:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/vwt-torque-fitness-f9-functional-trainer-stacey-wegner-40-c93fd8cb45e149d29c5436893aa81631.jpeg)
Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner
Compared to a commercial gym, a home gym can provide more convenience, privacy, and customization. A solid home gym supports your fitness goals and can range from a compact, space-saving option to a larger, more permanent piece of equipment. When shopping, look for a home gym that's versatile, high-quality, and easy to use and adjust.
To find the best home gyms on the market, we spoke with fitness experts to learn which key features to look for in a high-quality option. Then, we tested eight options at home and in The Verywell Testing Lab, performing bicep curls, leg presses, face pulls, and more. We evaluated each piece of equipment’s ease of setup, ease of use, safety, comfort, performance, features, and value to find the top options on the market. We also had a certified personal trainer from our Review Board review this article for accuracy.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Torque Fitness F9 Fold Away Functional Trainer
Easy to adjust with smooth cable action
Securely folds into itself for space-saving storage
Highly versatile and sturdy
Bench sold separately
Complicated initial setup
Key Specs
Product Weight: 610 pounds | Maximum Resistance: 150, 200, or 225 pounds (depends on weight stack size) | Size: 34.9 x 44.6 x 83.8 inches (doors closed), 61.2 x 69.7 x 83.8 inches (doors open) | Style: Foldable cable/weight stack | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Who It’s For
Best if you’re looking for a compact and versatile home gym with a wide range of strength training exercises for all fitness levels.
Why We Love It
Torque Fitness’ F9 Functional Trainer tops our list of home gyms, offering safe, stable, and user-friendly full-body training that rivals more complex systems. During testing, its adjustable cable pulley design proved highly versatile, allowing over 50 exercises with 17 low-to-high handle positions. We love its smooth performance, adjustable weight settings, and ergonomic grips. It feels comfortable, sturdy, and effective, ensuring a natural range of motion while we perform various upper-body, lower-body, and core exercises.
Its cable system makes weight adjustments easy, accommodating users of different fitness levels with the simple pull of a knob. We appreciated that it included an assist strap for pull-ups and dips, which allowed us to build strength and eventually move independently. When we’re done working out, we like how it folds neatly and securely into itself. Ours is stored in a corner in our basement, but we think it's a great space-saving solution for any size home.
Potential Flaws
- This home gym doesn’t come with a workout bench, which limits its full potential for beneficial exercises. However, you can purchase one separately, which we think is a solid investment.
- While it’s user-friendly, its initial setup was difficult, and we found the instructions vague, requiring us to contact customer support for assistance. We highly recommend having spare hex keys and a friend handy for help.
Most Valuable Insight
“This full-body functional trainer is easy to use and brings club-quality strength training into my home. It adjusts from light weights to heavy weights so easily. I love how it works for everyone in my family. Plus, its fold-away design fits in a corner and offers more exercises than a system with a larger footprint.” —Stacey Wegner, Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Stacey Wegner
Best High-Tech
Tonal System
Space-saving
Intuitive, with an easy setup process
Makes personalized recommendations, including form advice
Smart accessories are sold separately
Key Specs
Product Weight: 135 pounds | Maximum Resistance: 250 pounds | Size: 21.5 x 5.25 x 50.9 inches | Style: Smart mirror with resistance arm extensions | Our Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Who It's For
Best for those who want an intuitive, space-saving, and high-tech home gym that tracks progress and offers personal recommendations.
Why We Love It
Intuitive, space-saving, and easy to use, Tonal’s System quickly earned our spot as the best high-tech home gym. We love its large screen, which makes it easy to follow along with beginner to advanced workouts and massage gun recovery routines. Plus, it's simple to set up and connect to its app quickly, which we love.
We appreciate that it provides personalized recommendations and form advice, including which days to work out and recovery day activities. We also love that its digitally controlled weighted arms give us a solid amount of weight to work with and that it adjusts to our bodies based on our fitness goals.
Potential Flaws
- While we love this home gym, we wish it came with smart accessories instead of needing to purchase them separately.
Most Valuable Insight
“It does a really great job tracking your workouts, your data, and the weight you're lifting. It also tracks what muscle groups you work the most and recommends workouts based on what you haven't worked on lately, which is cool and could be helpful for someone with specific goals.” —Kristen Geil, Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Kristen Geil PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Kristen Geil PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Kristen Geil
Best Barbell Alternative
Gorilla Bow The Original Total Bundle
Easy to quickly adjust resistance
Durable and high-quality
Space-saving and lightweight
Too large to be easily portable
Key Specs
Product Weight: 6 pounds | Maximum Resistance: 110, 210, or 520 pounds (depends on bundle) | Size: 56 inches | Style: Resistance bands | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5
Who It's For
Best for lifters who love to use barbells in the gym but don't have the space for a traditional barbell and weight plate set at home or prefer a space-saving option.
Why We Love It
Gorilla Bow’s Original Total Bundle looks like a barbell but gets its resistance from durable, high-quality resistance bands. We love its easy setup—simply attach one or more of the resistance bands to each side of the bow and use it to perform various traditional weightlifting exercises you'd typically do with a barbell. We like using ours to perform seated rows, bicep curls, shoulder presses, and more.
During more intense workouts, when our hands get sweaty, we appreciate its great grip and never feel like we’re slipping or sliding around. We love that our sweat dries super quickly as we grasp the bow, allowing us to continue our workout without having to stop and dry off. We also like that it’s a breeze to attach the bands to the bow quickly for added resistance, making it ideal for anyone who wants to increase their strength over time.
Potential Flaws
- While we love how lightweight and versatile this piece of equipment is, we think it’s too large to transport easily.
Most Valuable Insight
“This is great for incorporating different and new exercises into my workout! I often use these for chest and tricep presses, back rows, and bicep curls. It’s also easy to adjust the resistance, which I like to do after each set. These are great in terms of versatility, plus they’re well-made and sturdy.” —Stella Yu, Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Jessica Juliao PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Connor Ralph PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Connor Ralph PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Connor Ralph
Best for Upper Body
REP Fitness FT-5000 Functional trainer
Quiet, with smooth cable action
Handles are comfy and easy to grip, even when sweaty
High-quality and durable
Large and heavy
Complicated initial setup
Key Specs
Product Weight: 875 pounds | Maximum Resistance: 448 pounds | Size: 36 x 58 x 85.5 inches | Style: Cable training system | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Who It’s For
Best if you’re focused on mostly upper-body strength training and want a durable, high-quality home gym with a commercial-grade feel.
Why We Love It
REP Fitness' Functional Trainer FT 5000 2.0 is a commercial-grade cable strength training home gym with all the functionality you need to stay on top of your upper body regimen. We love using it to perform tricep kickbacks and bicep curls, and its impressive 21 cable positions allow us to customize our routine easily. We appreciate its comfortable, padded handles, which provide a solid grip, even during sweatier workouts. And while it focuses on upper-body strength training, it also works great for lower-body compound exercises, including squat pulls, leg presses, and leg kickbacks.
We like that this durable home gym accommodates taller users without being overly wide. We also appreciate that its cables feel smooth when in use and are easy to adjust, with laser-etched markings and numbers to show you exactly where to line the handles up each time. Plus, it’s quiet, and there’s even a handy visual of exercises displayed on this machine’s top panel to guide beginners. With the durability and stability of professional gym equipment, we think this high-quality machine is a great investment to elevate any home gym.
Potential Flaws
- Large and heavy, this machine isn’t ideal for small home gym spaces.
- This machine’s initial setup was challenging and time-consuming, taking about two hours to complete and requiring multiple people for assembly. Once set up, however, it’s very easy to use.
Most Valuable Insight
“If someone's biggest hurdle with exercise is finding the time to get to the gym, I think having this machine would help. It's a really well-rounded, high-quality, and sleek machine that lets you perform a full-body workout. It also offers a wide range of weight adjustments, making it suitable for most fitness levels.” —Michelle Parente, CYT, editor and Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Michelle Parente
Best Portable
BodyBoss 2.0 Full Portable Home Gym
Lightweight and easy to store
Easy to quickly adjust resistance
Comes with accessories, including resistance bands and ankle straps
Base shifts during certain exercises
Key Specs
Product Weight: 16 pounds | Maximum Resistance: 60 pounds | Size: 15.9 x 2.8 x 20.1 inches | Style: Portable resistance band-based home gym kit | Our Overall Rating: 4.0/5
Who It's For
Best for beginner exercisers who travel a lot or want the flexibility to work out in different rooms or even outside with an easily portable home gym.
Why We Love It
If you want to take your workout with you on the go, consider BodyBoss’ Full Portable Home Gym, a convenient, versatile, and portable option. We love that it’s about the size of a yoga mat, and when taken on the go or stored, it fits perfectly into its lightweight carrying case. We love using this resistance band-based home gym to complete tough upper-body workouts, lower-body exercises, boxing workouts, and more.
We appreciate that this versatile home gym allows us to perform more than 300 exercises. And we can quickly make the moves easier or more challenging simply by lengthening or shortening the resistance bands. We love that it has many useful accessories, including ankle straps, a collapsible workout bar, and more. We think its lightweight design is ideal for exercisers who want a space-saving home gym that can easily be taken on the go or stored when not in use.
Potential Flaws
- While highly versatile, its base shifts during certain exercises, including kickbacks and squats. Therefore, this home gym is ideal for exercises where your feet stay firmly in place.
Most Valuable Insight
“The best thing about this product is its versatility and the fact that you can do many different exercises with it, even though it's space-efficient. Its resistance bands also feel really durable. It comes with an exercise manual, which shows you different exercises you can perform with it, which is also helpful.” —Isabella Broggini, NASM-CPT, associate editorial director and Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Nick Kova PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Nick Kova PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Nick Kova PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Nick Kova PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Nick Kova PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Nick Kova
Most Affordable
Marcy Home Gym
Comfortable padded seat and backrest
Compact and ideal for small spaces
Sturdy and stable
Challenging assembly process
Not ideal for petite exercisers
Key Specs
Product Weight: 260 pounds | Maximum Resistance: 150 pounds | Size: 26 x 79 x 68 inches | Style: Cable/weight stack | Our Overall Rating: 4.4/5
Who It’s For
Best for beginner and intermediate exercisers who want a budget-friendly, sturdy, and classic home gym.
Why We Love It
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, Marcy's Stack Weight Home Gym is a sturdy steel piece of equipment that provides full-body strength training without a huge investment or footprint. We love that it offers 30 different exercise options detailed on its weight stack’s built-in chart—perfect for beginner and intermediate exercisers looking for a fuss-free routine. Designed with high and low pulleys, a leg developer, a removable preacher curl pad, and a dual-function chest press, we appreciate its versatility and how it makes working out more accessible and easy to plan.
Supportive and padded, we found that it allows for a comfortable range of motion during various exercises, including pull-downs, arm presses, leg presses, and more. Plus, its handles and grips absorbed sweat without feeling slippery or unsafe—which helped us stay engaged and focused as we increased the intensity of our workout. We also love that its frame feels very stable and sturdy yet is compact enough to fit comfortably in many homes or garages. And we always feel super safe using this home gym, regardless of which exercise we’re performing.
Potential Flaws
- While this machine made workouts simple once set up, its assembly process was difficult and took us over four hours to complete due to unclear instructions and unlabeled parts. We suggest assembling this with the help of a friend and watching a YouTube video for additional help if needed.
- While we love this machine and feel it effectively gives us a full-body workout, we wish its seat and leg press were more adjustable to better suit petite exercisers.
Most Valuable Insight
“This really eliminates the challenge of getting to the gym. I can work out my whole body with this intuitive machine, and because of this, I don't have to have a bunch of free weights to complete my workouts. I worked out more having this home gym.” —Tatiana Kennedy, Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Tatiana Kennedy
Best for Bodybuilding
Force USA All-In-One Trainer
Versatile with smooth cable action
Attachments allow for quick and seamless exercise transitions
Comfortable rubber grip handles
Lacks stability during certain exercises
Not as durable as other options
Key Specs
Product Weight: 1,525 pounds (with packing materials) | Maximum Resistance: 992 pounds | Size: 67 x 79 x 91 inches, optional 60 inch swing arm attachment | Style: All-in-one weightlifting machine | Our Overall Rating: 4.2/5
Who It’s For
Best for bodybuilders or those focusing on isolation exercises rather than heavy powerlifting or CrossFit.
Why We Love It
For serious lifters, we recommend Force USA’s G20 Pro All-In-One Trainer. This versatile machine offers smooth cable operation and unique features like a built-in Smith machine and 290-pound dual cable stacks, allowing you to perform nearly any load-bearing weight exercise. With around 160 exercise options, this home gym is incredibly versatile. Thanks to easy attachment adjustments, transitions between exercises like face pulls, cable crossovers, and seated rows are more seamless and quick, with our workouts completed in just 45 minutes instead of our usual 90 minutes when we use multiple pieces of equipment.
With comfort and efficiency in mind, its rubber-grip handles and single-handed pulley adjustments feel comfortable and natural, regardless of exerciser height or size. Its attachments, like the footplate for seated rows and the leg pad for lat pulldowns, are simple to set up thanks to numbered placement slots, which helped us keep our resistance consistent between workouts. Overall, we found this home gym ideal for those who want the benefits of commercial gym equipment in a streamlined, all-in-one system.
Potential Flaws
- This machine performed well for most exercises but felt less stable than other options during heavy barbell lifts, squats, and leg presses.
- For the price, we expected a more robust construction, but some components felt lighter and less durable than anticipated. However, it has held up well with regular use.
Most Valuable Insight
“The machine is very easy to use. You can move the pulleys up and down single-handedly, and switching exercises is often just a matter of changing cable attachments. Because its pulleys move up and down so easily, it seamlessly accommodates different body sizes and full ranges of motion. I'm about a foot taller than my wife, and we both had no problem using its cables.” —Robert Tutton, Verywell Fit product tester
PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton PHOTO: Verywell Fit / Robert Tutton
We Also Tested
We tested eight home gyms, but only seven impressed us enough to make our final list of recommendations. Although we liked some of its features, the following home gym didn’t meet our rigorous testing requirements to be selected as a top pick.
- Once set up, Vitruvian’s Form Trainer+ is easy to use for basic exercises like arm curls, squats, and shoulder presses. It also feels sturdy and well-made. However, we found it uncomfortable and awkward for most exercises, as it lacks appropriate platform padding and doesn’t allow for a full range of motion. Plus, its required app’s interface was difficult to navigate.
What We’ve Updated
- Since publishing our initial part-researched-based, part-tested roundup of the best home gyms, we’ve re-evaluated our previous picks and hands-on tested five additional options from top brands. We also continued long-term testing of some original picks. This is now a fully tested article, solely featuring our hands-on experience with each recommended home gym.
- Based on our testing insights, we’ve reworked some of our product picks and superlatives, including Best Overall and Best for Bodybuilding. We’ve also added two new superlatives: Best for Upper Body and Best Affordable.
- We consulted two new experts—a certified personal trainer and a fitness expert—to ensure our advice on choosing home gyms is accurate and up to date.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Home Gym
- Size: Before purchasing, measure thoroughly to ensure your new home gym will fit in your space properly. If you have a large, dedicated workout space, you may want to consider purchasing a larger, more permanent home gym setup. Those with smaller workout spaces may opt for foldable or compact options that won't take up too much space.
- Style: Home gyms come in various styles, from all-in-one larger machines to more compact, portable options. Look for a home gym with a style that fits your fitness goals and needs. Consider versatile options that allow you to increase the workout intensity over time so you can continue using your home gym for a longer period.
- Versatility: Versatile home gyms allow you to change up your workout routine. While some offer only a small variety, others allow you to perform hundreds of different exercises. When selecting a home gym, consider how you may want your workouts to change in the future and who will be using the home gym.
- Maximum Resistance: Some home gyms allow you to lift heavy weights without purchasing additional equipment. If you lift weights, pay attention to the maximum weight plates and cable resistance settings to ensure they will work well for your fitness goals.
Benefits of Owning a Home Gym
Owning a home gym can have several advantages. Whether you have a busy schedule, want to save on membership fees, or prefer to work out in private, the following are some key advantages to investing in an at-home workout system.
- Convenience: Owning your workout equipment helps you skip the commute to and from the gym, saving time and making it easier to fit workouts into your busy schedule instead of around gym hours. Plus, this may make it easier to stick to your fitness routine.
- Efficient, Private Workouts: With no need to travel or wait for equipment, workouts can be quicker and more efficient. Plus, you won’t need to work out in front of other individuals if this is something you’re not comfortable with.
- Cost-Effective: Investing in personal gym equipment can save money on recurring gym membership fees and transportation costs, especially for multi-person households.
- Customization: Get tailored workouts by choosing equipment that caters to your fitness goals, whether you’re doing strength training, cardio, or flexibility work. You can also create a customized workout environment that suits your comfort level, from playing music to controlling the temperature or lighting.
- Hygiene: Since it’s your own space, you can control the cleanliness and hygiene of equipment better than in shared gym spaces.
How We Tested the Home Gyms
To find the best home gyms, we tested eight options at home and in our Lab, performing exercises such as face pulls, leg presses, bicep curls, and more. We evaluated each option based on the following key criteria.
- Ease of Setup: When evaluating for ease of setup, we consider how easy the home gym is to assemble. Are the manufacturer’s instructions clear? How long does it take to put together fully? Does it come with all the required pieces? Can it be done alone, or does it require multiple people to build it?
- Ease of Use: When considering ease of use, we ask ourselves how easy it is to perform various exercises. How much space does the home gym take up? How easy is it to adjust? Does it remain stable during our workout? We prioritize home gyms that are easy to adjust and accommodate various exercises while remaining completely stable.
- Safety: Stability, sturdiness, and proper performance are essential to ensure safety. Do we feel safe or unsafe while using the home gym? Is the manufacturing description clear about the safety components that come with it? As we work out, we note whether the system and its adjustment mechanisms feel stable and secure or wobbly.
- Comfort: When evaluating comfort, we consider the equipment's padding, seats, size, and grips. Are seats and backrests comfortably padded? Are handles and grips padded, and do they comfortably fit our hands? Is there any discomfort while using the machine? Do we have a full range of motion? Can people of various sizes comfortably use this machine?
- Performance: To evaluate performance, we note what exercises the system allows us to perform. Can we customize our workout? How versatile is it for different exercises? We also note whether it performs smoothly and how easy it feels to maneuver all its components.
- Features: We note whether each home gym has helpful features or special functions that make it easier or more pleasant to use. Do any of its features make it more versatile?
- Value: To accurately rate each home gym's value, we don't check the price until the end of the testing period after we've evaluated it in all other key categories. Considering its performance in all other areas, we ask ourselves if it's priced fairly. Would we only buy it on sale? Would we recommend it to friends and family members? We prioritize home gyms whose quality exceeds their value.
Our Experts
We consulted experts at each stage of our research, testing, and reporting process. The following experts advised us on which key features to look for when selecting a high-quality home gym. Although we choose products independently, expert input influences our decisions.
- Parker Oliver, CFSC, general manager, certified functional strength coach, and nutritionist at BRX Performance
- Adrien Deffes, ACE-CPT, certified personal trainer in New York
Frequently Asked Questions
What gym equipment is best for a home gym?
The best gym equipment for a home gym are options you'll be excited about and comfortable using. Before buying, ask yourself if you would prefer a home gym with a heavyweight bench or a high-tech screen, a space-saving foldable option, or a larger, versatile piece of equipment.
What are the different types of home gyms?
Home gyms come in various styles and sizes. Some include all-in-one training machines that combine multiple strength training modalities in one unit, simpler free weight sets with dumbbells, barbells, and benches for customizable strength training, and cardio-focused equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and rowing machines. Some home gym setups also include functional training systems such as resistance bands, cables, and suspension trainers for bodyweight exercises and versatility-focused workouts.
Is it cheaper to build a home gym or have a gym membership?
Building a home gym can be more expensive upfront due to equipment costs, especially if it’s a large or complex system (these can cost around $4,000). However, after a few years, a home gym can pay for itself, while a gym membership—while less expensive initially—can add up fast and cost significantly more in the long run.
Why Trust Verywell Fit
Jessica Murtaugh, NASM-CPT, CNC, is a Los Angeles-based certified personal trainer and Verywell Fit writer dedicated to recommending trustworthy products and evidence-based practices to help readers achieve sustainable wellness. A lifelong athlete, runner, and certified personal trainer, she owns and uses several home gyms to help her cross-train. For this roundup, she prioritized trustworthy home gym equipment brands that provide safe and effective products.
Additional reporting contributed by Gabrielle Applebury, MA, MFT
Gabrielle Applebury, MA, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the associate editor for Verywell Fit. Whether focusing on workout gear, apparel, or other products, she's dedicated to providing recommendations based on thorough research and testing.