The Best Ellipticals Under $500 in 2022
In the modern-day, it is hard to avoid the promotions of a workout program. Whether it is videos for those at home, cycling studios that are devoted to the art of the indoor bikes, or simply yoga streams from home, exercise comes in many forms. Elliptical trainers are one of the better ways that one can stay fit without having to leave their home or subscribe to some sort of exercise streaming service.
They offer an opportunity to burn some calories and get some energy spent while being easier on the joints. The risk of impact injuries is also significantly lower on these machines. However, many ellipticals can seem to cost an absolute fortune. What about those of us who don’t have endless funds to spend on one of these machines? That is where we come in.
We have combed through the various elliptical machines on the market in order to find the best ellipticals for under $500. This is based on a variety of factors that we shall go over at the end of the article. With all of that out of the way, let’s hop right into our list of the best elliptical machines under $500!
Best Home Ellipticals Under $500 Compared:
| NAME | STRIDE | PROGRAMS | CONNECTIVITY | RESISTANCE | INCLINE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProForm HIIT Trainer Lite 5.9 | 5" Fixed | 18 | Bluetooth | 18 Levels Electromagnetic | 8" Fixed Vertical |
| ProForm 250i Elliptical Machine | 17" Fixed | 14 | Bluetooth | 14 Levels Electromagnetic | None |
| GOELLIPTICAL V-450 17” Elliptical | 17" Fixed | 12 | None | 24 Levels Electromagnetic | None |
| Schwinn 411 Elliptical Machine | 18" Fixed | 13 | Bluetooth | 16 Levels Electromagnetic | None |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 | 15.5" Fixed | 24 | None | 16 Levels Electromagnetic | None |
| MaxKare Elliptical Machine | 13.5" Fixed | N/A | None | 8 Levels Manual Magnetic | None |
| EFITMENT E005 Elliptical Machine | 13" Fixed | N/A | None | 8 Levels Manual Magnetic | None |
| Doufit EM-01 Elliptical Machine | 5.9" Fixed | N/A | None | 8 Levels Manual Magnetic | None |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 | 30" Fixed | N/A | None | 8 Levels Manual Magnetic | None |
Editor’s Best Elliptical Under $500 Choice!
Our colleagues have already spent weeks to search the market, find, and review the best elliptical machines for home use under 500 for this year. However, due to the fact that new top-rated budget ellipticals under 500 become available on a regular basis, I created the Editor’s Choice.
It’s where I search the market every week to pick the latest best value elliptical machine under 500. And for this month, ProForm PFEL05918 HIIT Trainer Lite 5.9 is my pick for the best cross trainer for home use under $500.
It is made of durable materials and has a nice design giving the elliptical a great look, includes 18 preset workouts, Bluetooth technology, and has a 1-year warranty. But even more importantly, this elliptical is equipped with a nice LED Bluetooth monitor that records all the rowing workouts including distance, time, calories, and heart rate.
Overview of Top Ellipticals Under 500:
ProForm HIIT Trainer Lite 5.9
Coming in first on our list of the best ellipticals for home use under $500 is the ProForm HIIT Trainer Lite 5.9. This machine comes with a rather unique look, as it is much more vertical than one usually pictures an elliptical. Fortunately, the 8 inch vertical path and 5 inch horizontal path actually makes for a pretty good workout. It does feel more along the lines of climbing stairs compared to the normal running motion of other elliptical machines.
The ProForm 5.9 comes with a 5 inch backlit display that shows your mileage, speed, approximate calorie burn, heart rate, and time. The console also has 18 available workout programs that are divided into 3 categories. There are 7 calories workouts, 6 time workouts, and 5 interval workouts. The console also comes with the ability to use iFit. This comes with the ability to connect to your smartphone and use one of the virtual workouts that comes with the program. Unfortunately, the elliptical does not come with a subscription to iFit by default.
The ProForm HIIT Trainer 5.9 Lite is equipped with an eddy current resistance system. This means it requires an external power source for the resistance adjustment to be possible. The flywheel that comes with the elliptical is 12 lbs (5.4 kg), which might not seem like a lot. However, it certainly gets the job done. It is also bi-directional, allowing you to pedal in both directions.
Additional Information:
This affordable elliptical machine under 500 has a max weight capacity of 300 lbs (136 kg) and weighs 150 lbs (68 kg). When assembled, its dimensions are 43.4 inches (110 cm) long, 26 inches (66 cm) wide and 65 inches (165 cm) tall. It comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, a 1 year warranty on the parts and a 1 year warranty on the labour. All in all, it is the best elliptical in 2022 under 500 and we highly recommend it for anyone that can’t spend more than $500.
The Pros:
- The sturdy construction means that this machine will not move under you.
- A prime example of a console comes alongside that, with plenty of workout programs added in.
- Toss in the low maintenance and excellent warranties to round out an excellent elliptical.
The Cons:
- The console does not come with an iFit subscription.
- The price of this elliptical machine for home is also just bordering on the edge of the price range, which might be a bit much for some.
ProForm 250i Elliptical Machine
In second place is the ProForm 250i Elliptical. Another machine from ProForm, the 250i is an example of one of the best cross cross trainers in this price range. It has 14 magnetic resistance levels available by default, which you can track from the console. Speaking of the console, it is a fairly basic one that also has a couple of advanced features.
It offers ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, has a cooling fan and a speaker. It does not offer the ability to make a user profile or display all of the statistics (Resistance Level, Watts, Distance, Speed, Total Strides, Calories and Average Heart Rate) at once. The 250i has a 17 inch incline that cannot be adjusted. While this is unfortunate, it should still fit users in between 5 feet and 6.3 feet.
The 11 lb flywheel offers a smooth front-wheel drive operation that should fit well in any small home or apartment. It has to be said that this elliptical is more meant for beginners or lower intermediate riders. It does not have the ability to offer really intense rides that experienced users need. For a price of around $400, it certainly is a good deal.
Additional Information:
The 250i has a max weight capacity of 250 lbs (113 kg) and weighs 133 lbs (60 kg) itself. When assembled, its dimensions are 60 inches (152 cm) long, 25.5 inches (65 cm) wide and 69 inches (175 cm) tall. It comes with a 5 year warranty on the frame and a 90 day warranty on the parts and labour. It cannot be folded. Heart rates can be monitored with sensors on the handlebars and a Bluetooth chest strap.
The Pros:
- It has a solid console that offers Bluetooth connectivity.
- The smooth ride that is offered should also make for a pleasant experience for any rider.
The Cons:
- The fixed incline is somewhat unfortunate. It makes it less customizable for various riders.
- It also lacks the advanced resistance levels that some users could want.
- The warranty is also less than extremely generous.
GOELLIPTICAL V-450 17” Elliptical
In third place on our list of the best home cross trainers for under $500 is the GOELLIPTICAL V-450 17” Elliptical. This machine makes for an extremely solid mid-range exercise machine, though it does tend to cost just on the border of our price range. It features a magnetic resistance system with 24 different tension levels. The combination of 15.4 lb (7 kg) flywheel and heavy belt drivetrain allows for an nearly silent workout, even on the upper resistance levels.
As the name indicates, it has a 17 inch (43 cm) stride length with adjustable pedal heights. The console offers an LCD backlit display of statistics like time, distance, speed, calories, and pulse. It is not compatible with chest straps, nor does it have Bluetooth connectivity of any kind. It does have the ability to save user profiles, which is a nice feature for this sort of machine.
The assembly process shouldn’t take more than an hour, with maintenance being limited to the occasional lubrication of the joints if they start to squeak. Even if something does break, the generous warranties should cover it. The V-450 is an excellent elliptical for light and medium workouts, offering a host of features that are often not found in this sort of price range.
Additional Information:
The max user weight of the V-450 is 300 lbs (136 kg) and the weight of the elliptical is 126 lbs (57 kg). Its assembled dimensions are 50 inches (127 cm) long, 26 inches (66 cm) wide and 64 inches (163 cm) tall. It comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, a 3 year warranty on the parts and a 1 year warranty on the labour. The frame is not foldable.
The Pros:
- An excellent workout, very good console, plenty of resistance levels and generous warranties make the V-450 an extremely good elliptical for this price.
The Cons:
- It does come in on the upper range of the price range, which might not sit well with some.
- It also lacks Bluetooth connectivity.
Schwinn 411 Elliptical Machine
4 used from $410.06
Up next is an elliptical that was introduced in late 2018 from one of the exercise giants. The Schwinn 411 is an affordable entry-level trainer that won’t let you down. It comes with 16 levels of resistance by default, allowing for a decent range of workouts. It can’t quite get to the upper levels that advanced users want, but it should still fit most users quite well. Similarly, the 18 inch stride length should be suitable for all but the tallest users.
The arms of the elliptical are both able to be fixed and move depending on whether or not you are tired of working the upper body out. The biggest highlight of the 411 is probably the console. It offers 13 different workout programs with different focuses like interval programs (HIIT), heart rate raisers, and other challenges. It has Bluetooth connectivity to chest straps and the ability to track workouts via the Run Social app.
By default, the LCD screen shows the standard statistics like time, distance, calories, heart rate and speed. As nice little bonuses, it also offers a media tray and bottle holder for both entertainment and refreshment respectively. As we said before, it isn’t exactly an elliptical for advanced users who want intense workouts and in-depth statistic tracking. However, it really does a good job for price and targeted audience. It does fall just under the $500 mark, but offers plenty of value for that money.
Additional Information:
The Schwinn 411 has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg) and weighs 100 lbs (45.4 kg). Its dimensions are 53.8 inches (136.7 cm) long, 24 inches (61 cm) wide and 62.5 inches (159 cm) tall. It is not foldable. It has a 10 year warranty on the frame, 2 year warranty on the parts, 1 year warranty on the electronics and a 90 day labour warranty. Overall 411 is an excellent choice (considering the price point) but if you can afford to sped a little more, I suggest you check out the 470 model. It has a ton of features and has been our best elliptical pick under $1000 in 2022.
The Pros:
- With 16 levels of resistance and 18 different workout programs, the 411 does a good job of making the workouts for beginner and intermediate users comfortable and effective.
- The generous warranties mean that even any problems that might come along can be easily fixed and replaced.
The Cons:
- It does fall in the upper range in terms of price, at just under $500.
- Taller or more advanced users might want to look elsewhere due to the fixed design and limited intense workouts.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Elliptical
4 used from $309.70
Next up is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Elliptical Machine. The name is a mouthful, as all Sunny Health and Fitness machines tend to be. Fortunately, this machine happens to make up for the name somewhat. The SF-3912 has an electromagnetic resistance system with 16 different resistance levels. This doesn’t offer a whole lot of room for customization, but the upper level still offers a solid amount of resistance.
The internal flywheel, weighing at 14 lbs (6.3 kg), is bi-directional. For those who want to pedal backwards, this is most definitely a checkmark in favour of the SF-3912. The belt drive provides a quiet workout. As for the console that comes with the SF-3912, it isn’t anything special. There is no online connectivity/Bluetooth but there are 24 programs that come with it and that’s unique considering the price. It displays mid-level stats like watt, time, distance, speed, RPM, calories, and pulse.
One of the nicer parts of the SF-3912 is how easy it is to assemble. The process might take a while, but the instructions are very clear. The pedals are adjustable from 10 inches (25 cm) to 20 inches (51 cm), allowing for some nice customization. The questionable part of the SF-3912 is the price. It also borders the $500 price but lacks the advanced features (such as App connectivity) of the previous machines. The warranties are also much worse on this machine as well.
Additional Information:
The SF-E3912 weighs 95 lbs (43 kg) and has a max user weight of 330 lbs. Its dimensions are 55 inches long, 23 inches wide and 64 inches tall. The elliptical is not foldable. The stride (15″) is fixed and there is no incline adjustment. Also, the warranties are pretty poor. It offers 3 years on the frame and 180 days on the parts.
The Pros:
- It offers a smooth and solid ride for any user.
- The LCD monitor does the job and provides the stats you would expect.
- The setup process and maintenance are both extremely easy.
- 24 Preset programs
The Cons:
- The amount of value that the SF-3912 provides compared to its price is questionable.
- The warranties are also quite poor in comparison to the others on this list.
Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Machine
1 used from $243.42
The Body Power 2-in-1 elliptical is a solid choice for those looking to get one of these exercise machines, but do not want to drop a ton of money to do so. It costs around $400, making it quite cheap in comparison to some of the others on this list. There are 8 different resistance levels that are manually adjustable via a magnetic control knob. There are two sets of handles on the front of the bike.
One is for when one is trying to get the full body workout. The other is stationary for those who are simply trying to get the lower body workout in. The inner handles also have heartbeat monitors on them, allowing for that stat to pop up on the monitor. Speaking of the LCD monitor, it doesn’t do anything particularly special, but it still holds its own. It shows our time, speed, distance, calories burned and heart rate, while also having an iPad holder alongside it.
The stride length of the Body Power 2-in-1 elliptical is 13.5 inches, and is not adjustable. In combination with the extremely large foot pedals, it makes for a solid workout. Overall, this elliptical won’t please everybody, but it will most certainly satisfy those who are looking to get an elliptical on the cheaper side.
Additional Information:
The Body Power 2-in-1 elliptical weighs 70 lbs and has a max user weight capacity of 250 lbs. Its assembled dimensions are 42 inches long, 22 inches wide and 62 inches tall. The Body Power 2-in-1 elliptical comes with a 90 day warranty if there is any damage or defective parts. It is not foldable.
The Pros:
- The Body Power 2-in-1e is cheaper than many other similarly built ellipticals.
- It also offers a solid workout for beginners and intermediate users alike.
- It has a really compact foot-print and a tablet holder.
The Cons:
- The warranties are terrible. If something goes wrong after two years, then you are out of luck.
- The resistance levels are fine, but don’t offer much in the way of customization.
EFITMENT E005 Compact Elliptical Machine
Up next is the EFITMENT E005 Compact Elliptical Machine. The key part to note about this elliptical is that it really focuses on the “Compact” part of the name. Sometimes a bit too much. It has an 11 inch stride length, which is very small. If you are on the smaller side in terms of size, then it will feel a bit better.
However, if you are taller than 5’6”, then the E005’s workouts will be rather uncomfortable. The LCD monitor on the elliptical isn’t anything special, but it does the job by displaying the time, speed, distance, calories burned and pulse rate (through the handlebars).
There are 8 levels of magnetic resistance, which offers some decent workouts. It has a belt driven flywheel that makes the workouts on the E005 quiet and smooth. For a price of $300, this is a decent elliptical. However, the compactness can provide some real issues if you aren’t quite small or are looking for quick results.
Additional Information:
The E005 weighs 71 lbs (32 kg) and has a max user weight of 220 lbs (100 kg). Its dimensions are 34.5 inches (87.6 cm) long, 24.5 inches (62 cm) wide and 61 inches (155 cm) tall. It is not foldable. It comes with a “3 year manufacturer” warranty. What that specifically entails, we are unsure.
The Pros:
- It is small and quiet, making it perfect for those in really tight apartments.
- It is also quite cheap compared to some of the other options.
The Cons:
- The compactness of the E005 means that it is unsuitable for a great number of users.
- There is also a questionably vague warranty that comes with the elliptical, which isn’t very comforting in terms of its ability to last.
Doufit EM-01 Elliptical Machine
The Doufit EM-01 Elliptical Machine is another of the cheaper items on this list of the best elliptical machines for under $500. It comes in at $240, which is much cheaper than many of the others on this list.
The console that comes with the EM-01 has a monitor that will display the default statistics of calories, time, speed, virtual distance, total mileage and heart rate (through monitors on the handlebars). It also has dual action workout arms that will allow for full-body workouts.
There are 8 different levels of resistance, which allow for a decent amount of workouts. The magnetic flywheel and belt drive makes for another quiet experience for the user. The assembly process for the EM-01 seems to be more difficult than others, which is less than ideal.
Additional Information:
The EM-01 weighs 66 lbs (30 kg) and has a max user weight of 286 lbs (130 kg). Its dimensions are 50 inches (127 cm) long, 20.5 inches (52 cm) and 62 inches (157 cm) tall. It is not foldable. From what we could find, there only seems to be a 30-day refund or replacement policy. If this is the only warranty that comes with the elliptical, that is horrendous.
The Pros:
- It provides a solid workout for the price.
- A console that will do the job well.
- It is very cheap as well.
The Cons:
- The workout experience isn’t quite as good as on most commercial ellipticals.
- The warranty situation is also very questionable and should be considered.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Elliptical
10 used from $83.92
Finally, we have the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Elliptical Machine. Another entry from Sunny Health & Fitness, the SF-E902 is the cheapest elliptical here.
The console that comes with the elliptical displays the standard statistics of time, count, total distance, and calories. It comes with some workout programs already installed, though not many.
The SF-E902 can be folded in order to save more space. It also provides a smooth and quiet workout, but there is not a whole lot of upper level resistance. In fact, there are no resistance levels at all.
Additional Information:
The SF-E902 has a max user weight of 220 lbs (100 kg) and weighs 37 lbs (17 kg). Its dimensions are 25 inches (63.5 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 57 inches (144.8 cm) tall. It has a 30 inch stride length. It comes with a 1 year warranty on the frame and 90 day warranty on the parts. It is a decent warranty for the price.
The Pros:
- The SF-E902 provides a solid workout for the price.
- It provides a quiet and simple workout that is great for beginners.
- It is also very cheap.
The Cons:
- The resistance is not suited for those who are already fit or tall/heavy people.
- It just doesn’t offer enough help.
Buyer’s Guide
That concludes our list of the best ellipticals under $500. Now we’re going to look at some of the factors that led us to our ranking of the best elliptical for home use under 500. These are some aspects of these machines that you should look out for in your own hunt of best elliptical cross trainer under 500.
The price. Ellipticals in this article are obviously all under $500, but that can still be a decent amount of change for some. Just keep that in mind compared to how much you will use it.
The console. Most of these home cross trainers under $500 come with some form of console that will display at least the basic level of workout statistics. Anything else is most certainly a bonus for ellipticals in this sort of price range.
The warranty. Unlike some other exercise equipment, it is the moving parts/joints of elliptical that supports the full weight of the user. Therefore, it is important to invest in elliptical trainers under 500 USD with a good warranty and build.
The size. Some of these best-rated ellipticals under 500 for home use can take up a decent amount of space. This should be kept in mind for those who live in smaller apartments or homes. There are also those that swing the other direction and are a bit too compact (looking at you E005).
FAQ
Q: What kind of maintenance do ellipticals require?
A: Fortunately, the upkeep of these budget ellipticals is not that intense of a process. You should wipe down the machine after a workout, especially if there was some intense sweating done.
Q: Is height a factor in choosing an elliptical?
A: Yes. Depending on the elliptical, there can be an adjustable stride length and incline. This allows for people of various sizes to make sure that their workout is as comfortable as possible.
Q: What sort of stride length is ideal?
A: It depends on your height. The general calculation that you need to find your ideal stride length is as follows: Multiply your height in inches by 0.413. This is a predetermined number that figures out average stride length. Then convert your stride length back to feet for the next step. (63 inches x 0.413 = 26.019 inches per stride. 26.019 inches/12 inches per foot = 2.16825 feet per stride.)
Conclusion
There you have it. Our list of the best ellipticals that cost less than $500. As always, keep in mind what sort of aspects you want in one of these budget elliptical machines and read rowing machine reviews under $500 to make sure it matches with what you expect and the stride length suits your needs. Additionally, if you think there is an elliptical that should be listed in our best elliptical machine reviews under $500, please leave your comment below with the suggested models. We will check it out and if it has the criteria, we will add it to this elliptical reviews and buying guide.
Sayed Hamed Hosseiny
Hi, my name is Sayed Hamed Hosseiny. I am a professional health and fitness trainer with nearly 20 years of experience using ellipticals, rowing machines, and spin bikes. I also have my own EU-based Rock Fitness Pro fitness brand where I design, import and sell exercise equipment such as rowing machines and spin bikes. I and writers on my team also often receive fitness equipment to review and evaluate their functionalities and performance from tens of different exercise machines manufacturers. Fitness equipment tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on this website are my opinion (and opinions of my fitness expert colleagues) based on tens of criteria. I never accept payment to write reviews of products or say positive things about fitness equipment products. If brands are interested to have me review their rowers, ellipticals, or spin bikes, they can get in touch with me via email provided on the contact page and send a sample of their product.
