Best Ellipticals

When it comes to decking out a home gym for a consistent, effective workout routine, you’ve got options. You could grab yourself a Peloton, or other cycling bike, and tow the balance between workout class and dance party on the daily. You can find a yoga mat and a teacher whose streamed-in mantras you resonate with. Or, you could grab an elliptical, and enjoy the low-impact perks of these intuitively-designed cardio machines.

What to Consider Before Buying an Elliptical Machine

Elliptical machines are one of the most popular pieces of equipment for gym and at-home workouts for a reason. They’re low-impact and yet great for improving cardiovascular health, core strength, upper and lower body strength and even balance. Due to the fact that you’re working your legs and arms/ shoulders at the same time you can burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time without putting a ton of pressure on your joints.

That being said, there are a few drawbacks to elliptical machines. They’re large, and the average one definitely takes up more space than the average spin bike. They’re also taller than bikes and treadmills, so you’ll need a higher ceiling than you could with a fitness mirror, rower or other smart home fitness device.

Ellipticals vs. Other Cardio Machines

If treadmills have caused problems for hips and knees, and you’re intimidated by cycling due to the whole “clip in, clip out” thing, ellipticals are an accessible, fun and relatively safe way to exercise anywhere, including in your home. The best elliptical machines offer a variety of types of workouts including hill climbs, interval training and other dynamic exercise modes that can fit into a variety of workout routines.

Ellipticals are also a great way to cross-train with other modalities like running or weight lifting, as they keep up your cardio health without pushing your body to the limit and risking injury. You can target specific leg muscles if you wish to strengthen your quads, hamstrings, calves or even glutes by switching up the direction of the pedals or adjusting the foot pedals lower.

Under-desk ellipticals are also great home exercise machines if you’re recovering from an injury, as they’re low-impact but can greatly improve your range of motion as you strengthen and heal an injured ankle, knee, tendon, etc.

How We Chose the Best Elliptical Machines

When scouring the internet to find the best ellipticals, we consulted with the brands we know and trust. NordicTrack, Bowflex, Schwinn and ProForm all have models that are top-notch and worth the investment if you’re an elliptical lover at the gym.

We also found ones with super high ratings for their design, functionality, noise levels and programming and included them below as well. We included a variety of price points, compact machines, large, comfortable designs and many options in between. The best part about an elliptical? It’s easy to learn how to use, and the barrier to entry isn’t as tough as it is for running, biking, or lifting heavy weights.

Here are the best elliptical machines to add to your home workout regimen for getting in shape without anything too fancy, complicated or a difficult learning curve.

1. Bowflex M8 Max Trainer

BEST OVERALL

The functionality and features of this elliptical are top-notch, so if you’re looking for a straightforward elliptical that you can tune out the world and glide on, this is a great pick. It comes with JRNY personalized coaching technology built in that guides you through seven guided workout programs. It’s got 20 different resistance levels, a magnetic media shelf and can store the workout data of up to four users at once. It also has a hybrid elliptical/stepper design so you get a full-body, low-impact workout in a smaller, more affordable package.

Buy: Bowflex M8 Max Trainer $1,899.00

2. Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine

BUDGET PICK

This Schwinn elliptical is a bit more affordable than the previous two options with a ton of useful features for fitness at home. It has Bluetooth connectivity and can sync up with the Schwinn trainer app as well as other fitness apps for access to workouts of all types, all around the world. It has 29 different workouts programmed in and 25 different levels of resistance to choose from, so you’ve got a wide range of activity and fitness levels that can work on here. It has an LCD display for metrics, a media shelf for conveniently holding gadgets, a USB charging port and an adjustable fan.

$300 OFF!

Buy: Schwinn Elliptical Machine $999.00

3. Bowflex M3 Max Trainer

CONTENDER

There’s nothing particularly stand-out to note about this Bowflex elliptical machine other than the fact that it’s a solid yet affordable machine from a trusted brand. It’s actually a hybrid stair stepper and elliptical machine, combining the smoothness and strenuous nature of both into one workout. It promises to deliver the benefits of cardio intervals in as little as 14 minutes of work, and you can even set burn and activity-level targets to guide your workout. This is a simpler version of the Bowflex we included above, so if that price tag was intimidating this one might be more your speed.

Buy: Bowflex Max M3 Trainer $999.00

5. Sole E25 Elliptical

BEST FOR REHAB

If you’ve got an injury you’re recovering from and need a form of exercise so you don’t lose your mind on the couch, this elliptical is great for physical therapy. It was designed by Sole engineers in collaboration with physical therapists so the pedals are 15 inches long with a 20-inch stride length and a 2-degree inward slope to protect knees and ankles from increased stress. It has ten workouts programmed into the machine and the system is also very quiet, with a fluid-smooth drive system designed for minimal noise. There are 20 different resistance levels and it comes with built-in grip heart rate monitors as well as a chest strap for tracking your exertion during your workout.

Buy: Sole E25 Elliptical $1,799.99

6. Sunny Health & Fitness Elliptical Machine

BEST UNDER $200

This elliptical comes from our favorite affordable fitness brand, Sunny Health & Fitness. It’s solid and comes with everything you need for a great at-home sweat session without spending exorbitant amounts of cash. It has eight different levels of resistance that you can switch between easily with a microcontroller. There’s a digital monitor that tracks metrics like speed, distance and pulse, and both the handlebars and foot pedals are anti-slip so you stay as secure as possible.

Buy: Sunny Health & Fitness Elliptical $179.00

7. SCHWINN Fitness 411 Compact Elliptical Machine

BEST COMPACT

If you’re super low on space, Schwinn also makes a great compact machine with only an 18″ stride length. It takes up minimal floor space while also offering 16 levels of resistance and a console that displays speed, distance, time, calories and your heart rate. It’s got a media rack for streaming TV shows or movies while you workout (we’ve all done it!) and it’s got a water bottle holder for hydration.

Buy: Schwinn Fitness 411 Compact Elliptical Machine $549.00 (orig. $799.00) 31% OFF

8. ProForm Carbon HIIT H7

QUALITY PICK

ProForm makes an excellent elliptical machine that gives you access to the entire iFit library of virtual fitness classes so you can workout alongside virtual classmates with professional instruction. It’s made with a 5″ horizontal and 7″ vertical stride, so the steps feel more natural and comfortable, and it’s got 24 resistance levels so you’ve got flexibility with your workout. It comes with a 7″ HD touchscreen, a 30 pound inertia-enhanced flywheel for stability and support, and there’s a CoolAire workout fan so you don’t get overheated.

Buy: ProForm Carbon HIIT H7 Elliptical Machine $999.99

9. Nautilus E618 Elliptical

MOST COMFORTABLE

This elliptical machine from Nautilus is made with a 22″ Suspension Adjust Stride so you get a full range of movement, and the perimeter weighted flywheel ensures a smooth, consistent workout. It’s got ergonomically-placed, padded handlebars that are comfortable to hold and use, and the generous LCD display has 29 different workout programs built in. It comes with optional heart rate monitoring and a three-speed fan for staying cool.

Buy: Nautilus E618 Elliptical $1,399.99

11. NICEDAY Elliptical Cross Trainer Machine

EASY TO ASSEMBLE

This elliptical machine from NICEDAY comes 90% preassembled, and built so almost anyone can finish setting it up in 30 minutes or less. It’s designed to fit individuals between the heights of 4’9″ and 6’2″, and is equipped with large handlebars and pedals for a variety of body types. It’s got a quiet magnetic drive system that taps out at 40 decibels, and the 16 pound flywheel supports 16 different resistance levels.

Buy: NICEDAY Elliptical Machine $599.00 (orig. $799.00) 25% OFF

12. Life Fitness Club Series + Elliptical Course Trainer

BEST SPLURGE

This is a top-of-the-line elliptical used in fitness clubs all over the country due to its quality and stability. If you’ve got the space and the budget, it has some notable functionality to it. The stride length is 20″ so it’s full-body without being too overwhelming, and the multi-grip handles incorporate your upper body as well. You can adjust the resistance on the handles so you can stay steady and adjust your workout to be more challenging or more mellow. The pedals are oversized and made of a Flexform curved design for comfort and safety, and it includes a touchscreen panel with an intuitive design for easy control. You can track your workout data in full-time and connect to your favorite apps via Bluetooth.

This is a major price jump above the other machines, and I almost didn’t include it in this list. However, it’s also the brand and quality-level I’m used to seeing at public gyms and therefore I know it’s built to LAST. If it’s being manufactured to be used by countless people every day for years and not break down — it’ll be awhile before you wear it down in your home as a sole user.

Buy: Life Fitness Elliptical $4,499.00

13. Precor EFX 700 Elliptical

MOST DURABLE

This is another elliptical that’s frequently used in gyms and fitness clubs and holds up after years of use so you know it’s durable. It comes with a Variable Stride Geometry feature that enables you to focus on a specific muscle group, or all lower body muscles, for a well-rounded workout that’s super effective. It comes with 20 different levels of resistance, and the stride is smooth, natural and low-impact. It’s got touch and telemetry heart rate monitoring and the fixed handlebars mean you can focus on your lower body and then switch to upper body strength training afterwards.

Buy: Precor EFX 833 Elliptical Machine $2,799.99

14. Doufit Elliptical Machine

EASY TO ASSEMBLE

This is another very affordable elliptical option you can order easily on Amazon and, according to reviewers, it’s pretty simple to put together. It’s made with a high-quality flywheel and a digital monitor that’ll track your time, speed, virtual distance and heart rate. It has eight different levels of magnetic resistance so each member of the family can tailor it to their desired training intensity, and the steel frame will keep you safe and stable even during a strenuous workout.

 

Buy: Doufit Elliptical Machine $179.99 (orig. $198.99) 10% OFF

15. Body Rider Elliptical Trainer and Exercise Bike

BEST ELLIPTICAL/BIKE HYBRID

Why settle for just one of your favorite gym machines, or take up space with both, when you could combine them? This elliptical/exercise bike from Body Rider is a 2-in-1 patented design that’s put a bike seat on an elliptical and gotten a pretty good response for it. It has 4 stars on Amazon and for the price it’s offered getting two machines is a major bargain. You can use it as either an elliptical or an exercise bike in the same workout, and adjust the seat vertically or horizontally to find a comfortable position. The machine has high-momentum fan blades for a super fluid workout, and you can adjust the tension for either workout with the turn of the center knob.

Buy: Body Rider Elliptical Trainer $164.99

16. Hammacher Schlemmer The Low Impact Foldaway Strider

BEST LOW IMPACT

This machine takes the standard elliptical and strips it down to a super simplistic design, which is perfect for households that don’t need a ton of bells and whistles. It’s an exercise strider that you’ll still get a great cardio workout from, without taking up a ton of space or being really heavy to move around. It’s got pedals and handlebars that move back and forth in a smooth motion, proving both an upper and lower body workout without a ton of stress on the joints. The LCD panel displays basic metrics, and it runs on AA batteries.

Buy: Hammacher Schlemmer The Low Impact Foldaway Strider $299.95