Home Gym · Head-to-head
Sole E35 Elliptical vs Schwinn 490 Elliptical
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, 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 and decline (-5% to 15%) plus 25 resistance levels give real workout variety for the money
- 20-inch stride and 13 built-in programs cover most fitness levels
- Works fully offline; the JRNY app is optional, not required
- 7-inch color LCD rather than a touchscreen
- Owners occasionally report missing assembly hardware and fiddly setup
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Sole E35 Elliptical Our pick | 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 |
| Stride length & feel | 20 in - smooth, natural glide | 20 in - comfortable, steady |
| Resistance & flywheel | Heavy flywheel, wide range | Ample range for most |
| Incline | Power incline | Motorized incline and decline |
| Console & tech | 10-inch touchscreen + app | 7-inch color LCD + optional app |
| Build & max user weight | Very sturdy, 350 lb | Sturdy, 330 lb |
| Subscription needed? | No - free app | No - app optional |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame, 2-yr parts | 10-yr frame, 2-yr parts |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Sole E35 Elliptical if
anyone who wants a durable, no-nonsense machine they'll keep for years without paying a monthly fee.
Know before buying: large, heavy footprint that's a chore to move once assembled.
Pick the Schwinn 490 Elliptical if
budget-conscious buyers who still want incline and program variety without a premium price.
Know before buying: 7-inch color LCD rather than a touchscreen.
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).