Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Sole E35 Elliptical vs Schwinn 490 Elliptical
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Elliptical Trainers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Sole E35 is the safest recommendation for most homes: heavy, quiet, well-warrantied, and free of any subscription. The Schwinn 490 undercuts it on price while still offering power incline and program variety, making it the value runner-up.
Sole E35 Elliptical
Buy itA heavy, quiet, subscription-free elliptical that just works - our top pick for most homes.
- Heavy flywheel and roomy 20-inch stride give a smooth, natural glide reviewers consistently praise
- Whisper-quiet magnetic resistance and a high 350-lb user capacity suit almost anyone
- Standout lifetime frame warranty and free companion app with no mandatory subscription
- Large, heavy footprint that's a chore to move once assembled
- Touchscreen and software feel less polished than the interactive-fitness brands
Schwinn 490 Elliptical
Buy itThe value sweet spot: power incline, plenty of resistance, and an optional app that isn't forced on you.
- Motorized incline plus a wide range of resistance levels give real workout variety for the money
- 20-inch stride and multiple built-in programs cover most fitness levels
- Works fully offline; the JRNY app is optional, not required
- Basic backlit display rather than a true touchscreen
- Owners occasionally report missing assembly hardware and fiddly setup
Side by side
| Sole E35 Elliptical | Schwinn 490 Elliptical | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants a durable, no-nonsense machine they'll keep for years without paying a monthly fee. | Budget-conscious buyers who still want incline and program variety without a premium price. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Sole E35 Elliptical - A heavy, quiet, subscription-free elliptical that just works - our top pick for most homes. Choose the Schwinn 490 Elliptical instead if budget-conscious buyers who still want incline and program variety without a premium price.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Elliptical Trainers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).