Save Space with the 7 Best Compact Ellipticals of 2025

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a high-quality compact elliptical that can accommodate your personal stride, the NordicTrack FS10i Freestride Trainer is tough to beat. Not only does this machine feature a max 32-inch stride length — well beyond the 16- to 20-inch industry standard — but the independent legs allow you to find the perfect gait for your step, as well. According to the brand, the FS10i is a “3-in-1 cross trainer” machine capable of supporting vertical climbs, elliptical-like gliding, and even running.

While this versatility can be great for HIIT workouts and mixing up your sessions now and again, our tester, a CrossFit Level-1 instructor, rates the ergonomics at 4 out of 5. “Switching between stride types mid-workout can be a bit of a challenge for beginners, but you do eventually get the hang of it.”

“Also, while I appreciate the longer strides and the ‘running’ aspect of this machine, I wouldn’t say it matches my treadmill experience perfectly,” they add. “After all, you’re still keeping your feet on the foot pedals at all times, so there’s less impact than what you’d feel while actually running.”

Like the best NordicTrack treadmills, exercise bikes, and rowing machines, the FS10i is compatible with the iFIT platform. This workout platform, aside from the 17,000 on-demand workouts, also gives you access to the brand’s SmartAdjust technology. Our tester rates this tech at 5 out of 5, stating, “I enjoy the fact that the machine toggles the adjustable resistance for you rather than you pausing your workouts to make any required changes. It allows me to focus more on my progress than worrying about what my settings are.”

However, you’ll need to sign up for the iFIT subscription if you want to take advantage of this feature. The service is available at $39 monthly, although multi-year agreements can give you a better price in the long run.

Read our full NordicTrack FS10i Freestride Trainer Review.

Why We Like It

Larger athletes looking for a compact elliptical should opt for machines with durable frames and high weight capacities, similar to what you’d look for in the best treadmills for heavy people. The Sole E25 features a weight rating of 350 pounds, which is higher than other compact machines we’ve tested. Plus, we also appreciate the durable steel frame and impressive warranty coverage that protects your investment if things do go awry.

“This elliptical’s durability is on par with more expensive machines I’ve trialed in the past,” notes our tester, a certified personal trainer, who rates the E25 at 4.5 out of 5 for the category. “Getting this sturdy of a profile for less than $1,200 is quite the steal, in my opinion.”

However, we have found that assembling this rugged silhouette takes some doing. We rate the process at 3 out of 5 since the included instructions are hard to follow and feature multiple components in each step. “You’re essentially building multiple components at once, and the descriptions aren’t the greatest. I’d recommend clearing your afternoon if you’re taking on this setup on your own,” our tester adds.

The Sole E25 features a 7.5-inch backlit LCD screen loaded with nine available workout programs, two of which are customizable. While this may be underwhelming for those wanting a more immersive on-machine experience for their home workouts, we do appreciate that the E25 comes equipped with a tablet holder for DIY streaming setups. We also score the available tech at 4.3 out of 5 thanks to the Bluetooth speakers.

You also receive a free chest strap heart rate monitor for more informed data tracking. We’ve come to prefer this heart rate monitoring style over the traditional pulse grips as the data can be more accurate.

Another reason we recommend this compact elliptical is Sole’s impressive warranty coverage, which we rate at 5 out of 5. This bundle includes lifetime service for the frame and flywheel as well as 2-year support for parts and wear items, 1-year coverage for labor, and 90-day support for cosmetic items.

Read our full Sole Fitness E25 Review.

Why We Like It

OK, so hitting a dedicated training module day in and day out can begin to lose its luster. Sometimes, you just want to stride through a session while also catching up on your favorite series. The BowFlex Max Total 16 — the largest profile in the brand’s Max Trainer lineup — can be perfect for these needs thanks to its clear, immersive 16-inch HD touchscreen as well as its compatibility with the JRNY app.

Not only does this best online workout program give you access to thousands of on-demand workouts, but you can also pair your favorite entertainment streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu to the machine for mid-workout viewing. As such, we rate the tech capabilities at 4 out of 5.

The BowFlex Max Total 16 features a vertical orientation which gives the in-training movement more of an elliptical-stepper hybrid feel. “I felt comfortable in each stride, and I especially like the multi-grip handlebars that allow for full-body workouts,” states Kate Meier, BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer. “Seriously, you can get a fantastic workout with this machine without the need for an abundance of floor space.”

While the workout experience and streaming capabilities are worthwhile, we do score the Max Total 16 at 2 out of 5 in terms of value. For one, the machine itself costs nearly $2,500 — well beyond the average $1,250 for other compact ellipticals. Plus, there are just four preset programs to choose from meaning you’ll need to subscribe to the JRNY platform if you want to unlock everything this home gym equipment has to offer.

As a final note, Meier states to have some patience when signing up for the JRNY service. “You need to put in your credit card info during sign up and then wait for a confirmation email, which could take upwards of an hour to come through. I’d prioritize getting your connectivity squared away well before your first workout with this BowFlex Max Trainer profile.”

Read our full BowFlex Total Max 16 Review.

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a compact elliptical yet still want to regain some floor space when not in training mode, the best folding ellipticals can be excellent for keeping your workout equipment organized and tucked away. We recommend the SF-E902S from Sunny Health and Fitness thanks to its foldable frame that, when stored, takes up just 2.47 square feet of space.

Our tester also rates the footprint and portability at 5 out of 5 given this elliptical’s lightweight design. “You can easily move this machine from a nearby closet and get set up for a session in no time,” they note. Additionally, we appreciate the caps along the base that provide some extra stability across different flooring surfaces — no need to train overtop hardwood or tile to achieve that stable feel.

The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-E902S features no added resistance levels, which can be a good or bad thing, according to our tester. “While the free-gliding nature of the pedals can be suitable for all fitness levels, I do wish there was some added resistance to take my at-home workouts up in intensity.” As such, we score the customizations at 2.5 out of 5.

This budget-friendly, space-saving elliptical features a stride length of 31.5 inches, which can appeal to a wide range of gait lengths. Our tester notes, though, that the free-swinging pedals can be finicky at times, especially when initially getting onto the machine. “Take your time when placing your feet onto the non-slip foot pedals,” they state in reference to their 3.5-out-of-5 ergonomics rating. “You don’t want to be scrambling to find your balance all for the sake of a quick workout.”

Lastly, the SF-E902S is one of the more budget-friendly ellipticals we’ve tested at roughly $170. However, we do point out that the listed weight capacity is just 220 pounds. The brand also offers a minimal 1-year warranty for the frame along with 180-day support for other parts and components. You get what you pay for with this unit, but if you’re tight on space, it could be a worthwhile investment.

Why We Like It

Despite their small statures, compact ellipticals can still provide plenty of bark and noise when it comes to a low-impact workout. Rather than using your best Bluetooth earbuds to drown out the noise (or irritating your housemates) each time you hop on for a session, we recommend this Flex Elliptical Trainer from FitNation. The magnetic flywheel keeps every movement to a meager hum, regardless of which resistance you train across the eight available settings.

While we’ve yet to personally test this space-saving cardio machine, we do appreciate the simple display console that can keep tabs on your basic metrics in real-time. You can easily view your time, speed, distance, and calories burned as you glide through a given workout. We notice, though, that access to the battery power source is a little finicky — and others agree. “The battery box is a little hard to open, but other than that, it’s a good machine,” says one customer review. As such, we score the available tech at 3.5 out of 5.

The Flex Elliptical Trainer is also a good pick for athletes tight on space thanks to its 5.14-square-foot footprint, which we rate at 4.5 out of 5. There’s also a built-in handle at the rear and wheels in the front for added portability and convenience when moving this elliptical around your space.

To achieve such a space-saving footprint, however, FitNation did need to limit this machine’s stride length to just 18 inches. This does make it one of the best ellipticals for short people but may be too confined of a gait for athletes over 6 feet tall. Additionally, the Flex Elliptical Trainer can only support individuals up to 260 pounds, which is less inclusive than other profiles out there.

Why We Like It

Thanks to their smaller profiles, compact ellipticals can often be cheaper than their larger siblings. While others may feature lower prices, in our opinion, the Sunny Health and Fitness Cardio Climber Stepping Elliptical Machine can provide the best value in the category because of its small footprint, hybrid design, and included display — factors not typically found in cheaper ellipticals.

Having previously used this elliptical myself (well, the mid-grade SF-E3911 model that forgoes the performance monitor), I can attest to the value at play. I rate the SF-E3919 model at 4 out of 5 thanks to its 260-pound weight capacity, easy-to-turn resistance knob capable of adjusting through the eight available levels of intensity, and front transport wheels that make getting the 94.8-pound frame into position far less of a chore.

Additionally, I appreciate the climber-elliptical hybrid design that keeps the orientation in more of a vertical stance resembling some of the best stair climbers. This can be excellent for athletes looking to maximize their training space while still keeping the low-impact nature of the in-workout movements. However, there are a handful of plastic components, so I’d rate the SF-E3919’s durability at 3.5 out of 5.

This compact elliptical also boasts a simple yet detailed monitor capable of tracking your scan, time, RPM, speed, distance, calories burned, and pulse. Other features include a calendar and clock readout, along with room temperature.

I do wish, though, that this Sunny Health and Fitness elliptical featured a heavier flywheel. While the eight available resistance levels offer a good sense of intensity for training, the 13-pound mechanism is lighter than the typical 16- to 20-pound components often seen in these machines. This can lead to louder operations and more vibration during high-intensity sessions.

Finally, we recommend larger athletes pay close attention to the listed weight capacity of this machine. The Sunny Health and Fitness Cardio Climber Stepping Elliptical Machine can only support athletes up to 260 pounds, which may be too low of a range for some. Other profiles like the NordicTrack FS10i and Sole E25 can be better suited for larger athletes.

Read our full Sunny Health and Fitness Cardio Climber Review.

Why We Like It

Having a compact elliptical machine with multiple settings can be great for facilitating challenging workouts to push your progress forward. In addition to the 26 available resistance levels, the NordicTrack X16 Elliptical features incline and decline settings that rival even the best incline treadmills. This “3-in-1 trainer” can adjust to declines as low as -10% as well as inclines up to 10%, giving you plenty of options when toggling your setup for high-intensity, low-impact training.

Admittedly, we haven’t tested this particular NordicTrack elliptical yet, but we have trained atop similar designs from the brand. We rate the adjustability at 5 out of 5 because these available settings are widely uncommon when speaking to ellipticals, let alone silhouettes fitting within the “compact” subcategory.

In addition to the incline range and resistance levels, the X16 Elliptical is compatible with iFIT’s workout library of over 17,000 on-demand courses. “I also like that iFIT brings AutoAdjust technology to the machine, meaning the elliptical automatically adjusts your resistance and incline to your onscreen instructor,” adds our tester, a certified personal trainer, who’s previously examined the iFIT service. Accordingly, we rate the available programming at 5 out of 5.

We also appreciate the durable design of this NordicTrack elliptical, scoring the X16 at 4.5 out of 5 for the category. The solid framing can accommodate user weights up to 375 pounds, which can be appealing to larger athletes. However, portability is compromised in order to craft this brawn. At a listed 287 pounds, it’s one of the heavier machines we’ve seen in the category.

The X16 Elliptical, like the FS10i, is marketed as a 3-in-1 trainer combining the movement patterns of an elliptical, treadmill, and vertical climber in one. Our tester, though, who has trained with similar offerings from NordicTrack, recommends keeping your motions to elliptical glides or stair steps. “It can be difficult to get a true running stride since you don’t leave the foot pedals during push-offs,” they add.