11 Best Treadmills for Every Budget and Fitness Level

If you prefer to run outside but want something for those days the weather doesn’t cooperate, this simple treadmill does the job without doing significant damage to your bank account.

It can go up to 10 miles per hour, has three levels of manual incline, includes 12 built-in workout programs, and features pulse sensors mounted on the handlebars to help keep you in the right heart rate zone. When you’re done, it folds right up.

This treadmill has over 17,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with many reviewers calling out that it offers a “fabulous bang for your buck,” “great value,” and that it “exceeded expectations.”

“I am a 78-year-old woman whose experience with a treadmill has been limited to using the commercial-grade treadmill in our community clubhouse,” says a very satisfied customer.

They add, “This treadmill ... certainly does everything I need it to do. It is very quiet and does not interfere with the TV if I’m watching it. It is sturdy and well-constructed. There is a ledge for an iPad or Kindle should I wish to read while walking. And at the end of my walk, I know how long I’ve walked, how far I’ve walked, and how many calories I’ve burned. I can also monitor my heart rate as I walk.”

Thousands of trainer-led workouts are at your fingertips with the Pro 9000, which promises a hefty amount of specs at a midlevel price range.

This machine promises to give your home gym the full workout experience — live and on-demand sessions via a 30-day iFIT membership, which can take place either in the studio or their Global Workout space, offers interactive personal training that grows with you. How? iFIT automatically adjusts your speed and incline with each workout.

Your biofeedback is also automatically recorded after each session so you can easily track your progress. All this via Bluetooth headphone connectivity and a 22-inch touchscreen? Workouts with the Pro 9000 are now way more immersive than you ever thought possible. And yes, it folds up vertically and relatively easily via EasyLift Assist technology, because why not?

“Great treadmill — it has everything you will ever want and need in a piece of exercise equipment,” says one customer. “We love this machine! The 22-inch touchscreen is bright and has vivid colors, the included iFIT membership works flawlessly, and it’s so fun to walk on the beaches in the Caribbean with fitness experts leading the way. If you are looking for a moderately priced, easy-to-use treadmill, look no further than the Pro 9000, you won’t be disappointed,” they add.

“Highly recommend,” says another. “Nice shock resistance [and] easy on the body. Had knee surgery, and I have no complications or pains while using [it]. Super easy setup. Speed, incline, and a nice fan built in.”

Peloton’s treadmill recreates the at-home cardio experience in the same way the company did with its bike: via live-streamed and on-demand classes that create a sense of camaraderie and accountability (through a subscription of $44 a month).

The Tread packs plenty of safety features, including Tread Lock, a four-digit digital passcode each authorized user must enter to unlock the belt before a workout, and a removable safety key that helps a runner come to a quick stop during a class if needed and prevents unintended use.

At a quick glance, it looks like your standard, heavy-duty tread, but the magic is in the details, like the two knobs on the machine’s arms that roll forward or backward to adjust the speed or incline, versus stabbing at buttons on the console and a 23.8-inch HD touchscreen with integrated speakers that tilts up and down 50 degrees.

The machine may be pricey, but it doesn’t have a shortage of rave reviews. “I love the Peloton Tread!” says one happy user. “I love being able to vary my workout, from walks, to runs, to hikes, to boot camps. Plus, I love having access to all of the other class content. I have had a very positive experience with the Tread equipment!”

“The Tread is a great piece of equipment,” affirms another. “We have had the bike for 3 years and decided to add the Tread. It is great for the whole family as we all work out on it. The variety of classes is great and can challenge any fitness level. The Tread is smooth, and the jump button allows smooth transitions to different speeds and elevations. We are very happy with the purchase!”

More: Our Full Review of the Peloton Tread

While most treadmills offer a 12-15% grade incline, the NordicTrack x32i goes up to 40% — a grade that offers five times the calorie burn (even while walking!) compared to their lowest setting. It can also decline from flat to -6%.

With a monthly $39 iFIT subscription, you can stream classes filmed all over the world (and view them in living color on the 32-inch interactive HD touchscreen), where the trainers will digitally control your incline and speed in real-time to a) create a more natural experience, and b) keep you from worrying about anything except running.

Just want to run on your own? Plot a route on Google Maps and run along to Google Street View.

Despite the hefty price tag, users call this an “absolutely fantastic workout machine” and that “the 32-inch screen is absolutely awesome and really helps you feel you are there, and completely worth it if you are able to spend the extra or splurge a little,” says a happy customer.

They add, “I have found myself moving around on the belt as if I am avoiding obstacles, so the wider and longer belt is great. The 40% incline is intense and awesome. The variety, availability, and continuous updates of the workouts available with iFIT are awesome and keep you engaged, interested, and motivated.”

This machine has 26 different workouts programmed into it — plus 27 high-definition routes via the Explore the World app that take you through exotic locales like the Scottish Highlands and the streets of Prague — so you'll never get bored.

Not only is the belt slightly thicker than many other treadmills, its cushioning is firmer in the back where your foot pushes off, but softer in the front to minimize the impact on your joints.

Bonus: A dual display lets you watch your tablet and track progress.

Reviewers “appreciate the many options” in the T618, saying that “indoor running improved” with this machine. “I would recommend Nautilus equipment-especially the treadmill to my friends looking for in-home gym equipment because it feels solid and just like professional equipment,” says one particularly satisfied user.”

Another reviewer adds, "If you're looking for an awesome way to exercise, you can pair the Nautilus with your tablet or smartphone. This will allow you to use Runsocial workouts via Bluetooth ... and you can virtually work out in scenic locations around the world by yourself or with others if you choose.”

Bowflex’s Treadmill 22 will fuel your runner’s high with a top-of-the-line cardio experience that provides coaching, motivation, and variety with every run you take. The machine features an adjustable HD touchscreen, extra cushioning on its deck to reduce harsh impact, and an impressive motorized incline range.

Its Bluetooth technology makes pairing smart devices and heart rate monitors easy as can be — a useful heart rate armband even comes included. You can also reduce its footprint by more than 40% with the SoftDrop system, which allows you to safely fold it up with ease.

With Bowflex’s JRNY Membership ($19.99/month or $149/year), you can experience individualized workouts with real-time virtual coaching that continuously adapts as your fitness improves. Subscribing to the fitness membership will also give you access to trainer-led classes, 200-plus travel destination courses, and an easy place to review your milestones, achievements, and personal bests to keep your fitness goals on track.

Our tester says, “The wide variety of workouts to choose from keeps my workouts exciting and keeps me motivated. I especially love that I can watch Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+, or HBO Max right on the screen as I work out. When I’m running at a higher pace, I can really feel the shock-resistance feature and don’t feel a lot of impact on my knees or body at all, which is something that used to really bother me about my old treadmill. I’ve never enjoyed working out at home more than I do with this treadmill.”

Schwinn is owned by Nautilus, so it shares a number of features with the T618 treadmill mentioned earlier: This one has 16 built-in workout programs, compatibility with the Explore the World app for virtual courses, and a dual display. (Bonus: It has folding technology for easy storage.)

This machine does have a slightly less powerful motor, but can still challenge you with inclines of up to 10%. It’s also a little shorter — the running belt is 55 inches compared to 60 — and while the belt isn’t quite as thick as the Nautilus’, it uses SoftTrak cushioning to provide some relief for your joints.

Customers say that they’re “honestly really happy” with this purchase, touting their experience with the machine as “even better than the gym” and that it was the “best investment I think I’ve made in a very long time.”

“Good quality without things I didn’t want. Easy to assemble,” says one satisfied user.

“The 10 % incline works very well,” says another. “It’s a very quiet treadmill, and I enjoyed walking and running on it. It feels solid and sturdy, and I feel it was a great value for the price.”

Short on space? This tread’s sturdy, all-steel frame folds up in seconds thanks to Lifespan’s EZFold technology. When you’re ready to run, though, it offers speeds up to 13.5 miles per hour, 13 levels of incline, and 50-plus built-in programs (and the option to program and save your own workouts).

The 10-inch touchscreen has doubled in size in the latest model, which allows you to see your stats on three different dashboards more easily than ever before.

“Great for walking!” says one user. “I was looking for something sturdy, easy to use for accumulating walking steps, and didn’t use a lot of electricity.”

Another says, “Folds and unfolds easily. I love having the controls on the handles for speed. I also like the ability to scroll through different screens to track your workout. It’s a great feature.”

Peloton access without the Peloton tread? It is possible! Horizon’s 7.8 AT Studio Treadmill syncs via Bluetooth to streaming fitness apps like Peloton, Studio.live, and MapMyRun. The machine (which folds up when you’re not using it) also features dials on the arms to easily adjust your speed and incline during intervals.

Under your feet, the three-zone cushioning system protects your joints without sacrificing any of your speed and power. Finally, a lifetime warranty on the motor? Yes, please!

Runners love this “solid and quiet” machine and rave that it’s the “best treadmill out there” and that it’s the “best decision I’ve ever made.”

“I love this treadmill. The knobs to control the incline and speed are fantastic. This was a great purchase!” says one particularly happy customer. “I LOVE my treadmill. I have been using it quite a bit and was even able to cancel our gym membership which I only used for treadmills,” affirms another.

Specially designed for city spaces, this slimmed-down tread is just 70 inches long and 29 inches wide. It doesn’t skimp on features, though, including speeds up to 8 miles per hour, ProShox cushioning, and folding capabilities. Plus, it works with an iFIT subscription, giving you access to interactive training sessions (where the instructor can tweak your speed and grade for you) and global backdrops.

One thing to keep in mind: It’s about 10 inches shorter and 6 inches narrower than your standard tread, which may affect tall runners.

“Out of the box and ready to go in about 10 minutes,” says a user, appreciating its easy-to-assemble features. “I love that is compact. I took this gem out of the box in the living room and easily rolled it into my workout room,” they add.

“I’m very happy with my purchase,” says another, touting the City L6 as a “great product.” “It’s compact and comes assembled, which were the main reasons for buying it. Only thing is that I wished it connected to my Apple Watch. However, that’s definitely not a deal breaker. Would definitely recommend this treadmill 100%.”

This treadmill is designed to help you push your limits. It uses a biofeedback system to track not just your heart rate, pace, and distance but other variables that affect performance: vertical displacement, cadence, and stride length.

The machine’s algorithm analyzes that data in real-time to provide feedback (like shortening your stride length or increasing your cadence) to help you run more efficiently.

The running surface itself is just as innovative; it actually adapts to your unique stride to absorb impact or rebound energy.

Running forums say that though this is an expensive piece of equipment, many find it irreplaceable. "The treadmill itself looks great, is very sturdy and compact, [has a] great large running surface, the Bluetooth connectivity is very handy, and I wouldn’t want to swap mine for others on the market in or around that price range," says one loyalist.