Is Beachbody On Demand worth it? There are so many ways to exercise.
Between the two of us, we’ve covered running to boutique HIIT classes to Orange Theory to your old-school gym, we’ve put in the legwork.
These past eight years, we’ve followed workout programs through Beachbody On Demand (BOD).
After collecting data, looking at the numbers, and getting results, here’s our review of Beachbody On Demand.
is beachbody on demand worth it?
In this in-depth review of Beachbody On Demand, we list ten reasons why we think it’s worth your time and investment. Whenever possible, we use the data that we have collected to drive home our points.
Before I jump into my story and experience with Beachbody On Demand, it’s important to come clean and let you know that we’re biased. It all started with our love of the workouts and excitement over incredible results.
However, it progressed into partnering with Beachbody and helping individuals like us get started and stay motivated. We help people through our BODgroup within the Beachbody On Demand app.
You’re welcome to join us. If you sign up or start a free trial through this page, we get a small commission, and we’ll always be there to support you on your fitness journey.
Now that I spilled the beans on our bias, I wanted to also share some external reviews on whether Beachbody On Demand is worth it. I think we can all agree that the Business Insider is a highly credible and neutral party.
“Should you use it? Yes. If you’re looking for a convenient service that lets you work out anywhere, Beachbody On Demand offers that flexibility. With over 40 different programs, you’ll be able to find plenty that matches your fitness level and preferred workout style. You won’t even need to buy extra weights or equipment for many of the programs. This makes it a great option if you’re looking to save money or don’t have much space to store workout equipment.”
– The Business Insider Review Team
Another great sign that people are happy with the workout service offered by Beachbody On Demand is the reviews on Influenster, where it’s currently ranked #3 in Fitness Classes & Programs after Zumba Fitness and Peloton.
Next, I’ll share my experience with Beachbody programs before we dive into our top 11 reasons we review Beachbody On Demand so highly.
My Beachbody WOrkout Experience
I first completed a Beachbody workout program in 2013.
This pre-dates the Beachbody On Demand streaming, so I borrowed a few DVDs of P90X from my buddy, Bill. I had never followed an exercise program before. Instead, all my workouts were self-guided.
My self-guided exercise consisted of running, basic bodyweight moves, and soccer or volleyball games with colleagues.
Once I began my engineering career, my activity levels dwindled. After a long workday, I didn’t have the energy to go for a run or kick the ball around.
There was no question that I was feeling unhealthy and gaining weight. Once I pressed play on these workouts, everything changed.
The results, variety, and structure blew my mind. My self-guided workouts were pointless in comparison, and I felt and saw the difference within days.
Soon, I felt like an athlete again, which brought me more confidence and energy.
To this day, both Alex and I are still daily Beachbody On Demand users. We are reminded weekly, especially given our on-the-go lifestyle, why Beachbody On Demand (BOD) is worth it.
There are the weeks when you’re reminded of how fit you are. Like the week when Alex attended an Orange Theory workout with her girlfriends and thought it was too easy.
Or, the week Ryan joined a pickup soccer game and scored three goals.
Then, there are the weeks when our Beachbody On Demand workouts help us show up for life. Like that time when the weather cleared in Cusco, Peru, and we packed our backpacks for a same-day departure on a 4-day, high-mountain trek.
Most commonly, there are hectic weeks.
For example, in the last week we have done a HIIT cardio workout in our living room in Costa Rica, recovery workout at our gate in the San Jose airport, yoga in our tiny Airbnb in Mexico City, and lifting workout in our new living room in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
After years of following Beachbody On Demand workouts, this why we think BOD is worth it.
We hope our review helps you take action, or at least dip your toes in the water with the Beachbody On Demand free trial.
BEachbody On Demand Review: 11 Reasons Why Beachbody WOrks
1. They Really Work
Alex and I have seen results personally, and we’re honestly the fittest among our friends and family.
This has been consistent and true for nearly a decade, and we’ve seen the same in our Duo Life Community members who are also using BOD.
With fitness, there’s no magic bullet—just hard work. Beachbody On Demand is worth it because it lets you work smarter and more conveniently.
That means getting better results in less time and cutting out the nonsense, like going to a gym or always thinking you need access to equipment.
We have the data to back up the above statement: ‘better results in less time.’
As the ever engineers, we did what we do best, and designed an experiment to compare cardio workouts on BOD to YouTube workouts and cardio methods common at the gym.
In the cardio experiment, we learned that not all workouts are created equal. In fact, the best workouts are up to 90% more effective than the worst. Let’s look at an example with you and your friend, Steve.
Based on our cardio data, if you did 20 minutes of Shaun T’s Insanity 5 days a week while Steve used the stationary bike, you’d burn 80,860 more calories in a year.
That’s the equivalent of losing 23 pounds more than Steve (assuming you both burn and consume calories identically).
I bet Steve would agree that your Beachbody On Demand all access membership is worth it. He would probably secretly sign up for the free trial and get to know Shaun T that same day.
Not all workouts are created equal. Don’t make the mistake of allowing an inferior workout to waste your time and effort.
Here’s a graph to compare your Beachbody On Demand results to your friend Steve’s.
2. It’s Crazy Cheap
To understand if Beachbody On Demand is worth it, we have to look at the cost. A Beachbody On Demand annual membership is $8.25/month billed annually, so $99/year in the United States.
Including, unlimited classes (Penny in our Duo Life Community completed 993 workouts in 2019), 24-hour access, from pilates to HIIT to martial arts.
We outline pricing information by country and membership type in our article titled ‘How Much Does Beachbody On Demand Cost?‘
Gym memberships seem cheap, but they’re not. On average, health and fitness expenses in the US clock in at $140,000 over a lifetime. Those monthly fees (especially if you’re a duo) add up.
We ran a home gym vs. gym membership cost-benefit analysis and learned that, as a couple, we saved $7,050 in eight years by working out at home using Beachbody On Demand instead of going to a typical gym.
And yes, that includes the cost of our thoughtfully curated home gym equipment.
What’s crazy, is our previous gym membership used in the calculation was only $35/month. We have plenty of friends who pay $150/month going to boutique or CrossFit Gyms.
In their case, their savings potential in 8 years is $39,939.
Let’s pick on Steve again. He pays $42/month for a gym membership while you spend $99/year ($8.25/month) for Beachbody On Demand.
If you both do five workouts per week, the gym cost is $2.10/workout while the Beachbody On Demand cost is $0.41/workout.
That’s 410% cheaper than the gym. We’re only on point number two in our review of Beachbody On Demand, and it’s already a no-brainer.
Better results (or the same results in far less time) with fewer dollars spent.
Furthermore, the savings only increase when you tack on the cost of a personal trainer to push, guide, and instruct you. Speaking of…
3. You Get World-Class Personal Trainers
Everyone who wants to get the most out of their workouts needs a trainer. If you’re reading this, spending time researching what’s best for your future fitness life, that’s you.
Even Olympians and professional athletes have trainers. Beachbody employs top industry trainers (backed by a team of sports scientists) to guide you through the streamed workout programs on Beachbody On Demand.
In all BOD workouts, you’re told what to do, when to do it, and for how long. You’ll hear adequate instruction and see proper form demonstrated.
To ensure safety, modifications are demonstrated on the screen to help you adjust range of motion due to an injury or limitation. Or, if you can push yourself further, trainers show you how to increase the intensity of an exercise.
Beachbody On Demand comes with a personal trainer. Specifically, since we’re all about the numbers, it comes with 24 (new trainers added yearly). If you want to get to know them, try some of these free Beachbody workouts before committing.
Additionally, you’ll have a calendar to navigate the program and tracking sheets to record weights and reps so you can up the ante each week. This eliminates all thinking and removes so many excuses.
You never have to wonder, “What workout should I do today?”
You also never have to wonder, “Should I shower today?” Unless you’re working out in a Minnesota garage gym in January, the answer is always yes.
And lastly, you don’t even need to wonder, “What should I be eating today?” That’s because…
4. You get a Nutrition Plan
What kind of fitness plan doesn’t come with a nutrition plan? What you put in your mouth amounts to 80% of your results. Your fitness plan must include guidance on what and how much to eat.
With Beachbody On Demand, each program includes a nutrition plan tailored to your gender, activity level, goals, body weight, and dietary preferences.
Also included are recipes, shopping lists, and even a cooking show.
These nutrition tools have been invaluable for Alex and me as what we eat keeps us consistently fit and in shape year-round.
You can access the nutrition plan in the Beachbody On Demand free trial by clicking on a program and viewing the “program materials.”
For the last two years, we have been using their recipes and meal plans along with intermittent fasting.
5. Work Out From Anywhere
Want to work out at home? No problem. Prefer the gym? Cool. Only have 6 square feet in your hotel room in Japan? That’s workable too (coming from a guy who is 6’1″).
Exercise freedom is potentially the most life-changing benefit in our Beachbody On Demand review. Having the ability to work out from anywhere eliminates so many excuses, making you far more consistent.
You no longer have to manage commute time, weather, and class times.
Additionally, you’ll always have time to work out. There are plenty of effective programs consisting of workouts that are less than 30 minutes.
Not having wifi isn’t even an excuse, since you can download up to 7 workouts through the Beachbody On Demand app for offline use.
If you don’t have the equipment, that’s no problem. Numerous programs through BOD require none but your body weight. However, we still recommend investing in some equipment so that you’re not limited.
Since 2018, we have only used resistance bands. They are cheap, portable, and the best part is BOD teaches you how to use resistance bands if you don’t have access to weights.
6. Unlimited Variety
A lack of variety can be dangerous. An optimized workout routine requires variety to prevent boredom, plateau, or injury.
Beachbody On Demand is worth it because it offers infinite variety. Well, at least it has kept us happy exercising almost daily for the last eight years.
The workout platform offers something for every fitness level and interest. The programs typically range from 3 weeks to 3 months so that you can try something new every couple of months.
Also, you don’t have to strictly follow BOD workouts to make your membership worth it.
Some of the programs are only four days a week, so there are free days to rest, bike, or level up your running. This variety keeps exercise fun while keeping your body out of its comfort zone.
Beachbody On Demand is a pioneer in the online fitness industry, and they release new workouts by new trainers every year (nearly every quarter).
As long-time enthusiasts, that makes Beachbody On Demand worth it. There is always something new to learn and look forward to.
7. You Learn New Techniques
With your Beachbody On Demand trainer (like celebrity trainers Tony Horton, Chalene Johnson, Autumn Calabrese, and Shaun T), you’re training with the best and learning their proven exercise techniques.
What’s more, is that you can do it at your own pace, in the privacy of your own home.
For us, we have learned how to weight lift, practice yoga, meditate (yup, meditation program added right in time for 2020), become stronger runners, and use resistance bands instead of weights while traveling.
With weight lifting, following programs like Body Beast, LIIFT4, 21 Day Fix, and P90X, will teach you how to strengthen all muscle groups using proper form. They instruct you and demonstrate precisely what you need to be doing.
Weight lifting is critical to maintaining metabolism and a healthy waistline. Nothing worked better than weightlifting for Alex. She had a significant transformation with Body Beast, going from “skinny fat” to ripped.
Please, make the effort to take photos and track body measurements when you’re following any fitness program. They’re the best indicator of progress and you will miss your transformation if you don’t.
You can also learn how to do yoga through the Beachbody On Demand Yoga Studio without feeling uncomfortable in a group class.
Don’t worry about feeling lost. You will hear thorough and professional instruction through the screen.
Finally, a game-changer for us has been learning how to use resistance bands when we travel. When we don’t have access to weights, programs like P90X3 and LIIFT4 include a person demonstrating how to modify the moves using bands. It’s pretty incredible.
Teaching us these new techniques makes Beachbody On Demand invaluable.
8. You Influence The People Around You
When you’re at the gym, you’re (maybe) influencing other people who are already motivated to get to the gym.
However, when you use Beachbody On Demand at home or at the holiday weekend with family, you influence loved ones around you.
Instead of disappearing to the gym, your kids or spouse will see you investing hard work into your health. Seeing you sweat day after day will undoubtedly influence them.
Many learn that Beachbody On Demand programs are worth it when they discover that loved ones will start joining them. If you want to try some workouts specifically for kids, there are 14 available on our list of free Beachbody workouts.
Speaking of influencing your spouse…
9. Beachbody On Demand Is Perfect For Couples
Not only can you share the cost of the BOD membership (you didn’t hear that from us), but you can follow the programs together to stay accountable.
One of the many benefits of exercising with your partner doubles your performance and makes you both 3X more likely to stick with a program long-term.
What’s more, is it’s a fun way to spend time together. Additionally, the energy you gain will help you better yourselves in all aspects of life.
If you’re like us, you’ll start planning more active vacations and creating competitions together.
If you are apart frequently or don’t have the same work schedules, that’s not a deal-breaker. Instead, you can still follow the workout calendar provided and check-in with each other daily to inquire about their workout.
We did this for years when we were doing long distance between the US and China.
If you are frequently rejected by a partner who doesn’t want to exercise with you, check out our Complete Guide to Working Out as a Couple.
This is our expertise, and we share one trick that nobody else talks about.
10. Beachbody On Demand Is Environmentally Friendly
What’s more environmentally friendly than streaming your workouts from home?
According to Men’s Health, those who go to the gym once a month drive an average of 5.1 miles. Those who go five times a month commute 3.7 miles.
This not only shows you that you’re more likely to exercise if your gym is closer to home, but it also shows how much these miles add up over time.
Let’s run some numbers. Alex and I have worked out at least 20 times a month over the last 7 years. If we each drove 3.7 miles to the gym each time in an EcoBoost Ford Fusion, we would have driven a total of 12,432 miles consuming 460 gallons of gasoline.
We’re happy to have an eco-friendly lifestyle, saving 4.56 metric tons of CO2 emissions by working out in our living room and not worrying about commutes or new clothes.
How green are your workouts?
11. You Get Access To Accountability Groups
We all need accountability, and all the help we can get with our health and fitness goals. Beachbody’s solution: BODgroups.
Guess why famously 13 out of the 14 contestants from the last season of the TV show, The Biggest Loser, gained all of their weight back and more? Yup, lack of accountability.
Incidentally, the one contestant who did not gain her weight back was a Beachbody coach who was likely part of Beachbody’s online accountability and support system.
According to research, incentives and accountability are the two factors that effectively shape behavior change.
Focusing on accountability, the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found that you’re 65% more likely to succeed at achieving a goal when you have an accountability partner.
However, that number bumps up to 95% if you have ongoing appointments with your accountability partner or group.
In our experience as coaches, individuals who post their accountability in the group daily are at least 95% more successful.
We hope you start working out with Beachbody On Demand. When you do, stay active in one of Beachbody’s BODgroups. If you want to join our group, click here and request to join.
Closing THoughts
We hope our Beachbody On Demand review has helped you decide if it’s worth your time and money.
Leave any specific questions about our Beachbody review in the comments below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible and update this article accordingly.
For other questions regarding Beachbody workouts, Shakeology, or if you want a straight-up honest review of the Team Beachbody Coaching opportunity, make sure your head over to our Beachbody Page.
I Want To Start. What Do I Do?
Head over to Beachbody On Demand and click the orange “SIGN UP” button. Or, if you’re not ready to commit, here are instructions on how to start your 14-day free (must enter credit card number) trial of BOD.
Already Signed Up?
You are more than welcome to request access to our online BODgroup for accountability and support. When you join, start tracking your workouts right away and share your goals with the group.
Or, download the below Beachbody Challenge Calendars for free.
- Backpacking 2-Week Fitness Plan
- 14-Day Couples Yoga Challenge
- Downhill Skiing 2-Week Fitness Plan
- Pregnancy Workout Plan By Trimester
These pair well with the Beachbody free trial.
What About Other Beachbody Products?
We follow the workouts via Beachbody On Demand almost daily, as well as drinking Shakeology daily. We have been Shakeology drinkers since 2014.
For us, Shakeology is valuable, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right supplement for everyone. We decided to write a thorough review of our own after reading tons of controversial reviews.
We’ll debunk those reviews, share our knowledge and experience on this nutrition supplement, and talk about who should and who should not drink Shakeology in our review.
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The creators of Ryan and Alex Duo Life. We are a husband-wife duo and “lifestyle engineers.”
After eight years working in the corporate world as engineers, we left our high-powered jobs to tackle our true passion — helping couples engineer their best lives.
The synergy of our engineering minds and ten years of health coaching experience produced Ryan and Alex Duo Life. Our mission is to help you transform your bodies, minds, and relationship as a couple.
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Hello – Great write up!
Do you happen to know if Vince Sant’s V Shred workout is worth buying?
I’m mainly thinking about buying V Shred since I keep seeing advertisements for it, but I’m hearing mixed reviews.
I’m worried about wasting money on something too challenging or overpriced.
Many thanks
Samantha G.
Hey Samantha, glad you enjoyed our review of Beachbody On Demand. First off, great job on researching all of your options. No matter what you end up choosing, purchasing a product with a calendar is key, so you’re on the right track.
We have never tried the V Shred workouts. We see all the ads too and they are intriguing. However, obviously, their high advertising budget doesn’t mean it will work for you.
Our opinion: it’s too expensive. We would never pay for it but clearly, a lot of people do. It might be because they’re convinced that a program customized for them is the missing link. However, and again this is just our opinion, the customizable workout plans they offer are a marketing tactic rather than being based on science or proven results. It looks like they have a 30-day refund policy so at least you can try it risk-free.
Also, it looks like there are only two trainers part of V Shred, one for women and one for men. For us, this doesn’t give enough options and flexibility to find the program that fits you most. For example, it takes a lot of discipline to follow a weight lifting routine day after day. Often, Alex and I prefer to do an 8-week program with something like weightlifting, followed by a short program of cardio. Plus, around the holidays like right now, we sometimes take it easier with yoga. There’s no one-size-fits-all workout plan, so having a full library with hundreds of programs works best for us because it keeps us consistently working out every day.
We hope this helps and feel free to reach out if you have other questions.
Hi, I’m an avid guy who works out with two beach body tapes, an national rated water skier. I’ve try everything to get my wife more motivated to work out. We’ve done whole 30 like 4 times. She loses 15 plus lbs but gives n to food. At times she works out by walking. I love her and want our golden years to be great, looking for help!
Hey Jim! That’s great that you did the whole 30 together multiple times. It’s clear that you are motivated, and it sounds like she is as well. Now it’s just a matter of finding an eating and exercise plan that is sustainable for the duo. Since you are currently the health and fitness leader in your relationship, you need to make compromises and meet her where she is instead of hoping she’ll catch up to you.
We have a few questions for you.
First, has she ever tried the Beachbody tapes with you? If not, what did she think or why do you expect she didn’t continue? If it’s because she was intimidated or she prefers a different form of exercise (maybe yoga, Pilates, or barre), you should let her pick the next Beachbody program. Even if it’s not your first choice, do it with her and be her motivator and accountability partner. Don’t “coach” her and correct her though, unless she wants to hear it or it’s for safety.
Second, do you ever go on walks with her? Sure, walking might not be the most efficient form of exercise compared to Beachbody workouts, however, it’s a healthy activity that you can do together and it may lead to jogging together or hiking on the weekends. Most importantly, if you go on walks with her it shows her that you support her and her health goals. Quality time together is a nice bonus too.
It’s great that you are so motivated to make this work. We also want you to read another article of ours if you haven’t already. It’s our “Complete Guide to Working Out as a Couple:’
https://www.ryanandalex.com/working-out-as-a-couple-complete-guide/
Once you take a look at that article, reply here with answers to our questions, and share what you think the next best steps are.
I am just starting out to try to do some low impact exercise to try to get me in shape without getting injured (some knee issues). Are there low impact things that I can do on BeachBody OnDemand. I don’t want to start something that I have to pay for without knowing if there are low impact workouts for older people.
Hey Rachelle, great question. Indeed there are low impact exercises on Beachbody On Demand that will help you get in shape without aggravating your knee. Out of curiosity, I logged in and filtered for individual workouts labeled as “Low Impact.” There were 46 different workouts to chose from.
When we hear you say “just starting out” and “low impact workouts for older people”, the two programs that come to mind are P90 by Tony Horton and PiYo by Chalene Johnson.
P90 by Tony Horton – https://www.beachbodyondemand.com/programs/p90/start-here
PiYo by Chalene Johnson – https://www.beachbodyondemand.com/programs/piyo/start-here
Additionally, all the programs on Beachbody On Demand include a “modifier,” which means that even high intensity/high impact workouts include someone on the screen demonstrating a low impact modification for all the exercises.
The 3-Week Yoga Retreat is another program we recommend given your fitness goals. We know a handful of people (most had never done yoga before) who went through this program and their increased lower body strength and stability alleviated all knee pain, allowing them to gradually do higher impact exercises pain-free.
3-Week Yoga Retreat – https://www.beachbodyondemand.com/programs/3-week-yoga-retreat/start-here
Lastly, you don’t have to pay before trying the workouts on Beachbody On Demand. We recommend signing up for a free trial so that you can give some of these workouts a shot before deciding if Beachbody On Demand is a fit for your goals. In the article below, we’ll help you start a free trial and how we can be assigned as your included, free coaches.
Start your Beachbody On Demand free trial: https://www.ryanandalex.com/beachbody-on-demand-free-trial/
Let us know if you have other questions!
Can I quit Beachbody any time I choose to
Hey Nick!
Yes, you can quit anytime. We prefer to do it with the “chat with an agent” option. No strings attached, and only takes a few minutes.
Hey, I am grateful for your review of Beachbody on demand; thanks so much! Like a commenter above, I am older (over 50) have never worked out consistently, and due to health issues and weight gain need to get serious about working out and exercise. Is this a program that someone who is a true beginner, who is also over 50 can really use and not hurt themselves? And build up to other programs that are harder over time? Or would it be better to go to a personal trainer and start there and then join?
Hey! Thanks for reaching out and great question about using BOD versus going to a personal trainer.
To answer your first question, yes, Beachbody On Demand does offer many programs for someone who is a true beginner. Also, with every program, there is a “modifier” on the screen, someone demonstrating a variation of the move that is safer for beginners.
Amazingly, you are researching forms of exercise that won’t cause injuries. You have a long-term mindset and I feel especially qualified to help since I am injury prone and have to modify a lot of exercises.
Here are three great programs that are safe for you.
1. P90 by Tony Horton
This one is not on this list, but it’s designed for people just starting, or getting back into exercise. Also, the trainer was in his mid-50s when he created this program, so it’s great for your age group.
2. 21 Day Fix by Autumn Calabrese
This is the best program for true beginners and to make it even more helpful, there is a modifier showing you how to adjust form so you don’t get hurt.
3. 3-Week Yoga Retreat
Even if you have never done yoga in your life, you can do this program. After the 3 weeks, you will have increased strength, balance, and flexibility, which are essential to staying injury-free.
I recommend you start one of these programs and eventually try all three. Once you finish them you will be ready to work up to those harder programs. I think you’re better off using Beachbody On Demand instead of hiring a personal trainer. These trainers are world-famous, and the demonstration and instruction they provide are more than sufficient to learn proper form and keep you from getting hurt. Just make sure you always listen to your body and avoid any exercise that causes pain.
If you get started, let us know if we can help.
I think I’m going to join the Beachbody program, and I understand that you don’t need gear to get started, but I like to be prepared and don’t want my class choices to be initially limited. With that said, what type of bands and weights do you recommend? I’m a 5’5″ female, 130 lbs. that is not interested in losing weight, but just toning up. Thanks!
Hi Dahn! Great question!
You and I are quite similar in size, so this would be on my personal list for equipment:
Both green (light) and red (medium) resistance bands. We like the SPRI brand or Beachbody’s B-Line resistance bands.
Or
A set of starter dumbbells, containing a mix of 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 lbs. You can skip a few, but these are the ones I use most.
Finally, some programs use resistance loops (unlike the ones I talk about above which have handles on each end). I think a “green” would be the one for you, which is “light.” SPRI and Beachbody both sell these as well.
I think that’s it! This will cover 95% of the programs. Some programs call for things like a workout bench, pull up bar, and such but every program can be modified to work around this equipment.
I hope this helps 🙂 If you sign up, make sure you sign up with us so we can be your coaches (it’s a free benefit)! Then we can continue to support you and add you to our BODGroup community! For reference, my coach ID is 335656 with email: hello@ryanandalex.com. Thanks, Dahn!