dynamically adjusts based on your current fitness and also your performance in races.(Source) This score should lead to more fair and equal racing.

Group workouts are another feature worth trying. You can train with friends (regardless of their location) and train together. Zwift keeps you together in-game even though your FTPs (and watts) differ. Additionally, you can chat via the Companion App.

These interactivity, social, and game elements (more about them later) make Zwift unique and fun.

Engagement

Zwift is a game, so it frequently uses gamification. You get ‘drops’ for riding and accomplishing routes, training, etc., which you can later use to purchase better equipment.

Naturally, there is also a level structure. You gain experience by riding, completing workouts, challenges, etc., just like getting drops. Every level unlocks certain items (bikes, components, clothes…) that cost drops. There are 100 Zwift levels for cyclists and 30 for runners. So, be mindful of what you buy and when. To spend your drops wisely, check out Zwift Insider’s shopping guide.

Zwift is not far from an MMORPG game like World of Warcraft. It tries to keep you engaged and motivate you to ride more. You basically build your character. Does this motivation work? It depends on your personality. If you are competitive and like games, then yes, it does. But a few of my friends tried Zwift, and these gamification mechanisms didn’t work for them. Instead, they rode outside in the winter.

Routes

One of Zwift’s most significant downsides is its limited range of routes. They will get repetitive. Please don’t take me wrong. Zwift developers work hard to add new routes. But apps like ROUVY or FulGaz are on another level. They offer hundreds to thousands of routes worldwide. However, these routes are recorded footage, not a virtual world.

You will have access to three maps at a given time. Watopia is available all year round, and the other two maps rotate based on a schedule. These maps include France, Innsbruck, London, the Makuri Islands, New York City, Paris, and more.

TIP: Browse the routes available in Zwift on What’s on Zwift.

Zwift’s graphics are more game-like than those in Wahoo RGT. I like Zwift’s graphics more, but some people prefer RGT’s real-like graphics.

Training

Zwift also offers an extensive workout and structured plans library. It includes more than 2000 workouts, which you can browse here.

I absolved the Active Offseason, and except for the 3-hour-long endurance workouts, I pretty much enjoyed it. But hand on heart, can structured training be enjoyed at all?

I am sure you will find a workout or plan that will suit your needs. If not, you can build your own using the workout builder.

However, according to coach Dylan Johnson, Zwift training plans have one big problem: They are overly complicated, too high-intensity, lack proper recovery, and are not individualized to meet your personal needs.

This is because they are supposed to keep you engaged. Imagine riding the same tempo for 2 or 3 hours. You appreciate every change. That’s why so many Zwift workouts are so variable.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a more training-oriented app that can even adjust the following training plan based on your past performances, try TrainerRoad.

I also must mention the Zwift Academy, a collection of structured workouts designed by professional coaches. This eight-week structured training should help you understand the training essentials.

You can also take advantage of Zwift’s pace partners. They will guide you through routes depending on the difficulty you choose. They are suitable for warmups, cooldowns, intervals, etc.

Another feature worth mentioning is the Zwift workout mode. In this mode, you train with friends at the same effort level. FTP is calculated as a percentage, so everybody rides together through the Zwift world.

User Friendliness

The earlier versions of the Zwift user interface were difficult to navigate and, in my opinion, too ‘funky.’ So, although I consider myself an experienced technology user, I struggled to find some features.

For example, if my friend hadn’t told me about the ‘Climb Mt. Everest’ challenge, I wouldn’t know where to find it. The following screenshots show Zwift’s old and new dashboards.

The biggest issues I encountered in Zwift were a sluggish interface and longer loading times than in other apps. I have a MacBook Pro 2020 with 16 GB RAM, a 5-core Intel processor, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 1536 MB. According to Zwift’s system requirements, these parameters should be enough, but it seems I need better graphics.

The app also sometimes froze when saving workouts. This happened, especially when I used Zwift with an external monitor. When I used the laptop screen, saving rides was flawless.

Platforms Availability

Zwift is available on all major platforms, including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Apple TV.

I’ve been using it on macOS and iOS. Except for the issues described in the previous section, it worked fine. The Zwift Companion app is a great extension that sets Zwift apart from other apps (more about it later).

A small percentage of users will always be unable to get an app working due to unique circumstances. However, positive Zwift reviews prevail.

Zwift vs. Zwift Companion

Zwift Companion is a smartphone app that extends Zwift’s functionalities. It makes interacting with others, browsing events, and finding clubs easier.

When you are on the roads or in a race, you can chat with others, give them Ride Ons, etc. See the following video for more details.

Remember, you still need the main Zwift app to ride Zwift, but you don’t have to use Zwift Companion.

Zwift Alternatives

There are plenty of Zwift alternatives, but only some are worth it.

• MyWhoosh is the closest alternative to Zwift. The difference is that MyWhoosh has fewer cartoonish graphics, fewer gamification elements, and a less thriving community. On the other hand, MyWhoosh is free. Learn more in my MyWhoosh vs. Zwift comparison.
• ROUVY, unlike Zwift, uses real-world footage of routes worldwide. You move through them with your virtual avatar. Learn more in my ROUVY vs. Zwift comparison.
• TrainerRoad is focused purely on making you a better cyclist—no distractions – only structured training plans. Learn more in my Zwift vs. Trainerroad comparison.
• Wahoo SYSTM displays your ride data with pre-recorded footage. It is a universal app for cyclists, yogis, and people who want to strengthen their mental health. Learn more in my Zwift vs. SYSTM comparison.
• FulGaz, like ROUVY, uses real-world footage of routes worldwide. The main difference is that there is no avatar. You can read this comparison of FulGaz vs. Zwift for more info.
• BKOOL uses a combination of virtual and real-world footage. It has much fewer users and worse graphics/footage quality. For more information, check out my comparison of BKOOL vs. Zwift.

The following table shows my rating of specific areas on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best) for all the indoor cycling apps I have tested.

My Verdict

Do I recommend Zwift?
I recommend Zwift to people who enjoy playing games and appreciate in-app social interactions. It has a sophisticated motivation system and a HUGE community. If you lack motivation, Zwift will probably make you do the work.

Do I recommend it to everybody?
No. Its virtual world may not appeal to everybody. Some riders prefer real-world footage and more routes to choose from.

On the other hand, Zwift has users worldwide. Thanks to the huge community, plenty of races, and structured workouts, it will help you easily survive the winter months.

Zwift FAQ