Over the years, the number of gears on bicycles has increased. When multi-gear drivetrains were introduced, they had 2-3 gears. Modern bikes have 8-12 rear cogs. Two different systems are used to attach the rear cogs to the rear hub of a bicycle: the cassette and the freewheel. This guide outlines the differences and lists the pros and cons of cassette vs freewheel systems. I’ll cover the number of speeds, gear range, gear steps, durability, customization, maintenance, cost, compatibility, parts availability, and more.
What is a Cassette?
A cassette is a cluster of sprockets that attaches to the rear hub of your bicycle. Most modern cassettes have 8-12 speeds. Single-speed as well as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 6 speed models are also available.
The cassette slots onto a series of splines on the freehub. It secures in place with a locknut. The freehub has a ratchet mechanism built in that allows you to stop pedaling, coast, and pedal backward. The freehub body bolts to the rear hub.
The cogs on cassettes are individual gears that slot onto the freehub body. Some cassettes come with the cogs riveted or bolted together. Sometimes only the 2-3 largest cogs are riveted together and the rest are separate. This is done for ease of installation. Some cassettes come in separate pieces. The cogs and spacers all come apart. It is possible to take any cassette apart and replace individual cogs.
What is a Freewheel?
A freewheel is a cluster of sprockets that attach directly to the rear hub of your bicycle. It threads directly onto the rear hub. As you pedal, the torque from the chain keeps the freewheel tightly secured on the hub. Most freewheels have 5, 6, or 7 gears. 1, 2, 3, and 4 speed freewheels are also available.
The freewheel has a ratchet mechanism built in. This allows you to stop pedaling, coast, and pedal backward. On a freewheel, the sprockets and ratchet mechanism are a single unit. It is not possible to replace individual cogs or the ratchet mechanism separately.
One nice feature of freewheels is that they have a standardized thread size. This means you can screw any brand of freewheel onto any brand of hub. This allows you to easily swap between different gear ratios. You don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.
Freewheels are becoming increasingly rare. Before the 1980s, pretty much all bicycles used a freewheel system. They are standard on vintage bikes. Some entry-level bikes still come with a freewheel system today. Freewheels are pretty common on single speed bikes. Fixed gear cogs are also available for freewheel hubs.
What is the Difference Between a Freewheel and a Cassette?
There are two major differences between freewheel and cassette systems. First is the location of the ratchet mechanism that allows you to coast.
On a freewheel, the ratchet is built into the body of the freewheel unit. On a cassette system, the ratchet mechanism is a separate unit called the freehub body. The freehub body attaches to the rear hub. The cassette slots onto the freehub body.
Cassettes and freewheels require different hubs. They are not cross-compatible. A cassette requires a freehub. A freewheel requires a freewheel hub. If your bike has a freewheel hub, you’ll have to use a freewheel. If you want to use a cassette, you’ll have to replace your entire hub with a freehub.
Another difference between a freewheel and a cassette is the way the sprockets attach to the wheel. A freewheel threads directly onto the hub with standard right-hand threads. The force from pedaling forward tightens the freewheel and locks it in place because the torque from the chain pulls in the right-hand direction. A freewheel is installed and removed with a wrench.
The cassette attaches to the freehub body. It simply slots onto a series of splines on the outer shell of the freehub body. The cassette secures in place with a lockring. When you remove your cassette, the freehub body remains on the hub. It can be removed separately.
Some special tools are required to install and remove cassettes. A cassette remover tool is used to tighten and loosen the lockring that holds the cassette in place. To remove a cassette, you’ll have to hold the cogs in place with a chain whip tool so they don’t rotate while you loosen the lockring. No special tools are required to install or remove a freewheel. Only a wrench is required.
Another major difference between cassettes and freewheels is the number of gears. Cassettes usually have more gears. Modern cassettes have 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 speeds. Freewheels usually have 5, 6, or 7 speeds. Single speed cassettes and freewheels are also available.
Cassettes and freewheels have many similarities. They both look the same from the outside. Cassettes and freewheels also perform the same function. The systems are mechanically different. They are not interchangeable. If you want to change from a freewheel to a cassette, you’ll have to install a whole new hub.
How do I Know if My Bike Has a Cassette or Freewheel?
When installed, both cassettes and freewheels look pretty much identical. In fact, you probably can’t tell which system your bike uses by simply looking at the bike.
To determine whether your bike has a cassette or freewheel, start by removing the rear wheel. Next, locate the tool fitting. This is where you would place your cassette or freewheel remover tool. You’ll find the fitting in the center of the cluster, near the axle hole. Next, spin the gears backward with your fingers.
If the tool fitting spins with the gears, your bike has a cassette. If the tool fitting does not rotate with the gears, your bike has a freewheel.
Tools Required for Removing and Replacing a Freewheel
To remove a freewheel, you’ll need a freewheel remover tool and a large adjustable wrench.
The remover tool fits in the splines of the freewheel. You’ll need the wrench to turn the tool to loosen the freewheel. A couple of different sizes and styles of freewheel remover tools exist. Before buying a tool, be sure to check the size that you need.
The most common size is 12-spline 22.6mm. This fits most 5-10 speed freewheels from Shimano, Sachs Aris, SunRace, and DNP Epoch. This freewheel remover from Park Tool would be a good choice.
Tools Required for Removing and Replacing a Cassette
To remove a cassette, you’ll need a cassette remover tool, chain whip, and a large adjustable wrench. The remover tool fits in the splines of the cassette. The adjustable wrench turns the cassette remover tool. The chain whip holds the cassette in place so it doesn’t rotate while you’re loosening the lockring.
Different cassettes require different remover tools. The most common size is the 12-spline 23.4mm. This tool fits most 7-12 speed cassette lockrings from Shimano, SRAM, SunRace, SunTour, and Chris King. Before buying a tool, be sure to check the size that your bike uses. For most cassettes, this Cassette Lockring Tool from Park Tool would be a good choice
You’ll also need a chain whip to remove and replace your cassette. This SR-12.2 Sprocket Remover/Chain Whip from Park Tool would be a good choice.
Types of Cassettes and Freewheels
Cassettes are designed for either road bikes or mountain bikes. These are usually interchangeable. The difference is in the gearing. Different gearing is preferable for different types of cycling.
Mountain Bike Cassettes
Mountain bikes need to be able to handle a wide variety of terrain including steep grades and loose surfaces. Wide-range gearing is preferable for mountain biking. Mountain bike cassettes also have lower gearing than road cassettes. The steps between gears are larger and less consistent. For mountain biking, the steps are less important because mountain bikers tend to stop and start pedaling frequently while navigating obstacles.
Most mountain bikes come with a 9, 10, 11, or 12 speed cassette. These days, most mountain bikers use 1x gearing. This means there is one chainring and a cassette with 11, 12, or even 13 sprockets. 1x gearing reduces weight and complexity. For more info, check out my guide to 1x gearing here.
Cassettes sizes are determined by the gear spread. This is the number of teeth on the smallest and largest cog. Mountain bike cassettes have a large gear range. Most have a small sprocket with 10 or 11 teeth. Mountain bike cassettes often come with an extra-large ‘dinner plate’ gear. This is an extra-low gear that is used for climbing steep hills. The largest gear may have 32, 34, 36, 42, 46, or even 52 teeth. A couple of common mountain bike cassette gear spreads include 11-34t and 11-46t. 12 speed drivetrains are available with 10-52t.
Road Bike Cassettes
Road bike cassettes have tight gearing. This means all of the cog sizes are close together. Most road cassettes have an 11, 12, or 13 tooth small sprocket and a large sprocket with somewhere between 21 and 31 teeth. The most common cassette gear spread for road biking is 12-25t. The majority of road bikes come with this gearing. If you cycle in a hilly area, you may be better off installing a cassette with a larger sprocket such as 27 teeth or more.
This tight gearing is preferable because it reduces the steps between gears. When you shift, your cadence doesn’t change much. This allows you to easily accelerate to your optimal cadence.
Most road cyclists use 2x gearing. This means there are two chainrings. Most road cassettes have 10 or 11 sprockets. 1×12 road groupsets are available and are becoming increasingly popular.
When choosing a cassette for road cycling, it’s important to choose a model that is compatible with your derailleur. Most road bikes come with short-cage derailleurs. These are only compatible with narrow road cassettes. They don’t have the capacity to take up enough chain slack to accommodate a wide-range cassette. They are also limited by the rear sprocket size. If your largest rear sprocket is too large, the jockey pully can rub on the sprocket.
A long cage derailleur can handle larger sprockets because they have the capacity to pick up the extra chain slack. They also have the extra clearance for large diameter sprockets
Road and Mountain Freewheels
Freewheels generally aren’t marketed for road or mountain bikes. If you’re looking installing a freewheel on a mountain bike, look for a model with wide gearing. For example, a 7 speed 14-28t model would work well. Shimano offers a 14-34t freewheel if you need extra wide gearing.
For road riding, a tighter gear spread is preferable. A 7 speed 12-18t freewheel may work well.
Can I Switch Between a Cassette and Freewheel?
Yes, you can but it’s not easy. Cassettes and freewheels are not interchangeable. They use completely different mounting systems. It’s always easier and cheaper to stay with the system that your bike currently uses.
If you want to upgrade from a freewheel to a more modern cassette system, you’ll have to replace your rear hub. In many cases, you’ll also have to replace your crankset and chain. In addition, you may have to replace your shifter and derailleur. You’ll also need the tools for both cassette and freewheel removal and installation. As you can imagine, this is a pretty big and costly job. In most cases, it’s not worth it to switch between a cassette and freewheel.
Cassette vs Freewheel Pros and Cons
Both systems perform about the same. In some cases, one may be better than the other. In this section, I’ll outline a few pros and cons to consider.
Number of speeds
Cassettes have 8-12 speeds. Freewheels usually have 5-7 speeds.
There are a number of benefits of having more gears. First, you have a greater chance of finding the ideal gear for the incline and surface conditions you’re riding when you have more gears. You can dial in your gearing more precisely. When you ride in the optimal gear, you don’t waste energy pedaling too hard or spinning too fast. In addition, having more gears increases the gear range and reduces the change between gears.
With a lower gear count freewheel, sometimes you can’t find the ideal gear. You may end up riding in a higher or lower cadence than you need. You may not have a gear that is high enough or low enough for the conditions.
There are exceptions. These days, a handful of companies offer 9 and 10 speed freewheels. These are sometimes used on e-bike conversions because many hub motors require a freewheel. The drawback to these high gear count freewheels is that they tend to be low quality.
Winner: Cassettes have more gears.
Gear range
Gear range is the difference between the lowest and highest gear. It is determined by the number of teeth on the smallest and largest cogs. Gear range is expressed as a percentage.).
Cassettes offer a larger gear range than freewheels because they have more gears. A 12 speed cassette may give you a gear range of over 500%. A 7 speed freewheel may only have a gear range of around 300%. This means that a cassette may offer 66% more gear range than a freewheel. This is significant.
A wider gear range means you have a lower low gear and a higher high gear. This allows you to ride varied terrain more easily. While riding up a steep hill, you can shift down into your lowest gear and easily pedal up. While descending a hill, you can shift up into your highest gear and reach a higher top speed.
Winner: Cassettes offer more gear rage.
Durability
One major advantage of cassettes is that they allow the drive side and non-drive side bearings to sit further apart. This is possible due to the freehub design.
The advantage of having the bearings further apart is that it puts less stress on the axle. This reduces the likelihood of the axle bending or breaking.
Breaking axles wasn’t as much of an issue on older freewheel bikes because the axles were shorter. Frames had 120mm or 126mm rear hub spacing. These days, most bikes have 130mm or 135mm rear hub spacing.
This means axles must be longer. Longer axles are weaker. They get bent more easily. If your bike has wide hub spacing, you’re better off with a cassette and freehub system due to the extra axle strength.
It’s important to note that not all freehubs use this stronger design. On some models, the right-side bearings sit further in toward the center of the wheel. To compensate for the weaker design, they use oversized axles.
More and more bikes also come with thru-axles these days. This system replaces quick-release axles. Thru axles are much stronger and more durable. You don’t have to worry about bending or breaking axles on a thru axle bike. For more info, check out my guide to thru axles vs quick release.
Winner: Cassette systems are stronger and more durable than freewheel systems.
Customization
Cassette gearing is customizable. You can take your cassette apart and replace single cogs or groups of cogs. This allows you to fine-tune your gearing exactly the way you want it.
For example, maybe your smallest cog has 12 teeth. If you like to ride fast and you need a higher gear, you could replace it with a cog with 10 teeth.
There are limits to how much you can customize. This is because the larger 2-3 cogs tend to be riveted together on most cassettes. This means you would have to change several cogs at once. It’s easier to swap out the smaller cogs. You must also use cogs from the company that made your cassette. They are usually not cross-compatible. This can limit your choices. Still, cassettes are far more customizable than freewheels.
Freewheels are not customizable because the cogs are all built into the freewheel unit. You can’t remove individual cogs on a freewheel. If you want to change your gearing, you’ll have to replace the entire freewheel. There are also fewer freewheel options. You may not be able to find the exact gearing that you desire.
Winner: Cassettes are more customizable.
Maintenance
One major drawback to freewheel systems is that removing a freewheel can be extremely difficult. This is the case because torque from the chain is constantly tightening the freewheel onto the hub as you ride. Over time, freewheels tend to seize up on the hub.
It takes a massive amount of force to break a freewheel loose from the hub. To remove a stuck freewheel, you might have to use a long-handled wrench for extra leverage. You’ll really have to use some muscle to break it loose. This makes repairing broken spokes a challenge. Luckily, the freewheel isn’t a part that you have to remove often.
A cassette makes changing a broken spoke on the drive side much easier. You can just remove the sprockets and access the hub flange. You don’t have to remove the ratchet mechanism. Some cyclists even remove their cassette when they clean their drivetrain.
To remove a freewheel, you’ll need a freewheel tool. Different freewheel models require different sized tools. You’ll engage the tool in the freewheel splines then turn it counter-clockwise to remove the freewheel. For more info on removing a freewheel, check out this guide.
To remove a cassette, you’ll need a cassette remover tool and a chain whip. Different cassettes require a different sized cassette remover tool. They aren’t standard. You need to use the chain whip to hold the cassette in place while you use the remover tool to turn the lockring counterclockwise. It’s an easy job. Check out this guide to replacing a cassette for more info on the process.
When you replace a cassette or freewheel, it’s a good idea to also replace the chain. Running a worn-out chain over new cogs sometimes causes shifting issues. If you don’t replace your chain, you might experience ghost shifting, chain drops, missed shifts, gear grinding, etc. If your chain is relatively new, you might be able to get away with using the same chain. When you’re in doubt, replace the chain when you replace your cassette or freewheel. You don’t have to replace the cassette or freewheel every time you replace the chain. Most riders wear through 2-3 chains for every cassette or freewheel that they wear through.
Of course, if you don’t maintain your own bike, none of this really matters. Your local bike shop will have all of the necessary tools and knowledge to remove and replace both cassettes and freewheels.
Winner: Cassette systems are easier to maintain than freewheels because they are easier to remove.
Gear Steps or Jumps
Cassettes have smaller steps between gears than freewheels. This is possible because cassettes have more gears within the gear range. The percentage change between gears can be smaller when there are more gears.
The change between gears is determined by the number of teeth on each gear. A 12 speed cassette may have an average difference of 12% from one gear to the next throughout the range. To compare, a 7 speed freewheel might have a 20% difference from one gear to the next.
While sifting through the range, a smaller change between gears is preferable because it’s less noticeable. It’s easier to maintain your cadence while shifting because the speed of the pedals doesn’t change as much when you shift.
Ideally, you want to maintain a constant cadence, regardless of your speed. Shifting up into a harder gear temporarily reduces your cadence. With smaller steps between gears, your cadence won’t slow down as much as you upshift through the range. You can accelerate up to your optimal cadence more quickly. Smaller gear steps allow you to spend more time pedaling at your optimal cadence.
For example, with a 12 speed cassette, your cadence might drop 10 RPM when you upshift. With a 7 speed freewheel, your cadence might drop 15 RPM when you upshift. You will return to your optimal cadence range sooner when the gear steps are smaller. This allows you to ride faster and more efficiently.
For mountain biking, the larger steps between gears aren’t as noticeable because you’re stopping and starting pedaling more often while navigating obstacles. For road riding, small and consistent gear steps are important for maintaining your cadence.
Winner: Cassettes have smaller steps between gears than freewheels.
Price
Freewheels are cheaper than cassettes. You can buy a basic 7 speed freewheel for around $20-$25. A comparable 7 or 8 speed cassette costs around $30-$35. The price difference is pretty minimal. An average cassette or freewheel lasts 4000-6000 miles. It’s not a part that you have to replace often.
At the high-end, the price difference is greater. A premium 11 or 12 speed cassette can cost $100-$200+. A high-end freewheel might cost $60-$80.
You might also save money on other parts if you go with a freewheel instead of a cassette. For example, freewheel hubs are usually cheaper than freehubs. 6/7/8 speed chains are cheaper than 11 and 12 speed chains. Derailleurs and shifters for lower-speed-count bikes are cheaper than derailleurs and shifters for higher-speed-count bikes. The lower cost of replacement parts can save you some money over the life of your bike.
Winner: Freewheels are cheaper than cassettes.
Gearing and Component Options
Cassettes offer far more gearing options than freewheels. You can choose from 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 speed models. Recently, 13 speed cassettes have been introduced. You can use newer 1x gearing options. You can also customize your gearing by swapping out cogs. There are narrow-range cassettes with small gear steps that are designed for road biking. There are also wide-range cassettes designed specifically for mountain biking.
When you use a cassette and freehub system, you’ll have better quality and more modern component options. For example, you can choose from a wide range of hubs, chains, cranksets, derailleurs, and shifters. These modern components offer smooth and consistent operation.
With a freewheel, your gearing options are limited. Most freewheels have 5, 6, or 7 speeds. The gear ranges are more narrow. There are fewer gearing options to choose from.
Your component options are also more limited as well when you use a freewheel system. Major cycling manufacturers aren’t designing new hubs, cranksets, derailleurs, or shifters for 5, 6, and 7 speed drivetrains. This means you’ll have to use parts with outdated designs. Fewer options are available.
Winner: Cassettes offer more gearing options than freewheels.
Compatibility
Freewheels offer much better compatibility than cassettes. This is because all freewheels and freewheel hubs use the same standardized thread size. This allows you to mix and match freewheels with different brands. If you have a 7 speed freewheel, you can replace it with pretty much any other 7 speed freewheel on the market.
This makes it easy to replace your sprockets when they wear out. It also makes it easy to change your gearing. You can simply buy a different freewheel with the gearing that you desire and swap it out. As long as it has the same number of speeds, it should fit fine.
Cassettes are somewhat standardized but not completely. Shimano’s freehub body is, by far, the most common design. Many brands make cassettes and hubs that are compatible with Shimano freehub bodies. Most Sram and SunRace cassettes use the same spline pattern and inter-sprocket spacing as Shimano cassettes.
You do still have to check compatibility when buying a cassette from a different brand than your hub. Some parts are not cross-compatible. For example, most Campagnolo cassettes won’t work on Shimano freehubs. They have a slightly different spline pattern. Some Sram cassettes don’t fit Shimano aluminum freehub bodies.
Winner: Freewheels offer better compatibility than cassettes.
Parts Availability
Both cassettes and freewheels are widely available. Pretty much every bike shop keeps them in stock. They are also easily available online.
Parts availability can be an issue if you ride in rural areas or the developing world. Some cassette sizes may not be available. For example, you may have trouble finding a 10, 11, or 12 speed cassette in rural regions or developing countries because these sizes are newer. These cassettes are also considered higher-end. They are much more expensive. You’ll have to go to a modern high-end bike shop to get the cassette that you need. You may not find a 12 speed cassette in a small village. You might be able to find a 6 speed freewheel.
If you only ride in a developed country, you don’t have to worry about parts availability because you can order whatever you need online. You might have trouble finding a freewheel in a modern bike shop. I imagine freewheels will become rare at some point in the future because almost all new bikes come with cassettes.
Winner: Both are easily available. If you ride in off-the-beaten-path locations, you may be better off choosing a common-sized cassette or freewheel.
Technology
Cassettes are the newer technology. Using the newest technology allows you to use the latest components. For example, if you want to use 1x drivetrains with 11 or 12 speed cassettes or electronic shifting, you’ll need to use a cassette and freehub drivetrain. These parts aren’t compatible with freewheel systems.
Freewheels are an older technology. Nobody is innovating on that platform anymore. There aren’t any modern high-end cranksets, shifters, derailleurs, etc. that are designed for 7 speed groupsets.
Winner: Cassettes
Who Should Use a Cassette?
If you’re buying a new bike or building a bike, a cassette and freehub system is the better choice. It is the current standard. There are really no drawbacks.
Those who ride competitively are also better off with a cassette due to the increased performance. Cassettes offer more gears and more gearing options. You can even customize them if you choose.
If you maintain your own bike, you’re also better off using a cassette system. Cassettes are much easier to remove than freewheels. This allows for easy maintenance and cleaning.
Those who ride in muddy or sandy conditions will also be better off with a cassette. You can easily remove the cassette and clean it thoroughly.
If you ride your bike hard, you’re also better off with a cassette due to the added durability of the axle. Your bike can handle harder drops and hits without an axle bending or breaking.
Who Should Use a Freewheel?
If your bike already has a freewheel system, it’s best to stick with it. There isn’t really any reason to upgrade. The expense and hassle of switching to a cassettes system aren’t worth it.
Those who are on a tight budget may also be better off going with a freewheel bike. The bike itself will cost less and replacement parts will cost less.
If you’re planning to install an ebike conversion kit on your bike, you may be better off going with a freewheel system. This is because most rear hub motors are designed for freewheels.
A Bit of History
The idea of a cassette and freehub was conceived by a British company called Bayliss-Wiley in 1938. The company won the Cyclist Touring Club award that year. The first commercially successful cassette and freehub system was released by Shimano in 1978. These were used exclusively on high-end road bikes. Over time, the technology became available on entry-level bikes. These days, almost all modern multi-speed bicycles have a cassette.
Before the late 1970s, all bikes came with freewheels. Some new single-speed and low-end bikes may still come with freewheels as well. Freewheels are still commonly available because they were standard for so many years before cassettes gained popularity.
Final Thoughts About Cassettes Vs Freewheels
The clear winner is cassettes. They are better in almost every way.
The most significant difference is the number of gears. Cassettes and freehubs can offer more gears, more gear range, and smaller steps between the gears. Freewheels offer fewer gearing options.
Maintenance is another important consideration. Cassettes are easier to maintain than freewheels because they are much easier to remove.
Having said all of this, cassettes and freewheels both offer excellent performance. The ratchet mechanism and shifting perform the same. Most riders couldn’t tell the difference between a bike with a cassette and a bike with a freewheel while riding.
Does your bike have a cassette or freewheel? Share your experience in the comments below!
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Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 66 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor recreation experience and expertise. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. Living as a digital nomad, Zachary balances his professional life with his passions for hiking, camping, cycling, and worldwide exploration. For a deeper dive into his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.