Head-to-head · Best Ellipticals Under $1000

Horizon EX-59 vs Sole E25

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Sole E25 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.0 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Buyers who want the most durable, stable elliptical near $1000 and don't care about a built-in touchscreen, bought on its ~$899 sale. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Ellipticals Under $1000

Horizon EX-59

4.0

$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
— 18 in stride with 10 resistance levels, simple and beginner-friendly

Watch-outs

— No incline at all, the only machine here without it
— Only 10 resistance levels and 5 basic programs
— 18 in stride is shorter than the 20 in rivals

$799 · Buy at horizonfitness.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Ellipticals Under $1000

Sole E25

4.3

$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
— 20 levels each of magnetic resistance and power incline

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
— Heavy and bulky to assemble and move

$1,300 · Buy at soletreadmills.com Full review →

How they stack up

Horizon EX-59

The stability-first budget option versus the feature-rich Schwinn 470 and Schwinn 430, which both offer incline and more resistance levels but, per reviewers, less locked-down stability per dollar. Simpler than the iFIT-equipped ProForm Carbon EL and lighter-spec than the heavy-duty Sole E25.

Sole E25

The most stable and highest-capacity machine here, ahead of the Schwinn 470 and Schwinn 430 on build and weight rating. It skips the iFIT touchscreen tech of the ProForm Carbon EL and the lighter footprint of the Horizon EX-59 in favor of a heavier, more durable frame.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Horizon EX-59	Sole E25
Stride Length	18 in	20 in
Resistance	10 levels (magnetic)	20 levels (magnetic)
Incline	None	20 levels (power)
Flywheel	14.3 lb	20 lb
Weight Capacity	300 lb	350 lb
Programs	5 presets	10 (incl. HIIT, Hill, Fat Burn)
Machine Weight	~145 lb	~212 lb
Warranty	Lifetime frame, 1-year parts/labor	Lifetime frame, 3-year parts, 1-year labor

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