Tested and Proven: The Best Ellipticals for Home in 2025

Horizon Fitness does a great job of providing high-quality home gym equipment at a reasonable cost, which is why we routinely feature this brand in round-ups like our best budget treadmills. Once again, Horizon delivered a winner in the EX-59 — a well-designed, well-priced elliptical machine that earns the top spot on our list.

Lindsay Scheele, lead reviewer for GGR Everything, used the EX-59 and rated the EX-59 a 4 out of 5 for overall value because she says it’s at a good price for what it offers.

So, what does it offer?

Lindsay rated this machine a 4 or higher in several categories, including conveniences. The EX-59 comes with three water bottle holders, a large shelf to place your smart device, a USB charging port, built-in speakers, and an audio jack for headphones. She also gave this machine a 4 out of 5 for ergonomics, because you’ll find fixed and moving handlebars as well as large foot pedals.

When it comes to her actual workout, Lindsay gives the EX-59 a 3 out of 5. “It is a very basic machine with basic programming,” she says. It’s true: You won’t find interactive workout programs streaming from a fancy touchscreen on this machine. Instead, there are four programs: calories, weight loss, distance, intervals.

It doesn’t have the fanciest bells and whistles, and this is noticeable in the display. This is a very basic console, but it gives you everything you need in terms of tracking your metrics, and at this price point, we still love this elliptical.

Lindsay says that this machine is easy to move around. It weighs 145 pounds, considerably less than higher-end ellipticals. “One person can easily move it,” she says.

Horizon claims it takes 30 minutes or less to assemble the EX-59. For more, read our in-depth Horizon EX-59 elliptical review.

With an affordable price tag of roughly $1,200, along with helpful conveniences and worthwhile preset programming, the Sole E25 was a worthy contender for the title of the best home elliptical available today. While it took second place to the Horizon EX-59, the E25 is an impressive machine in its own right.

Kate Meier, CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, and Senior Director of Content, states, “I like the preset programming that offers up a plethora of low-impact workouts, and the added conveniences of a tablet holder, cooling fans, and Bluetooth speakers give you plenty of bang for your buck.”

The ergonomics of this exercise machine earn a 4.5 out of 5 from GGR founder, Coop Mitchell. “I appreciate that the footbeds are adjustable, since not everyone steps in the same fashion. While the handlebars are stationary, I didn’t feel any discomfort while using this elliptical.”

RELATED: Sole F65 Treadmill Review

Given the lower price point, you can’t expect a top-of-the-line touchscreen monitor with this E25 profile. That said, though, our testers were pleased with the amount of information shown across the LCD screen. “It’s a simple display that monitors metrics like time elapsed, calories burned, and pace,” says our tester, a certified personal trainer, “But the bare bones aesthetic actually appealed to me and fit with the low-impact nature of elliptical training.” As such, we score the functionality at 4.3 out of 5.

The one major caveat with this impressive elliptical machine is its assembly process, which we rate at 3 out of 5. Coop notes, “I would not recommend putting this E25 together on your own. The instructions can be complicated with each step calling for multiple protocols. If you have the dough for professional assembly, I’d suggest letting the experts build this machine for you.”

For more information on our top pick, be sure to read our Sole E25 elliptical review.

It can be difficult to find the best budget home gym equipment when you’re capped at spending $500. Thankfully, machines like this Magnetic Elliptical Machine from Sunny Health & Fitness offer impressive workout potential for all fitness levels without an inflated price tag. We score the value of this wallet-friendly elliptical at 4.5 out of 5 given its roughly $480 cost. Plus, you can find this machine on Amazon, opening the doors to fast, convenient shipping rates.

GGR founder Coop Mitchell also scores the available tech at 4 out of 5 thanks to the 24 preset workout programs. “While the basic LCD display isn’t the most spectacular, I do love that Sunny Health & Fitness offers these built-in programs to help change up your workout every now and again,” he states.

Coop also appreciates the smaller footprint of this elliptical. “The 55-inch length and 23-inch width don’t necessarily put it in a ‘compact’ category, but I do like the shorter 64.5-inch height,” he says in reference to the 4-out-of-5 footprint rating. “You should be able to house this machine in spaces with lower ceilings.”

There are also wheels along the front base of this Sunny Health & Fitness elliptical for improved portability. At a listed product weight of roughly 105 pounds, though, we don’t expect this profile to be a nuisance when rearranging your workout area.

As far as assembly goes, we rate this elliptical at 3.8 out of 5. “I suggest using your own tools in place of the included ones,” Coop notes. “Plus, expect to spend some time with the instruction manual—I found that many of the included diagrams could use an upgrade.”

For more information on this sub-$500 machine, be sure to check out our full Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Machine review.

Before you go any further, let me warn you: The Cubii Move isn’t your traditional elliptical. It’s more of a small pedaler you can keep under your desk, allowing you to move throughout the day.

We have used and reviewed the Cubii JR, which is no longer in production and has been replaced by a line that includes the Move, the Go, and the Total Body+. We chose the Move for the best under-desk elliptical because it’s the most affordable on the list, and it offers much of what the rest of the line does (though the Total Body+ has handles if you want a full-body workout, but most of us need our hands to type, which is why we don’t necessarily think that’s the best for under-desk movement). Given the features and price point, we give the Move a value rating of 4.5 out of 5.

RELATED: Cubii JR Review

In our experience with the Cubii JR, which is almost identical to the Move, is great for just about anyone. Our product tester, Caroline Lubinsky, says she likes to use it throughout her workday. “My grandfather routinely uses his Cubii while sitting in his easy chair and can use it without fear of falling,” she says.

It features eight levels of resistance, which you control by turning a knob. The display is very simple, tracking your workout time, stride count, mileage, and calories burned. “I also appreciate the quiet nature of its operation,” notes Ben Emminger, senior staff writer and certified nutrition coach. “You can get some training in while also answering to digital meetings.”

We rated the Cubii JR a 5 out of 5 for assembly (as there is basically none) and 5 out of 5 for portability because it weighs less than 20 pounds.

You can download the Cubii app to track your progress over time, though you have to manually enter your workout information because there is no Bluetooth connectivity on this machine. As such, we dock it a few points for tech conveniences, giving the Move 3.5 out of 5 stars in this category.

A 2021 study¹ reports that training at an incline can help target different muscle groups for a more comprehensive and effective elliptical workout experience. As such, finding an elliptical capable of these adjustments can be a great way to set your training up for success. Not only does the AirGlide 14i from NordicTrack offer incline capabilities up to 15%, but the high-end machine can also be toggled to a -5% decline for downhill training sensations, too.

GGR Reviews Everything lead reviewer Lindsay Scheele tested this NordicTrack profile and rates the adjustability at a perfect 5 out of 5. “In addition to the incline and decline settings, you also have the ability to adjust your stride length between 17.8 and 18.5 inches,” she states. The AirGlide 14i elliptical also comes with two sets of handlebars—one moving and one fixed.

Like the best NordicTrack exercise bikes and treadmills, the AirGlide 14i is also compatible with iFIT, giving athletes access to over 16,000 on-demand workout programs. “I also love the AutoAdjust features brought on via the programming,” Lindsay adds. “Rather than adjusting settings yourself, the machine automatically does it for you in accordance with your on-screen instructor.”

This NordicTrack elliptical features a solid steel construction and a hefty 32-pound flywheel. The robustness of the build quality earns it a 5 out of 5 for durability, according to Lindsay. “There’s no shaking or uneasiness, and the entire profile seems sturdy enough for high-intensity training.”

We do rate the value at 4 out of 5, though, since access to the iFIT platform will call for a monthly subscription charge of $39. With a machine cost of nearly $1,800, this extra subscription may put the AirGlide 14i out of reach for some.

For more information, be sure to check out our full NordicTrack AirGlide 14i review.

Given the low-impact nature of training on an elliptical, you’re likely to experience more in-workout comfort with these machines than, say, the best treadmills or other home gym equipment. However, that doesn’t mean the sensations can’t be improved upon. For the plushest elliptical experience, we recommend the Bowflex Max Trainer M6.

Senior Director of Content Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, tested this machine for a full year and scores the ergonomics at 4.5 out of 5 due to the oversized, well-cushioned foot pedals and padded handlebars. “Even my kids were comfy when using this machine,” she adds.

The M6 is the most budget-minded profile in the Max Trainer lineup costing roughly $1,300. However, unlike other silhouettes such as the Bowflex Max Total 16, this M6 doesn’t come equipped with an integrated touchscreen. You do have access to a media shelf, though, so you can still stream your workouts and entertainment apps through the compatible JRNY platform.

In terms of programming, Kate says the five available workouts are more than enough for a butt-kicking workout experience, but the JRNY app does offer trainer-led courses for those wanting a digital fitness experience. “I score the tech at 4 out of 5, though, since setting up the JRNY platform did take some doing. You’ll need at least an hour to confirm your account—a process best completed well before your first workout session,” she adds.

The Max Trainer M6 utilizes more of a vertical motion plane than other ellipticals we’ve reviewed, making it more of a climber-elliptical hybrid than a standard elliptical machine. This vertical orientation does help shrink its overall footprint, though, which we rate at 4.5 out of 5. If you’re looking for an apartment-friendly silhouette, this compact exercise equipment is worth browsing.

RELATED: Best Compact Exercise Equipment

Check out the full Bowflex M6 review, or watch our video review.

In need of a sub-$1,000 fitness machine yet don’t want to sacrifice quality? The NiceDay Elliptical Machine comes in at roughly $800 yet can supplement your training with helpful features in a compact silhouette.

Caroline Lubinsky, GGR contributor and CrossFit Level-1 instructor, enjoyed the smaller footprint of this profile, stating, “It’s not a huge machine, and the roughly 100-pound weight should be manageable enough for most athletes.” We score the footprint at 4.5 out of 5.

Durability-wise, this NiceDay offering features a solid steel frame—a rarity amongst other budget machines we’ve trialed in the past. That said, though, Caroline notes that there is some side-to-side wobbling once you begin to move atop the vessel. “I’m nowhere close to the 400-pound weight limit, but I did experience some shakiness during my workouts,” she adds. “I attribute this to the smaller flywheel that isn’t as smooth as larger components found on higher-priced ellipticals.”

The NiceDay Elliptical Machine features a stride length of 15.5 inches, which Senior Director of Content Kate Meier scores at 3.5 out of 5. “The brand states that this elliptical should accommodate athletes up to 6 feet, 2 inches, but I’d suspect the shorter stride length to be less comfortable for a majority of taller individuals,” she states.

With a sub-$1,000 price point, we also rate the available tech at 3 out of 5. You get a smaller LCD display capable of tracking metrics like mileage, speed, calories burned, and more. However, Caroline notes that the machine scrolls through these measurements at a faster speed than desired, meaning one glance away from the console could leave you ill-informed of your progress.

Check out the full NiceDay Elliptical Machine review for more information.

If you need an elliptical that can fit in tight quarters, the NordicTrack FS10i should be on your radar. This machine employs a center-drive system, meaning the resistance comes from the middle of the profile unlike front- or rear-drive ellipticals that have the flywheel in these respective areas.

While we appreciate the compact profile of this NordicTrack offering, we do rate the portability at 3.75 out of 5. “I wouldn’t recommend anyone move this machine on their own,” Senior Director of Content Kate Meier states in reference to the FS10i’s 284-pound frame.

Given the center-drive design, this elliptical is essentially a 3-in-1 silhouette. The stride pattern can mimic an elliptical, a treadmill, or a stair stepper, depending on your motion plane. “There’s a definite learning curve when it comes to matching your steps and strides to your intended movement,” states Caroline Lubinsky, our expert tester. “Eventually, though, I was able to get a handle on elliptical and stepper workouts. I’d hesitate to call this a treadmill, though, since your feet never truly leave the pedals.”

Like other NordicTrack silhouettes, the FS10i is compatible with iFIT for trainer-led workouts. Additionally, this service also brings AutoAdjust technology to the machine, which can be great when following along to a session without breaking focus to toggle your resistance. As such, we rate the tech capabilities at a perfect 5 out of 5.

Value-wise, though, we do have to note that iFIT access is an additional cost. We rate the value at 4 out of 5 given this extra fee that’s practically required to get the most out of your compact elliptical machine.

For more information, be sure to check out our full NordicTrack FS10i review.