Best Ellipticals Under $500 Dollars

The health benefits of cardio are too many to count. According to Business Insider, “Exercises that get your heart pumping and sweat flowing — known as aerobic exercise, or "cardio"— have significant and beneficial effects on the brain and body.” The most common form of cardio is running, either on a treadmill or on pavement. Running or jogging is an amazing form of exercise, but it’s not for everyone.

Running can be hard on the knees, joints, and muscles. Opting for an elliptical instead is a great way to get the cardio you need, without the impact. While using an elliptical, your feet never actually leave step pedals, making this a “no impact” form of cardio. Avoiding high impact exercise isn’t the only reason to start shopping for a top elliptical under 500 bucks.

Before you can determine what is the best elliptical machine under 500 dollars, there are a lot of considerations to be made. The first consideration is the type of elliptical that is right for you. First, decide if you would benefit from a standing or recumbent elliptical.

The more traditional of the two is a standing machine, where your body will remain in an upright position while you exercise. A recumbent elliptical is similar to a recumbent bike - the user remains seated while the machine is in use.

Next, decide if a full-size or compact elliptical is better suited to your home workout space. Anyone limited on space should shop around for the best compact elliptical under $500. Compact ellipticals have folding capabilities and are the ultimate choice if saving space is a main priority.

Some of the best elliptical machines are hybrid trainers, meaning they offer the option to either sit or stand. In other words, a 2-in-1 hybrid machine serves as both an elliptical and a bike. And then there is an under-desk elliptical, also called the "mini elliptical." An under-desk machine is placed under a desk or table and provides a workout for the bottom half of the body, even while getting work done at the office. 

Before purchasing the best elliptical under $500, it's crucial to determine where to machine will be going and how much space is available. Many home-elliptical users keep the machine in the basement out of the everyday living space.

A common mistake is to take into account the width and length of the machine and forget about the height. Ellipticals can be tall machines, so ensure that you have plenty of ceiling height and can comfortably stand on the trainer.

According to the Consumer Reports Elliptical Buying Guide, “Ellipticals are about 6 feet long by 2.5 feet wide but can range in length from 50 to 84 inches." Consumer Reports also says that it is important to remember that the pedals may extend beyond the dimensions of the machine while it is operating. Take this into account when measuring the intended space for the elliptical.

One of the main reasons to invest in the best elliptical machine under 500 dollars is to lose unwanted belly fat. It's easy to shed pounds with an elliptical, especially for women. But if you have lots of pounds to shed, it’s important to factor in the user weight limitations of the elliptical trainer you’re considering. The weight limit for elliptical users falls between 250 and 400 pounds. Compact folding machines will have lower weight limitations than full-size trainers. 

Every elliptical machine works in generally the same way, but the performance level can vary. With an extremely basic model, the user won’t have much control over features like resistance, stride length, or incline. The best elliptical machines will give the user complete control over these performance features and more.

A top-rated machine allows you to adjust the resistance from easy to challenging. The resistance is typically measured by numbers ranging from 1-10 or 1-20. Having the ability to change the incline is also important; there are several benefits to increasing the incline, the first being a more challenging workout.

Stride length is another important performance feature since every person is different in terms of height. Taller individuals will benefit from a longer stride setting, while shorter ones are better off with a shorter stride length. Ellipticals typically range from 12 to 21 inches in stride length, most often offering a stride of 15 or 16 inches.

Just because you’re trying to stick to a budget when investing in a best rated elliptical under 500 dollars doesn’t mean you should skimp on safety. Safety has to do with several things, including materials used, construction of the machine, and the specific manufacturer.

Researching safety is an important step; several elliptical machines have been recalled over the years due to safety concerns, like the Matrix Fitness Elliptical. The majority of elliptical machines on the market are 100% safe as long as you properly follow the assembly and usage instructions.

In terms of value for the price, the best home elliptical under $500 is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3804. This elliptical trainer was built for a high-intensity cardio workout with dual action forward and backward pedaling. Similar to the last model, this one comes with two sets of handlebars, one stationary and one that moves along with the pedals. It provides 8 levels of resistance using a magnetic tension system.

The digital monitor located between the stationary handlebars tells you all the necessary information relating to the workout. It can even calculate your body fat percentage, as well as give an accurate heart rate reading within 60 seconds or less. It also gives you a digital reading of your current and average speed, time passed and time remaining, calories burned, and distance traveled.

There is, however, one flaw regarding the stride length; it only offers a 13.5-inch stride. Compared to other ellipticals offering 16 to 21-inch stride lengths, this is extremely short. One reviewer says that “it is just the right size if you are 5 ft. to 5.5 ft…" Any taller than that and you might find the stride length too short for comfort. Another common complaint about the Sunny SF-E3804 is its lack of programmed workouts. Other than that, though, this is a solid choice if getting in shape also means sticking to a budget.

The Cubii Pro is the perfect under desk elliptical to help you stay in shape, even when you spend all your time at the office. One of the biggest challenges of holding a desk job is finding time to exercise and the risks involved in a sedentary lifestyle, but that is no longer a problem with the Cubii Pro.  It's small size fits perfectly under any desk space, so much that your work colleagues won’t even know it’s there.

This elliptical is ergonomically designed to not only keep you moving but also promote optimal posture. It allows leg movement without the risk of bumping into the underside of the desk. Even though it's small, the Cubii Pro still provides 8 separate levels of resistance. If your desk chair has wheels, you can use the included wheel stoppers to minimize chair movement.

This is the only elliptical that has Bluetooth capabilities, meaning you can connect the machine to the Cubii app for iOS or Android. With the app, you'll be able to track your movement, distance, time, and average revolutions per minute. You can even sync your workouts with FitBit and Apple HealthKit to reach your daily step goals. Overall, the Cubii Pro is a fantastic alternative when you don't have time to hit the gym or take a spin at your in-home elliptical.

For a total-body workout at home, the Body-Solid Best Fitness Crosstrainer Elliptical is a solid choice. The combined upper and lower body movements glide in a smooth rhythm that is easy on the joints yet tough on fat. This model's space-efficient design means that it will fit in most rooms of the house. And the integrated wheel system makes moving the machine easier than ever.

The multi-function LED display sits in the center of everything. It is easy to use, easy to control, and tracks everything from calories burned to heart rate. Heart rate is monitored via the hand grips located on the stationary handlebars. One reviewer says that getting an accurate heart rate reading is difficult, while others have had no trouble at all. Luckily, the warranty covers this machine parts for up to 1 year, so if you have difficulty with it at first, you can get a replacement.

This trainer comes with 8 resistance settings, a 12” stride length, and offers a running/climbing motion meant to tone, strengthen, and shed pounds. The main downside of this is the short stride length - 12 inches - which is not ideal for taller individuals. Many users say that it works great, but then they follow that up by saying they are between the heights of 5’2” and 5’9”. Anyone taller than this or that weighs more than 225 lbs. should opt for another elliptical trainer, like the Schwinn 411 Compact. 

The previous models have had a maximum stride length of 16 inches, which is great for most people, but not ideal for larger individuals. If you consider yourself on the tall side of things, the Exerpeutic 1318 2000 with Double Transmission Drive is for you. The machine’s stride length reaches 18 inches, providing a comfortable and full range workout - even for taller individuals.

In addition to the 7 training modes offered by the Exerpeutic, the machine is also programmed with 12 unique workout programs. This can all be controlled on the LCD console with a double transmission drive system, where you'll also view time, distance, speed, RPM, calories, and heart rate. The console also has a spot for easy placement of your tablet or iPhone, so you can stay entertained while you sweat.

The machine's computer is capable of storing 4 separate user profiles, so everyone in the family can keep track of progress. There are 24 magnetic tension resistance levels, ranging from easy (1) to extremely difficult (24). Even though this machine is the best option for larger bodies, the compact design and transport wheel system makes moving it around the house simple. There is one downfall, though. The Exerpeutic can handle tall bodies, but you must remember that the weight limit is only 270 lbs.

If your main priority for your fitness routine is innovative digital features, try the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3862. This machine is loaded with special features, like 24 exercise presets, a BMI calculator, 16 resistance levels, and 7 workout modes. The pulse monitor is located on the stationary handlebars, offering an accurate reading of heart rate and overall performance.

The non-slip pedals of the SF-E3862 automatically adjust to incline with the natural movement of your feet. The stride length is long enough for even the tallest users - 15.75 inches - and the machine supports up to 265 lbs. Even if your home is experiencing a power outage, you can use this machine in manual mode. The resistance level will pick up where you left off last, but you won't have access to the digital capabilities when using the machine manually.

Other special features include a water bottle holder, a device holder on the main console, and transportation wheels for portability. You can set your target heart rate and check your progress before, after, and during each workout. The only negative feedback about this Sunny Health & Fitness model is that it's not as quiet as other elliptical trainers.

Running, no matter if it is on a treadmill, outdoors in nature, or on an indoor track, is considered to be high impact. Every time each foot hits the pavement, there is a significant “impact” on the entire body. This is not suitable for everyone, especially for older individuals with achy joints and sore muscles trying to stay true to a cardio regimen.

Unlike a treadmill, an elliptical is extremely low-impact and is the ideal solution for anyone suffering from knee or back issues. However, there are a few major similarities between treadmills and ellipticals. No matter if you choose a treadmill or elliptical, you will receive a great cardio workout, burn calories, and get your heart racing and blood flowing.

When comparing the number of calories burned, BuiltLean says that “the average calories burned jogging on a treadmill for one hour was 705 to 866.  By comparison, an estimate by Health Status found using an elliptical trainer for one hour will burn approximately 773 calories.” Yes, a treadmill has a slight advantage in the number of calories burned, but the low-impact nature of an elliptical makes up for this.

If low-impact cardio is your main priority, don’t even consider investing in a treadmill. You can, however, think about purchasing one of the top-rated recumbent bikes on the market. Similar to an elliptical, a recumbent bike has minimal impact on the body. When seated on a recumbent bike, the body is entirely relaxed, and a backrest supports the spine. For this reason, a recumbent bike is ideal for elderly and senior exercise.

However, if you want to burn more calories and lose more weight, an elliptical is the better choice. While using an elliptical, there is movement in both the upper and lower body, whereas a recumbent bike only focuses on the legs. For a more intense workout focused on more muscle groups and more calories burned, opt for an elliptical.