If you’re looking for the best cheap elliptical to put in your home or office then we’ve done all the research for you. An elliptical machine is one of the best ways to get a full body exercise, but it doesn’t need to be an expensive item in your home. Instead take a look at our top 6 picks here.
Consider This When Buying an Inexpensive Elliptical
Whenever you buy a large item for your home you should first consider how often you’ll actually use it and where it’s going to go in your house. The last thing you want is yet another thing cluttering up your space in the living room.
For this reason our top pick is a foldable elliptical which you can easily stow away in a large cupboard when it’s not being used.
Top 6 Best Affordable Ellipticals Chart
| Picture | Name | Features | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic | Digital display, folding, 8 levels | $$$$ | 4.4 |
| 2. Merax® Exercise Fan Bike | Digital display, unlimited levels | $$$ | 4.4 |
| 3. Goplus® 2 IN 1 Elliptical Bike | LED display | $$ | 4.2 |
| 4. Stamina In-Motion Elliptical Trainer | Compact size | $ | 4.1 |
| 5. Plasma Fit Elliptical Machine | 2 in 1 trainer, LCD display | $$$$ | 3.8 |
| 6. Exerpeutic Aero Air Ellipticals | Compact, LCD display | $$$ | 3.7 |
Buying Information
There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when you’re comparing cheap elliptical machines, here’s a few pointers:
- Size. Elliptical machines are often very bulky and heavy. The higher end models usually require bolting together before they can be used and are pretty hard to move about after they’re put together.
- Resistance Levels. Once you get into using your elliptical machine you’ll want to increase the resistance levels to get a better workout. Machines with many levels will keep challenging you in your workouts, whereas fewer levels offer a limited range.
- Moveability. Folding ellipticals are a great option for most home owners as they are usually easy to move and put away in cupboards. Other cheap ellipticals will usually require two people to move them around your house, so think carefully about where your new machine is going.
Top 3 Best Cheap Elliptical Reviews
1. Exerpeutic
When it comes to buying the best cheap ellicptial you’re usually not going to invest a large amount of space in your house for a workout area. Having a machine that folds up and can be stored away in a closet obviously has some perks for the casual user.
Being foldable can often lead to a flimsy, unstable machine that feels uncomfortable to exercise on, but not with the Exerpeutic. We found the machine to be very stable despite being foldable, and it was incredibly comfortable to use.
For a bargain price, this machine offers a cheap alternative to many similar ellipticals that can be more than 10x the cost. With 8 levels of tension resistance this machine has plenty of challenge for even the fittest users. We found the highest levels to be very challenging, despite being regular gym goers.
This machine even comes with a heart rate monitor – a feature we don’t normally see on lower priced models.
2. Merax
The feature we loved most about this brand was the unlimited resistance levels. You can precisely turn up and down the resistance to match your fitness level. There are no ‘notches’ or set increments, so you can perfectly tune it into your body.
Other than that, this machine is well built and sturdy enough for even the most challenging routines. There isn’t a heart rate monitor though, but nowadays you can get an app on your phone that works just the same.
The fan on this machine has been designed to shoot air right at the user. This is a good and bad design feature. On days when it’s cold having cool air blown into your chest is rather unpleasant, but during a steamy workout it’s great. So if you are thinking about buying this machine then make sure you’ll be using it in a warm room where you’ll build up a sweat.
3. Goplus
Unlike many of the other ellipticals we reviewed this machine was very quiet to use. Of course you have the sound of the fan blowing as you move the pedals, but there is no clunking or whirring coming from other components. Most of this is due to the fan wheel being driven by a large chain – much like a pushbike.
Not only does this machine deliver a quiet, peaceful workout; it’s also got great features such as the clearly lit LED display which shows speed, distance and calories. Overall the size of this model is fairly compact compared to others on the market.
The build is sturdy and we found the movements of the pedals to be very comfortable and natural. When it comes to buying the best cheap elliptical you really can’t go past this one.
