Speediance Review (2025): The New Tonal?

Just like phones, computers, and cars, gym equipment keeps getting smarter. First we had fitness apps and Bluetooth headphones, and those now-basic advents paved the way for high-tech treadmills with TV screens and even AI-based workout programming. 

One newer piece of smart home gym equipment is the Speediance home gym, officially called the Speediance Gym Monster, released first on Kickstarter by a company backed by two venture capital firms in 2021. It started shipping to U.S. customers in mid-2022.

In our Speediance review, we’ll take a look at how it stacks up to competitors like the Tonal and Vitruvian Trainer+.

Smart Home Gym Fever

The concept of smart home gym equipment burst onto the fitness scene about as fast as Usain Bolt’s 200-meter sprint world record. Or, it certainly felt that way—particularly when I had a collection of five fitness mirrors installed in my 1,300-square-foot home back in 2021. GGR founder Coop and I have tried our hands (and legs and arms and abs) at the majority of smart home gym items on the market, with one of the latest being the Speediance Home Gym. 

Our entire team of certified personal trainers, coaches, and competitive athletes all bring our expertise to the table when testing out fitness equipment. For the Speediance Home Gym, we tested and rated the smart home gym a score of 1 to 5 on several factors, including:

• Construction and durability
• Footprint and portability
• Smart features
• Versatility
• Overall value

Speediance Smart Gym

SPEEDIANCE Gym Monster Home Gym

GGR Score: 3.2

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Product Highlights

• All-in-one smart home gym 
• Digital resistance 
• Space saving design 
• Full body training

Pros & Cons

Pros

• All-in-one piece of fitness equipment
• No subscription fee to access workouts (!)
• Can support strength training, cardio, and HIIT
• Weight increments of 1 kg (2.2 lbs)
• Frame folds to save space when not in use
• Guided instruction is good for beginners
• Can target all muscle groups with it
• Foldable space-saving design
• Ready to use out of the box
• Versatile design can be: rower, ski machine, and squat rack

Cons

• Limited user reviews
• Maximum weight of 220 lbs (still enough for most people though)
• Resistance mechanism glitches/catches during use
• Limited workout library compared to other options
• Reviews report trouble contacting customer service
• Accessories are extra and crucial to the versatility of the machine

Bottom Line

The Speediance Gym Monster Home Gym is an expensive option for a smart and compact functional trainer.

A Quick Look at the Speediance All-In-One Home Gym

Coop’s first impression is that, “It’s a more budget-friendly Tonal. The hardware isn’t quite up to the level of Tonal, and the classes aren’t as engaging, but it’s less expensive.” However, since Coop tested the machine, Speediance has updated their software, offering more than 370 workout classes amd more than 60 workout programs.

“And that’s not automatically a bad thing,” he continues. “This is a piece of high-tech equipment coming to consumers at a lower cost. And I think that’s great.”

Let’s delve a bit deeper. 

The Speediance certainly looks a lot like the Tonal—it looks similar to a cable machine you’d see in a commercial gym, with a platform and a frame with two pulleys. Depending on the exact setup you purchase, it may also have a weight bench, a rowing slide rail, a small barbell, tricep rope, ankle straps, ski erg handles, hooks (like j-cups on a squat rack), and smart handles. (Different handles and grips have been shown¹ to help stimulate different muscles in the forearms.)

Like a functional trainer, the Speediance is intended to be an all-in-one solution for a home gym and have full-body workout capabilities.

RELATED: Best Cable Machines for Home Gyms

Before You Buy

• Tech products can have bugs and glitches in the first few iterations. That said, Speediance has updated their software pretty significantly, minimizing these unwanted errors.
• For a super well-rounded workout routine, I also recommend having some free weights for your use (if you have the space and budget). Smart home gyms like this are great, but I recommend including compound exercises with free weights in your routine, too.

Speediance Video Review

Is the Speediance Home Gym Worth It?

The Speediance is pricey, no arguing about that. As of February 2025, it costs $2399 for a basic set, including basic accessories. Speediance does offer payment by installments, though, if you can’t afford to pay in full.

The Tonal 2 is about $4,295, which is a pretty stark price difference for two tech home gyms. Plus, with the software consistently updating over time, you shouldn’t experience many technical difficulties.

This is to say, we think the price will remain around this range, which makes it less expensive than competitors. Yay!

Speediance Specs

Workout Experience: Using Speediance

Overall, the Speediance Home Gym is easy to use, Coop says. “After a strength assessment, it recommends the weights for you based upon the reps, similarly to Tonal. It’s designed for a novice, so beginners shouldn’t have any issues getting it set up and in working order.”

Generally, the resistance is smooth, although “The pulleys do hitch and I find the resistance somewhat uneven when using a bar,” Coop lamented when he first tested the machine. We’ve since spoken to Speediance, and they confirmed that they’ve improved their products to avoid these issues.

The resistance goes up to 100 kilograms or 220 pounds total, so 110 pounds per arm. Given that digital resistance is well-known to feel much heavier than “analog” resistance, this should more than suffice for the average home gym owner.

Sam, our GGR Facility Manager who put the unit together, had this to say: “I will tell you that the unit and the components themselves seem very white-label,” meaning the parts feel basic in construction and don’t have any particular sort of branded feel. (An example of something that does have that feel is the equipment that comes with Tempo Studio.)

That said, we reviewed this version three years ago—both the hardware and software have significantly improved.

“The programming seems pretty decent,” Sam continues. “For instance, you can definitely feel a difference between having it in barbell mode versus chains. It definitely feels like a chain simulation when lifting with it.”

RELATED: Best Online Workout Programs

Coop said he has faith in the company’s investment in programming and hopes to see a more robust library soon.

Here’s a look at the workout library screen.

Footprint and Portability

One of the main selling points of the Speediance Gym Monster is its footprint. Compared to Tonal and Tempo Studio, the Speediance unit is actually pretty minimalist. 

In photos of the Speediance next to other smart home gyms, it looks to be about the same height as the NordicTrack Vault and similar items. The exact specifications are: 4.1 feet long by 2.3 feet wide by 6 feet high.

One thing to note is that Speediance has a floor platform, so it’ll take up more floor space than Tonal or Tempo, but not as much floor space as a cardio machine. Luckily, for those who are short on space, the footrests are foldable, so you won’t have to sacrifice much real estate.

While I wouldn’t call a machine like this inherently portable, Speediance is much more portable than most of its competitors. Because it doesn’t require any sort of installation that requires drilling holes into your walls, you could theoretically move this wherever you want, whenever you want. But you would have to partially disassemble it if you’re moving it alone, and to move it through door frames and narrow hallways. 

Durability and Construction

As Sam, GGR Facility Manager, mentioned earlier, the Speediance parts feel quite “white-label,” and Coop noted that overall, the machine doesn’t feel as durable as Tonal. Initially, we weren’t sure if it was a lifetime product or something customers would need to upgrade after a few years. However, now that we’ve owned the machine for several years, we think Speediance will hold up fine.

The Ergonomics

Using the Speediance felt a lot like using a regular cable machine, said both Coop and Sam. At least, this is true for exercises you’d normally do with a cable machine, such as chest flys and triceps push-downs. 

For squats, deadlifts, and other compound movements, the Speediance can feel a bit awkward and take some getting used to, but this is also true of a typical cable machine or functional trainer. 

The Speediance is compatible with a number of different attachments and accessories, so everyone can find something that suits their needs and/or preferences. 

Tech Specs

The tech features are what most people are interested in when looking at a home gym option like Speediance, so let’s dig into that. 

Similar to Tonal and Tempo Studio, the Speediance provides some feedback, but it’s not as detailed as what you’ll see on those other two machines. For example, on Tempo Studio, you can actually see a 3D rendering of your body performing the movements, along with cues to help you improve your form. 

On Speediance, you’ll see a musculoskeletal figure on which the muscle fibers light up to match the exercise you’re doing. 

There’s no real form of real-time personal training at this point, though. There are no cameras nor 3D sensors on the Speediance like there are on Tonal, Tempo, and Lululemon MIRROR. Even though the Speediance website says the machine can monitor your form and provide technique feedback, our testers could not replicate that function IRL. 

I asked Speediance about this and here’s what they said: 

The feedback is the “Showing and recording [of] the real-time resistance of each side, as well as the total weight and calories burnt, etc. In this way, customers could see directly from the screen about how the workout is being done in real-time and notice if there’s any issue (e.g. if the both side is doing the same work, same resistance, no. of reps, etc.).” 

The representative went on to say, “In the current version, ‘feedback’ might be a more accurate word than ‘correction.’ While we’re developing our form correction by using sensors in the handles, motors, etc., we appreciate the heads up and will consider altering the expression!”

You can follow along with the workouts on the machine’s 21.5-inch 1080px touchscreen display, which rotates 90 degrees in either direction and tilts up and down. 

Some of the attachments are Bluetooth-enabled smart accessories, as in they can count your reps for you and automatically send that information to the trainer and the app. 

Speaking of the app, it also houses the 220+ online courses you’ll get with your purchase—no subscription needed. This is one point I want to hammer home: There are currently no other products like Speediance that operate without a subscription. So if a monthly fee bothers the heck of of you, Speediance may be your saving grace!

Speediance Home Gym Vs.

We have tested more than 50 smart home gyms, cable machines, and functional trainers. Here's a look at how Speediance stacks up against other home gyms we love, like Tonal and the MAXPRO.

• For a wall-mounted workout mirror: Tonal Smart Home Gym
• For subscription-based training: Tempo Studio
• For a smaller and more portable option: MAXPRO
• For more resistance: Vitruvian
• For use with free weights: Tempo Move

	Speediance Home Gym	Tonal Smart Home Gym	Tempo Studio	MAXPRO	Vitruvian	Tempo Move
Rating ⓘ Our expert product testers, who include certified personal trainers and coaches, use a multi-point testing methodology to determine average ratings out of 5 stars.
Machine Type	Freestanding smart home gym	Wall-mounted workout mirror	Freestanding workout mirror	Portable cable machine	Floor-based cable machine	Freestanding unit that uses your smart phone and TV
Footprint	4.1’ L x 2.3’ W x 6’ H	21.50″ W x 50.9″ H x 5.25” D	2.2’ W x 1.4’ D x 6’ H	10″ L x 16″ H x 4″ W	44” L x 20” W x 5” H	22” H x 13.5” W x 13.5” D
Max Resistance	110 lbs per side	100 lbs per arm	Use your own weights	Up to 300 lbs	Up to 440 lbs	Use your own weights
Subscription Needed?	--	✓	✓	--	--	✓
Accessories	Smart handles, barbell, triceps rope, ski handles, bench, rowing bench, ankle straps, J hooks	Not included: Bar, handles, rope, bench, workout mat	Includes weight plates, loadable dumbbell handles, a barbell, foam roller, workout mat, and barbell collars	Not included with basic bundle: Foldable bench, wall mount, jump trainer belt, suspension handles	Bench, long bar, triceps rope, single handles, workout mat, short bar, weight belt	Includes cabinet, 50 lbs of weight plates, loadable dumbbell handles. Additional accessories extra
Warranty	2 years machine, 1 year parts and accessories	1 year	3-year frame, 1-year display, 1-year installation	2 years	2 years	Core and Cabinet: 1 year; Dumbbells, Collars, Weight Plates: 3 years
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
		Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review

Speediance vs Vitruvian Trainer+

Vitruvian Trainer+

Vitruvian Form Trainer+

GGR Score: 4.05

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Product Highlights

• Adaptive weight system that produces weight from 0 to 440 pounds
• Advertised as working similarly to a rack without having to change plates or store any of the weight
• The technology will do it all for you
• However, different from a squat rack, you are able to do over 200 different exercises that target all parts of your body
• All Access Membership costs $39 per month.
• Without the Trainer All Access Membership, you are still able to work exercises and create your own workouts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Full functionality of the machine is available without a subscription (i.e. access to all workout modes)
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 1-year all-access app membership for in-depth data tracking included with purchase (at the time of publish)
• Free shipping
• Provides up to 440 pounds of resistance
• Small and compact
• Relatively easy to move and store
• Workouts led by certified instructors
• Adaptive weight changes as you work out 
• Community challenges and leaderboard
• Tracks several workout metrics 
• Can easily view progress
• Safe and controlled way to exercise
• Provides exercise technique tutorials
• 1 membership allows unlimited profiles
• Lifetime membership available
• Financing available via Affirm 
• Can create your own workouts or follow classes

Cons

• Expensive, as all smart gyms are, with prices starting around $2,900
• Subscription required for in-depth data tracking after trial period ($39/month)
• Accessory kits sold separately
• No hour-long workout classes yet (sessions go up to 43 minutes)
• Can be overwhelming to create your own workouts in the app at first, according to our product tester 
• Buyers are responsible for return shipping if sending the item back

Bottom Line

The Vitruvian Trainer+ is a smart home gym with a fantastic value proposition. For most people, it can replace an entire traditional home gym set up while taking up minimal space and providing and opportunity for in-depth data tracking and coaching.

Coop is a big fan of the Vitruvian Trainer+, in part due to the compact and portable size, but large in part due to the smooth resistance mechanism and high max resistance of 440 pounds. 

Compared to the Speediance, the Vitruvian Trainer+ has much more weight-training capability in a much smaller package. 

What you lose out on with the Vitruvian is versatility. Though you can certainly do many activities with the Vitruvian Trainer+, it doesn’t support all of the accessories and attachments that the Speediance has. 

Read our full Vitruvian Trainer+ review.

Speediance vs Tonal

Tonal Smart Gym

Tonal Smart Home Gym

GGR Score: 4.6

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Product Highlights

• AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you
• Up to 200 pounds in digital resistance
• All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space
• Access to on-demand and live classes
• 30-day trial period

Pros & Cons

Pros

• AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you
• Lift up to 200 pounds in digital resistance (much different from free weights)
• All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space
• AI assesses your form and gives real-time cuing
• Access to on-demand and live classes
• 30-day trial period

Cons

• High initial price tag
• Accessories cost extra and are pretty crucial to your workouts
• 12-month initial subscription required (and an additional cost)
• 200 pounds in resistance might not be enough for heavy lifters

Bottom Line

A complete smart home gym that offers versatility in a compact piece of equipment, but at a high price.

Compared to Tonal, the original Speediance accessories are generally of lower quality, Coop says. Since Coop’s trial, though, the company has fully upgraded their accessories, giving you improved quality.

However, the “free mode capabilities are fantastic,” he says. “It judges your range of motion very quickly and I can go from exercise to exercise with no problem—without having to reset anything.”

The programming is underwhelming compared to Tonal’s large library and excellent production value, Coop continues, but to be fair, he says: “Tonal has been around longer and has spent much more time and money on this part of the equation. Tonal’s AI is also superior, but again, Speediance is a value play.”

Read our full Tonal review.

Customer Experience 

When we first tried to reach customer service for Speediance three years ago, our team didn’t have a great experience. Since then, Speediance has solved this issue with an after-sale group that works 24 hours, seven days a week.

If you don’t love your machine, you can contact Speediance within seven days of receiving the product for a return and refund. The brand does have refund conditions outlined on their website but they’re pretty standard—you can return the product if you have manufacturing defects or if you have the original packaging.

However, do keep in mind that you will have to pay for shipping if you’re returning the product for reasons unrelated to quality issues. Bottom line: Read the fine print before you make a decision!

Ordering and Assembling the Speediance Gym

Here’s some good news: The Speediance arrives almost completely assembled, says Sam Presley, GGR Facility Manager. 

“All you have to do is pull it out of the box,” he says. “The only assembly required is on the bench, which is only for the screws; and the rower, which is also a fairly quick and easy build with only a couple different components.”

It only took about 30 minutes total to get the Speediance in working condition, he says. 

Customer Reviews

Originally, Speediance gym reviews were few and far between. Now, though, you can find plenty of reviews from influencers and users all across the internet. Initially, folks weren’t too satisfied with the quality and software of the product but seemingly, Speediance has heard these complaints and made a ton of changes.

Smart home gyms are also a matter of preference. Some customers don’t love that you need to rely on electricity and software but that’s the entire point of a tech-forward gym machine. As you look through customer reviews, try to focus on users who have similar preferences and goals as you to help you make the best choice for your fitness needs.

Final Verdict of Our Speediance Review

After our initial trial, the Speediance hardware seemed promising but the software needed some work. Though we have not tried the most recent machine, we do think that the software and hardware updates seem promising. Smart home gyms are definitely a matter of preference but if you’re an athlete who loves guided workouts and exercising at home, it may be worth a try.

Full Rating

Speediance Gym Monster

Like a functional trainer, the Speediance Gym Monster is intended to be an all-in-one solution for a home gym and offer full-body workout capabilities. It does so in a much more compact package while relying heavily on technology for functionality.

Product Brand: Speediance

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 2399

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
3.2

Speediance FAQs

References

1. Rendos, N. K., Heredia Vargas, H. M., Alipio, T. C., Regis, R. C., Romero, M. A., & Signorile, J. F. (2016). Differences in Muscle Activity During Cable Resistance Training Are Influenced by Variations in Handle Types. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 30(7), 2001–2009. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001293

Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC

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