A good elliptical lives on two things: a long, smooth stride and a frame that does not flex under load. Our pick is the Sole E35, with an SR Score of 89, for a heavy front-mounted flywheel, a 350 lb weight capacity, a 20-inch stride, and free on-screen workouts with no mandatory subscription. The NordicTrack AirGlide 14i (86) is the choice if you want guided, scenic classes. Buyers who want the longest warranty and the most refined ride should step up to the Sole E95.
The ranking
| Rank | Elliptical | Best for | Price (approx) | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sole E35 | Overall, no subscription | ~$1,500 | 89 |
| 2 | NordicTrack AirGlide 14i | Guided iFit classes | ~$1,499 + sub | 86 |
| 3 | Sole E95 | Premium ride & warranty | ~$2,000 | 88 |
| 4 | ProForm Carbon EL | Budget screen machine | ~$999 + sub | 80 |
| 5 | Bowflex Max Trainer M9 | Compact HIIT hybrid | ~$1,799 | 82 |
| 6 | Horizon EX-59 | Best value entry | ~$799 | 79 |
| 7 | Sole E25 | Smaller-footprint Sole | ~$1,100 | 83 |
Methodology
The Fitness Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Ride feel & stride (30) — flywheel weight, stride length, smoothness.
- Build & durability (25) — frame rigidity, weight capacity, warranty.
- Value for money (20) — cost relative to ride and build, plus any subscription.
- Features & screen (15) — resistance/incline range, display, connectivity.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — lab and owner consensus.
Ride feel and build lead because a flexing, choppy elliptical is the one you stop using. Re-weight Features to 25 and the iFit screen machines rise.
Sole E35
The all-rounder. About $1,500. A heavy front-mounted flywheel and 20-inch stride give a stable, smooth feel, with a 350 lb capacity that suits most body types. The 10-inch screen runs free Sole+ workouts, plus wireless charging and screen mirroring.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 27/30 |
| Build & durability | 23/25 |
| Value for money | 17/20 |
| Features & screen | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: heavy and large, so it is not easy to move or store.
NordicTrack AirGlide 14i
The class-led pick. About $1,499 plus an iFit subscription. A 14-inch rotating touchscreen streams guided, scenic sessions with auto-adjusting resistance and incline. Strong content, but the experience leans on the paid plan.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 24/30 |
| Build & durability | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 16/20 |
| Features & screen | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: the best of the machine is locked behind an ongoing iFit fee.
Sole E95
The upgrade. About $2,000. A heavier flywheel and beefier frame than the E35 with the same 20-inch stride and free Sole+ content. The most refined ride here and Sole’s strongest warranty.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 28/30 |
| Build & durability | 24/25 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Features & screen | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: a clear step up in price for a ride most home users will find only slightly better than the E35.
ProForm Carbon EL
The budget screen machine. About $999 plus iFit. A 5-inch display and iFit compatibility at a low entry price. A reasonable on-ramp if guided content matters more than build.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 22/30 |
| Build & durability | 18/25 |
| Value for money | 16/20 |
| Features & screen | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: lighter frame and lower capacity than the Soles, and heavily subscription-dependent.
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
The compact HIIT hybrid. About $1,799. A stepper-elliptical hybrid with a short footprint built around quick, intense intervals. Great for small rooms and time-pressed users.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 23/30 |
| Build & durability | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Features & screen | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: the short, steep motion is not a traditional elliptical stride and suits interval work more than long steady cardio.
Horizon EX-59
The value entry. About $799. A no-nonsense machine with a usable stride and Bluetooth speakers, aimed at first-time buyers. The best ride-per-dollar at the low end.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 21/30 |
| Build & durability | 18/25 |
| Value for money | 17/20 |
| Features & screen | 11/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: lighter flywheel and lower capacity; not built for daily heavy use over many years.
Sole E25
The smaller-footprint Sole. About $1,100. A trimmed-down sibling of the E35 with a similar flywheel philosophy and free Sole+ content in a more apartment-friendly size.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ride feel & stride | 24/30 |
| Build & durability | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 17/20 |
| Features & screen | 12/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: shorter stride and lower capacity than the E35; the E35 is worth the step up for most adults.
How to choose
Decide first whether guided, scenic classes are the thing that will keep you exercising. If yes, the NordicTrack AirGlide 14i has the best content, but plan to pay iFit for years. If you want a machine that just works without a subscription, the Sole E35 is the smart middle of the market: a heavy flywheel, a long stride, a high capacity, and free on-screen workouts. Want the most refined ride and longest warranty, step up to the E95; want the cheapest credible entry, the Horizon EX-59. Re-weight the rubric toward Features and the screen machines climb; weight Ride feel and Build, as we do, and the Sole E35 wins.
Verification
- Sole E35 / E95 / E25 — specs, stride, capacity, and pricing verified on solefitness.com.
- NordicTrack AirGlide 14i — screen, iFit, and pricing verified on nordictrack.com.
- ProForm Carbon EL — specs and pricing verified on proform.com.
- Bowflex Max Trainer M9 — specs and pricing verified on bowflex.com.
- Horizon EX-59 — specs and pricing verified on horizonfitness.com.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the best elliptical in 2026?
- The Sole E35 for most homes. It pairs a heavy front flywheel with a 350 lb weight capacity, a 20-inch stride, and a 10-inch screen with free Sole+ content, so there is no mandatory subscription.
- How much should I spend on an elliptical?
- Around $1,500 is the sweet spot where you get a commercial-grade flywheel, a long stride, and a high weight capacity. The Sole E35 sits near there. Below about $800 the ride feels short and wobbly.
- Do I need a subscription?
- No. Sole machines include free Sole+ workouts on the built-in screen. NordicTrack and ProForm lean on a paid iFit subscription for their guided, scenic content, though you can still use them manually.
- What stride length should I look for?
- Aim for about a 20-inch stride for most adults; taller users may want 21-22 inches. A short stride forces a choppy, unnatural motion. The Sole E35 uses a 20-inch stride.
- Elliptical or treadmill for joints?
- An elliptical is the lower-impact option because your feet never leave the pedals, so there is no landing shock. It is a common pick for people managing knee or hip discomfort. This is general information, not medical advice.