Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Obé

• Best Budget: POPSUGAR

• Best for Apple Users: Apple Fitness+

• Best for Weight Loss: Beachbody on Demand

• Best for Advanced Skill Level: Peloton

• Best for Live Classes: The Class by Taryn Toomey Digital Studio

Gone are the days of leotards and sweatbands in a mirrored room on a VHS tape. Now, online aerobics classes offer multiple types of workouts for a range of skill levels to get your heart pumping, without the traditional weight lifting or structure of many workouts.

The best online aerobic classes are set to great music, require minimal equipment, and offer a variety of options to choose from. Many companies offer both live streams and videos to view on-demand that can be accessed online or through an app. We researched the best aerobic classes available in the U.S. and rounded them up here.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Obé

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Why We Chose It: We chose Obé because its no-equipment workouts are great for small spaces and can be done anywhere.

What We Like

• Can download classes to use offline

• More than 5,000 classes offered

• Many no-equipment workouts offered

What We Don't Like

• No nutritional coaching or plans provided

• Free trial is only 7 days

If you’re looking for an effective workout, Obé has a plethora of workouts focused on cardio boxing, dance, yoga, HIIT, and Pilates that require no equipment. Many courses pair cardio and weight training for maximum fat loss. Obé is designed for home fitness newbies and its classes cater to both beginner and advanced users.

The platform offers both live and on-demand classes, with more than 22 live classes per day and upwards of 5,000 on-demand. While many lessons require no equipment, they do offer modifications to use equipment such as dumbbells if you want to make the workouts extra challenging. The courses are well-designed, and there are a variety of instructors to choose from.

The Obé app costs about $27 per month, $65 quarterly, or $199 annually, and it offers a 7-day free trial. It is available on iOS and Android and reviews online state that the workouts are high-energy, engaging, and easy-to-follow.

Best Budget: POPSUGAR Fitness

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Why We Chose It: POPSUGAR is a commitment-free option that is suitable for both beginners and advanced alike.

What We Like

• Free classes on YouTube

• No equipment needed for the majority of classes

• A variety of lessons

What We Don't Like

• Workouts have product placements and promotions in them

• No way to track your workouts

• Poor production quality compared to others

POPSUGAR Fitness offers workouts for free on YouTube, or for an additional fee, you can subscribe to programs on your iOS or Android device.

It offers classes from some of the top online trainers and a variety of different aerobic-based courses, so you can always find something to suit your mood. Many of the lessons are 30 minutes or less and usually have a theme or focus on a specific area of the body.

Courses are set to music and feature energetic instructors. Expect a mix of cardio, strength, stretching, and HIIT. Many workouts require minimal or no equipment and can be done anytime at home. There are also live stream sessions featured daily on its YouTube channel.

Overall, if you are looking for a place to try free, online aerobic or strength classes with no commitment, then POPSUGAR may be for you.

Best for Apple Users: Apple Fitness+

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Why we chose it: We loved that the Apple Fitness+ integrates with the Apple Watch to show you real-time metrics such as heart rate on the screen.

What We Like

• Integrates with Apple Watch

• Variety of classes to choose from

• Great music

What We Don't Like

• Not available for Android

• Many classes require equipment

Apple Fitness+ is the newest fitness app on the block and has been well received by Apple users everywhere.

You can choose from a variety of different classes, such as strength training, aerobics, dance fitness, yoga, and stretching. Its courses can be streamed on-demand via any Apple device. The best part of this app is that it shows your calories and heart rate on the screen during your workout giving you a great idea of how hard you are working. Many workouts require little to no equipment and can be done anywhere.

You can filter workouts by type, time, instructor, or music and get ersonalized suggestions on workouts you may like. Instructors curate their own playlists from the Apple Music library, and reviews state that the music choices are great and help the classes go by quickly.

Apple Fitness+ is free for the first month and is about $10 per month thereafter. If you purchase an Apple Watch, they are currently offering three months free (as of March 2021). Overall, Apple Fitness+ is a great choice for Apple users who want to stream workouts at home with a variety of workout classes to choose from.

Best for Weight Loss: Beachbody on Demand

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Why we chose it: We chose Beachbody On Demand because there's accountability for those who are looking to lose weight.

What We Like

• Many no-equipment courses

• Large variety of classes that can be downloaded and viewed offline

• Great online reviews with picture testimonials

What We Don't Like

• Pushy salespeople

• Can’t pay month-to-month

• Promote their own equipment and supplements

As one of the oldest companies on this list, Beachbody On Demand has been in the fitness industry since 1998 and has a long list of client weight loss testimonials.

It offers more than 1,500 workouts on-demand through its streaming app. The app is available on iOS and Android and workouts can be downloaded to view offline. Some popular Beachbody programs include the 21 Day Fix, PiYo, and 80 Day Obsession.

Classes vary in length, skill level, and are taught by a variety of different trainers. Many of its workouts are aerobics based and include strength training, plyometrics, and dancing. The three-month plan costs roughly $60 and the six-month package costs about $78. Beachbody On Demand offers a 14-day free trial, so you can try it before purchasing.

Reviews are largely positive and are from people who are “Beachbody coaches” and offer free accountability groups and guidance if you sign up through the company's link. We did not like that many coaches try to recruit others to be a coach themselves and could be pushy and persistent.

Best for Advanced Skill Level: Peloton

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Why We Chose It: If you are looking to build strength and endurance, Peloton is a solid option. It offers higher intensity workouts with a focus on more advanced skills.

What We Like

• 30-day free trial period

• Large variety of classes and instructors

• Can download lessons offline

What We Don't Like

• Peloton equipment is expensive

• Classes include more advanced skills

• Fewer no-equipment workouts than other companies

The Peloton app has a variety of options for both people who may or may not own Peloton equipment. It offers a 30-day free trial of the app, and a variety of classes and instructors with live and on-demand workouts. Peloton classes tend to be more challenging, especially with the addition of the Peloton bike or treadmill.

With Peloton's app, you can filter classes by time, instructor, music genre, and intensity, and the company offers a variety of aerobic workouts that can be done with minimal equipment.

If you want to get out of the house, Peloton also has guided runs that are set to great music and help you push your limit. And, of course, there are aerobic workouts such as dance cardio, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and boot camp classes to get your heart rate up at home.

Peloton's digital subscription is roughly $13 per month and can be canceled at any time. It's safe to say that this company has a cult following for a reason.

Best for Live Classes: The Class by Taryn Toomey Digital Studio

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Why We Chose It: The Class by Taryn Toomey is a great option for those who want a high-intensity workout that is different than your typical aerobics class.

What We Like

• Many live stream classes daily

• Focus on whole-body movements

• No equipment

What We Don't Like

• Fewer courses to choose from than other services

• More expensive

With courses designed by Taryn Toomey, The Class Digital Studio provides more than 10 live stream classes daily from its studio in New York City.

The classes are aerobic in nature but are likely different than anything else you’ve ever done. The focus is on full-body movements, breathing, and promote a heightened awareness of your thoughts and conscious choices. Courses are set to an eclectic range of music, are designed to get your heart rate up, and leave you feeling sweaty and decompressed.

The Class offers a 14-day free trial, but the subscription is roughly $40 per month or about $400 per year thereafter. This is pricier than other options on our list but less expensive than a typical gym membership. Courses are around 45 minutes in length, and in addition to tuning in for a live class, you can steam a selected number of classes on-demand.

Reviews online state The Class is a great workout as well as a meditative experience. Overall, this one is a great option if you want to try something different and are unable to make it to the studio in New York.

Final Verdict

Overall, online aerobics classes should be enjoyable, have engaging instructors, and music to get your heart rate going. Classes are designed to increase overall strength, endurance, increase your heart rate, and get you sweating at home. Many classes are available on-demand, and some offer live stream options.

Some services have limited choices when it comes to aerobics classes and do not give you a program to follow, so you must choose your classes each day. Although some programs can be streamed online, others require a subscription to an app. Overall, if you’re looking for an online aerobics class, all these options will help you lose weight, get fit and get into a good workout routine at home. But ultimately, it's up to you to choose the best one for your needs and budget.

What Is an Online Aerobics Class?

Online aerobics classes led by an instructor are designed to get you moving, increase your heart rate, and help you improve your fitness at home. Classes range from about 10 to 60 minutes and can be streamed online or through an app.

How Much Does an Online Aerobics Class Cost?

Some online aerobics classes are free, while others charge a monthly subscription fee. Subscriptions range from about $10 to $40 per month and include unlimited streaming of a variety of classes.

What Equipment Do I Need for an Online Aerobics Class?

Many workouts require minimal or no equipment, while others may utilize dumbbells, resistance bands, or other basic at-home equipment.

What Are the Health Benefits of Aerobics Classes?

Aerobics can help increase cardiovascular conditioning, decrease the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, control blood sugar, promote weight loss, and improve lung function, among other health benefits.¹

Methodology

We looked at more than 10 online aerobic classes available in the U.S. and compared them based on cost, types of workouts available, instructor options, and customer reviews. Working out at home can be challenging and having an experienced instructor leading a class can make it easier to stay on track with your workout and push yourself harder than working out on your own. We excluded online workout courses that weren’t aerobic-based, had limited clases, were not instructor-led, or had limited customer reviews.