As technology continues to advance, so do home gyms. While you can still opt to build out your own iron paradise with individual pieces of equipment of your liking, the best home gyms work to streamline the process with all-in-one set-ups that feature all the weights, storage, and accessories you’ll need for a full-body workout. The latest evolution is the introduction of smart home gyms, which pair these big boys with screens, integrated apps, AI-assisted features, and loads of on-demand and live classes.
Smart home gyms vary widely in form, but each tends to feature virtual workout programs (from strength classes to running, HIIT, biking, rowing, yoga, and more) in addition to weights, a cable machine, a weight bench, or a cardio machine. If you’re looking for some at-home coaching, a gym for a small space, or just the latest in fitness technology, one of these products could be your solution. Here are what we think are the best smart home gyms on the market today.
The 7 Best Smart Home Gyms of 2024
- Best Smart Home Gym Overall: Speediance Home Gym
- Best Smart Home Gym for Small Spaces: Tonal
- Best Smart Home Gym with Free Weights: Tempo Studio
- Best Smart Home Mirror Gym: Echelon Reflect
- Best Smart Home Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial X22i
- Best Smart Home Bike: NordicTrack Commercial S22i
- Best Smart Home Rower: Hydrow Rower
Best Smart Home Gym Overall: Speediance
This smart gym features a pair of cables, and a foldable platform to perform your workouts. The small footprint makes it an ideal solution for those who are tight on space, but still want to get a solid workout in.
Speediance is a smart home gym with a deep library of workout classes you can stream via the HD touchscreen. Multiple packages are available, some with more accessories than others, but Speediance utilizes electromagnetic weight resistance in the form of two cable pulleys that offer a max resistance of 220 pounds. These cables allow for a variety of exercises, from pulldowns and flys to presses and squats. Beginners and elite athletes alike will appreciate this machine’s versatility, which scored a 4.5 out of 5 during testing.
Designed to sit flush with a wall, this functional trainer includes a platform that can be folded up when not in use. “The platform folds up and has a set of wheels, which can cut down even more on that footprint and make it really easy for you to move around your personal space,” says BarBend tester and certified nutrition coach Jake Herod, scoring the machine’s portability a 5 out of 5.
Herod also likes the machine’s smart features. After getting a sense of your fitness level with an introductory strength assessment, Speediance will automatically select the amount of weight you’ll be lifting during any given exercise, though you can also make adjustments yourself using the smart controls on the included handles. Overall, we score its smart features at a 4 out of 5, since the machine lacks a camera and sensors that can provide real-time form feedback — one of our favorite features of Tonal, one of Speediance’s competitors.
Speediance may take some getting used to in some areas. Herod says the cables felt “really smooth” during flys and tricep pushdowns, but a bit awkward during bench presses and squats. “It can feel a little unstable at times,” he says. “That’s just something you have to deal with.”
Herod also points out that while Speediance’s max resistance of 220 pounds should be plenty for most athletes, it may not be enough for advanced lifters and strength enthusiasts. (That said, it’s still 20 pounds more than Tonal.) Also, it can literally be a pain to switch out attachments — he experienced a few pinched fingers during his testing period.
Read our full Speediance Home Gym Review.
Best Smart Home Gym for Small Spaces: Tonal
The Tonal is an interactive home gym that delivers up to 200 lbs of total electromagnetic resistance with the use of two maneuverable pulleys. What's most impressive is that it adapts as you progresses, which means you'll always be pushing closer to your fitness goals.
Looking for strength, cardio, yoga, bootcamps, HIIT, and other workouts all in a single smart home gym machine? Well, Tonal may be what you’ve been searching for. This compact smart gym utilizes electromagnetic resistance — 200 pounds total — via a pair of pulleys that can be fitted with handles, a bar, a rope, and other accessories. A wall-mounted unit, Tonal requires just 7 square feet of space for use, making it ideal for those in apartments or cramped home gyms.
BarBend Reviews Writer Rosie Borchert has been using her Tonal roughly three or four times a week for the last three years, primarily for deadlifts, hip thrusts, Bulgarian split squats, and pallof presses. She scores her overall workout experience and the machine’s functionality a 5 out of 5, specifically calling out its adaptive features.
“It tracks your training, automatically upping your weight based on when the AI thinks your body is ready to go heavier,” she explains. “I love this. Plus, the app makes it easy for me to look back and see my progress.” She also likes the machine’s form feedback feature. Using its built-in camera and sensors, it can identify when you’re struggling and offer suggestions on how to improve your form. She scored its smart features a 4.5 out of 5.
She adds that navigating the app via the touchscreen can be “annoying” sometimes, and that the $60 monthly subscription for the Tonal app is hefty, especially when compared to Peloton’s $44 monthly cost for its app. Also, she says, “the foam roller isn’t very comfortable when I use it for hip thrusts.” Comfort gets a 4 out of 5.
It’s worth noting that Tonal must be mounted to a wall with studs either 16 or 24 inches apart. It also cannot be mounted to cinderblock. That may make it incompatible with garage gyms, so be sure to make sure you’ve got a place for it in your own home before adding it to your cart.
Read our full Tonal Review.
Best Smart Home Gym with Free Weights: Tempo Strength
Tempo Studio offers a complete home gym — weight plates, a barbell and dumbbell, and more — plus hundreds of classes led by AI trainers. These trainers can even offer trainees form feedback virtually.
If you’re searching for a smart home gym that emphasizes free weight training, Tempo Studio has you covered — this machine comes with free weights and utilizes AI technology to provide real-time feedback to correct your form. It even comes in a cabinet that has built-in pegs and mounts for weight plates and bars.
“The screen and cabinet look really sharp, and can be a good fit in a garage gym or inside the house,” says our tester, who scores both the overall construction and durability a 4.5 out of 5. “The plates and barbell are top-notch, too, and the metal frame enclosure has a powder coat that should help prevent corrosion.”
Since not everyone can afford to visit a personal trainer at a gym, Tempo Studio helps make personal training more accessible. Throughout Tempo Studio’s real-time workouts, the trainee’s results and form feedback are available to the trainer who leads the workout. Since proper form and movement are imperative for the best dumbbell exercises, this is a beneficial concept you don’t find with many home gym set-ups.
Our tester dinged their workout experience a bit — a 3.5 out of 5 — due to some lagging they experienced on the 42-inch touchscreen. That said, they preferred the on-demand and live classes to those featured on the Tonal home smart gym. “I was surprised by the quality of the production value,” they say.
The price may make your eyes bug out, though. The basic package starts at $2,495, which is less than both Tonal and Speediance, but by virtue of its free-weight design it’s inherently less versatile than those machines. Also, you’ll want to factor in the additional monthly subscription cost of the Tempo app.
Read our full Tempo Studio Home Gym Review.
Best Smart Home Mirror Gym: Echelon Reflect Fitness Mirror
The Echelon Reflect is a sleek, eye-fetching 50-inch mirror embedded with a 32-inch HD touchscreen capable of streaming cardio, strength, mobility, and HIIT classes. It's designed to be mounted to walls, but a stand is available for an additional cost.
The neat thing about a fitness mirror is that after using it take a trainer-led class, you can admire your sweaty, growing muscles afterward. The Echelon Reflect is among the best pieces of this type of fitness equipment we’ve tested, with a 32-inch HD touchscreen display embedded in a 50-inch mirror that can be mounted to the wall of a home gym or bedroom without taking up any floor space.
Our tester, a certified personal trainer, loves the sleek, eye-fetching look of the mirror and the quality of its construction, shouting out the strength of the wall brackets and a surface designed to be resistant to fingerprints. They score both its construction and durability a 4 out of 5.
They also found it easy to navigate the Echelon Fit app via the touchscreen, choosing from a litany of classes that encompass cardio, strength, HIIT workouts, Zumba, Pilates, yoga, barre, and more. “I’m someone who primarily trains with weights and CrossFit exercises, but I really enjoyed the majority of Reflect workouts,” they say. The community aspects are also a highlight, as you can share your workout results with pals, view their workouts, and find motivation in the leaderboard of certain classes. Just note, however, that the Echelon Fit app has an additional monthly subscription fee.
Where our tester struggled was with the audio and visual quality, which was occasionally a bit “fuzzy” with an audio imbalance between the music and instructor. “I found the A/V to be not as sharp as I’ve seen on other fitness mirrors,” says our tester. “Also, the lack of ‘smart’ features like the kind of real-time form feedback you can get with the Tonal, was a disappointment.” They score the smart features a 3 out of 5.
Best Smart Home Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial X22i
The NordicTrack Commercial X22i is built for those who want to climb. The machine inclines up to 40% and declines down to -6%. It features a Sled Push option where you can power the belt with your own leg drive, and it has a 22-inch touchscreen display where you can follow your workout and take iFit classes.
Though you may not think of a treadmill as a “smart home gym” right off the bat, hear us out. The NordicTrack X22i, one of the best NordicTrack treadmills we’ve tested, comes with a 22-inch touchscreen display integrated with iFIT, which includes thousands of cardio, strength, and mobility classes. It stands out among other treadmills due to its 40% incline, double that of most treadmills, as well as its -6% decline and sled push option. You can work a lot more than just your endurance on this machine, and our tester, a certified personal trainer, scores their overall workout experience a 4.5 out of 5.
“Walking on the X22i at a steep incline is extremely low-impact, but it’s a solid burn,” they say, noting they used it as a finisher to their CrossFit workouts. “It felt like a stair-stepper, but without the steps.”
They also score its durability a 5 out of 5. “Even at the highest incline, there’s no shifting or shaking when in use,” they say. That durability, however, is due in part to its massive footprint and 417-pound weight. As such, its footprint and portability scores a 3 out of 5.
If you have a couple sets of dumbbells and a mat, the iFIT classes on this machine can turn it into a fully functional smart home gym — especially if you take a bootcamp class that alternates between the floor and the treadmill to incorporate both strength and cardio. If you’re a runner and already have a few weights or bands on hand, this pick can act as both a treadmill and a virtual gym space. That said, this purchase doesn’t come with weights, so you’ll need to supply those on your own.
Read our full NordicTrack X22i Review.
Best Smart Home Bike: NordicTrack Commercial S22i
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i is high-tech and high quality, featuring both advancements like a 22” touchscreen display, and solid specs like 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance.
If you like combining your cardio and strength training, you may be looking for more than just a set of free weights and a mirror with a coach. The NordicTrack Commercial S22i, one of the best exercise bikes we’ve tested, can help bring the studio cycling experience into your home — it’s compatible with the top-notch iFIT app, which provides not only spin classes, but also strength, yoga, pilates, running, and more. This bike’s magnetic resistance also offers one of the smoothest rides out there.
“I really enjoy having both virtual rides and studio classes at my disposal, as it makes the entire training experience more engaging,” says our tester, who scores the dynamic programming at 5 out of 5. “You can essentially escape to some of the world’s most beautiful locations and pedal through the scenery without leaving your abode.” It should be noted, though, that iFIT requires an additional monthly subscription, and we think it’s necessary to unlock this bike’s full potential.
Our tester scores the bike’s durability a 4 out of 5. “There’s no wobbliness across the profile when taking on high-intensity workouts, and I also appreciate the higher 350-pound weight capacity,” they say. “I’ve typically seen exercise bikes with listed ratings of 250 or 300 pounds, so this NordicTrack profile is above average in my book.”
Moving it around can be a bit of a pain, says our tester, noting the lack of a back transport handle. Portability gets a 3.5 out of 5. Also, assembly is tough without a few helping hands. “Some of the components, like the 22-inch display, are heavy and cumbersome,” they note. “Having a helper can make the entire process go much smoother, especially when trying to run the wiring from the base of the bike up to the console.”
Still, adding this bike to your home gym can serve as a centerpiece of your strength and cardio training — all you need are a couple sets of dumbbells and a mat.
Read our full NordicTrack Commercial S22i Review.
Best Smart Home Rower: Hydrow Rower
The Hydrow Pro Rower is a high-tech rower with a library full of live and on-demand workouts, a smooth drive and electromagnetic resistance. It’s a quiet machine and provides a great full-body workout for both beginning and advanced rowers.
Rowers have hopped into the smart gym market too, and the Hydrow Pro Rower is one of the best rowing machines we’ve tested — plus, it will add a sleek look to your gym space. The Hydrow has a 22” pivoting touchscreen display, so you can take your workouts both on and off the rower. A monthly membership fee of roughly $38 will provide you with access to the rower’s full library of coached virtual classes.
As with any cardio machine that has a virtual class aspect, so long as you have some weights, a mat, and/or other accessories on hand, your machine can function as a full smart home gym for both cardio and strength training. This machine, in particular, is a solid addition for rowers or anyone who favors a rowing machine (or “erg”) for their cardio work.
Our tester, a certified personal trainer, also likes that the rower can be stored vertically, scoring its footprint a 4 out of 5. “You can store this one vertically to reduce the footprint, so it doesn’t take up much space,” they say. “The wheels on the front legs make it easy to move around, too.”
Durability got a 5 out of 5 from our tester, with our testing shouting out its impressive 375-pound max user weight. Its electromagnetic resistance also results in a row that’s quieter than what you’ll find on air or water rowing machines. “I can definitely tell that this rower is made with durable, high-quality materials,” our tester says. “It’s smooth, quiet, and durable.”
Hydrow’s streaming service takes you around some of the world’s most beautiful waterways with professional rowing coaches as you follow along on your erg. If you’re looking for interactive technology, cardio and strength classes, and a sleek rowing machine to supplement your training, you can’t go wrong with the Hydrow.
Read our full Hydrow Rower Review.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Smart Home Gyms
Our team of certified personal trainers, professional weightlifters, and fitness freaks has tested more than 10 of the industry’s top smart home gyms, scoring each on a scale of 1 (boo) to 5 (yay) in areas such as versatility, smart features, accessories, and more. Below, read more about how we made our picks, and for more about how we test products check out the BarBend equipment testing methodology.
Versatility
It was important to us to pick out equipment that provides a variety of workout options, so each of the products we selected offer options for both cardio and strength training. Whether they include weights or cardio equipment varies, but rest assured that no matter the product you choose on this list, you’ll have a variety of virtual workouts from which to choose.
Technology and Training
All of our picks here have a form of virtual training, as well as different variations of personal feedback, games, classes, workouts, inclines, resistance, adjustments, and more. Some picks on this list feature online personal trainers that can adjust your form virtually, while others offer trainer-led classes that are similar to those you may find at fitness studios.
Size
Since smart home gyms come in a variety of sizes, and people build home gyms in a variety of spaces, we wanted to ensure there was an equal size variety on this list. No matter the space you’re working with, we have an option for you here.
Accessories
All of the products we considered either come with accessories or have them built into the machine — you won’t find a product on here that’s just a screen without the actual “gym” aspect. For example, Tonal has pulleys that offer resistance training, while the NordicTrack S22i is, in addition to being one of the best exercise bikes we’ve tested, a cardio machine that doubles as a smart gym. If you’re investing in a “gym,” it’s important to us that you’re getting a full gym for your money.
Benefits of Smart Home Gyms
Versatile by design, smart home gyms can help streamline your fitness routine for accessible home workouts. Read on for some of the biggest smart home gym benefits.
- All-in-One Training: If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sight of a fully-stocked gym — weights, racks, and machines galore — and unsure of where to begin, smart home gym equipment may be more approachable. While not every smart home gym will cover every base, they’re designed and programmed to cater to a variety of different fitness goals, from strength and cardio to HIIT, yoga, Pilates, and mobility exercises.
- Innovative Technology: Some athletes are lone wolves, but others benefit from having a helping hand in the form of a virtual trainer or workout program. In addition to libraries of live and on-demand classes, many smart home trainers utilize cameras, sensors, and AI features to help refine your form and adjust the weight to best suit your fitness level.
- Save Space: It shouldn’t require multiple machines, stacks of plates, and a wall of the best dumbbells to work your different muscle groups. Many smart home gyms cater to those in small spaces with trim, streamlined profiles that feature clever built-in storage and mounting options.
What to Consider Before Buying a Smart Home Gym
Since there are so many ways you can use a smart home gym and so many different varieties of this product, it’s important to consider how you plan to use it for your training before deciding which one to buy. For a more in-depth look at what we think are the most important considerations, peep our tips below.
Space
“Home gyms” may conjure a specific image in your mind, explains certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto. “You may immediately think of a garage outfitted with a squat rack, barbells, weight plates, dumbbells, and benches. What we’re talking about here, though, is home gym machines, AKA all-in-one systems you can either use as a gym in your home or take with you on the road. This type of home gym machine ranges in size and functionality from full-fledged functional trainers with Smith machines to simple suspension systems, like the TRX system. I love this category of equipment because it exemplifies the sheer breadth of options available to those who want to prioritize their fitness.” And when those machines are “smart,” they’re kitted out with tech to help bring your workouts to the max. And, they don’t actually take up nearly as much space as all that other equipment.
Home gyms can take up a small corner of your bedroom or an entire garage. It’s important to consider how much space you have to dedicate to working out before picking out your smart home gym — if you only have six feet of space, your purchase may look very different from someone’s who has a full room to fill.
Products like Tonal (which doesn’t use additional weights) are made for small spaces, while the Nordictrack Commercial X22i or NordicTrack Vault will take up a bit more room. While none of these products take up a ton of room on their own, when combined with the floor space you need for your strength work and weights, they may end up taking over a bit more space. If you’re trying to squeeze a smart home gym into a corner, take the proper measurements prior to your search, so you know which products will fit.
Streaming Service
Most smart gyms come with their own fitness streaming service. If you already have a streaming service you prefer — such as Peloton or Studio SWEAT onDemand — it may be more beneficial to buy a smart product that is compatible with that streaming service. If you’re willing to try a new service, your options are more open.
Type of Workout
With such a variety of smart home gyms, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose caters to your most frequently preferred type of workout. If you strength train more than you do cardio, opt for the Tonal, Tempo, or Vault, all of which come with either weights or resistance pulleys. If you do more cardio, but still like to incorporate strength work, pick your smart bike, tread, or rower of choice.
Smart home gyms can be pricey. It’s not necessary to purchase multiple different kinds of smart home gyms for each workout you’re doing. Decide which workout you do the most and invest in that variety of a smart home gym. Then, build the rest of your home gym out around that product.
How Much Do Smart Home Gyms Cost?
Smart home gyms are generally understood to be more costly up-front than traditional home gym equipment with prices of over $2,000 a regular occurrence. Due to the eye-popping price tags of these pieces of technology, most smart home gym retailers have partnered with a credit firm to offer financing to qualified customers — making the purchase sting less with payments that are spread out over time. We’ve made a table to show you the starting price of the base model (if applicable) of each product on this list before any memberships, accessories, or upgrades.
| Best Smart Home Gym Overall | Speediance | Starting at $2,999 |
| Best Smart Home Gym for Small Spaces | Tonal | Starting at $3,995 |
| Best Smart Home Gym with Free Weights | Tempo Studio | Starting at $2,495 |
| Best Smart Home Gym Mirror | Echelon Reflect | $2,499.99 |
| Best Smart Home Treadmill | NordicTrack Commercial X22i | $3,499 |
| Best Smart Home Bike | NordicTrack Commercial S22i | $1,999 |
| Best Smart Home Rower | Hydrow Rower | $2,495 |
Smart Home Gyms FAQs
What is a smart home gym?
A smart home gym can come in many forms, but most smart home gyms at least include a large touchscreen with virtual coaching. Outside of that, these gyms could come with free weights, resistance equipment, cardio training, and/or other workout accessories. The idea is that a smart home gym includes (mostly) everything you need for a solid workout in one place with a virtual coach to guide you through it.
How much are smart home gyms?
Smart home gyms can be quite pricey up front. They typically range from $2,000 to $3,000, but they can include a variety of different equipment and class streaming options, which makes the high price tag a little more reasonable.
What is the best smart home gym?
This depends on the type of workouts you like to do, as well as your budget. That said, the best smart home gym for us is Tonal. It combines a solid amount of resistance with a wide range of classes for a comprehensive fitness experience.
