The best treadmills we tested:
Best treadmill: Peloton Tread+
Best budget treadmill: Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
The best treadmills help you stay in shape no matter how bad the weather gets or how much gym membership prices rise. That’s true for walkers, sprinters, marathon runners and even hikers, regardless of geography, age or stage in your health and fitness journey.
But some treadmills aren’t worth the cash, so we tested a range of machines over several months to figure out which ones will actually round out your home gym. We hiked up virtual mountains, streamed dozens of fitness classes and jogged on repeat to our favorite tunes. Finally, after countless hours of sweat, (occasional) tears and sore leg muscles, we settled on these standouts. Here’s what you need to know before you invest in a treadmill for your home.
The Peloton Tread+ is a sleek, smart, space-saving treadmill offering a groundbreaking design with swipeable controls to easily change your pace without breaking your stride. You also get access to live classes with leaderboard standings, as well as Peloton’s huge library of on-demand classes and stable of beloved instructors. It’s not cheap, but we think it’s well worth the price.
The Horizon 7.0 is perfect for anyone looking to purchase a solid treadmill for less. You get many upscale features, such as a hydraulic folding deck, Bluetooth speakers and a built-in fan, but it doesn’t come with a built-in touchscreen if you’re interested in interactive fitness classes. You can sync to popular fitness and running apps like Peloton, Apple Fitness+ and Nike Run Club, but you’ll have to use your own device to view them.
Best treadmill: Peloton Tread+
$5,995 at Peloton
Peloton has a long-standing reputation as a powerhouse in home fitness, thanks in large part to its well-designed machines, interactive ecosystem and world-class instructors. From exercise bikes to rowers to treadmills, the brand — which garnered a cult following during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 — literally has something for everyone. So it should come as no surprise that its newest entry, the Tread+, signifies yet another big win for the Peloton family.
There’s a lot to love about the Tread+, which is a bigger, better, pricier version of the Tread. But some of our favorite features include the sleek design, quiet motor and roomy 67-by-20-inch slat belt. This makes it perfect for runners of all shapes and sizes, regardless of whether you’re 5 feet, 2 inches tall like me or 5-foot-10 like my husband.
Along with its quiet motor, the Tread+ boasts another unique feature exclusive to this model called Free Mode. This nifty new addition allows you to walk and run manually, without any assistance from the motorized belt. Instead, Free Mode powers down the motor and forces you to move the treadmill using your own muscles. Not only does it make for a more challenging workout, but I frequently use it when I want to work on training drills or improving my form.
Another feature I appreciated was the huge built-in, tilting monitor. The 32-inch touchscreen measures 9 inches larger than that of the original Tread and provides a completely immersive experience for streaming live and on-demand classes. You’ll feel like you’re right there in the studio running up and down hills with Robin Arzón or Becs Gentry, even if you’re just running in place in your living room.
I also loved how easy it was to adjust my incline and speed with the intuitive knobs located on either side of the machine. I could simply swipe these controls for a fast and easy way to increase or decrease my incline and speed with next to no effort. Although Peloton also provides the standard jump buttons, these smart knobs were easier to use during sprints and interval runs.
The Tread+ also includes an optional auto-adjust feature, which allows you to follow the instructor’s incline recommendations without adjusting them on your own. This is particularly helpful during long hikes that can frequently go all the way up to a 15% incline grade. There’s also a handy USB charging port, a roomy dashboard to store your personal belongings, a 20W soundbar, two cup holders and real-time, personalized metrics to measure your progress throughout your fitness journey. And if you have young kids, you’ll appreciate the safety features that go way beyond competitors’ products, including a safety key, a passcode to unlock the machine and a covered rear safety guard, which automatically shuts the power off if anything gets caught in the slat belt.
There’s also a wide variety of content to choose from. For $24 per month, I could stream thousands of live and on-demand classes, as well as play video games, take scenic runs and watch movies, TV shows and sports. This is one of the many things that sets Peloton apart from competitors, which typically tie built-in monitors to one affiliated subscription service. With Peloton, you can watch Netflix, Disney+, Max, NBA.com and YouTube. Having so many options meant that I never got bored, which ultimately made it easier for me to stick to a regular routine.
Of course, there are some areas where the Tread+ could stand to improve. For example, this is an extremely large machine, with a 6-foot-by-2.7-foot footprint, so it would have been nice to have the option to fold up the belt and hide it when not in use — but there’s no folding feature. There’s also no built-in fan or rotating touchscreen, which can be extremely frustrating when you’re moving around a lot for strength, yoga or bootcamp classes.
Overall, though, if you’re in the market for a new treadmill, the Tread+ is a fantastic investment. It’s expensive, but it’s also a great way to stay motivated with a wide variety of classes and top-notch trainers, as well as interactive features, a leaderboard and virtual high fives that will definitely keep you running back for more.
Best budget treadmill: Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
$2,100 $999 at Horizon Fitness
The Horizon 7.0 may not have all the bells and whistles of pricier machines, but you’ll still get plenty of helpful features for a fraction of the price of most competitors. At just under a sale price of $1,000, this wallet-friendly treadmill includes a hydraulic folding deck, Bluetooth speakers, a built-in fan and compatibility to sync with popular fitness apps like Peloton, Apple Fitness+ and Nike Run Club.
Surprised? So were we. Like the Peloton Tread+, the 76-by-35-by-66-inch running surface and roomy 60-by-20-inch belt is spacious enough for runners of all sizes. The Horizon 7.0 is also easy to fold up and hide away, thanks to the treadmill’s hydraulic assist feature. But perhaps the most impressive option of all is its QuickDial controls.
These handy dials quickly allow you to change your top speed (on your right side) and max incline (on your left) simply by rolling the dials forward or backward as you run. Though not as precise as the ultra-sensitive knobs on the Peloton Tread+ — which are easier to control and adjust in small increments — they are similar in the sense that you can swipe them back and forth to increase and decrease your speed, albeit at a much lower price. We also loved the Horizon’s jump buttons, located under the 7-inch screen, that gave us the option to quickly go from one speed or incline to the next during interval runs.
That said, there are a few drawbacks. Although there is a built-in screen to track metrics like calories, speed, distance, time, speed and heart rate, you can’t actually stream any classes through the small black-and-white monitor. So, if you like to exercise with an instructor, you’ll need to use a personal device like a smartphone or tablet to stream your favorite workouts instead.
On the plus side, you won’t have to deal with an expensive monthly subscription fee or being tied to just one fitness platform. But this can add up quickly if you get carried away downloading all your favorite fitness apps. Despite the two docking stations located at the top of the treadmill, there is also something to be said for an immersive experience of streaming classes to a large, built-in touchscreen.
However, despite the lack of a big screen and subscription-based content, we were ultimately impressed by all that the Horizon 7.0 had to offer. Not only do you get plenty of high-end features for a budget price tag, but you also have the flexibility to sync multiple fitness apps to the treadmill and access a comprehensive three-year warranty if anything doesn’t live up to your expectations.
For this price, we think the Horizon 7.0 is undeniably the best value on the market. And although there may be some truth to the saying “You get what you pay for,” in this case, we think what you’re actually getting is a real steal.
How we tested
We spent several weeks testing every treadmill we reviewed, carefully inspecting each one for the overall quality of the machine, streaming subscriptions (if they were included), ease of use and how well we liked their design features. Every treadmill we reviewed was delivered, set up and put together by a professional service. Finally, after many months, we determined which machines scored the highest in every category. Although there were plenty of great choices available, a few stood out as exceeding our expectations.
Features
- Class services: We created a profile, took a variety of streaming classes (if available) or downloaded our own fitness apps.
- Diversity of use: If there was no subscription, then we tested each machine to see how well it fared for running, hiking and walking.
- Speed and incline: We took at least half a dozen classes on every treadmill to see if they could reach high speeds and inclines during instructor-led sweat sessions.
- Warranties: We checked the warranties and search functions and made sure each treadmill was comfortable for runners of all types by asking family members of various heights to do test runs.
Build
- Noise: We tested how noisy each treadmill got during use and if the jump buttons or dials responded quickly when pressed.
- Cooling capabilities: For the treadmills that came equipped with built-in fans, we checked to see how well they fared during sweaty runs. Then we took note of how much air they circulated, how loud they were and whether or not they worked as well as an inexpensive standing fan.
- Ease of use: It was also important to us to make sure that the design was intuitive, so we tested every treadmill to make sure that you didn’t need an engineering degree to figure out how to use AI features, search functions or personalized workout options.
- Belt and footprint size: We checked the overall quality of every machine. First, we noted the size of the footprint when the treadmill was set up in our living space, as well as the belt size (which varied).
- Docking stations: We took note of features like docking stations to make sure they were comfortably placed to view workouts on our iPads or smartphones.
Storage
- Storage capabilities: We checked to see whether or not the treadmill could be folded up and tucked away when not in use.
- Setup: We checked to see how much effort it took to lift the deck and put it back down on the floor when we were ready to work out again.
How well does it stream classes?
Not every treadmill we tested came with streaming fitness classes, but for those that did, we walked, hiked and ran with a wide variety of instructors.
- Live classes: We noted if there were any live classes or if we could only access an on-demand library whenever we wanted a virtual training session.
- Workout platform: We evaluated the individual instructors, as well as the entire platform, to see how easy the classes were to follow and if they offered extra motivation with interactive features, challenges or online rewards.
- Subscription cost: Price was also a factor, so we paid close attention to the subscription cost.
- Other streaming capabilities: Could we stream other content like Netflix or Hulu if there was a built-in screen that came with the treadmill?
Other treadmills we tested
Peloton Tread
$3,495 $2,995 at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Peloton
The Peloton Tread is the predecessor to our new overall pick, the Peloton Tread+. It has a lot of the same features we love in the Tread+, such as sleek design, access to tons of classes and user-friendly features. Ultimately, however, it was edged out of the top spot by the softer, more luxe padding and bigger screen on the Tread+, but it’s still a great piece of workout equipment.
NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill
$2,999 at NordicTrack
This NordicTrack treadmill was a close contender in the best overall category. It comes with a huge 22-inch swivel touchscreen, a spacious 7-foot belt and cool AI features that automatically adjust the speed and incline to your fitness ability while you’re taking NordicTrack’s streaming iFit classes ($39 per month or $396 per year).
During our testing, we also loved the wide variety of classes available on iFit, especially the scenic hikes and runs in far-flung locations like Kaui and Iceland. That said, we weren’t huge fans of the instructors, who paled in comparison to Peloton’s more polished and enthusiastic personalities. We were also sometimes frustrated by iFit’s disorganized library and inability to stack classes.
However, if you have the money to splurge, the NordicTrack 2450 is a great investment for anybody who wants to purchase a commercial-grade machine with high-tech features.
Mobvoi Home Treadmill SE
$290 $220 at Mobvoi or $290 at Amazon
The Mobvoi is far less flashy than most of the treadmills we tested. However, this no-frills machine is perfect for anybody looking for a compact treadmill on a budget. Although there’s no incline feature on this machine, you can still easily switch from a leisurely walk to a brisk run with speeds that go up to 7.6 miles per hour.
We tested the Mobvoi for running, jogging and walking and were impressed by how well it performed. You can see all of your metrics — including distance, calories, speed and time — displayed on the treadmill’s lit-up console. You can also save your data by syncing the Mobvoi Treadmill app with your smartwatch so that all of your health data is streamlined.
Realistically speaking, you probably aren’t going to break any records if you’re training for a marathon on this treadmill. It’s better suited for getting your daily steps in than sprinting. Still, we loved how easy it was to fold the handlebars down and hide the treadmill underneath a bed or a coffee table when it wasn’t in use. Unfortunately, its space-saving size also means that the 16-by-40-inch belt is significantly smaller than a standard-size treadmill, making it a tough sell for anybody with a larger frame.
There’s also no touchscreen, water bottle holder or USB port included, so if those features are important to you, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re on a tight budget and don’t care about all of the bells and whistles that come with higher-end machines, we think the Mobvoi is a worthwhile investment for a modest price tag.
ProForm Carbon T7
Currently unavailable
Editor’s Note: Since our initial testing, the ProForm Carbon T7 has been removed from the ProForm lineup, though other models of ProForm Carbon treadmills are still available.
If you’re on a budget and you don’t have tons of cash to spend, the ProForm Carbon T7 is a great choice to keep you running year-round. We tested this compact treadmill and found that its 55-by-20-inch belt can be a tad cramped for tall runners, but its smaller size is a plus in small homes or apartments.
It also boasts a folding deck with a unique SpaceSaver design so you can tuck your treadmill up and out of sight whenever you’re tight on space. You’ll also get access to the same iFit library and AI features as the NordicTrack 2450, which boasts more than 9,500 streaming workouts (for $39 per month or $396 per year), including scenic runs, hikes and walks in exotic locations around the world.
Although we were disappointed by the small 7-inch touchscreen and the 2.6 CHP motor, which made sprinting practically nonexistent, we still think the Carbon T7 is a good option for those who want a compact treadmill. That said, apartment dwellers might prefer an even smaller machine like the Treadly 2 Basic ($749) or an under-desk treadmill.