Elliptical machines are one of the best choices for home exercise equipment. They offer a low-impact cardio exercise and a lot of options to target both your lower and upper body muscles. Compared to treadmills, ellipticals are also easier on your joints. And you can get all of these benefits from the comfort of home.
When picking the best elliptical trainer on the market, you’ll find hundreds of different options in the market. It can be overwhelming trying to choose one from so many brands and various models. To make your choice a little easier, we’ve narrowed it down to two of the best fitness brands that produce elliptical machines today: NordicTrack and Proform.
If you want high-quality construction and a good range of workout options, then you can’t go wrong with either brand. While they have a lot of similarities, particularly the iFIT compatibility, they both offer several models with a variety of features and price points for everyone. Below we’ll compare some of the features of the current elliptical machines from NordicTrack and Proform to help you find the right fit for your home.
NordicTrack vs Proform Elliptical Machines
NordicTrack provides a wide range of exercise machines for all levels of fitness, from treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and rowers. The brand was founded in 1975 and has later been acquired by USA-based company ICON Health & Fitness, which is now known as iFIT Health & Fitness, Inc.
Likewise, Proform is a brand under the iFIT parent company, along with a few other fitness brands. Professional athletes and beginners alike can find the best fit for each purpose.
All models of elliptical trainers from both brands give the users access to iFIT’s library of 17,000+ workout videos and interactive personal training right from your machine’s built-in digital screen or from the iFIT app on your mobile device.
iFIT Workout Options
Both NordicTrack and Proform machines offer free membership to iFIT for a trial period or you can get the machine free through recurring payments to iFIT for a number of months. They come with an interactive touchscreen where you can view your workout progress, including speed, distance, time, calories burned, pulse rate, and incline/decline stats. With an iFIT-enabled elliptical machine, you can even watch on-demand training videos, join live interactive classes led by elite trainers, or follow along global workouts with professional athletes.
iFIT also includes other training programs such as yoga, HIIT, and strength training. They continue to add new challenges at every fitness level to keep your workouts fun and motivating. AutoAdjust allows your trainer to remotely adjust your workout settings during sessions. If you just want a quiet workout on your own, you can also run along scenic routes using Google Maps on your machine.
In most cases, a purchase from NordicTrack or Proform includes a free trial of the iFIT family membership for up to five people. After 30 days, there will be a monthly fee of $39 or $396 for 12 months of the family membership.
What we like the most about the iFIT membership is that it can be used to access the iFIT library and all other features on multiple machines at a time. This means you only have to pay for one membership and use it in any iFIT-compatible fitness equipment. For example, if you have a Proform treadmill and a NordicTrack rower, then you can use iFIT to track your workouts on both machines.
Furthermore, if you want to follow training programs off your elliptical machine, like weightlifting or ab exercises, or on older equipment not compatible with iFIT, you can still use the iFIT app to record your progress in all of your workouts. Both NordicTrack and Proform offer the same workout options using iFIT, so the main difference between the two brands fall on the design and functionality of each model.
NordicTrack Ellipticals
NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical Trainer
• Also available at Amazon
• HIGHLIGHTS
• 14” Smart HD Touchscreen
• 18-lbs inertia-enhanced flywheel
• 18-inch auto-adjustable stride
• 24 digital resistance levels
• 0% to 10% power-adjustable incline
• 325 lbs. user capacity
• 32″ W x 80″ D x 67″ H Footprint
The Rear Drive Series of elliptical machines from NordicTrack, also called the SpaceSaver SE9i and SE7i models, utilizes a compact, vertical space-saving design for convenient storage. However, rear drive ellipticals, in general, take up more floor space and offer fewer incline options and a shorter stride.
The larger SE9i model features a 14-inch interactive touchscreen display where you can access all the perks of your iFIT membership including on-demand workouts with elite trainers and auto-adjust technology to allow your trainer to control the intensity of your workout.
This unit comes with an 18-lb inertia-enhanced flywheel built with SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance) for a smoother, quieter workout anytime you like. You can pick your resistance from 24 digital resistance levels with one-button control or completely hands-free if you opt for Automatic Trainer Control.
NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Front Drive Smart Elliptical
• Also available at Amazon
• HIGHLIGHTS
• 14” Smart HD Touchscreen
• 32-lbs inertia-enhanced flywheel
• 17.5” – 18.7” Auto Adjustable Stride
• 26 Digital Resistance Levels
• 0% to 20% Power-Adjustable Incline
• 350 lbs User Capacity
• 29″ W x 67″ D x 69″ H Footprint
The NordicTrack Front Drive Series elliptical machines are currently available in the 12.9 and 14.9 models that differ mainly on the size of the screen and number of resistance levels. The front drive ellipticals have one-touch control incline from 0% to 20% and stride length from 17.5 to 18.7 inches. Most of the same build quality and technology are applied to this series and all other NordicTrack elliptical machines.
NordicTrack FS14i FreeStride Trainer
• HIGHLIGHTS
• 14” Smart HD Touchscreen
• 20-lbs Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
• 32” Auto-Adjustable Stride
• 26 Digital Resistance Levels
• -10% to 10% Power-Adjustable Incline
• 375 Lb. User Capacity
• 29.5″ W x 58.5″ D x 74″ H Footprint
The Free Stride Series comes with a center drive and an adjustable stride length up to 32 inches. A single machine gives you a lot of versatility you can use it in three different ways to perform various exercises by simply changing your motion. It also offers a more compact footprint, although at a higher price.
Proform Ellipticals
Proform Pro HIIT H14
• Also available at Amazon
• HIGHLIGHTS
• 14” Smart HD Touchscreen
• 30-lbs Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
• 26 Resistance Levels
• 325 lbs User Capacity
• 29″ W x 66″ D x 52″ H Footprint
The Pro HIIT Series combines a stepper and elliptical in one machine, with a and 10-inch vertical and 5-inch horizontal stride length. The 30-lb inertia-enhanced flywheel is designed with the patented SMR technology for a smooth, silent motion. The Pro HIIT H14 offers 26 auto-adjustable resistance levels on the 14-inch smart touchscreen. You can monitor all of your stats and progress and follow along trainer-led workouts with iFIT.
Proform Carbon E10 Elliptical Trainer
• Also available at Amazon
• HIGHLIGHTS
• 10” Touchscreen
• 25-lbs Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
• 24 Digital Resistance Levels
• 19” Power-Adjustable Stride
• 275 lbs User Capacity
• 25″ W x 68.5″ D x 67.75″ H Footprint
The Proform Carbon Series offers a slightly cheaper alternative to the NordicTrack front drive elliptical with many similarities in design and functionality.
ProForm Hybrid Trainer XT Recumbent Bike and Elliptical
• Also available at Amazon
• HIGHLIGHTS
• 5” Multi-Color Display
• 16 Digital Resistance Levels
• 15” Stride Length
• 24.5″ W x 70.5″ D x 60.5″ H Footprint
• 250 lbs Weight Capacity
The Proform Hybrid Trainer features a 2-in-1 design that delivers the benefits of an elliptical machine and also a recumbent bike. Simply adjust the pedals and console to transition from sitting to standing. Although the small display limits the onboard controls and lacks the interactive design of the higher-end models. In any case, the machine has an integrated tablet holder so you can still track your progress and stream iFIT workouts on your tablet.
Proform vs NordicTrack—Which is the Best Elliptical?
When looking for the best elliptical machine for your home, it’s important to consider the space, resistance settings, variability, comfort, and weight capacity.
Keep in mind that an elliptical machine takes up a considerable amount of space and you’ll need even more room around the unit to allow the pedals to move freely. Some models may be folded up to save space for storage, but even then it can still take up a lot of floor space. If you have limited space for your elliptical machine, you’ll find that the Proform Pro HIIT occupies the least space. However, if you’re on the taller side, you may need to go with the elliptical with a longer stride, i.e., the NordicTrack.
In terms of versatility and variability of workouts, NordicTrack and Proform are almost tied due to the technologies integrated with iFIT. Both have the standard HD screen with the essential workout stats, heart rate monitor, USB port, and Bluetooth capabilities. Both brands also have multiple auto-adjustable resistance levels and incline settings, although NordicTrack takes the cake for its wider range of decline and incline settings. Also, while NordicTrack has the FreeStride Trainer, Proform has the Hybrid Trainer, both giving you more than one function for your machine.
Now if we look at the build quality, this is where NordicTrack excels in comparison to Proform. Your elliptical machine should feel comfortable and stable. NordicTrack also offers rear-drive, front-drive, and center-drive ellipticals, each with their own pros and cons. They are built with a sturdy steel construction guaranteed for ten years for the frame and two years for other parts. On the other hand, Proform offers only five years of warranty on the frame. Additionally, NordicTrack accommodates a heavier user weight, which indicates higher durability.
Overall, if you’re on the fence between the two brands, we recommend NordicTrack elliptical machines mainly due to its solid build quality and cleaner design. However, if you want to save a few hundred bucks, then a Proform elliptical is a good choice too. In either case, you can enjoy all the benefits of an iFIT membership with these cardio machines.
