May 2023

Elliptical Trainers: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Elliptical Trainer rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.

Summary

Between 4 May 2023 and 4 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 79 Elliptical Trainer endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

50 Elliptical Trainers were endorsed in total, only 15 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 4 May 2023, Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed elliptical trainer with 5 expert endorsements. 1 expert out of 5 recommended it as the '#1 elliptical trainer' this month. It is followed by Schwinn 470 and NordicTrack FS14i , with 4 and 3 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking elliptical trainers start at $129 (Stamina InMotion E1000) and go up to $2855 (NordicTrack Commercial 14.9). Median elliptical trainer costs $755.05 (Horizon Fitness EX 59).
$129
$2855

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Elliptical Trainer
Woman's World
CNET
TopTenReviews
T3
Chicago Tribune
money.com
Forbes
Treadmill Review Guru
Byrdie
NBC News
1
- Check price
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905
1
-
-
-
-
2
4
-
2
3
2
- $1099
Schwinn 470
-
4
8
-
1
-
-
-
1
-
3
- $2299
NordicTrack FS14i
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
1
3
-
4
- $1100
Sole Fitness E35
-
-
-
5
-
-
5
-
7
1
5
- $1802
Nautilus E618
-
5
6
-
3
-
-
-
8
-
6
- $900
Sole Fitness E25
-
-
7
7
-
1
-
-
-
-
7
- Check price
Bowflex Max Trainer M6
8
-
-
-
5
-
-
9
-
4
8
- Check price
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
-
-
-
2
-
-
1
-
-
-
9
- $2855
NordicTrack Commercial 14.9
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
10
- $2739
NordicTrack FreeStrider FS10i
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
2
11
- Check price
ProForm Carbon HIIT H7
-
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
- $500
Sunny Fitness SF-E3912
-
-
4
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
14
- $129
Stamina InMotion E1000
-
-
-
-
-
4
6
-
-
-
15
- Check price
Bowflex Max Total 16
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
16
- $755
Horizon Fitness EX 59
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
10
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Elliptical Trainer
#14 $129 Stamina InMotion E1000 [buy] [more info]
#12 $499.98 Sunny Fitness SF-E3912 [buy] [more info]
#16 $755.05 Horizon Fitness EX 59 [buy] [more info]
#6 $899.99 Sole Fitness E25 [buy] [more info]
#2 $1099 Schwinn 470 [buy] [more info]
#4 $1099.99 Sole Fitness E35 [buy] [more info]
#5 $1802 Nautilus E618 [buy] [more info]
#3 $2299 NordicTrack FS14i [buy] [more info]
#10 $2739 NordicTrack FreeStrider FS10i [buy] [more info]
#9 $2855 NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 [buy] [more info]

We ranked Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 #1 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Woman's World

Best Elliptical Under $200

Pros
8 levels of magnetic resistance
Compact
Digital display measures time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse

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money.com

Best for Low Prices

Pros
Built-in wheels for easy transportation and storage.

Cons
Doesn’t have a reversible stride.

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Budget Elliptical

Pros
Great price
Eight resistance levels

Cons
Compact stride length
Very light on features

Go to ranking

Byrdie

Best Budget

Pros
Budget-friendly
Digital display
Pulse sensors

Cons
Low weight capacity

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NBC News

Most affordable: Sunny Health & Fitness

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We ranked Schwinn 470 #2 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Schwinn 470 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
CNET

Most comfortable elliptical

Pros
Comfortable and intuitive to use
Ideal for people of all heights and weights

Cons
Lacks modern touch screen
No Wi-Fi connection
Not good for small spaces

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TopTenReviews

Best Elliptical Machine For A Varied Workout

Pros
29-item program menu
Smooth striding
User-friendly LCD

Cons
Short labor warranty

Go to ranking

Chicago Tribune

Best of the Best

Pros
Has 25 different levels of resistance. The LCD screen shows you each workout and how high the resistance will get during the program. Has a time, distance, and calorie tracker. Designed to simulate natural strides. The handlebars can be adjusted.

Cons
The Bluetooth doesn't allow to sync music.

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Byrdie

Best Overall

Pros
Syncs with multiple apps
Acoustic speakers
USB charging port
Ergonomic design

Cons
Repair support could be improved

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Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Elliptical Trainers.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Elliptical Trainers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for May 2023 ranking

We ranked NordicTrack FS14i #3 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked NordicTrack FS14i as #1.
Critic endorsements:
T3

Best elliptical trainer overall

Pros
Full-body workout that’s easy on the joints
Auto-adjusting stride is fun/easy to engage
Built-in fan and at-your-fingertips incline/resistance controls

Cons
Monthly iFit membership required (30-day trial included)
Tricky to move once assembled

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Treadmill Review Guru

Best Elliptical Overall

Pros
The 3 in 1 functionality lets you use this machine multiple different ways.
It declines to -10% and inclines to 10% to add even more challenge to your workouts.
In addition to getting your heart rate up, it also provides a low impact exercise that is forgiving on your joints.
The 14” touch screen is excellent for viewing iFit classes and it’s easy to use.
The fan is surprisingly effective and comes with multiple air output settings.
The magnetic resistance is quiet no matter what level you’re using.
The flywheel is centered which promotes an upright posture and gives extra back support.

Cons
It is a compact machine, but it requires more space in front and behind for the pedals when it’s in use.
iFit has a monthly subscription cost after the first 30 days.

Go to ranking

Byrdie

Best Splurge:

Pros
Smart HD touchscreen
Bluetooth connectivity
On-demand workouts

Cons
Expensive
Requires monthly membership

Go to ranking

We ranked Sole Fitness E35 #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sole Fitness E35 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
T3

Best full-size elliptical trainer

Pros
Sleek, compact, and quiet
Designed to be easy on the joints
Compatible with the STUDIO app, which offers 50+ elliptical-targeted classes

Cons
No built-in video screen

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Forbes

Best Elliptical Machine For Sensitive Joints

Pros
Reduces ankle and knee stress
Extra low-impact workout

Cons
Bare-bones display
Pricey

Go to ranking

Byrdie

Best for Comfort

Pros
Foot pedals encourage natural running motion
Power incline
Quiet operation

Cons
Assembly could be easier

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NBC News

Best overall: Sole

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We ranked Nautilus E618 #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
CNET

Most classic elliptical

Pros
Sturdy
Smooth stride
Mostly quiet

Cons
Outdated display screen
Bluetooth technology is limited
No Wi-Fi

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TopTenReviews

Best Elliptical Machine For Guided Workouts

Pros
Comfortably cushioned footplates
Power incline up to 15 percent
Wireless heart rate monitoring

Cons
Fixed 22" stride length

Go to ranking

Chicago Tribune

Best For Everyday Use

Pros
Features Bluetooth connectivity and free app-based tracking tools. Offers an optimized drivetrain with a weighted flywheel for a smooth experience. Has a 350-pound load capacity. Warranty on frame, parts, electronics, and labor available.

Cons
Leaving your phone or water bottle in the tray may disrupt some tracking or training programs.

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Byrdie

Best App-Based

Pros
Syncs to apps with Bluetooth connectivity
Smooth acceleration
Padded handlebars boast integrated resistance controls

Cons
Repair support could be improved

Go to ranking

We ranked Sole Fitness E25 #6 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sole Fitness E25 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best Home Elliptical Machine Under $1,000

Pros
Industry-leading warranty
Oversized foot pedals for a comfy workout
Wireless heart rate monitoring

Cons
Stride length isn’t adjustable

Go to ranking

T3

Best elliptical trainer for durability

Pros
Lifetime guarantee
Gym-like spec

Cons
More expensive

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money.com

Editor's Pick

Pros
Warranty lasts lifetime on frame and 3 years for parts.

Cons
Limited preset workout programs compared to other models.

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We ranked Bowflex Max Trainer M6 #7 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Woman's World

Best Elliptical Worth Splurging On

Pros
Includes free 2-month trial of the BowFlex JRNY™ App
Magnetic media rack for tablet or smartphone
Bluetooth heart rate compatible
16 levels of resistance

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Chicago Tribune

Feature-Packed

Pros
Has 16 different levels of resistance, offering a harder workout for those who want it.
This machine is equipped with a variety of exercise programs to help you progress your strength over time.
Comes equipped with a phone charger and Bluetooth heart monitor capabilities.

Cons
Some users noticed that it can be a bit loud on higher resistance settings.

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Treadmill Review Guru

Best Compact Elliptical

Pros
Compact size with lots of features!
Low impact workout safely in your own home
Upgraded console is now easier to see and use
Handlebars and pedals sync for coordinated motion

Cons
Bowflex app has a subscription cost after the first year
Less extensive warranty than comparable machines

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NBC News

For small spaces: Bowflex

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We ranked Bowflex Max Trainer M9 #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Bowflex Max Trainer M9 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
T3

Best money-no-object elliptical trainer

Pros
Many helpful features to combat subcutaneous fat
Dual-mode LCD/LED screens
Takes up half as much space as traditional ellipticals
Short workouts ideal for time-poor people

Cons
Limited stride length

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Forbes

Best Elliptical Machine Overall

Pros
Smaller footprint
Free workout mat

Cons
Can be loud at higher speeds

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We ranked NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
CNET

Best Elliptical Overall

Pros
Modern design
Smooth stride
Has an iFit program option

Cons
It's big
The iFit membership comes at additional cost

Go to ranking

Treadmill Review Guru

Best Front-Drive Elliptical

Pros
The 32 lb flywheel is heavy and front-mounted to give extra stability to the console and overall construction of the machine.
The pedals are well-cushioned and oversized for support and can be adjusted to work for a large variety of users.
The price point is reasonable considering the overall high quality.
The 14” touch screen is clear and displays thousands of workouts filmed all around the world with an iFit membership.
The handles offer training for total body training and for isolating your lower body.
The stride length is comfortable and long enough for a wide range of heights.

Cons
Taller users might be limited with the pedal range when the elliptical is fully inclined.
The incline function is a little noisy, however, the resistance and pedals are quiet.

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We ranked NordicTrack FreeStrider FS10i #10 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Woman's World

Best NordicTrack elliptical

Pros
Automatic trainer control
24 resistance levels
Comes with a 1-year iFit membership

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Treadmill Review Guru

Best Hybrid Elliptical

Pros
Both resistance and incline offer hearty training variables that will kick that heart rate up!
Smooth quiet motor is centered under the user’s body weight
Quick touch controls on the console make it easy to choose resistance or incline levels
iFit is included free for one year so you can evaluate the content to see great trainers and classes
Comfortable foot pedals are cushioned underfoot
Transport wheels enable you to move or slide the machine gently when needed

Cons
The FS10i does take up a bit of space since the pedals extend quite a ways both forward and back
There is a monthly subscription cost for iFit after the first year

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NBC News

Most versatile: NordicTrack

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We ranked ProForm Carbon HIIT H7 #11 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
CNET

Best Elliptical for Smaller Spaces

Pros
Ideal for small spaces
Quiet
Has iFit membership option

Cons
Turning it off can be a challenge
Lacks space for a tablet or other streaming device

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TopTenReviews

Best Elliptical Machine For Small Spaces

Pros
Total-body training
30lb flywheel
Compact

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We ranked Sunny Fitness SF-E3912 #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best affordable elliptical machine

Pros
High weight capacity
Full-motion arm exercisers
24 unique workout modes

Cons
Short 14-inch stride length

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Chicago Tribune

Best Bang for the Buck

Pros
Has 24 built-in programs designed to target resistance and strength. Electro-magnetic resistance system contains 16 resistance levels. Device holder supports listening or streaming appliances. Foot pedal made with non-slip textures. Floor stabilizers add further safety on uneven or wooden floors.

Cons
Some users complain that the machine makes a clunking sound while working.

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We ranked Stamina InMotion E1000 #13 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
money.com

Best Under-Desk Elliptical

Pros
Very light, portable and easy to store.

Cons
No upper-body workout.

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Forbes

Best Under-Desk Elliptical Machine

Pros
Highly portable
Can be used while sitting or standing

Cons
Takes awhile to catch your balance when standing

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We ranked Bowflex Max Total 16 #14 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
CNET

Best elliptical to stream your favorite shows

Pros
Fits in most spaces
Has a big HD touchscreen
Lets you stream Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services
Personalizes your workout experience

Cons
Heavier than Bowflex Max M9, which can be a hassle to move
Expensive
Can't use without a JRNY membership

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Treadmill Review Guru

Best Elliptical For Netflix, Hulu, Etc

Pros
High-intensity training in a compact design.
Textured pedals and multi-grip handles work your entire body.
Free subscription on the 16” touch screen to never get bored while working out.
20 different levels of resistance to adjust and choose from.

Cons
The warranty is less than what other brands offer.
A subscription to JRNY is required to access the content on the touch screen.

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We ranked Horizon Fitness EX 59 #15 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Elliptical Trainers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best Elliptical Machine For Beginners

Pros
Low price
iPod-compatible
30-day money-back guarantee

Cons
Small 14lb flywheel

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Byrdie

Best for Low Ceilings

Pros
Low pedals
Bluetooth speakers
Rapid-charge USB port

Cons
Short strides

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