The Best Home Gym Machines in 2024: Tested for Versatility, Durability, and Performance

Our top choice for this list had to be the Bells of Steel All-in-One Home Gym since it combines two of the most versatile pieces of equipment into one: a squat rack and a functional trainer. This combination unit allows you to lift heavy whether you pick a plate-loaded trainer or one with a 210-pound weight stack, can be customized with your favorite rack attachments, comes with a multi-grip pull-up bar, and has a compact footprint that should fit in most workout spaces.

The company uses aluminum pulleys, which provide for buttery smooth movements whether you’re doing triceps pushdowns or cable flyes (other BOS products have earned between a 4 and 5 out of 5 for cable smoothness). You get a 2:1 pull ratio on the side pulleys (meaning 10 pounds really feels like 5) and a 1:1 ratio on the center pulley.

As mentioned, you have the choice between a traditional weight stack (similar to the type you’d see in a commercial gym) or a plate-loaded trainer. The cables have a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds, so you could load these up with weight plates if you have a few extra laying around.

Or, you can put those plates on a barbell held up on the trainer’s uprights, which are 2.3-inch-by-2.3-inch with 5/8-inch holes. You can also use other attachments traditionally put on power racks, such as seal row pads, dip bars, and more. Not sure which attachments will fix this rack? Check out our full power rack attachment guide to find out.

While it will still take up a good amount of room, the Bells of Steel All-in-One is more compact than similar machines. Taller people may have difficulties getting a full range of motion on pull-ups due to the 80-inch height, but those who can reap its full benefits will love the multi-grip pull-up bar. Plus, it’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

The final price for this home gym will depend on the customizations you add to it, since BOS offers other attachments for this unit, but it’s going to cost less than similar models offered by companies like Rogue Fitness or Sorinex.

One more important note: This unit must be bolted to the ground for stability.

We’re big fans of the REP Fitness Power Racks, and while the PR-1100 is definitely one of the brand’s most basic setups, that’s kind of the beauty of it. It’s priced below $400, but it’s still a great piece of home gym equipment.

Coop Mitchell, founder of Garage Gym Reviews, has used and tested nearly all of REP’s power racks. “The PR-1100 will be more than enough for most people,” he says. “It’s not the same level of quality or durability as their higher-end racks, but it’s much cheaper and is a tremendous starter rack. I also like that they add colors.”

You can easily (and fairly affordably) add the accessories you need without paying for things you won’t use. REP offers add-ons and power rack attachments such as weight storage, a lat/low row attachment, dip bar, and landmine. However, this is a standard rack, so there are a host of other accessories from other companies that would likely fit in just fine.

Want more customization? You get four color options on this rack, many of which can also be found on REP Fitness’ adjustable and flat benches, so you can make your home gym look the way you want it to. 

The PR-1100 has a weight rating of 700 pounds, which is more than enough for most of us mere mortals. It’s also fairly compact, with a footprint that’s roughly 4-feet-by-4-feet. 

While most reviewers say the PR 1100 is easy to assemble, there were a few who pointed out that the wrench that REP sends isn’t great, and using their own tools simplified the setup process. GGR Operations Manager Sam “AsSAMbly” Presley, who put this rack together, cautions that you should wait until the entire power rack is assembled before tightening down the bolts. “This allows the rack to settle to the floor first and help prevent it from excessively wobbling back and forth,” he says.

Check out our full REP PR-1100 Power Rack review.

The Tonal is a technology-driven home gym that we believe is just the start of an electronic boom in gym equipment. It’s a wall-mounted screen with cable arms attached. As you exercise, a personal trainer puts you through a guided workout where you can see how the exercises should be performed. Tonal uses AI to assess your form and adjust the weights as you go.

Several members of our team have used Tonal for hundreds of combined workouts, and we gave the programming a near-perfect 4.75 out of 5. “I really liked Free Lift (the custom workouts), because I could pick whatever I wanted to work on,” says Coop Mitchell, founder of Garage Gym Reviews. “I’ve done a few of the live classes. I think it’s still new and they are still figuring some things out, so I still prefer the regular programming.”

RELATED: Best Smart Home Gym Equipment

One unique feature is that the machine provides auto-powered weight suggestions, which can take the guesswork out of strength and resistance training. You’ll initially take the full-body strength assessment to help the Tonal set the correct weight for you on each exercise, though you have the option to turn the feature off and manually input your own data.

At just over 4 feet height-wise and as a wall-mounted workout machine, the Tonal itself doesn’t take up a lot of room and could potentially be great for small spaces. However, you need more than 7 feet around your machine in order to use the cables. There are specific requirements regarding installing the Tonal, so the company sends professionals to deliver and install the equipment.

A few callouts we have: First, keep in mind the Tonal has a maximum total resistance of 200 pounds. If you want to lift very heavy, this may not be the machine for you. Also, the provided bench isn’t high quality. 

The price tag is just under $4,000, and you could probably get it on sale during Black Friday or Labor Day holidays, but you can also check out our Tonal coupon page for more savings. There is a $49 per month app membership, the first year of which is folded into the purchase price. 

Read our full Tonal Smart Home Gym review.

The Titan Fitness Functional Trainer looks and feels similar to the cable machines we’ve seen in countless commercial and hotel gyms. Does that mean it’s good for home gym use as well? We think so, and here are a few reasons why. 

GGR’s founder Coop Mitchell used this cable machine for full-body exercises for back, chest, and legs. He rated it a perfect 4 out of 5 for its smooth operation. “I personally think it’s a great value for those looking to add a compact and high-quality functional trainer to their home gym,” he says in our Titan Fitness Functional Trainer review.

While it feels durable and looks to be mostly made of steel, Titan doesn’t specify what gauge they use in their construction and there’s only a 1-year warranty on all the parts. Coop has had his for many years and hasn’t noticed anything too worrisome, and many of the customer reviews we’ve read through say the same.

On the bright side, the functional trainer uses aluminum pulleys that allow for smoother movements and are more durable compared to plastic pulleys.

It’s also incredibly versatile, with 20 different height adjustments and dual 200-pound weight stack that allow you to perform dozens of different exercises for a full-body workout. The weight stacks have a 2:1 ratio, meaning the max weight of 200 pounds actually only produces 100 pounds of force but that should be enough for the movements you’d be doing with this machine. 

In addition to the two ergonomic D-handles, you’ll also get a short bar, long bar, ankle strap, dual stirrup handles, rope handles, and single and double D-handles. 

“While there’s more affordable options out there, I think paying the extra money is worth it for a more high-quality machine,” Coop says.

Strong things come in small packages, and if you don’t believe us you’ve probably never tried out the X3 Bar before. The entire system weighs less than 20 pounds, and the ground plate used to generate force is only 10 inches long and 19 inches wide (the bar is 21.5 inches long). 

So it can be taken just about anywhere, and Garage Gym Reviews founder Coop has done so on road trips. But how good is it? Coop, who used the X3 for multiple workouts, said: “Small kit. Big impact. Get some.” And you’ll certainly be able to get some gains with the 300 pounds of force capable with the X3 Bar (600 pounds if you purchase the Elite Band). 

Dr. John Jaquish invented the bar by combining the benefits of the best resistance bands with a barbell, which causes your body to recruit more muscle groups than a band or bar alone, which leads to more effective muscle growth. 

Some may balk at the $550 price tag, and we understand that, but if you have the budget for it, we think it’s well worth it. You can also join the X3 Bar Customers Only Group on Facebook for tips and tricks. 

“The bar has some great knurling, better than some full-sized barbells,” Coop says. We also noticed in our testing that the bands are dipped in layered latex to prevent any breakage, earning this home gym a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 on our ratings metrics.

The home gym system also comes with a 12-week workout program that shows you how to make the most of the X3 Bar, along with expert nutrition advice.  

The X3 is advertised as having the same benefits as a squat rack (so you can do benches, back squats, and more with it), but you can also perform moves that you’d typically do on any cable machine with it as well. We did find it difficult to replicate a pull-up movement, though commenters on our YouTube review said with some carabiners and creativity, it can be done.

Get our full thoughts by reading our X3 Bar review.

The Bells of Steel Cable Tower with Weight Stack can truthfully be used by people of all fitness levels, but we find it best for beginners because of its versatility and ideal weight range for people trying to get into a fitness routine. 

You can perform all types of the best cable machine workouts, thanks to 33 height adjustments and two included handles. There are also a large number of attachments available, such as y-dip bar, belt squat, and close grip attachment.

The 210-pound weight stack works on a 2:1 pulley ratio, so it’s really only 105 pounds of force, which should accommodate beginners. The plate stack also adjusts in 10-pound increments.

GGR founder Coop, who extensively tested the BoS Cable Tower, called it “a home gym owner’s dream product.” Why? It has a high value proposition, is extremely versatile, and highly customizeable. Also, as Coop did, you can actually combine the plate-loaded version and the weight-stack version of this machine as you advance, giving you a full functional trainer with a 1:1 pulley ratio.

You can choose from two height options. Coop said he thinks the height of the short tower is slightly low, but it would work great for basements with low ceilings.

“The uprights are designed as 2-inch-by-2-inch with a specific hole size that does not work with many other companies who use a thinner gauge steel and a 1-inch hole,” Coop points out. In other words, you’ll need to purchase the attachments from Bells of Steel, not elsewhere.

Also, note that it is recommended that the tower be bolted down for stability.

For more, check out our Bells of Steel Cable Tower review.

The Torque Fitness F9 Fold-Away Strength Trainer is for people looking to purchase only one piece of equipment that they can use for chest, back, and leg day. On top of the fact that each pulley gives you 94 inches of cable travel and there are 17 adjustment positions per upright, the pulleys can swivel which give you more room to do moves like bent-over cable rows or ab crunches.

To be clear, this is not the home gym for people who are looking to lift heavy weights. There are three weight stack options—150 pounds, 200 pounds, and 225 pounds—with a 2:1 ratio, meaning 50 pounds really feels like 25. That’s still enough weight for most home gym owners, but if you’re looking to PR in one of the three big lifts (bench, deadlift, and squat) you might want to look elsewhere on this list.

That said, the multiple adjustment positions and multi-grip pull-up bar are nothing to sneeze at. You’ll get a squat harness, straight bar, a pair of snap hooks, a pair of short strap handles, and a universal strap that can be attached to the weight stacks. The strap can be used for assisted chin-ups and dips, which are usually separate machines in a commercial gym. The accessories themselves are good quality, so we’ll give them a 4.5 out of 5 in that category.

Torque utilizes nylon pulleys instead of aluminum, so the cables aren’t as smooth but we still gave them a 4.5 out of 5 after trying them out.

The standout feature of this trainer, as GGR founder Cooper Mitchell explains in his Torque F9 Functional Trainer review, is the fold-away feature. Two doors close to hide the machine and optional stowable bench from children and pets, making it one of the safer home gyms. They come with a wood grain look, so it gives your home gym space a more distinguished look.

The Speediance Gym Monster will make it feel like you have an entire commercial gym in your home while only taking up less space than a Queen-sized mattress. It packs so much versatility in a compact footprint by utilizing digital weight capable of generating up to 110 pounds of resistance per side, similar to Tonal but at a much more affordable cost.

“This is a high-tech piece of equipment that’s offered at a lower cost,” says Cooper Mitchell, GGR founder. “I think that’s great.”

If 110 pounds per arm doesn’t sound like a lot to you, then you’ve probably never lifted with digital weights before. Spoiler alert: It’s different, and often more difficult than your traditional free weights. Because this is a more budget-friendly home gym compared to Tonal and other smart home gym equipment, the cables don’t feel as smooth. “They hitch and the resistance can be uneven when using the barbell attachments,” Coop says in his Speediance review. He rates the workout experience a 3.5 out of 5 for this reason.

When it comes to versatility, we rate it a 5 out of 5 because it can be used for just about any type of exercise you want. The base package comes with a workout bench and a few attachments (such as an adjustable barbell, triceps rope, and D-handles) but you can also add a rowing bench. On top of that, the Speediance app—which you can stream on the included monitor—offers bodyweight, HIIT, and yoga classes.

You can also change up how the resistance feels in your hand. For example, you can change it from barbell mode to chain mode. “You can feel a real difference between the two modes,” says Sam Presley, GGR’s operations manager and an expert product tester.

For a machine that’ll train your delts a bit more than your hamstrings, we like the BowFlex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym. The Xtreme 2 SE touts over 70 exercises in the space of one machine and has 210 pounds of resistance (which can be upgraded to 410 pounds of resistance). The 210-pound resistance may not be quite enough for some lifters’ leg workouts, but it’ll cover enough resistance for most people’s upper body exercise routines.

Our product tester notices that certain aspects of movements are limited—which is common in all-in-one trainers. “Many movements had a little bit of a limiting factor, either because you’d have to adjust your seat position, or the range of motion was cut a bit short.” Still, with the amount of exercises available, it earns a 4 out of 5 in versatility.

To adjust resistance, you simply change the cables to another pipe, which is easy, but can also be time-consuming. Our product tester says, “I wouldn’t recommend doing supersets with this machine, or circuit training, just because you’ll have to take a moment to change cables and pipes, depending on the exercises.”

Starting at $1,500, this is a pretty pricey machine, and the construction isn’t the most durable, earning a 3 out of 5. However, very few machines offer this level of versatility at this price point, earning it a 4 out of 5 for value.

If you’re wanting a compact solution to get plenty of lower body workouts in—including your lower back and posterior chain—you can’t go wrong with the Freak Athlete Hyper Pro. This machine boasts more than 20 exercises and converts into nine different machines, with a definite emphasis on leg work:

• Nordic bench
• Reverse hyper
• Back extension
• GHD machine
• Hamstring curl
• Decline sit-up
• Hip thrust
• Leg extension
• Upper body trainer

Coop Mitchell, GGR founder and fitness equipment guru, says, “If you’re starting a home gym, this is fantastic value. With everything that this can do, I’m a huge fan.” He rates the value a 4.5 out of 5, and says it’s a huge step up from the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD.

The functionality of each machine varies. Coop likes the Nordic bench most; it has the unique ability to not only incline the Nordic board, but also decline the board for those who need a greater challenge (although Nordic curls are plenty difficult enough). The back extension and GHD machines are decent as well; “they’re not as good as a standalone GHD, but it works quite well still,” adds Coop.

The upper body trainer uses straps (not included) that allows for some functional trainer-like movements, like curls and seated rows. It won’t compare to the amount of upper body exercises on a functional trainer, but it’s a nice addition if this is the only piece you have in your gym. “It’s definitely lower-body focused,” Coop adds. Still, it earns a 5 out of 5 for its versatility.

The construction isn’t the best, mostly that the powder coating and padding is OK at best, getting a 3.5 out of 5. Coop notes, though, that the machine is made to be more budget-priced, so at $1,600 for nine machines in one space, it’s a good value.

The PRx Profile ONE Squat Rack with Kipping Bar is a foldable squat rack that has all the essentials an aspiring CrossFitter needs—a pull-up bar on which you can perform kipping movements, a 1,000-pound weight capacity, and a compact profile.

A foldable squat rack is great for CrossFitters who may need more room in their home gyms for workouts. Coop Mitchell, GGR’s founder, has used the Profile Rack and says it’s extremely easy. “Very simply, you pull it down if you want to use it, and when you’re done, you put it back up,” he says. “The reason you purchase a rack like this is because this is the best portable, stowaway rack on the market.”

CrossFit athletes don’t use squat racks quite as often as other strength athletes, but the squat has universal applications for just about every fitness medium. Plus, the kipping bar can be used for all types of bodyweight movements, from muscle-ups to toes-to-bar.

RELATED: PRx Performance Profile Squat Rack and Bench Review

“There’s really no like forward and back shake when you do CrossFit movements on this rack,” Coop says. “There’s only a little bit of side-to-side sway.”

And it costs under $1,000, so you’ll have plenty of money for other purchases. We can’t forget the folding feature, which only takes up 4 inches of wall space. That’s a win regardless of how you train.

PRx includes plastic feet to avoid any scratches on your home gym flooring and comes with J-cups for easy barbell storage. And you don’t have to take our work for it: This rack has more than 280 5-star customer reviews.

Attention bodybuilders: Eccentric training just got a whole lot better…and more compact. The Voltra I from Beyond Power is a portable cable trainer that attaches to a squat rack and allows for customizable eccentric and concentric loads. This means you can perform your favorite exercises with the exact resistance you want and need. 

For example, you can use the 4-inch LCD touchscreen to program a Romanian deadlift to 100 pounds of resistance on the concentric (upward motion) and 175 pounds on the eccentric (downward motion). The small screen also enables you to track your reps, velocity, and power of each exercise. This feature is truly unique and something that can’t be replicated with resistance bands. 

“This is the smallest unit on the market that provides this much resistance,” says Coop. “It’s also so fun to use and work into a modular garage gym system.”

The basic package of the Voltra will set you back about $2,000. It comes with one cable, sliding rack mount, and D-handle. With such an expensive price tag, you may like knowing that one Voltra cable delivers up to 200 pounds, there are no subscription fees, weight 13 pounds, and it’s smaller than a shoe box. 

While the Voltra is highly customizable, keep in mind it’s intended to be used on a squat rack. You’ll get the best use from the Voltra if you have something to anchor it to. The sliding mount clamps to the uprights of a squat rack and moves up and down, much like a trolley on a functional trainer. 

Read more in our in-depth Beyond Power Voltra review.