Zwift Review: Why Is It so Insanely Popular?

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

In addition, I’ll compare it to 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 and ‘drops,’ which 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. It’s also suitable for runners thanks to its running support.

Who is Zwift not for?
Zwift is not for people who require route diversity and real-world footage. Since it is a game that is designed to 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, when testing 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, or smartphone) must support Bluetooth or ANT+ connectivity to pair with your devices (cadence and speed sensors, power meter, trainer, etc.).

There are plenty of tutorials on getting 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, Wahoo KICKR 5, Wahoo KICKR Core Zwift One, or any other smart trainer I tested. Additional accessories, such as an HR monitor or power meters, pair easily. It takes 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.

In recent years, Zwift has moved beyond software and built its own hardware ecosystem designed to make getting started easier. The Zwift Ride Frame is an all-in-one indoor bike built around a smart trainer, with integrated shifters and virtual gearing, so you don’t need to sacrifice your outdoor bike or worry about compatibility and setup.

Accessories such as Zwift Play, Zwift Click, and Cog integrate with the app to give you steering, braking, and shifting controls on the bars, further tightening the link between Zwift’s hardware and software and making the overall experience feel more like riding a dedicated indoor bike rather than a basic trainer setup with a laptop.

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

The table below summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of connecting via four basic technologies. The most commonly used are Bluetooth and ANT+, followed by Wi-Fi and Direct Connect.

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.

My In-App Experience

Zwift is unique. Its built-from-scratch world will immerse 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. Short and medium-length workouts for up to two hours were fun. I immediately felt more motivated when I saw completed intervals, achievements, and other challenges. The endurance rides above two hours were a true challenge.

I trained on Zwift while watching movies because three-hour rides on an indoor trainer are boring and require a lot of determination. When you ride, the screen shows you all the important information, such as your power output (or targeted power), HR, speed, time, cadence, etc. Thanks to this information, the workouts are easy to follow.

In the end, I completed all 58 workouts, all but 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 by 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) The goal of this score was to make racing fairer and more equitable. And it seems to have succeeded.

Group workouts are another feature worth trying. You can ride 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 interactive, social, and gameplay elements (more about them later) make Zwift unique and engaging.

Engagement

Zwift is a game, so it frequently uses gamification. You get ‘drops’ for riding and completing routes, training, etc., which you can later use to purchase better equipment. You can also collect achievements or upgrade your bikes.

Naturally, there is also a level structure. You gain experience by riding, completing workouts, challenges, etc., just as you get 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 also made it possible to upgrade your existing bikes, so you’ll be even more motivated to ride more and get the best equipment.

Also, make sure to pair Zwift with your Garmin, Wahoo, or Hammerhead account so your outdoor kilometers count toward Zwift levels.

Zwift is similar to an MMORPG game like World of Warcraft. It tries to keep you engaged and to 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 winter because using a trainer did not appeal to them.

Personally, I feel tempted to ride more and upgrade my chosen bike to remain competitive in Zwift Racing League, but if the weather is good enough, I would rather ride outside.

Routes

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

You will have access to three maps at any given time. Watopia is available year-round, and the other two maps rotate according to 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 similar to games, as they are very colorful. In contrast, TrainingPeaks Virtual’s graphics appear more realistic. I prefer Zwift’s graphics, but some people prefer TrainingPeaks Virtual’s graphics.

Training

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

I completed the Active Offseason and, aside from the 3-hour endurance workouts, I mostly enjoyed it. But honestly, can structured training be enjoyed at all?

I’m sure you’ll find a workout or plan that suits your needs. If not, you can build your own using the workout builder. You can also sync workouts to and from third-party apps, such as TrainerRoad, TrainingPeaks, and more.

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’d appreciate any change. That’s why so many Zwift workouts are so variable.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a more training-focused app that can even adjust the training plan based on your past performance or build a structured training plan based on your goals, try TrainerRoad or Wahoo SYSTM. Zwift can’t adjust your training plans (yet).

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 warm-ups, cooldowns, intervals, and more.

Another worthwhile feature is Zwift’s workout mode. In this mode, you train alongside friends at the same effort level. FTP is calculated as a percentage, so everyone rides together in the Zwift world. This means riding faster and getting more drops and XP while riding with friends.

I must also mention Zwift Academy, a collection of structured workouts designed by professional coaches. This eight-week structured training should help you understand the training essentials. Professional teams like Canyon–SRAM and Alpecin-Fenix use Zwift Academy to find new talent. They invite the best riders to a cycling camp. There, they test them further, and at the end, one winner is chosen to join their team.

User Friendliness

The earlier versions of the Zwift user interface were difficult to navigate and, in my opinion, too ‘funky.’ Though I consider myself an experienced technology user, I struggled to find certain 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 main issues I had with Zwift were its slow interface and long loading times compared to other apps. I was using a 2020 MacBook Pro with 16 GB of RAM, a 5-core Intel processor, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 (1536 MB). Although these specs meet Zwift’s system requirements, the app didn’t perform as expected. It seemed that better graphics were necessary for smoother operation.

Another problem appeared when saving workouts. The app would sometimes freeze, especially when I connected an external monitor. However, when I used only the laptop screen, everything saved fine.

After switching to my new MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip and 64 GB of RAM, all these problems disappeared. Zwift now runs quickly and smoothly.

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. I’ve been using it on macOS and iOS, and 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).

Pricing

Zwift keeps its pricing simple with a single‑user subscription model. In the US, a membership costs $19.99/month or $199.99/year, effectively giving you 12 months for the price of 10. This pricing is broadly aligned with other key regions (Europe: €19.99/€199.99; UK: £17.99/£179.99), placing Zwift at the premium end of indoor cycling apps.

New users on the monthly plan get a 14‑day free trial, while first‑time annual subscribers can cancel within 30 days for a full refund, making it easier to test the platform before fully committing. Unlike ROUVY, Zwift does not currently offer discounted multi‑user or family tiers. Each rider needs their own full subscription, which can make it expensive for multi‑rider households or couples who train together.

Updated on 12th of February, 2026

Zwift vs. Zwift Companion

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

When you’re 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 smaller 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—with 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’s a universal app for cyclists, yogis, and those focused on mental well-being. 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 fewer users and lower-quality graphics/footage. For more information, check out my comparison of BKOOL vs. Zwift.

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

My Verdict

Do I recommend Zwift?
I recommend Zwift to anyone who enjoys gaming and values social interaction. The app has a well-designed motivation system and a large, active community. If you struggle with motivation, Zwift can help you stay on track. With its many races, group rides, and structured workouts, it makes training easier and more enjoyable, especially during the winter months.

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

Zwift FAQ