Best Ellipticals in 2024, Tested and Picked by Experts

Beginner athletes don’t always need the latest and greatest machines to curate a worthwhile training setup. Oftentimes, a cheaper unit can be just as effective (and much less intimidating) when it comes to getting your feet wet in fitness. For athletes on the brink of their fitness journey, we recommend the EX-59 from Horizon Fitness. Rather than overload you with a plethora of workouts and settings, this machine keeps things simple with an intuitive display, five preset workouts, and an affordable yet high-quality design.

Our tester, a certified personal trainer, rated the EX-59’s value at 4 out of 5. “I think this is a really good elliptical for what the device offers,” they stated. “The programs are a little basic for more experienced individuals, but I still feel they have some merit, especially for those just getting started in home gym training.”

What the EX-59 lacks in tech features and dynamic programming, it makes up for with built-in conveniences. We rated the elliptical at 4 out of 5 for the category thanks to its integrated Bluetooth speakers, tablet holder, water bottle holder, and USB port for charging your device mid-workout.

Additionally, our tester appreciated the multiple handles strewn across the layout. This Horizon elliptical features both moving and fixed handlebars, so you can rest your hands at different angles during sessions. Also, the fixed grips near the center of the machine also have pulse sensors for monitoring your heart rate mid-workout, although we recommend pairing a best heart rate monitor via Bluetooth connectivity for more accurate readouts. “I’m never a fan of built-in pulse sensors,” adds our tester, “But I do appreciate the inclusion. It’s something, at least, right?” 

This Horizon elliptical is also plenty portable thanks to its 145-pound frame weight and wheeled base. This can be great for athletes needing to move their equipment around their space often to make the most of their floor plan. For these reasons, we rated the EX-59 at 4 out of 5 for portability.

Lastly, this machine does offer a warranty for certain components, including lifetime coverage for the frame itself. However, there is no support for the flywheel. For coverage of this vital component, we suggest looking at the Sole E25 which offers lifetime support for the frame and flywheel along with 2-year coverage for part and wear items, 1-year for labor, and 90 days for cosmetic items.

Read our full Horizon EX-59 Elliptical Review.

If you’re looking for a low-impact machine that’s easy on your knees, ellipticals are a solid bet. The Sole E25 is our favorite elliptical for folks with knee pain thanks to the machine’s low-impact design, approachable price tag, as well as its ability to deliver high-quality workouts regardless of your fitness level.

This impressive machine also earns its moniker of “Best Elliptical for Home Gyms” thanks to its quiet operation. Our tester said the Whisper-Quiet Drive System purred seamlessly through the 20 available resistance levels and 0% to 20% incline range, noting, “I could easily focus on training modules or my TV program without the elliptical drowning out the audio.” This quiet operation can be especially beneficial for athletes wanting to work out without disturbing other home dwellers, like a napping child or a roommate on a business call.

Additionally, the value at hand with the E25 is top notch. We rated this Sole offering a 5 out of 5 for the approachable $1,199.99 price tag, as well as the robust warranty package. Sole supports this machine with lifetime coverage for the frame and flywheel — two components prone to wear and tear — as well as 2-year coverage for parts and wear items, 1-year coverage for labor, and 90-day support for cosmetic items.

We also liked this elliptical for home workouts because of the integrated tablet holder. This allowed us to keep tabs on our favorite fitness apps or streaming services mid-workout — an action that would otherwise be nonexistent across the more basic 7.5-inch LCD display. Still, though, we rated the E25 at 4.3 out of 5 for its tech capabilities thanks to its seamless toggling through the available ranges.

While this Sole E25 can be great for a variety of home gyms, we still recommend breaking out the tape measure before ordering a unit for yourself. You’ll need 11.67 square feet to house this machine, and there aren’t any foldable features for more convenient storage. While this footprint is below the average 12- to 13-square foot spatial requirements of other ellipticals, it can still leave a noteworthy impact on your floor plan if you don’t plan ahead. Smaller alternatives include the Sunny Health and Fitness Cardio Climber Stepping Elliptical Machine as well as the Bowflex Max Trainer M6.

Speaking of planning, our tester also recommends clearing your schedule before setting up this machine. They rated the setup process at 3 out of 5 due to the rather confusing instructions, as well as the mix of small and large components alike. “If possible, it’s best to have a helping set of hands to get this project built,” says our tester. “Each step has multiple components to it, which can be frustrating if you’re taking on the project solo.”

Read our full Sole E25 Elliptical Review.

Looking to refresh your strides with some engaging, interactive visuals? The ProForm Pro HIIT H14 can give you crisp, clear visuals through the machine’s iFIT-compatible 14-inch smart HD touchscreen. Additionally, this home gym machine isn’t your traditional “elliptical” — the stair stepper/elliptical hybrid moves you both vertically and horizontally for a new take on getting your body in motion. Of course, you can still count on reaping an elliptical’s benefits on your health.

In trials, our tester, a CrossFit Level 1 instructor, found these ergonomics to be unique yet impressive, rating the Pro HIIT H14 at 4 out of 5 for the category. “The 5-inch horizontal stride definitely feels shorter than the 20-inch standard I’ve experienced with other ellipticals, but the 10-inch vertical climb makes up for it with a comfortable, stepper-like sensation,” they noted. “I also liked that the foot pedals were oversized and well-cushioned, and the multiple handlebars had a nice sense of padding, too.”

Like other ProForm products, the Pro HIIT H14 is compatible with iFIT, which — after signing up for a $39 monthly iFIT membership — grants you access to over 17,000 live and on-demand workout programs. We loved this integration, scoring the machine at 4 out of 5 for its tech capabilities. “The iFIT platform is one of my favorites for engaging, trainer-led workouts, so I’m happy this ProForm profile is compatible with the service,” adds our tester.

Another cool function brought to the Pro HIIT H14 hybrid trainer through iFIT is the scenic “live” workouts powered by Google Maps. From the comforts of your own home, you can essentially explore the world and step through some of the globe’s most beautiful landscapes. We also feel this is where the 14-inch touchscreen flexes most — the picture quality is top-notch.

That said, the iFIT-enabled screen does not support other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. If you desire this form of mid-workout entertainment, you’ll need to set this machine up near a screen (there also isn’t an on-unit tablet holder). Thankfully, the vertical orientation does shrink the Pro HIIT H14’s footprint to 10.47 square feet, so you won’t be sacrificing your full floor plan for such a layout. If you want on-unit streaming capabilities, we recommend looking at JRNY-powered profiles from Bowflex such as the Max Trainer M9 or Max Total 16.

As far as assembly and setup goes, we rated this ProForm profile at 2 out of 5. Our tester noted that getting this machine built and unboxed was a true pain. “You definitely need an extra set of hands, as well as a clear schedule. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of the $199 professional assembly package,” they added.

Read our full ProForm Pro HIIT H14 Elliptical Review.

We get it — exercise equipment isn’t always the most wallet-friendly topic of discussion. While most ellipticals will run you around $1,200, there are some units that fall below that market yet can still fill your space with worthwhile, low-impact training potential. The Sunny Health and Fitness Cardio Climber Stepping Elliptical Machine is one such machine (and one of our favorites amongst the best budget home gym equipment), coming in at nearly $500 — less than half — the average cost.

This sleek, compact machine can be ideal for athletes paying close attention to their finances, but the available workouts are also great for a slew of training-focused individuals, too. There are eight levels of magnetic resistance to choose from, and the stepper-like plane of motion can also be an efficient way to improve knee strength, according to studies. (6) I’ve previously used this machine and feel that you’re plenty capable of generating some sweat-inducing workouts with the available resistance range.

I also appreciate how Sunny Health & Fitness kept this machine’s footprint to a minimum through the vertical orientation, rating it 4.5 out of 5 for the category. This unit takes up just 7.64 square feet of space — a sliver of the average 12- to 13-square-foot profile of other ellipticals — and the 95-pound wheeled frame is easy to move in and out of position before and after training. “I’ve stored this machine in a corner of my living room with no real issues,” notes our one expert tester.

Additionally, customers liked how simple this machine was to set up. “It arrived quickly and was very easy to put together. I did it by myself in one afternoon,” adds one positive customer review. For these reasons, we rated the setup at 4 out of 5.

That said, however, you will need to make some sacrifices in some key areas like durability to achieve such a minimalist, lightweight design. The Cardio Climber Stepping Elliptical can only support athletes up to 260 pounds, which falls shy of the average 300-pound weight capacity. We rated the durability at 3.5 out of 5, and suggest different profiles such as the Sole E25 or NordicTrack AirGlide 14i for larger athletes.

Also, the 3-year, 180-day manufacturer warranty is less than the average coverage we’ve seen, which usually warranties the unit’s frame for 10 years, at least. At less than $500, though — and with the machine being available on Amazon (typically at an even more discounted price) — we’re betting you’d be more inclined to replace this unit more so than a more expensive elliptical.

Read our full Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Climber Review.

Want the benefits of an elliptical trainer but don’t have 12 or 13 square feet of space to spare for a traditional machine? Consider the Max Trainer M6 from Bowflex. Rather than parceling its profile out horizontally, this unit takes a vertical approach to its design, resulting in a compact 8.32-square-foot footprint that can be easier to fit within your given floor plan.

We rated the M6 at 4.5 out of 5 for its footprint due to its lightweight, portable makeup. The entire unit weighs 136 pounds, and the front wheels make maneuvering a breeze. There are also adjustable floor stabilizers at the feet, which can be ideal when moving this unit from hard floors to softer surfaces like carpet without sacrificing your sturdy setup. Having previously owned a Max Trainer M6, though, I will note that the wheels are more efficient over hardwood or packed carpet. Thicker shag can turn your pre-training setup process into a sort of sled push.

As far as mid-workout ergonomics are concerned, the M6 is one of our favorites thanks to its elliptical-stepper hybrid profile. According to our tester, a certified personal trainer, “I like how the vertical motion works your legs and posterior chain muscle groups. This makes the entire experience feel like a nice cardio workout with a good mix of muscle-building strength training.”

There are also moving handlebars, which can be great for creating a full-body experience within your sessions. Overall, we rated the M6 at 4.5 out of 5 for ergonomics.

While we admired the workout experience with this machine, the tech is underwhelming. The on-unit display is basic, resembling a speedometer and LCD screen you’d find in your car. Bowflex does offer Max Trainer profiles with integrated screens, such as the Max Total 16 and Max Trainer M9.

However, there is an integrated media shelf across the M6 that can be ideal for a DIY streaming setup. Plus, our tester said that the “speedometer” actually revs up as you push through workouts, which can be a fun way to stay motivated in training. “It didn’t take me long to get into a competitive spirit as I watched the display climb and rev,” they added.

[RELATED: 7 Tips For Working Out At Home When You Have No Motivation]

We also had some experience with the JRNY online workout platform, Bowflex’s paired digital training service and the M6’s intended companion app. While we found the workouts to be enjoyable (streamed through our own devices, of course), our tester did state that signing up for the service was a bit of a hassle. After putting in their credit card, there was a slight delay in account activation, so don’t expect to sign up and immediately hop into a workout.

Still, though, we think this M6 can be just as effective without the membership, especially if you’re trying to make the most of a less spacious home gym layout.

Read our full Bowflex Max Trainer M6 Review.

Crunched for time and space? An under-desk elliptical can be ideal for keeping your body in-motion, even while you answer emails or attend Zoom meetings. For our money, the Cubii Move is one of the best in the category thanks to its extremely portable design, intuitive tracking capabilities, and quiet demeanor.

Admittedly, we haven’t had much experience with the Move, but our tester, a CrossFit Level-1 instructor, has logged plenty of mid-day workouts with the Cubii JR — a discontinued unit from the brand that has since been replaced by the Move. The workout experiences are virtually the same, so we’re basing our Move findings on those past JR notes.

As far as setup and footprint, there isn’t much to speak of with this under-desk elliptical … and that’s a good thing. We loved the 17.6-pound frame that could be easily set under our home office desk for a quick session during the day. “There’s also no setup with this under-desk elliptical, meaning you can quickly place it at your feet and get some revolutions in without an excessive assembly process,” our tester notes. Overall, we rated the Move at 5 out of 5 for setup.

Naturally, you won’t get the full-body experience or more involved training regimens with this under-desk elliptical — it’s more comparable to some of the best under-desk treadmills in that it’s designed to act more as a filler than a standalone training vessel. Still, our tester noted, “I liked the six levels of manual resistance, and the LCD monitor is a nice way to keep tabs on your calories burned and mileage.” However, there’s no way to view the stats outside of creaking your neck to look under your desk. Other under-desk ellipticals like the DeskCycle2 feature a detachable display for easier viewing.

There’s also a companion Cubii app that grants you access to over 300 expert-guided workout classes. While this can be great for giving your mid-meeting strides a sense of direction, we feel like it could be complicated to stay focused on a workout while also tending to emails and other work duties.

We also rated the value of this under-desk elliptical at 3.75 out of 5. The Move is definitely a fun way to stay active throughout the day, but some may not want to spend nearly $200 on a machine that’s more of a novelty than a home gym staple. Plus, the one-year warranty is shorter than the 10-year average we’ve found in other ellipticals, but what can you expect from such a small device?

Read our full Cubii Move Review.