The 7 Best Ellipticals Under $1000 – Your Key to a Total Body Workout

Schwinn Fitness has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted brands in home and commercial fitness machines. The Schwinn 470 is just one cardio machine from many of the high-quality products available in the Schwinn family. This is our pick for the best elliptical trainer under 1000 because it provides an exceptional user experience.

We found everything we wanted in this elliptical machine and we think you will agree. The Schwinn 470 offers 25 levels of resistance so you can adjust the workout to fit your needs. As you build strength, you will appreciate the wide resistance range. If you’re not sure how to build workout programs for yourself, no worries! This elliptical trainer also offers 29 pre-programmed workouts that take the thinking out of exercising. All you have to do is push “Go”.

A major bonus is the motorized incline feature. Most of the top-rated elliptical machines in the industry have a power incline option because it enhances the workout exponentially. The ability to increase or decrease the incline during your session can help you target specific muscle groups.  

If technology is your thing, this home elliptical has it all! The Schwinn 470 features a media tray to hold your tablet, phone, or other device as well as a USB port so you can charge your device while working out. State of the art Bluetooth technology allows you to connect wirelessly with any of your devices. The console is compatible with the Explore the World app, which provides a mixed reality experience to keep you motivated.

Here's what I liked:

• 29 workout programs, 25 levels of resistance
• 20" Stride Length / Solid Schwinn brand
• Connects with multiple apps (Schwinn Trainer App, Explore the World & More)
• Easy Assembly

Needs Improvement:

• A slight noise at times, but mitigated by basic maintenance (tightening connections, oiling machine)

Specifications:

• Footprint: 52” L x 22” W x 34.5” H
• User Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
• Stride Length: 20”
• Machine Weight: 189 lbs
• Warranty: 10 years frame / 2 years parts / 90 days labor

Get ready to pay a little extra, but you won't be disappointed! If you thrive on tracking data such as your heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled, etc, this is a winner and has the perfect console for you. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect the included wireless heart rate monitors and track your cardio throughout the session. Another big plus is you can also connect it to a variety of fitness apps including MyFitnessPal and MapMyRun.

Want some entertainment while you’re exercising? This console can connect to RunSocial so you can interact with your friends through the platform. You can actually choose a course, create an event, and invite friends to do the course with you! How fun is that? Or if you prefer to be entertained without interacting, you can access the Explore the World app, just like the Schwinn 470.

There are 29 traditional fitness programs also available on the console. You can choose from weight loss and toning to a plethora of heart-rate interval workouts. The variety of programs available on the Nautilus E616 is a big bonus for anyone, especially if you are looking for some guidance or motivation during your workouts.

You can adjust both the incline and the resistance on this machine, so your workout can be ever-changing, even if you don’t use all the high-tech features we just discussed.

Here's what I liked:

• Amazing connectivity that really improves your experience
• Robust, durable Elliptical 
• Stable and quiet / fan keeps you cool

Needs Improvement:

• Priced attractively on Nautilus, but could be well over $1,000 on other e-commerce platforms

Specifications:

• Footprint: 70” L x 28” W x 71” H
• User Weight Capacity: Not listed (300 lbs is a good assumption)
• Stride Length: 20”
• Machine Weight: 173 lbs
• Warranty: 10 years frame / 3 years parts / 1 year labor

If price is your driving factor, the Schwinn 430 will make you smile. Coming in at just under $700 (at the time of this article), this is our top pick for the best elliptical for your money in the under $1000 price range.

You still get the great Schwinn brand, but fewer options compared to the Schwinn 470 featured earlier. Here's what the Schwinn 430 is missing:

Schwinn 430 vs. Schwinn 470

• 22 workout programs vs 29
• No Bluetooth
• Not integrated with RunSocial App
• No telemetry enabled
• 20 resistance levels vs 25

Here's what I liked:

• Great elliptical for a great price
• Backed by the Schwinn brand
• 20" Precision Path Stride (same as Schwinn 470)

Needs Improvement:

• Fewer resistance levels reduce maximum workout potential

Specifications:

• Footprint: 28" L x 63" W x 70" H
• User Weight Capacity: Not listed 
• Stride Length: 20"
• Machine Weight: 169 lbs
• Warranty: 2 Years (parts), 3 Months (labor)

Are you ready for a serious workout! Welcome to the Max Trainer series by Bowflex. This series features several hybrid elliptical machines that fit nicely into any home gym. The M3 is the best offered by Bowflex for under $1,000. This is a top in its class hybrid step elliptical for a great price. You can’t go wrong. 

The M3 is a really cool addition to your home gym because it functions more like a stepper. In fact, it’s one of the best cross trainers you can buy for the price and has an extremely small footprint. Because of the stepper-like movement of the pedals, the stride length is much shorter than that of most ellipticals. This change in direction and movement produces a huge difference in the workout. It allows those seeking a high-intensity workout to really challenge themselves by turning up the heat on all of the major muscle groups in the lower body. 

This elliptical features a 14-minute interval workout that packs a serious punch. It delivers a powerful cardio workout in a short amount of time combining these three essentials:

• Stepper/cross-trainer range of motion
• 8 resistance levels
• Multi-directional hand grips

The handgrips are another unique feature of this machine. Most machines offer fixed and dynamic grips to choose from. This machine does the same, but also offers a third option for dynamic hand grips in which the palms of your hands face down towards the floor.

This might not seem like a big deal, but this angle can fundamentally change the upper body portion of your workout. With your hands in a prone (downward-facing) position, you activate your triceps, shoulders, and upper back. Activating more muscles means burning more calories, and that’s always a plus!

Here's what I liked:

• Burn rate display - sets activity level target & displays burn rate
• 3 Handgrip positions
• Burn more calories with the same low-impact motion

Needs Improvement:

• The motion (stepper) angle may not be best if you have bad knees

Specifications:

• Footprint: 49” L x 26” W x 64.7” H
• User Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
• Stride Length: N/A
• Machine Weight: 143 lbs
• Warranty: 1 year

The Horizon EX-59 home elliptical is simplicity at its finest. The console is easy-to-read with minimal controls, buttons, and knobs. The one-touch keys make it easy to change your resistance. It also has a small media tray for you to place your tablet, smartphone, or another device.

This elliptical has built-in Bluetooth speakers so you can connect your device and listen through the speakers rather than wearing earbuds. This machine is exceptionally quiet, you don’t have to worry about it drowning out the sound of the speakers - yet another plus.

A really fabulous feature of this elliptical is the short lateral distance between the foot pedals. This allows your legs to move in a more natural motion and can decrease strain on the inner knees. The Horizon EX-59 is built to mimic your natural stride in order to maximize efficiency and limit injuries. With this choice, you can’t go wrong.

Here's what I liked:

• Quick assembly (1-3 hours on average)
• Compact and quiet
• Great price at Dick's Sporting Goods at the time the article was written
• Sturdy machine with Bluetooth speaker installed

Needs Improvement:

• Some say the electronics have problems over time.

Specifications:

• Footprint: 74”L x 25”W x 64.5”H
• User Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
• Stride Length: 18”
• Machine Weight: 145 lbs
• Warranty: Lifetime frame / 1-year parts and labor

We cannot leave NordicTrack, which is another highly rated brand in the home fitness space. NordicTrack offers innovative solutions for your home gym and their elliptical trainers are no exception. The NordicTrack SE7i is a mid-range, rear-drive elliptical in the NordicTrack lineup and has a few innovative features worth discussing.

Let's start with the "Spacesaver" design. We all know Ellipticals take up a lot of space; so NordiTrack designed the SE7i to "fold-up" for compact vertical storage - what an idea! 

The console features the iFit Coach application which functions as a personal trainer for your elliptical workout. NordicTrack offers this on most of the cardio machines they sell and it is designed to keep you pumped up, motivated, and dialed-in during your entire workout. You can choose from a variety of workouts that take place all over the world and your coach is right there with you, cueing you on what to do next.

Here's what I liked:

• Solid, rear-drive elliptical from a trusted brand
• Spacesaver feature gives you flexibility for home use
• Keep your workout fresh with the iFit Coach application

Needs Improvement:

• You still need to pick up the elliptical to store it vertically. This could be a challenge for some due to its weight. 
• 18" stride length (I prefer 20")

Specifications:

• Footprint: 80"L x 32"W x 67"H
• User Weight Capacity: 325 lb
• Stride Length: 18"
• Machine Weight: 215 lb
• Warranty: 10-Year Frame, 2-Year Parts, 1-Year Labor

We round out our reviews with the Sole E25 - a highly adjustable elliptical machine and one of the best for bad knees. Some elliptical users tell us they have numbness in their toes during the workout or feel a slight pressure on the insides of their knees. This front-drive elliptical features articulating foot pedals that can be adjusted to match your precise movements. What a huge benefit for people with high arches, arthritis in the knees and ankles, or other sensitivities in the feet.

The Sole e25 console also offers some unique features that will add to your experience. This gem has an integrated sound system that allows you to plug in your device and listen to your music through the speakers. And while you are sweating with the music, you can turn on the built-in fan to keep you cool which is a really awesome feature.

Do you need a personal coach to help plan your workouts? This machine can do it all. It has 9 programmed workouts and one option that is fully customizable. This means that you can avoid plateaus and stagnation by changing up your workouts and then building one tailored just for you. Want to keep an eye on your cardio? Included with the Sole e25 is a heart rate monitor strap that connects wirelessly to the console so you can enhance your workout through heart rate training.

Last but not least, this machine features a power incline. Whether you’re interested in weight loss, toning, or endurance training, the combination of resistance and incline variation will get you there.

Here's what I liked:

• Best elliptical for bad knees
• Stable and relatively easy to assemble
• Beautiful 6.5" LCD display

Needs Improvement:

• Has a heart rate monitor but not a heart rate program for the machine
• Time-consuming assembly - lots of plastic add-on parts

Specifications:

• Footprint: 66” L x 23” W x 34” H
• User Weight Capacity: 325 lbs
• Stride Length: 20”
• Machine Weight: 189 lbs
• Warranty: Lifetime frame / 3 years parts / 1 year labor