Exercising at home is made easy with various efficient and hi-tech elliptical machines available in the market. They 
offer low-impact workout, so that your knees and other joints do not bear the brunt during an exercise session. With elliptical trainers, you can get a full-body workout and increased cardiovascular capacity. You can adjust your workout programmes to lose weight and build stamina and mobility. We have already written a complete guide about the best elliptical machines.
Elliptical machines are a great way to get a wholesome workout at home. However, many people find elliptical machines costly. Here, we have discussed the advantages of elliptical machines, and have curated a list of best elliptical machines under 300 to make your workout affordable and effective. These machines have all the essential features of a top-range elliptical trainer and still fit in your budget. Check out our complete guide about the best rowing machines.
Advantages / Benefits of Best Elliptical Machines Under 300
If you like to stay fit, but do not have the time to go the gym everyday or the budget to pay hefty gym fees every month, then getting a budget elliptical machine for home is the best way for you. They are useful because of the following few reasons:
Workout at home
With a compact elliptical machine, you can easily have access to a workout session without having to walk or travel
to the gym. You can just hop on your home elliptical trainer, and get a complete-body workout. You also do not have to worry about your schedule, as you can access it all the time at home.
Wholesome workout
Elliptical trainers give you a complete cardiovascular exercise, as they involve both hand and leg movements for workout of your entire body. You can adjust the speed and intensity of your workout, as per your requirement–set a comfortable heart-rate zone, modulate the tension of the trainer, monitor speed and time, and keep a check on the calories burnt.
Elliptical machines also help you in building stamina and balance and losing weight.
Easy to maintain and store
They are generally easy to maintain and store, as they are compact and, sometimes, foldable. They can be put in one corner of your room, and moved around with the help of their transport wheels. Foldable elliptical trainers have even less footprint when stored away
Top-Range Elliptical Machines VS. Best Elliptical Machines Under 300
You’d be surprised to know that many budget elliptical machines have many top-end features of a top-range elliptical machine. We often think that expensive things are better, but manufacturers are becoming smarter and finding innovative ways of cutting costs to provide comparable features to different market segments.
Some of the features that you may find comparable in expensive and budget elliptical machines are:
- Machine’s basic functionality
- Workout options
- Console features and stats
- Accessories
- Ease of use
Top-end machines might be better than the budget in the following frilly areas:
- Material of construction
- Look
- Extra programmes in the console
- Power-adjustable resistance, stride, and incline (You might find these in some budget models, too.)
Therefore, if you look closely, you’ll see many advantages in buying budget machines, as except the frills they have everything that you’ll need for a wholesome workout. They make workout at home affordable.
We often recommend many best elliptical machines under 300 over some top-end machines, as their overall worth and workout results are much better. You can read about the features of our best budget elliptical machines in the following sections.
Features and Capabilities of Best Elliptical Machines Under 300
Design & functionality
Best elliptical machines under 300 have many features like a comfortable step-up height, adjustable resistance, and apt stride length for a natural simulation of walking or climbing.
These machines come with front, centre or rear-drive designs. Rear-drive ellipticals give a motion that is the closest to our natural walking or climbing manner.
Dual-grip models allow for a whole-body workout, as they let your upper body move with the movement of your hands, while your lower body is exercised with the movement of your legs.
The flywheels of best elliptical machines are designed to provide a smooth workout. The compact designs of many of these machines allow for a smaller footprint, and hence enable easy storage and use
Digital features
Digital features of best elliptical machines under 300 include consoles with basic stats on speed, time, calories burnt, and heart rate.
Many consoles also offer workout programmes to be able to follow a pre-programmed way to achieve desired results.
You can use these stats and programmes to monitor your exercise sessions. Use it to adjust your workout programme, so that you can get ideal levels of outcomes to reach your goals. Some of the budget or cheap elliptical trainers are iFit compatible, allowing you to undertake a wide range of workout activities.
Some consoles also allow connection to your phones for charging or listening to music.
Accessories
Many budget elliptical machines also come with adequate accessories like water bottle holders, magazine or mobile device holders and USB-docks for charging or listening to music. Some also come with transport wheels to move the machine from one place to another with ease.
Top 10 Best Elliptical Machines Under 300 in 2022
| Picture | Name | Feature | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Picture | Name | Feature | Price | Rating |
 | 1. ProForm 295 CSE Elliptical | 250 lb. Weight capacity | $$$ | 4.8 |
 | 2. Marcy Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Cardio Workout Machine | well-lit LCD computer screen | $$$ | 4.8 |
 | 3. Body Champ 2-in-1 Elliptical Workout and Upright Exercise Bike | 12 preset training circuits | $$$ | 4.7 |
 | 4. EFITMENT Compact Magnetic Elliptical Machine Trainer | 2-inch speakers and Aux port | $$$ | 4.6 |
 | 5. Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider | Adjustable tension | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 6. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine Glider | 49 Ib flywheel and 275 lb user weight | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 7. Elliptical Trainer and Exercise Bike with Seat | 5 inch range Seat Distance | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 8. Best Choice Products Elliptical Bike 2-in-1 Cross Trainer Exercise Fitness Machine | 11” stride and belt-driven fan | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 9. Elliptical Trainer with Hand Pulse Monitoring System by Sunny | Weight Capacity: 220 LB | $$$ | 4.4 |
 | 10. Body Rider BRD2000 Elliptical Trainer and Exercise Bike Trainer | Easily adjust resistance level | $$$ | 4.3 |
1. ProForm 295 CSE Elliptical
ProForm elliptical machines are always powered with high-tech consoles that give you very useful information about
your workout sessions. The more informed you are of the stats like calories burnt, heart rate, distance covered and time, better planning you can do for your future workouts to reach your desired goals. ProForm 295 CSE Elliptical is a budget model from ProForm, that has digital features comparable to a top-end product. It’s our best elliptical machine under 300.
Design & functionality
It has a rear-drive design, which is considered ideal for a smooth, impactless workout. Its dual handlebars offer you a complete workout of upper and lower body. It has EKG pulse rate sensors on its handlebar grips, so that you can stay within the ideal heart rate zone while exercising.
Its 14-inch stride can give a climbing simulation. The oversized pedals are easy to step on to, and are comfortable for different users.
It has 12 resistance levels that can be adjusted to modulate the intensity of your workout. Go easy or choose a rigorous workout, as per your preference and requirement. It has a 13-lb inertia flywheel, which keeps your workout smooth
The dimensions of the machine are 63″ H x 12.6″ W x 42.32″ D. The weight of the machine is 103 lbs, and the weight capacity of the machine is 250 lb. The warranty on the machine is 90 days on parts and 90 days for labor.
Digital Features
The console of the machine has iFit compatibility. It is powered with 12 pre-installed workout programs that offer a professionally prepared exercise session. The console has an LCD screen that give essential stats about your workout.
Accessories
ProForm 295 CSE Elliptical comes with a tablet or smartphone holder, making entertainment accessible. It has an audio auxiliary port, which can be connected to your phone to play music through the console’s dual 2-inch speakers.
It has a water bottle holder that helps you have easy access to fluids. The transport wheels on the machine make it easy to move around the house.
Pros:
- Dual handlebars with pulse rate sensors
- 12 digital resistance levels for a versatile workout
- iFit compatible
- 2-inch speakers and Aux port
- Useful accessories
Cons:
- 13 lb flywheel is light, and can lead to noise and bumpiness
- Stride length of 14 inches can be limiting for tall users
- Warranty is not very attractive
2. Marcy Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Cardio Workout Machine
Marcy Magnetic Elliptical Trainer offers a great cardio workout with its dual handlebars, and ergonomic design. You
can install and place the machine anywhere in the house, due to its small footprint. You can adjust the tension of the machine as per your requirement, and follow the stats given on its LCD screen to monitor your workout. It is one of the best elliptical machines under 300 due to its comfortable design and full-body workout functionality. It may have some limitations due to it small size, but overall, it gives you all that you need for a good cardio workout.
Design & functionality
The steel-tubing of the machine makes it sturdy. It has a rear-drive design, which is good for your body-posture. The dual handlebars–movable and static–offer a wholesome workout session. The movable handlebars give you an upper-body workout, and the static handlebars give you stability when you want to do only a lower-body workout.
It has magnetic resistance with 8 levels, that can be changed for lower or higher intensity workouts. The tension control knob lets your control how hard you want the workout to be. The oversized paddles of this elliptical machine allow easy step-up to start the workout. They are very comfortable for users with different heights, and make one feel like they have secure footing, while they are working out.
The dimensions of this elliptical machine are 24” W x 49” L x 64.25” H, which makes it easy to place anywhere in the house. It weighs around 72.6 lbs, therefore is very easy to maintain and move around the house.
Its user weight capacity is 300 lbs, and it has a limited Manufacturer warranty of 2 years.
Marcy Magnetic NS-40501E’s design makes it one of the most popular machines in the budget machine league.
Digital Features
Marcy Magnetic Elliptical Trainer has an LCD screen that gives you workout information like time spent, distance covered, speed, and calories burnt. The console works with two AA batteries.
Accessories
It has transport wheels on its Front Stabilizer End Cap. You can just tilt the machine and move it around the house. It comes with a step-by-step user manual for installation of the machine.
Pros:
- Dual handlebars for full-body workout
- Compact design and transport wheels for easy placement and movement
- Magnetic resistance for a smooth, and low-impact workout
Cons:
- Light weight of the machine may make the workout shaky
- Manual tension adjustment
3. Body Champ 2-in-1 Elliptical Workout and Upright Exercise Bike
Body Champ 2-in-1 elliptical machine is another great budget machine option for workout at home. It offers the
functionalities of both an elliptical trainer and an upright stationary bike. Body Champ has the patent to this 2-in-1 design and it offers good quality. The dual functionality makes this elliptical machine a value for money, considering that it is priced below 300.
Design & functionality
You can choose between its 16 levels of resistance, which is a great range for a budget elliptical machine. You can target different muscle groups by switching between the elliptical and stationary bike functionalities.
It has dual handlebars that offer upper body movement besides the lower-body movement offered by the elliptical or cycling motion of the legs. This allows you a complete body workout at home or office.
The elliptical machine has hand-grip heart rate monitors to give you relevant information that can be used to keep your workout between the ideal range of heart rate for you.
It has a 14-inch stride. Its seat can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to reach a comfortable position. The user weight capacity of the machine is 275 lbs.
The dimensions of the machine are 64.54 x 51 x 28.75 in, and it weighs around 73.15 lbs, making it easy to be placed around the house and making it easily transportable.
Digital Features
You can set its digital resistance levels to control the intensity of your workout. You can use its 12 pre-set workout programmes for a professionally planned workout. The LCD screen on the trainer also gives you basic workout stats including heart rate, speed, distance covered, time taken, and calories burned.
Accessories
It has a media shelf to put your magazines or tablets for some entertainment, while you exercise. The transport wheels add to the mobility of the machine, making it easy to move around and store away after use.
It comes with a workout DVD, which can be followed for a guided exercise session.
Pros:
- Workout DVD included
- Grip heart-rate monitor
- 2-in-1 elliptical and stationary bike functionalities
Cons:
- Light weight of the machine may lead to shakiness
- Stride length of 14 inches can be limiting for users taller than 5’10”
4. EFITMENT Compact Magnetic Elliptical Machine Trainer
Efitment E005 offers a great full-body workout at home or office, and has a very compact design due to its
dimensions and small stride length. The digital features keep you informed about your workout, and the design of this elliptical machine allows you to have an effective and low-impact workout. The machine is affordable, and saves you a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on a gym membership.
Design & functionality
This elliptical machine is designed with a rear drive system. Efitment E005 has the stride length of 11 inches. It makes the machine very compact and easy to place in an apartment, office, condo, small rooms and studios. The stride length also can give a climbing simulation to users with more than average height.
There is a knob on the machine that can be used to adjust its resistance. There are 8 levels of magnetic resistance in this elliptical trainer, so that you can adjust your workout to be light or rigourous.
It has oversized foot pedals, which give stability to the user, and accommodate all foot sizes. It also has a non-slip texture to make stepping-on and exercising comfortable and stable.
The machine has dual handle bars–movable and static. The stationary handlebars have pulse sensors to give you information about your heart rate during the workout. The movable handlebars offer you a full-body workout at home.
It has a maximum user weight capacity of 220 lbs. The dimensions of the machine are 41” L x 26” W x 59.5” H. It weighs 63 lbs, making it easy to manage.
Digital Features
The machine has a console with an LCD screen. The monitor gives stats like time, speed, distance, calories burned, and pulse rate. This information is vital for any person who worksout. It help you monitor your session, track your achievement of the goal, and make adjustments to the programme to achieve desired results. An informed workout is the best and most effective.
Accessories
Efitment E005 comes with convenient transport wheels. They help you to tilt and roll out the machine to be placed away after use.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Eight levels of magnetic resistance
- Compact design
- Transport wheels
Cons:
- Limiting stride length
- No attractive accessories
5. Stamina In-Motion Elliptical Trainer
Stamina In-motion is one of the most economical elliptical trainers. If you are just starting out with home workout,
and do not want to spend a lot of money on buying a heavy-duty machine, then this is an ideal option for you. You can use it while sitting or standing. It offers only lower-body workout, but you can add hand movement to it to exercise your entire body. The best part about this machine is that it can be carried anywhere, giving you access to a workout session, no matter where you are.
Design & functionality
This is a mini-elliptical with only flywheel, and foot pedals. There are no handlebars in the machine like a traditional elliptical trainer.
It has a sturdy construction with steel. You can switch between forward or reverse elliptical motion to target different muscle groups.
There is a knob on the machine that can be turned to increase or decrease the resistance levels, so that you can adjust the intensity of the workout as per your requirement.
The pedals are textured to give a firm footing to the user.
The machine has the dimensions of 24 x 20 x 12 inches. Its weight is only 24 pounds, which means you can carry it anywhere with you–office or home. It helps you fit your cardio workout anytime in your schedule with ease. You don’t have to worry about the money or time required to go to the gym.
The machine comes in three vibrant colours, so you can choose one that suits your personality.
Digital Features
There is a small electronic monitor screen that shows you your number of strides per minute, total number of strides taken during the session, exercise time, and the calories you have burned. It’s quite informative for a compact-sized screen. Use this information to halt, continue, or accelerate the workout.
Accessories
This compact machine does not have any fancy accessories for entertainment, but you can use this machine while sitting and working, reading a book or watching television. In fact, this machine becomes your workout accessory and can be carried anywhere with you.
Pros:
- Compact and portable
- Enables workout while reading, watching TV,
- Adjustable resistance
- 24/7 access to workout
Cons:
- No option for a full-body workout
- Lacks stability when standing; need to hold on to something for a secure position
6. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine Glider
Air Walk trainer by Sunny Health & Fitness has a unique design. It requires very less space for placement, and offers
you a full-body workout with its movable handlebars and large foot pedals that function without a flywheel, hence the name Air Walk. It comes with a small digital screen that offers essential stats about your exercise session. It is a very economical machine that offers you a wholesome workout.
Design & functionality
It has movable handles to give you an upper-body workout. The pedals are long and textured to give stability and a strong footing. There is no drive in the machine, making the pedals move in the air, but the movement is smooth, and gives a low-impact workout. Also, it works without making any noise, and hence can be used while watching TV, if one likes.
It has an abdominal pad that offers stability, support and comfort while exercising. Shorter users can use the machine without the pad, as it will not exactly reach their abdominal area.
It has a very comfortable stride length of 30 inches, which is suitable for tall users, as well. For many users, it simulates stretching, toning various muscle groups.
The machine can be folded away to the dimensions 15L x 19w x 61.5H, which is almost half its original unfolded length. It unfolded dimensions are 28L x 17w x 57H in. The elliptical weighs 37lbs.
The maximum user weight that the machine can carry is 220 lbs. It comes with a 90-day manufacturer warranty.
Digital Features
There is a digital monitor on the Air Walk Elliptical Trainer, which gives information about time, count of strides, total distance covered and calories burnt. This essential information can be used to monitor the accomplishment of your daily workout goals. The scan mode shows you how you have progressed in your daily workouts. When you have real-time data about your workout, you feel more motivated to keep going and getting the desired results.
Accessories
There are not many frills attached to this elliptical trainer besides the abdominal pad for support, and the LCD screen that offers information about one’s workout sessions and their progress.
Pros:
- Compact when folded and unfolded
- Economical
- Full-body workout in budget
- Long stride length
Cons:
- Non-adjustable resistance
- No accessories
7. Elliptical Trainer and Exercise Bike with Seat and Heart Rate Pulse Sensors
This 2-in-one elliptical machine gives a great upper and lower-body workout. You can use its movable handles and
elliptical pedals for working out while standing, or you can just exercise your lower body by sitting and moving your legs. It offers a versatile workout session with adjustable resistance and a digital monitor. Certainly a value for money for the price it comes at.
Design & functionality
The machine has a rear-drive design, and not only that, it comes with a 2-in-1 functionality of using a cross-trainer for a full body workout and a stationary bike for a lower-body workout.
The resistance of the elliptical motion can be increased or decreased with the help of a knob. It has 8 levels of resistance, offering you the choice of making your workout intense or easier.
It has dual handlebars for a complete workout. The stationary handlebars offer stability, and also have pulse rate monitors to give you vital information about your heart rate, so that you can adjust your workout to stay within the ideal heart rate zone.
The pedals are large and textured, so that the user is comfortable using the machine, and feels stable.
The seat available has Gel foam padding and four height settings. The seat’s distance or horizontal movement can also be adjusted by five inches.
The dimensions of this elliptical trainer are 22.5 x 49.5 x 62.6 in.
The machine has 1-year warranty on the frame and 90-day warranty on its parts, which is great for a budget machine.
Digital Features
The digital, LCD monitor on the elliptical trainer gives you basic information like speed, time spent working out, distance covered, calories burned and heart rate. You can set your workout goals for a week or month, and define ideal parameters of time, heart rate and distance. When you workout, use the digital display of the machine to monitor whether you are achieving your goals in time or not
Accessories
It has trainer wheels, that allow you to tilt the machine and roll it away to store or move to another place. It comes with a DVD that helps you follow a professionally designed workout for proven results. There are 2 AAA batteries in the pack for the digital screen. There is a reading rack on the machine, that helps you place magazines, books or tablets for entertainment while you workout.
Pros:
- 2-in-1 functionality
- Good warranty plan for a budget machine
- Adjustable resistance
Cons:
- No water bottle holder
8. Best Choice Products Elliptical Bike 2-in-1 Cross Trainer Exercise Fitness Machine
This great product from Best Choice offers you a versatile workout session at home. You do not have to spend
exuberant amount of money on a gym membership, or travel all the way there. You can install this 2-in-1 elliptical and stationary bike machine at home for a full-body workout. It is economical and allows you to switch between its elliptical and stationary-bike functionalities to get varied workout results
Design & functionality
This elliptical machine has a front-drive design, and it comes with a 2-in-1 design like Body Champ’s BRM3635
The elliptical functionality of the trainer lets you have a full-body workout, as the machine has movable handles as well. The stationary bike functionality with the movable handles, again allow you to exercise your full body, but target different muscle groups. So, you can decide your workout goals, and ride or stride your way to get the best results.
You can adjust the knob on the machine to adjust the wheel’s tension. Depending on the mood you are in, for a heavy or light workout, turn the knob up or down.
It has a sturdy, lightweight steel frame, that makes it very durable.
It has an 11-inch stride length, that is good for an average-heighted user. The flywheel is belt-driven, and hence the motion is smooth, and machine does not make much sound.
The dimensions of this fun elliptical machine are 40” L x 20” W x 57” H. The weight of the machine is 52 lbs, and its user weight capacity is 250 lbs.
It has a 60-day warranty.
Digital Features
With the LCD display on the machine, you can monitor various essential things about your workout. They say that an informed workout can be the most effective one. The monitor on the machine give stats like calorie burned, distance covered, duration for your workout, and speed. Many budget machines offer such information, and it can be used to adjust your exercise regime to lose, gain or maintain weight.
Accessories
The machine has trainer wheels, therefore it gets easier for you to move the machine around the house.
Pros:
- 2-in-1 elliptical trainer and stationary bike functionalities
- Adjustable tension
- Trainer wheels for easy mobility
Cons:
- LIghtweight steel frame may cause shakiness during the workout
9. Elliptical Trainer with Hand Pulse Monitoring System by Sunny
This rear-drive elliptical trainer by Sunny Health & Fitness offers you a good, low-impact workout at home at a very
affordable price. It has great features like heart rate monitor, dual handgrips, and an LCD monitor, that make it a good value for your money. Its many features are comparable to top-notch elliptical machines. Its compact size makes it an even better choice, as you can install it anywhere in your house, without occupying too much space.
Design & functionality
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 is a compact elliptical machine with a rear-drive design, that is ideal for a good workout posture.
It has an 11-inch stride, which gives a good walking simulation for an average-heighted user. For taller user, it may feel like climbing.
There is a tension knob on the front of the frame. You can adjust the knob from level 1 to 8 for lower or higher intensity of workout. This enables you to modulate your exercise session to lose or maintain weight.
This elliptical machine has both movable and stationary handlebars, which can be used for a full-body workout. The stationary handlebars have pulse rate monitoring grip, which give information about the heart rate you have while you exercise. This information is displayed on the trainer’s digital monitor.
The pedals of the machine have anti-slip texture, so that you have a sure footing while you exercise.
The user weight capacity of this machine is 220 lbs. The dimensions of the product are 28″ L x 17″ W x 57″ H, and it weighs 60 lbs.
It comes with a 3-year warranty on frame and of 90 days on other parts.
Digital Features
The digital monitor on the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 trainer offers information like duration of the workout, speed, distance covered, calories burned, and pulse rate. It also lets you scan your stats over time to monitor your progress.
Accessories
The machine has trainer wheels. You can use them to tilt the machine and wheel it to another place for storage, convenient placement or cleaning.
Pros:
- Magnetic resistance
- Hand pulse rate monitors
Cons:
- No water bottle holder
- Light frame may cause shakiness during workout
10. Body Rider BRD2000 Elliptical Trainer and Exercise Bike Trainer
Body Rider BRD2000 Elliptical Trainer and Exercise bike is a great multi-function exercise machine for a
cardiovascular workout at home or office. It has a compact design, and hence can be placed anywhere including your room, a studio apartment, and an office room. You can ride or stride during a workout, and tone different sets of muscles. It’s a very lightweight machine, and hence is easy to handle.
Design & functionality
This elliptical trainer has dual handlebars that offer a full-body workout with movement of hands, besides the movement of legs using the pedals. You can switch between cross training and stationary biking features to undertake different types of exercises. It’s a great piece of machine for a wholesome workout at home.
The flywheel of this rear-drive machine is well designed for a smooth workout. The tension of the wheel can be increased or decreased using the knob available on the machine.
The seat available to use the stationary bike feature can be adjusted vertically, as per the length of your legs, and horizontally, for comfort and targeting different muscle groups while exercising.
The maximum weight capacity of this machine is 250 lbs. The dimensions of this machine are 28.5 x 48 x 59.5 in. It weighs around 66 lbs, therefore is easy to manage and move around.
Digital Features
The digital monitor on this elliptical trainer can be used to track the speed at which you workout, its duration, your calorie count, and distance covered. You must monitor your exercise session details to realise optimal results, and to compare your daily exercise achievements.
Accessories
The transport wheels of the Body Rider BRD2000 Elliptical Trainer enable easy movement of the machine from one place to another. This helps you keep the workout area clean, store away the machine after use, or move it to a more prefered place with ease.
Pros:
- Dual functionality of a cross trainer and stationary bike
- Dual handlebars
- Transport wheel
Cons:
- Light weight of the machine may cause shakiness
- No water bottle holder
