I want an exercise app that will work with any brand of treadmill or stationary bike.

Yes. If your priority is one app that works with essentially any treadmill or stationary bike, regardless of brand, I’d look first at BitGym.

BitGym supports treadmills, stationary bikes, ellipticals, rowing machines, and other cardio equipment. It can determine your workout speed using your phone/tablet’s camera, so you don't need a Bluetooth-enabled machine. You can also connect compatible Bluetooth equipment or sensors when available.

My top choices

• BitGym — best match for what you described. It gives you immersive virtual routes and workouts on both treadmills and bikes, and its camera-based tracking means it can work with virtually any machine.
• Peloton App — best for instructor-led workouts. You can use its treadmill and cycling classes without owning Peloton equipment; you generally control the machine yourself.
• Zwift — best for gamification/social workouts. It works across many brands when the equipment or an additional sensor provides compatible Bluetooth/FTMS data, but it's less universally plug-and-play than BitGym.
• Nike Run Club — good free option for treadmill running. It doesn't require treadmill connectivity, so the brand doesn't matter, but it's primarily a running app rather than a combined treadmill-and-bike solution.

If you want one app for both a treadmill and a stationary bike without worrying about the equipment brand, I'd choose BitGym.

If you tell me iPhone or Android, and whether you want free, instructor-led, scenic/virtual rides, or structured workouts, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 apps for you.

If you want an exercise app that isn't locked into a specific ecosystem like Peloton or NordicTrack, your best options depend on whether you want immersive virtual worlds/videos or audio-guided coaching.

The top cross-brand apps that work with any treadmill or stationary bike include:

1. Interactive & Virtual Scenery Apps

• • Kinomap: This is one of the best universal choices. It turns your equipment into an interactive device by using thousands of real-world, geolocated video routes recorded by other users. It connects via Bluetooth to any brand of treadmill, stationary bike, or trainer. If your machine has Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service), it will even auto-adjust resistance or incline to match the terrain on the video. If not, you can just use a basic speed/cadence sensor.
• • Zwift: Famous for indoor cycling (and fully compatible with running via a treadmill), Zwift places a 3D pixelated avatar of you into a virtual world. It works with any standard stationary bike or treadmill as long as you pair it with an inexpensive Bluetooth/ANT+ speed sensor, cadence tracker, or a footpod (like a Stryd or Garmin watch).

2. Audio-Guided & Instructor-Led Apps

• • Aaptiv: If you don’t care about looking at a screen and just want a human coach in your ear telling you when to sprint, climb, or back off, Aaptiv is entirely audio-based. It features hundreds of structured treadmill and indoor cycling classes where you control the machine manually while the trainer provides the motivation, pacing cues, and music.
• • Nike Run Club: Entirely free, this app features dedicated indoor and treadmill-specific audio guided runs. It doesn't care what brand of treadmill you are on—you just press start on your phone or smartwatch and run.

3. Pure Tracking & Metrics

• • Strava: If you already know your workouts and just want to log time, distance, and heart rate from your indoor sessions to share or analyze over time, Strava connects to almost any wearable or smart sensor.

To help narrow down the best fit, let me know:

• Do you prefer gamified virtual worlds and real videos , or audio instructions/music?
• Does your treadmill or bike have Bluetooth capabilities , or are they completely "dumb" analog machines?

If you want an exercise app that isn’t locked to a specific brand (like Peloton or NordicTrack), you want an app that relies on Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service) or open device pairing. This allows your phone or tablet to communicate directly with any Bluetooth-enabled treadmill or stationary bike.

The top universal apps that accomplish this, depending on the type of workout experience you want, include:

• Kinomap – This is arguably the most universal interactive app available. It connects to virtually any brand of treadmill, exercise bike, or elliptical via Bluetooth. It uses thousands of miles of real, geolocated, user-uploaded video routes from around the world, and it scales the video speed to your actual pace.
• Zwift – Famous for virtual cycling, Zwift also supports indoor running. It works with almost any bike or treadmill as long as your equipment has Bluetooth, or if you attach a simple third-party Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor or footpod (like a Zwift RunPod or Stryd). It drops you into an immersive, multiplayer virtual gaming world.
• Rouvy – Similar to Kinomap, Rouvy offers real-life, high-definition video routes using augmented reality avatars. It pairs with standard Bluetooth trainers, bikes, and treadmill sensors/footpods to let you ride or run actual famous global courses.
• Peloton App (Digital) – If you love instructor-led studio classes rather than virtual maps, you can subscribe to the standalone Peloton Digital app. It doesn't connect directly to change the resistance/incline of non-Peloton machines automatically, but you can prop up your tablet on any brand of bike or treadmill and follow along with the metrics manually.
• Wahoo Fitness – A great free, no-nonsense tracking app that pairs with generic Bluetooth and ANT+ speed/cadence sensors or heart rate straps on any stationary bike or treadmill, giving you clean data logs without a heavy subscription fee.

To help narrow down the best choice, do you prefer instructor-led video classes (like a gym spin/running class) or virtual scenic/gaming routes where you explore real-world maps?

Yes. If your priority is “I can use the app with whatever treadmill or stationary bike I happen to have”, I’d look for an app that doesn’t require proprietary equipment.

My top pick: Peloton App+

Peloton’s app is probably the best fit. Its equipment workouts can be used with non-Peloton treadmills and exercise bikes, so you don't have to buy Peloton hardware. Current reviews specifically note that you can use its treadmill and bike classes with equipment from other brands.

You generally just:

• Put your phone/tablet in front of the treadmill or bike.
• Start a treadmill or cycling class.
• Follow the instructor's speed, incline, cadence, or resistance recommendations.
• Adjust the machine yourself.

Important distinction: “works with any brand” doesn't necessarily mean the app can control the machine. With an ordinary treadmill/bike, you'll usually adjust speed, incline, or resistance manually.

Other good options

• Nike Run Club — Excellent if you mainly want guided treadmill running, and it's free. It doesn't depend on a particular treadmill brand.
• Zwift — Great if you want a video-game/virtual-world experience. It can work with many treadmills and bikes, but for full real-time tracking you may need compatible Bluetooth/FTMS equipment or an additional sensor.
• Kinomap — Good for virtual routes and cycling/treadmill training, particularly if your equipment supports compatible Bluetooth connections.
• Apple Fitness+ — A strong choice if you're already an Apple Watch/iPhone user, although I'd choose Peloton if the treadmill/bike is the main focus.

If you tell me whether you have an iPhone or Android, and whether you want walking/running, cycling, or both, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 apps—including free options.

Yes. If you want one exercise app that isn't locked to a particular treadmill or bike brand, I’d look first at apps that use Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service), an open standard that lets compatible cardio machines communicate with third-party apps.

My top choices

• Zwift — best overall for treadmill + bike

• Works with compatible Bluetooth/FTMS treadmills and bikes.

• Turns workouts into virtual routes with other people, races, structured workouts, etc.

• Zwift maintains lists of compatible treadmills and running sensors; if your treadmill doesn't transmit speed, a footpod can provide it.

• Particularly good if you want something brand-agnostic and fun rather than a collection of video classes.

• Kinomap — best for scenic, instructor-led workouts

• Supports both treadmills and stationary bikes and works with FTMS equipment.

• Particularly good if you like following real-world cycling/running videos rather than a video-game environment.

• iFIT — good workouts, but less brand-independent

• iFIT now has a phone/tablet version that can pair with Bluetooth-enabled, iFIT-ready equipment, but its automatic machine control is centered on compatible equipment.

• I'd choose it for the workout content, not if maximum equipment compatibility is your priority.

What I'd choose

If you're going to use whatever treadmill or stationary bike happens to be available—including equipment at a gym—I'd start with Zwift.

The important caveat is that "works with any brand" doesn't literally mean every machine. The machine needs to transmit useful data (usually Bluetooth FTMS), or you may need a separate sensor/footpod. For example, Zwift specifically notes that compatibility varies by treadmill model and year.

If you tell me whether you want mostly treadmill, mostly bike, or an equal mix, and whether you're looking for free vs. paid, I can narrow it down to the 2–3 best apps for you.

To use an exercise app with any brand of treadmill or stationary bike, you want an app that relies on Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service) —the open international standard that allows third-party apps to communicate with any compatible cardio equipment.

The top multi-discipline apps that support universal FTMS equipment (or work completely independently of machine data) include:

1. • Kinomap — Kinomap is arguably the best universal app for real-world video routes. It connects via Bluetooth FTMS to a massive range of third-party treadmills and stationary bikes, automatically adjusting the resistance or tracking your speed as you run or ride through thousands of miles of real, geolocated outdoor video footage.
2. • Zwift — Zwift turns indoor cycling and running into an immersive, gamified virtual world. It hooks up seamlessly to any Bluetooth FTMS-compatible treadmill or smart bike. If your machine doesn't broadcast data natively, you can often still use it by adding a cheap third-party speed/cadence sensor or a footpod.
3. • Peloton App — Peloton doesn't connect to machine electronics for automatic adjustments on third-party gear, but the app itself doesn't care what brand you are riding or running on. You just open the app on your phone or tablet, prop it up on your console, and follow along with the instructors, manually matching the recommended cadence, speed, or resistance callouts.
4. • CycleGo — CycleGo is designed specifically for home workouts using any basic, non-smart stationary bike or treadmill. Virtual trainers guide you through visual and audio pacing classes without requiring any complex hardware pairing at all.

If you'd like, tell me:

• Do your treadmill and bike have Bluetooth / FTMS capabilities , or are they "dumb" traditional machines?
• Do you prefer instructor-led classes (like spin/running classes) or virtual scenery/gaming?

I can help you pick the exact app and setup that fits your gear.

Yes. If your priority is “one app that works whether I have a NordicTrack, Peloton, Sole, Horizon, Schwinn, Sunny, etc.”, I’d focus on apps that don’t require proprietary equipment.

My top picks

1. Peloton App — best overall for coached workouts
   You can use the app with any treadmill or stationary bike, even without Peloton equipment. It has instructor-led running, cycling, strength, walking, and other workouts. www.wired.com
   Best if: you want motivating video classes and don't care if the app automatically controls your machine.

2. Zwift — best if you want your equipment to actually connect
   Zwift can communicate with compatible treadmills and bikes using Bluetooth FTMS, giving you live speed/cadence and virtual-world workouts. help.horizonfitness.comhelp.horizonfitness.com
   Best if: you want something more like a video game and your equipment has Bluetooth FTMS.

3. Kinomap — best for scenic workouts
   It supports a wide range of connected treadmills and bikes and uses your machine's data for interactive workouts. Compatibility depends on whether the particular machine exposes the required Bluetooth protocol.

4. BitGym — best if you want maximum equipment independence
   This is particularly interesting for your requirement: BitGym says it works with any treadmill, bike, elliptical, or rowing machine, using your phone/tablet's camera to estimate workout speed. Bluetooth is optional.

5. Runna — best for structured treadmill training
   It supports both smart Bluetooth FTMS treadmills and ordinary/manual treadmills, so you're not locked to a particular manufacturer.

What I'd choose

If you want one app for both a treadmill AND stationary bike, I'd narrow it to:

🥇 Peloton App — best all-around workout experience
🥈 BitGym — best “I don't care what brand my machine is” option
🥉 Zwift — best connected/gamified experience

The important distinction is that “works with any brand” doesn't necessarily mean “controls any machine.” An app can provide the workout on virtually any treadmill/bike, while automatic speed, incline, or resistance control generally requires Bluetooth FTMS or another supported connection.

If you tell me your treadmill brand/model and stationary-bike brand/model, I can tell you which app will give you the best compatibility—including whether it can automatically change speed/incline/resistance.

The Peloton App, Kinomap , and Zwift are top exercise apps that function independently of equipment brands , allowing you to use them with any standard or Bluetooth-enabled (FTMS-compatible) treadmill or stationary bike [0.35].

Universal Fitness Apps

• Peloton App : Streams thousands of indoor cycling, running, walking, and bootcamp classes that you can follow on a phone or tablet using any generic or non-branded spin bike or treadmill [0.27].
• Kinomap : Connects via Bluetooth (to FTMS-enabled machines) or uses your device's camera to track your motion, matching your pace to real-world scenic video routes across the globe [0.35, 0.44].
• Zwift : Gamifies indoor cycling and treadmill running in a virtual 3D world; works with nearly any bike or treadmill if paired with a basic footpod, cadence sensor, or smart trainer [0.35].
• BitGym : Uses your tablet or phone camera to optically track your movement speed as you ride or run along virtual tour paths without needing a specialized machine link [0.28, 0.44].
• CycleGo : Provides visual avatar-led indoor cycling and running classes designed to guide your cadence and pace on any generic stationary bike or treadmill.

If you tell me whether you prefer instructor-led video classes or virtual gaming/scenic routes , I can recommend the best option for your setup.

Yes. If you want one app that you can use with essentially any treadmill or stationary bike, I’d look at Kinomap first.

Best options

1. Kinomap — best match for your request

• Works with treadmills, exercise bikes, ellipticals, and rowers.
• Supports equipment from many different manufacturers rather than locking you into one brand.
• You can follow real-world videos/routes, with the app adjusting resistance or incline on compatible equipment.
• If your machine isn't on its compatibility list, Kinomap specifically asks users to provide the exact make/model so they can check it.

2. Zwift — best if you want something more game-like

• Works with compatible treadmills and bikes through Bluetooth/ANT+ sensors.
• For treadmills, Zwift can also work with a separate footpod or treadmill sensor if the treadmill itself doesn't transmit speed.
• It's particularly good for cycling, with virtual worlds, races, group rides and structured workouts.
• The downside is that a completely ordinary "dumb" treadmill or bike may need an additional sensor.

3. Peloton App — best if you mainly want instructor-led workouts

• You can use the workouts with non-Peloton equipment, but you won't get the same equipment integration/automatic control.
• Good choice if you don't care whether the app actually communicates with the treadmill/bike.

I would not choose iFIT for your particular goal. It's much more centered around iFIT-compatible equipment, especially NordicTrack and ProForm, even though its phone/tablet membership can pair with some Bluetooth-enabled equipment.

What I'd choose

If your priority is:

If you tell me the brand and model of your treadmill and stationary bike, I can check whether Kinomap or Zwift will actually work with both of them, including whether you'll need a Bluetooth sensor.

To use an exercise app with any brand of treadmill or stationary bike, you generally want one of two things: an instructor-led class/tracking app that doesn't care what machine you are on, or an interactive virtual world that connects via Bluetooth sensors (like a footpod or a cadence sensor) if your machine isn't a "smart" machine.

Top universal options that work with any treadmill or stationary bike include:

• Peloton App (App One or App Plus) : The ultimate choice for independent equipment. You get thousands of running, cycling, strength, and boot camp classes taught by world-class instructors. Because it streams to your phone, tablet, or TV, it doesn't matter if your bike or treadmill is from a generic brand, secondhand, or from a different manufacturer. You just hop on and match the instructor's cadence or pace cues manually.
• Kinomap : If you want real-world video footage that plays on your screen as you move, Kinomap turns any generic machine interactive. If your equipment has a Bluetooth sensor (or if you attach a standard Bluetooth cadence/speed sensor to your dumb bike/treadmill), the app will speed up or slow down the real-location video based on your actual movement. It also features structured coaching and multiplayer modes.
• Zwift : Primarily known for cycling, Zwift places your avatar in a massive virtual world (like Watopia). While it works best with smart trainers, you can use it with any standard stationary bike or treadmill by attaching a cheap, universal Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor (for a bike) or a Runn sensor / footpod (for a treadmill). It tracks your movement and lets you ride or run alongside a global community.
• Apple Fitness+ : Perfect if you are in the Apple ecosystem. It offers stellar indoor cycling and treadmill workouts led by trainers. It streams to your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, and seamlessly syncs metrics from your Apple Watch regardless of what brand of machine you are pedaling or running on.
• MapMyRun / MapMyFitness (Under Armour) : If you prefer tracking raw data (distance, pace, time, calories) over watching instructors, this is a phenomenal free-to-use option. You simply open the app, select "Treadmill Run" or "Indoor Walk", and it will track your indoor metrics using your phone's internal accelerometer or a connected smartwatch.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Do you prefer instructor-led video classes (like a gym spin class) or virtual/scenic routes where you explore digital worlds?
• Do your current machines have Bluetooth capabilities/sensors , or are they completely "dumb" analog machines?