Some people love working out; I am not one of them. When it comes to cardio or anything HIIT-related, I need to be tricked into exercising. That’s how I got into Pound back in 2014. The cardio drumming workouts make you focus on keeping the beat, so you don’t notice how many squats or lunges you were doing to hit each note; it was more like an interactive concert than an exercise routine.

More than a decade later, Pound is still one of my go-to ways to sneak in cardio, and I haven’t gotten bored of it. I’ve owned the DVD set (and practically memorized the routines) and I regularly attend Wednesday classes IRL at my local rec center, but still, I wanted more. So I signed up for Pound Backstage, the brand’s in-demand online workout service. I used it for an entire year, but when those 12 months were up…I didn’t renew.

Two years later, a 50 percent off promotion crossed my inbox, and I wondered: Would Pound Backstage be worth it for $6 a month, instead of $13? Is it worth a whole $13, which is basically as much as I spend on breakfast at Starbucks?!

Now that I’m back at it, here’s my updated review for 2025, including what’s new with Pound Backstage—and what I hope will change.

What Is Pound Backstage?

Pound Backstage is an online service that features on-demand cardio drumming classes, ranging from 3 1/2 minutes to 46ish minutes, with videos targeting different areas or needs: toning, cardio, upper body, lower body or core, as well as family-friendly videos you can do with your kids. There are even a few workouts from Pound’s new offering, Pound Unnplugged, which combines yoga and meditation into the mix, offering a more holistic approach to exercise.

You’ll need a set of Ripstix, the brand’s cardio drumsticks (which are made of a durable plastic and weigh a 1/4 pound each), though you could get away with using regular drumsticks or even trimmed-down pool noodles. (I’ve seen teachers use the latter to instruct kids, so if they accidentally hit themselves or another student, no one’s harmed.)

How Much Does Pound Backstage Cost?

There’s a 30-day free trial, and after that, it’s $13 per month.

How Does Pound Backstage Differ from Taking Pound Classes in-Person or in a Live, Virtual Setting?

Since the videos are pre-recorded, an instructor can’t help you perfect your form, and they’re set to generic music, instead of major pop/rock songs, like you tend to hear in class. Still, they’re fun, engaging and easy to follow.

It’s a great way to sneak in small workouts and movement into your week, since most of the videos are less than 30 minutes.

What’s Changed from 2023 to 2025?

When I last subscribed, there were 84 videos listed; today, they have 105 on the platform. That gives me more options, though if you crave a fresh workout, you might want to take breaks from the platform, because it seems like they add about 10 videos a year. That’s a bit of a bummer, but I did appreciate that the new videos are typically longer in length (typically 8 to 30 minutes, instead of 5-minute “quickies”) and that there are a few Pound Unplugged classes. I’ve found the music used in Unplugged is more energizing, and I love incorporating the breathing and meditation exercises at the end as a way to reset and refocus myself.

This time around, I’ve been using the Pound Backstage app, and it’s made it really easy to sneak in a workout while traveling, or cast one to my TV and watch from there. That convenience is a huge plus.

The Pros of Subscribing to Pound Backstage:

• It’s way more affordable than most online or IRL workouts
• It’s great for time-starved people to sneak in a little exercise here and there
• No major equipment is needed (just those $20 Ripstix)
• The workouts are entertaining and easy to follow

The Cons*:

• The generic-sounding music isn’t as engaging as drumming to your favorite song
• It seems like less than 5 new videos are added each month. If you like variety and hate replaying a workout, you’ll run out of options fast
• Many videos are under 10 minutes (that said, there are 84 videos in the library as of Sept. 7, so you can definitely mix and match a bunch)

*While listing the cons, I have to remind myself of a few things: First, it makes sense they wouldn’t upload a ton of content and full-length workouts here, because they don’t want to offer a product that cannibalizes their instructors’ work. Pound Pros are essentially small business owners, so releasing on-demand workouts that eliminate the need to take the pros’ local classes or virtual ones would be a slap in the face to them. Second, offering pop music would mean incurring licensing fees, which would increase the cost of Backstage, so it makes sense they avoid it.

The Verdict: Is Pound a Good Workout?

Yes—it’s a fun, engaging workout, and after all those squats, you’ll feel the burn the next day. While some estimates say you can burn between 500 and 900 calories during 45 minutes of cardio drumming, I’ve found that I’m often lazy and just stick to a 20-minute workout, rather than string together multiple videos to hit that 45-minute mark.

I’d renew if I found another annual membership discount; I’m not sure I’d pay $13 per month when my subscription ends next January, simply because the videos aren’t updated frequently enough to justify the cost. I don’t mind doing the same workout over and over when I really love the music, but since Backstage uses generic-sounding tracks, it’s harder to want to replay. I may stick to Y7 online and my weekly in-person Pound classes going forward.

If you’re interested in trying it out, you can sign up for Pound Backstage here.

Images: Pound/YouTube/Amazon