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The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hunter·May 24, 2026

Best Ellipticals Under $1000

Top ellipticals under $1000 reviewed and ranked for low-impact home cardio.

Quick answer

Sole E25 is our top pick for ellipticals under $1000 — an averaged 4.3/5 across 3 published reviews at about $1,300. Runner-up: ProForm Carbon EL (~$799).

Read the Sole E25 review →$1,300 · Buy at soletreadmills.com

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review
1Sole E25Top Score
(3 sources)
$1,300Best for: Buyers who want the most durable, stable elliptical near $1000 and don't care about a built-in touchscreen, bought on its ~$899 sale.
$1,300 · Buy at soletreadmills.com
2ProForm Carbon EL
(3 sources)
$799Best for: Buyers who want iFIT guided classes and an adjustable stride for under $1000 and don't mind the subscription or the lower weight capacity.
$799 · Buy at proform.com
3Horizon EX-59
(3 sources)
$799Best for: Beginners and budget buyers who prioritize a stable, simple, no-incline elliptical over features and don't need a long stride.
$799 · Buy at horizonfitness.com
4Schwinn 430
(3 sources)
$799Best for: Budget buyers who want a capable home elliptical with incline and a long stride for the lowest price, and don't need Bluetooth or motorized incline.
$799 · Check Price on Amazon
5Schwinn 470
(3 sources)
$799Best for: Buyers who want maximum workout variety, motorized incline, and the most resistance levels, and accept a build that is less rugged than the Sole E25.
$799 · Check Price on Amazon
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Reviews aggregated from
Garagegymreviews.comFitrated.comBarbend.comEllipticalreviewguru.comTreadmillreviewguru.com

The full ranking

How we rank →
Sole E25
#1 · Top Score
Best for: Buyers who want the most durable, stable elliptical near $1000 and don't care about a built-in touchscreen, bought on its ~$899 sale.
Sole E25
from 3 sources$1,300as of Jun 8

The Sole E25 is the most solidly built elliptical you can get near $1000, as long as you buy it on its frequent ~$899 sale rather than the $1,199 list price. BarBend and Garage Gym Reviews both score it around 4.2/5, praising the heavy, stable frame, 20 in stride, and 20 levels of resistance and incline. It is low on flashy tech, but the durability and 350 lb capacity make it the value pick for serious low-impact cardio.

Strengths
  • — Heaviest and most stable build in the class at around 212 lb
  • — Full 20 in stride length suits taller users
Watch-outs
  • — Lists at $1,199; you need the frequent ~$899 sale to stay under budget
  • — Basic tech; no large touchscreen, just an LCD and Bluetooth
$1,300 · Buy at soletreadmills.comFull review →vs. ProForm Carbon EL →
ProForm Carbon EL
#2
Best for: Buyers who want iFIT guided classes and an adjustable stride for under $1000 and don't mind the subscription or the lower weight capacity.
ProForm Carbon EL
from 3 sources$799as of Jun 7

The ProForm Carbon EL is the connected-fitness pick under $1000, the most affordable iFIT-enabled elliptical with an adjustable stride and incline. BarBend and Garage Gym Reviews both score it 4/5, calling it a high-value budget elliptical at just under $1000. The trade-offs are a 275 lb capacity, a manually-set incline, and reliance on a paid iFIT subscription for the full class library after the trial.

Strengths
  • — iFIT-enabled with auto-adjusting trainer-led classes
  • — Adjustable 19 in stride plus up to 20 levels of incline, rare at this price
Watch-outs
  • — Incline is adjusted manually, not during a workout
  • — 275 lb weight capacity is the lowest in this group
$799 · Buy at proform.comFull review →vs. Sole E25 →
Horizon EX-59
#3
Best for: Beginners and budget buyers who prioritize a stable, simple, no-incline elliptical over features and don't need a long stride.
Horizon EX-59
from 3 sources$799as of Jun 7

The Horizon EX-59 is the stability-first budget pick, named Garage Gym Reviews' top budget elliptical and a BarBend favorite for beginners. At around $699 it trades features for a locked-down, stable feel that reviewers say beats pricier machines on steadiness. The trade-offs are real: no incline, just 10 resistance levels, a shorter 18 in stride, and only 5 basic programs. It is the choice for beginners who value a solid, simple machine.

Strengths
  • — Garage Gym Reviews' top budget elliptical pick, with a locked-down, stable feel
  • — Bluetooth speakers and app compatibility
Watch-outs
  • — No incline at all, the only machine here without it
  • — Only 10 resistance levels and 5 basic programs
$799 · Buy at horizonfitness.comFull review →vs. Sole E25 →
Schwinn 430
#4
Best for: Budget buyers who want a capable home elliptical with incline and a long stride for the lowest price, and don't need Bluetooth or motorized incline.
Schwinn 430
from 3 sources$799as of Jun 7

The Schwinn 430 is the budget pick, usually around $649 and the cheapest elliptical here. BarBend praised its value at 4/5, noting it is rare for ellipticals at this price to offer incline at all. It has a 20 in stride, 20 resistance levels, and 22 programs. The compromises, reflected in Garage Gym Reviews' 3.2/5 score, are a manual 6-level incline, no Bluetooth, and a simpler build than the step-up machines.

Strengths
  • — Cheapest pick here, typically around $649
  • — Offers incline at all, which is rare at this price (6 manual levels)
Watch-outs
  • — Garage Gym Reviews scored it 3.2/5; FitRated 75.3%
  • — Incline is manual and limited to 6 positions
$799 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Sole E25 →
Schwinn 470
#5
Best for: Buyers who want maximum workout variety, motorized incline, and the most resistance levels, and accept a build that is less rugged than the Sole E25.
Schwinn 470
from 3 sources$799as of Jun 7

The Schwinn 470 is the feature-rich pick: 25 resistance levels, a motorized incline, and 29 programs, more adjustability than anything else near this price. It typically sells around $799 on Amazon. The catch, flagged by Garage Gym Reviews' 2.9/5 score, is durability: reviewers love the features but warn the build is not as robust as the Sole E25. It is the choice for buyers who prioritize workout variety over long-term ruggedness.

Strengths
  • — 25 levels of magnetic resistance, the most adjustable here
  • — Motorized 0-10 degree incline, uncommon at this price
Watch-outs
  • — Garage Gym Reviews scored it just 2.9/5, citing durability concerns
  • — Reviewers warn it may not hold up under heavy long-term use
$799 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Sole E25 →

Spec comparison

5 products
SpecSole E25ProForm Carbon ELHorizon EX-59Schwinn 430Schwinn 470
Stride Length20 in19 in (adjustable)18 in20 in20 in
Resistance20 levels (magnetic)18 levels (silent magnetic)10 levels (magnetic)20 levels (magnetic)25 levels (magnetic)
Incline20 levels (power)Up to 20 levels (manual)None6 levels (manual)0-10 degrees (motorized)
Flywheel20 lb—14.3 lb20 lbPerimeter-weighted
Weight Capacity350 lb275 lb300 lb300 lb300 lb
Programs10 (incl. HIIT, Hill, Fat Burn)iFIT (membership required)5 presets22 presets29 presets, 4 user profiles
Machine Weight~212 lb—~145 lb——
WarrantyLifetime frame, 3-year parts, 1-year labor10-year frame, 1-year parts/laborLifetime frame, 1-year parts/labor10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year electronics, 90-day labor10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year electronics, 90-day labor
Display—iFIT-compatible console—Dual LCDDual backlit LCD

Frequently asked questions

What is the best ellipticals under $1000?
Sole E25 is our top pick for ellipticals under $1000, with an averaged rating of 4.3/5 from 3 published reviews. The Sole E25 is the most solidly built elliptical you can get near $1000, as long as you buy it on its frequent ~$899 sale rather than the $1,199 list price. BarBend and Garage Gym Reviews both score it around 4.2/5, praising the heavy, stable frame, 20 in stride, and 20 levels of resistance and incline. It is low on flashy tech, but the durability and 350 lb capacity make it the value pick for serious low-impact cardio.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
ProForm Carbon EL (around $799) rates 4.0/5 in our analysis. The ProForm Carbon EL is the connected-fitness pick under $1000, the most affordable iFIT-enabled elliptical with an adjustable stride and incline. BarBend and Garage Gym Reviews both score it 4/5, calling it a high-value budget elliptical at just under $1000. The trade-offs are a 275 lb capacity, a manually-set incline, and reliance on a paid iFIT subscription for the full class library after the trial.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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