7 Best Ellipticals Under $500: Reviewed, Rated & Compared

If you're looking for an elliptical that does it all, except breaking the bank, you can't go wrong with this beautiful elliptical from Schwinn.

The first thing to understand is that this is a compact machine. This makes it the perfect choice if you're short on space at home. Despite this, it doesn't cut any corners when it comes to the features it offers.

One of the things that makes this a real game-changer is the Explore the World app, which allows you to fully immerse yourself in real-life locations, helping to keep you motivated on your workout. While the app does come with some free courses to pick from, some of the better options are reserved for the app's paid version.

The Schwinn comes with 16 different resistance levels to allow you to completely customize your routine, handlebar heart rate sensors, and a water bottle holder to offer a comfortable workout.

One of the downsides is the lack of backlight in the console, making viewing the detail difficult in direct sunlight; it also lacks an incline for adding intensity.

Drawbacks aside, the Schwinn is an impressive elliptical at such an affordable price point - definitely one you wouldn't want to pass up.

Runner up in our list of affordable ellipticals is the 1000XL from Exerpeutic, and trust us when we say it was close!

The Exerpeutic is a stylish looking machine in a silver finish and would look great in any home gym or garage. It comes with an easy-to-read display to keep track of your workout and is compact enough to fit into tight spaces. The LCD display can help you to keep track of distance, calories burned, and time.

At just 76lbs, it's also considerably lighter than the Schwinn, so it's ideal if you live in an apartment with no lift or anticipate moving the elliptical regularly. The built-in transport wheels make maneuvering light work.

It unfortunately missed out on our top spot due to the stride length of just 13 inches, which some taller individuals may find a little uncomfortable to use. It also only offers eight resistance levels (compared to Schwinn's 16). Still, it comes in a little cheaper, which would make it an ideal choice if you're on a strict budget.

We did find assembly a little tricky, so it's worth clearing an afternoon to make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to put everything together.

We see this model as an ideal choice for a small home/apartment owner looking for a simple, no-frills machine for infrequent use.

If you're always on the lookout for ways to become more productive, we are pretty sure you are going to love the Cubii Pro. This elliptical is pretty unique. Instead of the full unit of handlebars and a flywheel, this compact machine is designed to fit your desk neatly.

Why would you want one for under your desk, you may ask? Well, aside from the apparent storage benefits, having an elliptical under your desk means you can get in some exercise while working or studying, helping to multi-task and maximize your waking hours.

One of the most significant benefits of the Cubii Pro is that it syncs with your fitness devices, including Apple Watch and Fitbit, helping you easily track your workouts. Cubii Pro owners can also join live workouts on Facebook exclusive to the Cubii community and catch up on recorded sessions at your convenience.

The size of the Cubii also means it's incredibly portable. At such an accessible price point, there's no reason why you can't pick one up for home and the office.

Now given the angle you'll be using the Cubii at, you're going to need to invest in a high-quality anti-slip mat to ensure the machine doesn't slide all over the floor, but these can be picked up relatively inexpensively.

Our one criticism is that you don't get the benefit of working out your arms simultaneously with a lack of handlebars.

You only have to look at the Sunny Health & Fitness device to understand why it made it onto our list. The SF-E3912 is one of the most well built and durable machines we tested.

Big and bulky, this machine is guaranteed to put up with whatever you can throw at it. It can also accommodate heavier users, as this machine comes with a weight capacity of up to 330 lbs. That being said, its size does have a disadvantage in that you will need a bit more room in your home to accommodate it.

This machine boasts an impressive 16 levels of resistance, as well as an incredible performance monitor to help track your workouts. Better still, the SF-E3912 comes with a device storage shelf, bottle holders, and pulse sensor. In other words, Sunny Health & Fitness has thought of everything to make your workout much more comfortable.

The machine also comes with 24 different workout modes, each targeted towards a specific fitness goal such as losing weight or increasing stamina.

While it's not the cheapest on the list, it packs an incredible performance level for such a low price and would make a worthy addition to any home gym.

The Body Power 2-in-1 is perfect for those who want the versatility of two exercise machines in one compact device.

One of Body Power's most significant selling points is the curve crank technology, which, as the name suggests, is a curve in the crank of the elliptical helping to deliver a dead-zone-free rotation as you step. This effectively removes any impact on your joints, which could lead to injury. But it doesn't stop there. As well as its ergonomic design, it's also space-saving with a small footprint.

You'll have no trouble maneuvering this machine around thanks to its built-in wheels. Still, it may be worth investing in a heavy-duty mat or flooring to ensure its stability, as some users complain that it can rock a little when in use.

With eight levels of resistance and an easy to use LCD monitor, you can strive towards smashing your fitness goals for less than the cost of a few months gym membership.

Ellipticals are great for losing weight due to their high-calorie burn rate. By using your elliptical for interval training, you can maximize the body's ability to burn fat in a much shorter period than you may think.

This depends on your goals. If your goal is to lose weight, then the most important thing you need to understand is that you need to be in a calorie deficit.

To put it simply, a calorie deficit is when your body is burning more calories than you are consuming. Various online calculators can help you calculate your calorie deficit. Still, you'll also need to spend some time tracking your food intake to ensure you are eating less than you are using.

The good news is, a 30-minute workout on an elliptical can burn around 335 calories. Based on your calculations, you should determine whether 30 minutes is sufficient or whether you may need to spend a little longer working out.

Calculating exactly how many calories you have burned during a particular activity is pretty tricky. For that reason, if you're motivated to lose weight or improve your fitness, a fitness tracker is an excellent investment, as it takes much of the hard work out of the equation.

If you're keen to understand the numbers behind the calculation, check out this detailed article.

Physically speaking, treadmills consist of a moving belt, while with an elliptical, your feet move around in a circle.

Ellipticals are generally favored by those who may have joint problems, particularly in the knees, as they are low impact and much easier on the joints.