If you’re thinking about giving Zwift a try, it’s only natural to wonder what you’re actually paying for. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the cost of a Zwift subscription, what you get for your money, and the basic kit you’ll need to start riding.

How much does Zwift cost?

The cost of Zwift can vary a little bit depending on where you’re based:

If you’re in the US, Zwift costs $19.99 per month (or $199.99 per year). 

For Europe, Zwift costs €19.99 per month (or €199.99 per year). 

And for the UK, Zwift costs £17.99 (or £179.99 per year).

Those are the headline answers, but there are a few extra details worth knowing.

Try Zwift for Free

If you’re on the fence, you don’t have to sign up right away. New Zwift users get a 14-day free trial on the monthly plan, which gives you enough time to explore the game, try a couple of group rides, and see if it’s for you. There’s no commitment at all, you can cancel at any time.

The annual plan doesn’t come with a trial, but first-time subscribers can still cancel within 30 days and get a refund, so you’re not locked in immediately.

You can also download the Zwift Companion app for free. In the Zwift Companion app you can explore Zwift a bit further, find clubs, friends and group rides – this will give you a head start when it comes to fully signing up.

Choose an Annual Subscription and Save

If you already know you’ll be on Zwift most of the year, the annual subscription is the better option. You end up paying for 10 months instead of 12, so it works out cheaper if you’re in it for the long run.

What’s Included with Zwift?

A Zwift membership isn’t just your ticket into a virtual world, it’s access to an entire training system built for cyclists. Here’s what you actually get once you’re signed up.

1. Virtual Worlds and Routes: From Watopia to France and back

Zwift is a virtual cycling paradise. With hundreds of kilometres of virtual road and trail, you have whole new worlds to explore when you sign up. So whether it’s Watopia (the flagship world with everything from volcanic islands to mountain passes), France, or New York, you’ll always have some fresh roads to ride. There’s also the Climb Portal which features many of cycling’s iconic ascents, or you can explore other locations.

2. Structured Workouts: 30 minutes to burn, the Zwift Academy and more

Zwift isn’t just about free-riding. The platform offers thousands of structured workouts designed to make you faster, stronger, and more efficient on the bike. These sessions are carefully curated by professional cyclists and expert coaches.

Take the Anna van der Breggen Road Race workout. This session tests how you recover and trains how you can sprint on tired legs. It’s inspired by how the pros race – putting in massive attacks to create breaks, then still having enough in reserve to sprint for the win. You’ll do a series of hard efforts followed by limited recovery time, simulating the demands of real racing where you need to respond to attacks and then fight for the line.

These workouts are integrated directly into the game. No thinking required, just follow the on-screen prompts and push yourself.

3. Personalised Training Plans: Back to Fitness, Crit Crusher, whatever your goal

Having a plan makes indoor training much more effective. So beyond Zwift’s individual workouts, you’ll have access to training plans that work towards your goals. 

So whether it’s your first time training indoors and you’re looking to build up some base fitness, or you’re an experienced cyclist prepping for a big event or race, you’ll find a plan for you.

We all know that life can get in the way so these plans are flexible. Meaning you can tick off workouts when it suits you. This makes it easier to add some structure to your riding without feeling locked into a strict schedule.

4. Group Rides, Events, and Racing: With the likes of Zwift Racing League, Off the MAAP, and Rapha Festive 500

With a Zwift subscription you get access to all group rides, events, and races. There are a lot of them too, there’s an event happening around the clock, every single day.

Races like the Zwift Racing League can help you develop your racing tactics and competitive edge. You’ll learn how to position yourself in the group, when to attack, how to respond to surges, and when to save energy. It’s also a tough workout in its own right too.

Or if you prefer something more social, try community events like Off the MAAP where you can pedal alongside thousands of other Zwifters. These rides are less about going racing head-to-head and more about riding together. You can chat through the Zwift Companion app, give encouragement through “Ride Ons”, and feel part of a global community.

If you’re considering closing off 2025 in style by riding the Rapha Festive 500, then there will be tons of indoor events on Zwift to boost your distance. From the daily rides, to the special event with Eric Min on the 25th of December, to unlocking the exclusive Festive 500 virtual jersey – there’s no better place to complete the challenge.

There are also RoboPacer group rides available 24/7. These automated pace bots lead rides at consistent pace, so you can always find a group riding at your level, whether that’s an easy spin or a harder tempo effort.

5. Turn Getting Fit Into a Game: Unlock new bikes, gear, and bonus achievements

Zwift turns training into a game. As you ride, you earn experience points that unlock new levels. Each level brings rewards, new bikes, wheels, helmets, and kit.

The gamification also includes challenges and achievements. Finish the Tour de Zwift, ride a target number of kilometres in a month, or conquer all the segments on a particular route. These mini-goals keep you coming back and give every ride a purpose.

6. Fitness Tracking with Zwift Companion: Training Score, Riding Streak, weekly time, mileage, and more

With your subscription you also unlock the power of the Zwift Companion app. It isn’t just a remote control for your rides (although it does that too) – it’s a comprehensive fitness tracking tool in your pocket.

You can monitor your Training Score, track your Riding Streak, and measure your fitness and fatigue. This helps prevent overtraining and ensures you’re building fitness sustainably.

It doesn’t just track your Zwift rides – you can log outdoor rides too. So all of your cycling activity lives in one place. Whether you’re riding indoors Tuesday night or out for a Saturday group ride, everything gets recorded. This full view of your training helps you to understand your overall fitness.

7. A Global Community: Joining over a million cyclists worldwide

Zwift’s community aspect shouldn’t be underestimated. Indoor training can feel isolating, but Zwift makes it social.

You’ll ride with people from every continent, at all ability levels. You might find yourself in a group ride with someone from Tokyo, London, and Sydney all at once. The shared experience of suffering through intervals or finishing a group ride together creates genuine connections.

This community also includes celebrities and professional cyclists too. Stay up to date on the fun, with impromptu group rides and virtual events, by following Zwift on Instagram. Recent events include Zwift CEO Eric Min and cycling legend Mathieu van der Poel, heading out on Zwifts virtual roads with thousands of other virtual riders.

What’s not included with Zwift?

While your Zwift subscription gives you a comprehensive training platform, it doesn’t include the hardware you need to use it. Here’s what you need to provide yourself:

1. A Turbo Trainer

An essential piece of hardware. A turbo trainer (also known as a smart trainer), is what your bike is mounted to and communicates with Zwift to simulate hills and drafting.

A Zwift Ready trainer will mean you’re best set-up for riding on Zwift. They range in price, but you can get a top Zwift Ready trainer for $/£/€500. Some Zwift Ready trainers will also come with a free Zwift subscription, so definitely keep a lookout for these.

Alternatively, you could consider a dedicated smart bike like the Zwift Ride, which would be an all-in-one premium option.

2. A Bike

If you have a turbo trainer, then you’ll need your own road bike, mountain bike, hybrid or gravel bike to use with Zwift.

The good news is that almost any bike will work with Zwift. You don’t need a fancy racing machine or an expensive time trial bike. That old hybrid in your garage? It’ll do the job just fine. Just make sure it’s in working order and fits you properly.

3. A Device

You’ll also need a device to run Zwift on. A computer, tablet, or smartphone will most likely work fine.

Is Zwift Worth the Cost?

At $/€19.99 / £17.99 per month (or $/€199.99 / £179.99 annually), Zwift is at the premium end of indoor cycling apps. 

But when you consider what’s included, unlimited access to worlds and routes, professionally designed workouts, training plans, racing and group rides, gamified progression, comprehensive fitness tracking, and a massive community – the value becomes clear.

Compare it to a gym membership, which doesn’t offer specific benefits to cyclists. Or the cost of racing, coaching, or travelling to events, especially in bad weather. Zwift removes those barriers and gives you top-quality training directly to your home.

Indoor cycling doesn’t have to be boring. With Zwift, every ride becomes an adventure, a workout, a race, or a social event – sometimes all at once.

Try Zwift For Yourself…

Unlock all of Zwift’s features with a free 14-day trial.