10 Best Elliptical Machines for Home Use – Ultimate Buying Guide & Reviews

The Bowflex Max Trainer M3 is an entry-level, sturdy, compact full-body trainer that is reasonably priced and provides a satisfying workout for you with low impact on your joints. This elliptical is great for burning calories, bodybuilding and muscle toning. It has eight different resistance levels with twist-grip on the handlebars making it easier to move higher or lower the levels.

Because the Max Trainer M3 lacks an HD touchscreen display or any other flashy entertainment features, chances of being distracted from your workout by a video are low. The machine, rather, comes embedded with a combination of a dial-style calorie burn rate indicator, a series of simple controls for burn rate, a backlit LCD display, and an interval selection. 

Another great feature of the Bowflex M3 that is lacking in more expensive ellipticals is the wireless chest strap for heart rate monitoring that gives more accurate information when compared with contact grip monitors. 

The Nautilus E618 Elliptical is a top performance series elliptical equipped with wireless heart rate monitoring, a Bluetooth connection for easy data sharing, and 29 training programs. The 30-pound flywheel makes the machine operate smoothly without wobbling or shaking. The machine comes with 29 training programs that control resistance, incline, and training duration. You can save customized routines on the console and access them for future use.

This elliptical is capable of working out your upper body and lower body with the handlebars and power incline respectively. The product has two LCDs with adjustable angles to display the program and exercise data. There is a shelf to hold a tablet computer or smartphone while speakers are also integrated for an MP3 player.

The Sunny SF-E905 Elliptical Machine is a low-impact cardio workout device that is designed to fit into a smaller space, yet not compromising quality. This elliptical provides a smooth workout session for your upper and lower body with the use of revolutionary magnetic resistance. To monitor and maintain your target heart rate, the pulse monitoring sensor is embedded in the stationary handlebars. 

There are large anti-slip pedals on this elliptical to prevent you from falling. A built-in computer that provides critical workout data including elapsed time, speed, scan, distance, heart rate, and calories burned.  

Th SF-E905 does not have any workout programs to assist you with training and has a shorter stride length measuring 13 inches, which can be uncomfortable for people who prefer longer stride.

The Schwinn A40 Elliptical is a well-built machine whose operation is quiet and affordable. The machine comes with a quiet magnetic ECB (Eddy Current Brake) resistance system which makes it to be quiet during use.

There are 8 levels of resistance you can choose from and for most people, this should be sufficient. The machine has an average stride length of 17-inch and is equipped with moving handlebars which is great for working out the upper body. The perimeter weighted flywheel does not come into contact with the brake to prevent wear and tear.

The multi-function display screen gives you 8 basic workout readouts which include RPM, distance, time, pulse, resistance level, speed, calories, and course profile. It also comes loaded with 6 workout programs that include 1 manual and 6 profiles.

The console also features a holder for a water bottle, a reading rack, and a 2-speed workout fan. The machine can monitor your heart rate with the two built-in sensors on either side of the console, although, it lacks a wireless monitoring option.

The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-E3865 Stride Zone Elliptical come equipped with a large non-slip foot pedal that helps you keep your feet in place while you are using it. To workout your upper body effectively, the machine has curved non-slip, multi-grip, full potion handlebars. For your lower body workout, the 16 levels of motorized smooth belt drive resistance will do the job. 

The backlit LCD console helps you track your heart rate, speed, rpm, time, distance, calories, watt, level, and program. This elliptical has a water bottle holder to keep you hydrated during workout sessions. You can also easily place your mobile devices on the tablet holder for a convenient workout with your favorite videos.

The Best Fitness BFE2 Elliptical Trainer is an affordable machine that is solidly built for smooth workout sessions. It provides both upper and lower body workout options in a very compact space. It is also embedded with a 5-inch digital display that includes a readout of speed, RPM, time, calories, distance, pulse, watt, load, temperature, clock, and calendar.

It features 12 different preset program profiles that you can choose from to fit your fitness goals and levels. 

The embedded training modes, five in number, allow you access to several exercise options for customized and complete workouts. You need to grasp the entire area of the heart rate contact sensors on both sides of the handlebar to monitor your heart rate while exercising.

The built-in wheels make it easy for you to transport the elliptical trainer machine from room to room

The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine is a mid-range elliptical trainer equipped with a console with 24 workout programs that helps your stamina development, muscle toning, and weight loss., and a set of articulated pedals for better stability for your feet.

The machine comes with mobile and stationary handlebars that monitor your pulse when you hold them. 

There are 16 levels of resistance on this machine the pedaling becomes more intense as you move from lowest to highest. and allows for more intense workout sessions.

The console of this machine features a 6-inch LCD display with fairly large digits for easy readability and gives out important workout metrics: distance, time, RPM, total distance, watts, speed, heart rate, target heart rate, and calories.

ProForm Endurance 520 E elliptical is among the lowest priced elliptical trainers, yet it has a maximum of 20-degree incline, a 19-inch stride, and almost infinite workout programs due to iFit Coach readiness. The workout programs are specially designed to help you burn calories, great performance, speed, and incline training.

The ProForm 520 E has the heart rate sensors built into the stationary handlebars, so to monitor your heart rate, you need to grip them.

The ProForm 520 E has a tablet computer shelf and an iPod-compatible sound system with 2-inch speakers to integrate your own tablet or smartphone as high tech options. It has inbuilt wheels for easy transportation and storage away.

The Horizon Ex-59 Elliptical Trainer is a durable, well-built machine that is easy to operate, great for workout sessions with enough resistances to achieve your fitness goals. This elliptical machine build quality can be compared to commercial-grade ellipticals used at your local gym. The product is fairly stable on a hard floor but when used on a softer floor type, you may experience some rocking.

There are hand grips to monitor your pulse rate, though they are slow to read and often seem to be inaccurate from users’ experiences. The console, though fairly basic, monitors the standard metrics such as time, speed, distance, and calories. It lacks Bluetooth sync capabilities to fitness apps but you can plug your mobile device into the machine to play the audio through the speakers.

The Horizon Ex-59 Elliptical Trainer has a standby mode but does not have a power on/off button.  If you want to turn off the machine completely, you can either off it at the mains or unplug it completely.

MaxKare Magnetic Elliptical Trainer has a magnetic flywheel that allows for a smooth and quiet operation. The product has its strength in stability and noiseless operation courtesy of the magnetic front flywheel.

The machine is well-built, robust, and durable and gives your upper and lower body a great aerobic workout.

You can monitor your fitness level during your workout with the LCD-backlit display panel giving out the time, speed, distance, pulse rate, and calories. To monitor your pulse rate, you grip the stationary handles in the center where the pulse sensors are located.

It has a tablet holder to hold your smartphone to follow your preferred exercise during a workout. This elliptical can be easily moved from place to place and for storage thanks to the transportation wheel included.