Comparison

Cycle Now! vs zCycle Pad

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cycle Now!

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Track your indoor cycling workouts with real-time power zones. Connect to your Schwinn IC4, Bowflex C6, or any Bluetooth FTMS bike and see exactly where you're training. Features: • Live Power Zones - 7-zone Coggan model based on your FTP • Supports running VO2max and FTP test protocols • Lap Tracking - Mark intervals and see per-lap stats • Zone Targeting - Audio and haptic alerts keep you in Z2 or Z5 • Workout History - Review past rides with full lap breakdowns • Smart Smoothing - 3-second and 20-second power averages cut through noise • Power Graph - Watch your effort unfold in real-time Simple by design: No account. No subscription. No cloud sync. Just you, your bike, and your data stored locally on your device. Bikes supporting Bluetooth FTMS include the Renpho AI Smart Bike, Joroto X4S, XTERRA SB4500, Schwinn IC4/Bowflex C6, Echelon EX5/EX5S, Matrix ICR50, Diamondback 1260Sc, Keiser M3i, Spirit Fitness XBU55/XBR55, 3G Cardio Elite RB X, Zwift Ride, Wahoo KICKR Bike Pro/Shift, Wattbike Atom/Proton, Saris H3, and JetBlack VICTORY.

About

zCycle Pad

Features
Read full description

zCycle Pad is a standalone indoor cycling trainer app for iPad. Mount your iPad by the bike, pair your smart trainer and heart rate monitor over Bluetooth, and train with live metrics — no Mac required. Start with a 7-day free trial, then continue with a simple monthly subscription. CONNECT YOUR HARDWARE • Bluetooth FTMS smart trainers (Elite Suito, Wahoo KICKR, Tacx, and similar) • BLE heart rate monitors (Garmin, Polar, Wahoo TICKR) • Scans only cycling-relevant devices — not random Bluetooth gadgets RIDE YOUR WAY • Ride with ERG targets and grade simulation • Heart rate zone rides with coaching cues • Structured .zwo workouts with power profile preview • When a workout ends: keep free-riding, or cool down, finish, and save • Live dashboard: power, HR, cadence, speed, distance, and charts PROFILES & HISTORY • Multi-rider profiles with FTP, weight, and HR zones • Ride history cards with duration, power, HR, and calories • Import rider details from Apple Health (optional) • Sync completed rides to Apple Health (optional) PRIVACY • Local-first — rides and profiles stay on your iPad • No ads, no tracking • Optional Apple Health sync when you finish a ride SUBSCRIPTION • 7-day free trial • Auto-renewable monthly subscription after the trial • Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions Requires iPadOS 17 or later, a compatible FTMS smart trainer, and optionally a BLE heart rate strap. Terms of Use: https://zcycle.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://zcycle.app/privacy

Screenshots

Cycle Now!3 screens
zCycle Pad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: zCycle Pad at Free against Cycle Now!'s $0.99. zCycle Pad also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Cycle Now!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

zCycle Pad is free to download; Cycle Now! costs $0.99 up front. zCycle Pad sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Cycle Now! asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cycle Now! ships an update every 2 months, zCycle Pad weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences Ā· 2 level
Cycle Now! versus zCycle Pad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCycle Now!zCycle Pad
Price$0.99Free — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYi Yan TayAdamCodes ltd

In-app purchases

None

Cycle Now!

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

zCycle Pad

Subscriptions2
  • zCycle Plus Monthly$4.991 Month
  • zCycle Plus Yearly$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Cycle Now! free?
Cycle Now! costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is zCycle Pad free?
zCycle Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cycle Now! or zCycle Pad have ads?
Neither Cycle Now! nor zCycle Pad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cycle Now! or zCycle Pad?
Cycle Now! ships an update every 2 months, and zCycle Pad weekly. Most recently, Cycle Now! was updated on October 31, 2026 and zCycle Pad on October 24, 2026.

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