According to Dr. Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD, “Strength training can be a beneficial discipline for athletes thanks to its ability to burn fat through improved muscle gain.” Typically, most associate strength training with free weights, like the best dumbbells and barbells, but cable machines can also prove to be worthwhile tools of the trade and even allow for more isolated exercises — a great perk when trying to target specific muscle groups.
As with any large home fitness equipment investment, though, you’ll want some background information before selecting a functional trainer with adjustable pulleys, selectorized weight stacks, and more. To help, our team of experts has tested over 25 different cable machines, using our equipment testing methodology to rate and examine each profile across categories such as:
- Durability: How stable is the machine during workouts? Are the cables and framing strong enough to support intense reps and sets on a regular basis?
- Included Features: Which sort of cable workouts does the profile support? Does the silhouette offer the potential for accessory components for more versatile training protocols?
- Assembly Needs: How easy is it to take these cable machines from in-box components to full-fledged fitness tools? Are the assembly instructions well-detailed and easy to follow? Is assistance needed, or can you manage the installation on your own?
- Value: Does the workout potential and build quality justify the price tag? Does the brand offer add-on perks like free shipping or professional installation?
The BarBend team has helped connect over 850,000 athletes with high-quality strength training equipment over the years. If your fitness goals involve some constant muscle tension brought on by cabled resistance training, we’re confident that the following details can make upgrading your personal home gym as simple and enjoyable as possible.
The 9 Best Cable Machines of 2025
- Best Cable Machine Overall: REP Fitness Ares 2.0
- Best Functional Trainer Cable Machine: Titan Fitness Functional Trainer
- Best Budget Cable Machine: Bells of Steel Plate Loaded Cable Tower 2.0
- Best Cable Machine Power Rack: Force USA G12
- Most Versatile Cable Machine: REP Fitness Ares Builder
- Best Portable Cable Machine: Beyond Power Voltra I
- Best Cable Machine for Small Spaces: MAXPRO SC Portable Cable Machine
- Best Smart Cable Machine: Tonal 2
- Best Home Cable Crossover Machine: Major Fitness All-In-One Home Gym Power Rack F22
Best Cable Machine Overall: REP Fitness Ares 2.0
For REP Fitness enthusiasts, the Ares 2.0 cable system can be an excellent add-on to your existing REP power rack. The dual stacks can total up to 620 pounds, and the redesigned layout ensures your rack’s interior space is maintained for more comfortable free weight training alongside your cabled reps and sets.
Best Functional Trainer Cable Machine: Titan Fitness Functional Trainer
The Titan Fitness Functional Trainer is a well-built home gym that comes standard with accessories that other home gyms would sell as extras, like dual stirrup handles and a long bar.
Best Budget Cable Machine: Bells of Steel Plate Loaded Cable Tower 2.0
The Bells of Steel Plate-Loaded Cable Tower 2.o is a great budget-friendly cable machine. This one is compatible with plenty of attachments and you can load your own plates for customized resistance.
Best Cable Machine Power Rack: Force USA G12
This robust home gym replaces eight pieces of equipment, including a power rack, Smith machine, cable pulley, and leg press. Considering how much you get, the price is fair, and the footprint is relatively minimal.
Most Versatile Cable Machine: REP Fitness Ares Builder
The REP Fitness Ares Builder is fully customizable and attaches to your REP Fitness power rack. You can upgrade this option as much as you’d like and it has 520 pounds of resistance included.
Best Portable Cable Machine: Beyond Power Voltra I
The Beyond Power is one of the smallest, most portable cable machines you’ll find on the market. This device is compatible with the Beyond+ app so you can stream workouts or track your progress.
Best Cable Machine for Small Spaces: MAXPRO SC Portable Cable Machine
This compact cable machine packs in up to 300 pounds of resistance to a footprint that measures just 6.77 square feet. Plus, the MAXPRO Fitness Cable Home Gym is Bluetooth compatible for easier data monitoring and logging throughout your fitness journey.
Best Smart Cable Machine: Tonal 2
The Tonal 2 smart home gym delivers up to 250 pounds of digital resistance and includes an integrated camera for use with the brand’s Smart View coaching feature. Its slim, wall-mounted design and foldable arms make it an excellent choice for athletes training in compact spaces.
Best Home Cable Crossover Machine: Major Fitness All-In-One Home Gym Power Rack F22
The Major Fitness Raptor F22 is a well-built, space-saving rack that punches above its price point with solid construction and upgrade potential. It’s ideal for lifters looking to build a complete strength setup in limited space.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Cable Machines
The BarBend team is made up of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, and lifelong fitness enthusiasts. To determine the best cable machines available today, we got hands-on with 27 different profiles from top brands, using our multi-point equipment testing methodology to rate each profile on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) in key areas. Below are the categories and components we looked at.
- Durability: We curated this list with products made of high-quality steel and durable components that could potentially last more than a decade. Our products also feature enough weight to where they shouldn’t topple over in use. “Cable machines have a lot of components; the more components and parts something has, there are increased odds of things breaking,” explains Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “That said, cable machines are generally built to be durable and meant to last forever.”
- Versatility: The beauty of these cable machines is that they can support multiple movements, which is a game-changer for home gyms. While not every product on this list has the necessary attachments included with their purchase, you (at least) have the option to add those to expand your workouts even further and create a very versatile piece of equipment. We looked at the number of exercises each machine supports to offer as much versatility as possible for plenty of full-body workouts.
- Special Features: Some cable machines come with multiple accessories and special features that enable you to make your workouts even more versatile or functional. Some have power rack attachments, built-in Smith machines, or pull-up bars. These profiles generally cost more, though, so we combed through tricked-out cable machines and simple units alike in order to offer a wide range.
- Assembly: Whereas some equipment like the best bumper plates or barbells require zero assembly, that’s not the case with cable machines. Assembling a cable machine is no simple task, as the sheer weight of the silhouettes and multiple parts can make for a strenuous setup. For the heavier, more complicated machines, we chose companies that offer professional set-up services alongside more convenient delivery services.
- Price: “One downside is that cable machines are expensive,” says Capritto. “But again, you’re investing in something that should last you forever.” While none of these products are necessarily cheap, any home gym equipment is an investment that should eventually pay for itself.
The Benefits of Cable Machines
The best home gym cable machines can be extremely beneficial to your workout plan. Not only do they offer more variety than other machines — thanks to the multiple angles you are able to work within — but they also offer a safer alternative than holding heavy weight over your head. Here are a few of the major benefits cable machines can offer.
- Safe Lifting Conditions: Since you don’t need to put heavy weights over your head with cable machines, you can always drop whatever attachment you are using without the fear of being crushed underneath it. This also allows you to perform drop sets and train to failure more confidently than you would with free weights like the best barbells. For this reason, cable machines are a popular choice for strength training beginners. In fact, a 2023 study of young adults (who were considered beginners in strength training) who used a portable, cable-based resistance machine found that study participants showed significant improvements in strength, suggesting the effectiveness of cable-based resistance training for workout novices. (2)
- Customizable Workouts: “Cable machines also open up the opportunity for variable resistance training, which loads the muscles differently than fixed resistance training,” says Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. In addition to the different angles, the added accessories like ankle straps, rope grips, and more give you the chance to customize your training regimen all through one singular machine.
How Much Do the Best Cable Machines Cost?
Unfortunately, cable machines aren’t the cheapest form of at-home gym equipment. Given their versatility, though, they may be worth the cost. Use the chart below to compare prices across the different units featured in this round-up.
Best Cable Machine Overall | REP Fitness Ares 2.0 | Starting at $2,999.99 |
Best Functional Trainer Cable Machine | Titan Fitness Functional Trainer | $2,999.99 |
Best Budget Cable Machine | Bells of Steel Plate Loaded Cable Tower 2.0 | Starting at $419.99 |
Best Cable Machine Power Rack | Force USA G12 | $4,499.00 |
Most Versatile Cable Machine | REP Fitness Ares Builder | Starting at $2,799.99 |
Best Portable Cable Machine | Beyond Power Voltra I | $2,199.00 |
Best Cable Machine for Small Spaces | MAXPRO SC Portable Cable Machine | $999.00 |
Best Smart Cable Machine | Tonal 2 | $4,295.00 |
Best Home Cable Crossover Machine | Major Fitness All-In-One Home Gym Power Rack F22 | $929.99 |
The Best Cable Machine Attachments
You’re likely to find a plethora of available attachments and accessories for your cable machine of choice. Rather than overwhelming your cart (and budget) with everything under the sun, though, it can be helpful to understand the basic and standard machine attachments. Below, we’ve outlined the best cable attachments most often used in cable resistance training.
- D-Handle: A closed handle constructed from metal or nylon, often identified by its “D” shape. These can be excellent for single-arm exercises and often come standard with cable machines.
- Tricep Rope: A short piece of thick rope with two synthetic end caps. This attachment can be used, as the name suggests, for tricep pushdowns and extensions, but is versatile enough for a range of other movements, too.
- Lat Bar: A longer bar suitable for wide-grip pulldowns or rows. Lat bars can also feature multiple knurling patches across the profile to allow for different grip variations during training.
- V-Handle: Identified by its classic “V” shape, these bars offer a more rigid grip setup than your standard tricep rope. They are best suited for double-handed pull movements.
- Short Straight Bar: As the name suggests, this attachment is a straight bar that’s shorter than your average lat bar. Straight bars can be plenty versatile for push and pull motions, but may be less comfortable than other attachments given the basic ergonomics.
- Short Curl Bar: Primarily used for cable bicep curls, this attachment resembles an EZ-curl bar with multidirectional grip positions.
What to Consider Before Buying a Cable Machine
Before you go and spend your hard-earned money on one of the best cable machines for your home gym, it’s best you do your research, map out your available space, and have a plan. You don’t want to add a machine that is going to dominate your entire floor plan, and if you decide to purchase a cable machine that doesn’t function properly, you will be doing yourself a disservice. If you’re looking for a little advice before making such a big purchase, we’ve shared our thoughts below.
Size
While the size of these machines varies, you need to be sure you can accommodate for the listed dimensions. While some wall-mounted machines can fit virtually anywhere, others are quite large and will dominate most of your available space. We suggest mapping things out and having a solid plan before deciding which product to purchase.
“Consider, too, if you think you’ll ever need to move the cable machine,” suggests Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “This can be a laborious and expensive task for larger models.”
Durability
When choosing a cable machine, it’s best to make sure you’ll be able to train regularly without fear of broken parts or damaged components. That means targeting products that are made of high-grade steel (such as 11-gauge, which you will find in many professional gyms).
Versatility
Your cable machine should also offer a certain level of versatility, such as having multiple angles, so you can work more than just your upper body. The products on this list are all, in our eyes, soundly made and offer the functionality needed to help you reach that next level on your fitness journey.
Available Attachments
When purchasing a cable machine, your bundle is likely to come with a few standard attachments like D-handles, bars, and ropes. While these can support plenty of exercises and movements, you may need to add some additional gear to your cart in order to unlock every exercise you want to perform. It’s also worth noting that the type of handles you use will affect your muscle engagement, according to a 2016 study that investigated how different handle types on cable machines affect muscle activation during triceps pushdowns. (1) Do some research to ensure your cable machine has your attachments available and shop accordingly.
Remember, too, that attachments are add-ons and purchases can be made at a later date — this can be a helpful way to parcel out your spending as you curate the home gym of your dreams.
Price
Before making any purchase, you always need to weigh your options and see what you can comfortably afford. While some of these products come equipped with many attachments and features, others require additional investments. This can turn your purchase into a very expensive one if you’re not careful. It’s always best to set a budget for your machine and weigh what is included with your cable machine purchase before deciding which product to buy.
Cable Machines FAQs
What is the best cable machine?
The best cable machine will largely depend on personal needs and preferences. However, we’re big fans of the REP Fitness Ares 2.0 at the moment thanks to its commercial gym-grade construction, compatibility with top power racks, smooth cable action, and hefty weight stacks offering up plenty of muscle-boosting training potential.
What kind of exercises am I able to perform using a cable machine?
The beauty of cable machines is that they offer a lot of versatility. You can supplement your chest day with flyes at various angles, your arm workouts with bicep and tricep exercises, your back workouts with different variations of rear delt and lat exercises, and even your legs with kickbacks and lateral movements.
Are cable machine weights accurate?
In general, cable machine weight plates are accurate in that the listed weight of each plate is what it actually weighs. However, it’s more important to understand your machine’s pulley ratio as this is what will determine the weight you feel in your hands. For example, a 2:1 cable pulley ratio will make a 50-pound load feel as if it’s 25 pounds, whereas a 1:1 ratio will have a 50-pound weight feel like 50 pounds.
Can I build muscle with just a cable machine?
Yes, you can certainly build muscle solely with a cable machine. Your muscle growth and progression is based entirely on the effort you put in. If you’re regularly challenging yourself and supporting your physical feats with the proper nutrition, you can expect to see some gains in your future.
References
- Rendos, N. K., Heredia Vargas, H. M., Alipio, T. C., Regis, R. C., Romero, M. A., Signorile, J. F. (2016). Differences in Muscle Activity During Cable Resistance Training Are Influenced by Variations in Handle Types. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(7), 2001–2009. https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2016/07000/Differences_in_Muscle_Activity_During_Cable.25.aspx
- Yamamoto, T. (2023). Effects of a Portable, Cable-Based Concentric-Only Resistance Machine on Muscular Strength in Untrained Young Adults. Southwest Journal of Sports and Physical Education, 1(1). https://sjsp.aearedo.es/index.php/sjsp/article/download/concentric-resistance-machine-muscular-strength-untrained/103/1950