Best budget exercise bike that won’t put a strain on your joints or wallet

Keep active during winter or get back in shape with the Ultrasport F-Bike 150/200 Exercise Bike. This budget exercise bike has a 1.5kg flywheel for a smooth and stable ride. Turn the resistance dial to increase the level of challenge. With eight levels resistance, from Relax to Captain mode, this fitness bike will see you all the way on your fitness journey. It's light enough to pick up and it has a space-saving, foldable curved design. Additional features include an adjustable saddle, silent drive belt and hand pulse sensor. The display shows calories burnt, time, speed pulse and distance. Ultrasport is a popular fitness brand on Amazon with 27,500 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5 rating.

Customer review: "I bought this bike specifically for its ability to fold because I don't have a lot of room in my house for a full size bike. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at the build quality. It's a solid bike and super quiet too. It even comes with a rubber pad on the control panel for your phone so you can watch things while you ride. The resistance settings certainly give you a good work out and overall I would say I'm extremely happy with this purchase."

Tone leg muscles and raise your heartbeat with the We R Sports Exercise Bike. It's hard not to use the word 'snazzy' to describe the design of this bike. But underneath the bright aesthetics, there is some serious power. With a 10kg flywheel, you get the feeling of on-road cycling by creating the forward momentum you'd get on a normal bike. There are six levels of seat height adjustment and the seat itself is large and comfortable. This bike is a great budget option if you a training for an event, seeking to improve your athletic fitness or aiming to lose weight. It's easy to vary the resistance – manually adjust with a knob. Finally, should you want a change of scene, the bike has transport wheels for portability.

Customer review: "Easily built, bolts all in place and ready just to tighten up. Good sturdy bike, I'm 6 foot tall and the seat is on the highest position but very comfortable at this height. Handle bars don't adjust and really they don't need to. They are well positioned and shaped for either standing or sitting down. The LCD monitor is small but functions well and if you have a Wi-Fi TV situated in front of you then just tune into a spin class on YouTube and you won't bother about the LCD monitor. If your looking for a spin bike for the home then I would recommend this bike. Why pay hundreds of pounds when at this price you will get the same benefits and probably the same quality."

If you're looking for a smooth operator, the Body Sculpture Magnetic Folding Exercise Bike is a great choice. It features magnetic resistance for a smooth and ultra-quiet ride. The built-in display shows: scan, time, speed, distance, heart rate and theoretical calories used. Compact and affordable this will help you on your way to building up fitness levels. Just be sure to position it on an anti-slip base for stability.

Customer review: "Only had this about a week but honestly it’s so good. Quite compact, doesn’t take up much space at all, and folds up easily for storage. It also tells you the calories burnt."

Hop on and can burn calories with ease on the Opti Magnetic Exercise Bike. The display shows the time, distance, speed and calories used, so you can keep track of your progress while you work out. It has eight resistance levels to help improve your cardio fitness and the flywheel ensures a smooth and quiet ride. The seat height is adjustable: the minimum is 65cm and the maximum 84cm.

Customer review: "There’s a reason why flat pack is so much cheaper. But after perseverance it’s a good solid exercise bike, all in working order and great value for money."

Reap the feel-good benefits of exercise and aid weight loss with the Domyos Essential Exercise Bike. It has a 3kg flywheel and has been tested with users ranging in height from 1.55m to 1.85m tall. Used twice a week this bike can help you tone up and lose weight. The console displays four functions: calories, distance, duration, and speed.

Customer review: "This is a really good quality, sturdy bike for the price. It’s solid, well built and doesn’t feel flimsy like other cheap ones. It has a basic screen but is enough to tell speed, calories, KPH and time which is all I need. Really impressed with it for the price."

Get fit in the comfort of your own sofa with the Mini Exercise Bike Pedal Exerciser. Sitting down, you can give ankles, calves, knees and thighs exercise – or pedal with your hands for an arm workout too. It comes with a non-slip mat and rear and front stabilisers, so it's sturdy and secure when in use. Also, the pedals are non-slip. Self-assembly is required and there is a very clear video on the product page that shows you how to do this. All screws and parts are included. Ideal for small homes, this mini pedal exerciser is easy to store as it doesn't take up much space.

Customer review: "Very quick and easy to assemble. My small feet fit well on the tightest strap setting, and it's also nice to have the option of using it for arm exercises. I really like the adjustable resistance, so I can decide how much of a challenge I want."

Get your heart rate up and improve circulation with the ATIVAFIT Exercise Bike. This model folds away and it can be rolled across the floor when you want to move it. It's well designed and has a handy ledge so you can watch something on your phone or tablet while you exercise. The handlebars have heart beat sensors and the monitor shows time, speed and pulse rate. This is an Amazon's Choice product with over 15,200 reviews rating it 4.3 out of 5.

Customer review: "I bought this exercise bike to aid my recovery from knee surgery and it is perfect. It only took about 10 minutes to assemble and it is super sturdy. The seat is comfortable and it is very easy to get on and off the bike. This won't suit someone who wants to track a ton of metrics, but for me, the simplicity of it is what I like the most. You just get on, set your desired resistance level and off you go. You can alter the resistance by twisting the dial as you cycle, so it is very user-friendly."

Any age and fitness level can benefit from the BCAN Folding Exercise Bike. It has uniform resistance so it's friendly on your knees. Also, the seven-level height adjustment ranges from 145cm to 185cm. The eight level magnetic resistance recommends that settings 1 and 2 are for rehabilitation, 3-4 cardio workout, 5-6 improve endurance, 7-8 stabilising muscle. On the handle bar controls there's a non-slip silicone holder for your phone. The controls include an odometer, distance, speed, time, calories, and pulse.

Customer review: "I have never owned a folding bike before so I was a bit sceptical as to its sturdiness but I have to say that I am impressed by all the components on this bike. I rode it flat out for an hour as is my norm and I can safely say that I am super satisfied with it. It's stable, sturdy, smooth, and silent. It also has a bigger seat than other bikes I have owned and although not exactly comfortable, it is a lot more so than I have had before.
Highly recommend this bike."

For those who don't like going to the gym or are unable to, the Micyox Magnetic Foldable Indoor Cycling Bike can provide a whole body workout. Tone arms, abdomen, waist, hips, and thighs with built-in arm bands and 16 level magnetic resistance. It has a 3.5lb flywheel, quiet magnetic resistance and smooth belt-drive system. The resistance levels cater for a range of needs; Levels 1-4 are for rehabilitation, 5-8 provide a cardio workout, 9-12 improves endurance, and 13-16 is stabilising mode. The height range of users is 144cm to 183cm.

Customer review: "I recently purchased an exercise bike, and I have been thoroughly impressed with its performance. Assembly was a breeze, thanks to the clear and concise instructions provided. Very quiet and with 16 levels of resistance you can exercise and watch TV or listen music. It doesn't take up much space, making it ideal for those with limited room in their homes. Additionally, the bike can be easily folded and tucked away when not in use. I have been using this exercise bike for the past three weeks, and it has become an integral part of my fitness routine."

Ideal for building stamina without being an intimidating piece of kit, the Xterra Fitness FB Folding Exercise Bike is a simple piece of home gym equipment. The X-frame, made from thick steel tubing, is a convenient folding design with built-in transport wheels. It features a large manual dial to control eight resistance levels and the 3.3lb flywheel offers balance for friction-free magnetic resistance. Be comfy as you workout on the padded oversized seat.

Customer review: "I ordered this for my wife after reading a lot of reviews of various exercise bikes. When it arrived I found it very easy to assemble but used my own spanners instead of the chocolate one included in the box. During assembly I was impressed with the quality of the welding which gives the impression of a quality product. My wife is 5'8" and needs the seat on the highest setting and could really do with it slightly higher."