Updated: May 7, 2024
Rating: 4 stars
JRNY is a digital fitness app that can be used on a phone, tablet, or compatible piece of equipment. Bowflex and Schwinn Fitness equipment use JRNY to provide studio and scenic classes. JRNY provides a nice variety of training content at a more affordable price than iFIT or Peloton. Yet, there are a few tradeoffs for this lower price which I’ll discuss in-depth below.
My review of JRNY explores its performance in conjunction with smart equipment, third-party equipment, and without equipment. I’ll also look into what is available in the JRNY app without a paid membership.
Who JRNY Is Best For:
- Bowflex and Schwinn Equipment Owners: JRNY is best when paired with compatible equipment from Bowflex or Schwinn Fitness.
- Exercisers on a Budget: JRNY has a 2-month free trial. It costs $19.99 per month for the all-access membership and $9.99 per month for the mobile version only. There are even a few free classes available.
- Runners and Cyclists Who Like Variety: A JRNY membership includes trainer-led classes, structured workouts, and scenic videos. When used with smart equipment, you can also access entertainment streaming apps.
- New Exercisers Who Need Guidance: JRNY has motion-tracking strength workouts. Get form cues as you work out so you feel confident in your training.
Pros And Cons Of JRNY
Pros
- JRNY includes instructor-led classes, structured workouts, and scenic videos.
- JRNY all-access is more affordable than comparable plans from iFIT and Peloton.
- The free trial is 2 months long instead of the standard 1 month.
- JRNY strength workouts have motion tracking.
- JRNY has a few free classes for exercisers who don’t subscribe.
- You can access Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+ on a JRNY machine with a touchscreen.
Cons
- JRNY’s content isn’t as refined as that from iFIT or Peloton but has a unique style and features.
- JRNY restricts access to classes for equipment you don’t own.
- You cannot use JRNY with non-compatible equipment.
JRNY Review – Digital Fitness Classes Designed for You
JRNY Specs
- Plan Options: $9.99 mobile app; $19.99 all-access
- Free Trial: 2 months
- Profiles: 1 profile for mobile; unlimited for all-access
- Brands: Bowflex, Schwinn Fitness
- Compatible Equipment: treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, dumbbells
- Class Type: studio, structured, scenic
- Training Type: trainer-led, adaptive, calorie/minute, user-controlled intensity
- App Integrations: Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+
- Platforms: JRNY equipment, Apple & Android smart devices
JRNY Overview
Whether you have compatible equipment from Bowflex or Schwinn or need a workout app on your phone or tablet to keep you motivated, JRNY is worth considering for its reasonable price. JRNY is suitable for a wide range of exercisers because the training classes are adapted to your fitness level and continue to adapt as you improve. However, I recommend it for new to intermediate exercisers the most.
Cost and Plans
The mobile app membership is only $9.99/month. You get access to strength workouts and whole-body workouts. Only one profile is available with this option. With the all-access profile you get access to all of the same content plus content for any compatible equipment you own. An all-access membership comes with unlimited profiles with their own logins.
An all-access membership with JRNY is more limited than other all-access memberships such as those from iFIT and Peloton. Most all-access memberships provide access to the entire catalog of content from the service regardless of whether you own the equipment or not.
Navigation
I find it a little more difficult to navigate JRNY compared to other platforms. However, it doesn’t take too long to learn with regular use. JRNY has a few different types of workouts, so it can take some time to figure out which category is which and how to set them up.
Brands and Equipment
JRNY is owned by Nautilus which also owns Bowflex and Schwinn Fitness. These two brands have cardio equipment that is compatible with the JRNY platform. Some of the strength training equipment is also compatible with JRNY. Schwinn Fitness was formerly a part of Schwinn Bikes, but the two companies are no longer affiliated.
Bowflex and Schwinn make treadmills, exercise bikes, and ellipticals. They also have smart adjustable dumbbells that pair with JRNY. Some machines have touchscreen displays that show JRNY. Others need to be connected via Bluetooth with a phone or tablet.
Class Style
To use the equipment classes, you have to pair your app with the appropriate equipment. The trainer-led classes are minimalistic with a colorful background.
The non-trainer-led classes or structured programs can be taken while you are watching Netflix or another entertainment app on a machine’s touchscreen. You could also watch a scenic video or a simple manual training screen. If you choose the scenic or manual option, you can play a genre music station.
The classes are customizable to your fitness level. The instructors are very upbeat and friendly. The scenic videos are a great option if you want a more relaxed training experience.
App Compatibility
Bowflex equipment with touchscreen displays allows JRNY to connect to a couple of other apps. You can access your account on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+. These apps are not accessible on the equipment without a JRNY membership.
Training Options
JRNY has several different training options. The only type that it lacks is trainer-led outdoor workouts. You can find those workouts on iFIT if that is more your style. JRNY does not support automatic speed or resistance adjustments. The classes are designed to fit a wide range of fitness levels, so you have complete control over your settings.
Burn Factor
When you first get a JRNY-compatible machine, you will be prompted to take JRNY’s fitness assessment. The results allow JRNY to give you a “Burn Factor” goal for each interval of the cardio workouts. The Burn Factor is the number of calories per minute that you burn at a given intensity. When using connected equipment, you will see a burn meter on the side of the screen guiding you to the right intensity for that exercise segment.
Trainer-Led Classes
The trainer-led classes are filmed in a studio. The trainer will guide you through the different workout sections, providing instruction and motivation. While the JRNY instructors are good, they lack the individuality of Peloton instructors and the educational angle of iFIT instructors. JRNY focuses on keeping you motivated and dialed into the workout.
Structured Workouts
The structured workouts are my favorite. You are given instructions that match the workout structure, but there is no instructor. The onscreen burn meter provides all of the guidance you need. JRNY and Bowflex are a great combination for exercisers who can’t choose between watching Netflix or following structured workouts. You can have both with an all-access membership on smart equipment.
Explore the World
You can subscribe to the Explore the World app separately from JRNY if you wish. It can be used without compatible equipment. The scenic videos can be used in combination with structured workouts, too. You can also do a manual workout while following a scenic video. They explore routes at global locations The videos help you forget that you are training indoors.
There are free options available through Explore the World.
Motion Tracking
You can set up your phone or tablet to see you while you are training with dumbbells. These classes provide live instruction and feedback on your form and progress. This feature is very handy for new exercisers who don’t have the budget for a personal trainer. The motion tracking counts your reps, but you need to be in the right orientation (facing the front or side of your mat) for accurate rep counting and form cues.
Performance
JRNY is best for users who plan to purchase Bowflex or Schwinn equipment. It’s also a great mobile option for users who want to use the strength workouts with motion tracking. This feature is super helpful for beginners and intermediate exercisers who need a little more feedback on their form. If you don’t feel confident in how to work out, let JRNY be your guide.
My favorite feature on JRNY is the ability to follow structured workouts on Bowflex equipment while watching Netflix or one of the other streaming apps. I like to workout while I’m watching TV, but I also like the convenience of choosing a workout to follow. Not writing my own workout programs saves me time during the day.
Bottom Line Review of JRNY
Bowflex and Schwinn Fitness equipment supports the JRNY fitness platform with an all-access membership. Without compatible equipment, you can try the mobile membership with access to the strength and whole body classes. JRNY has classes led by trainers or not. The structured programs without a trainer are best if you want to follow an Explore the World scenic route or watch Netflix on a Bowflex touchscreen console. JRNY uses a “Burn Factor” and “Burn Meter” to guide you to the right intensity, expressed in calories burned per minute. JRNY is priced more affordably than competitors. While it restricts the available classes to keep the app cheaper, it is still a great training tool for exercisers on a budget.
