Yay or nay?
Discover what the internet is saying about Tonal.
Upgraded Reviews scanned the web to find out what real users are saying about Tonal.
See the highlights below and decide for yourself!
Table of contents
- ✅ Pros
- ❌ Cons
- ⚖️ Summaries
- 💸 Top Discount
✅ Pros
“You can do whatever moves/workouts you want.”
“All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space.”
“In terms of the technology, they have thought of everything.”
“It doubles as wall mirror when not in use.”
“Tonal can adjust your weight based on your struggle. If you don’t seem challenged, it will automatically increase your weight, and on the other hand, if you’re struggling, it will decrease your weight.”
“The trainer guides you through the movements.”
“Lifting modes add challenge, dimension and safety.”
“Tonal’s mobile app has a set of “on the go” exercises that you can do on the road and they count towards your streaks.”
“Digital weight with Smart Flex requires more effort, stability, and focus.”
“It’s quiet, which helps if you live in an apartment or share space with others.”
“Form correction is offered throughout each workout.”
“Unobtrusive form factor for being so comprehensive.”
“AI assesses your form and gives real-time cuing.”
“It offers enhanced safety compared to free weights.”
“It is an all-in-one home gym complete with classes and built-in resistance.”
“There’s a wide range of workouts to fit your needs.”
“You can use the machine on its own without taking a class.”
“Dynamic modes like Eccentric and Partner are useful for challenging yourself and / or a buddy.”
“I am not tech-savvy. Yet from the beginning, the Tonal was simple to set up and easy to use.”
“There is no need for multiple weights.”
“Tonal’s extensive roster also includes personal trainers, pro athletes and even fitness legends like P90X creator Tony Horton.”
“You can use your own cable accessories with T-lock system.”
“This space-saving machine looks good in a living room or bedroom.”
“It is convenient.”
“Space-efficient design that offers a broad range of exercises.”
“Seeing my power on screen for every rep motivated me to keep pushing and not slack off toward the end of a set.”
“Tonal can accommodate a variety of athletes with its pulleys that provide weighted resistance up to 200 pounds.”
“There is as huge library of workouts with dozens of trainers, all with different personalities and approaches.”
“As you get stronger, the system detects it and raises the weights.”
“The Tonal takes barely any space at all.”
“It contains a variety of workout options.”
“It has a Facebook community that’s genuinely positive.”
“Wide selection of on-demand workouts and programs for beginners, intermediate, and advanced lifters.”
“You can also get access to on-demand and live classes.”
“This is one of the most compact home gym options on the market for those who are willing and able to dish out the extra cash for it.”
“The workouts are very customizable.”
“It offers basic form feedback.”
“You can lift up to 200 pounds in digital resistance (much different from free weights).”
“Tonal takes the mental load out of exercising.”
“The best thing about Tonal in my opinion, convenience.”
“Tonal has more than two dozen coaches with a wide range of teaching styles.”
“I also loved how it felt customized to me.”
“Smart features make progressive strength-training a breeze.”
“Over 1000 workouts and over 60 programs (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) to keep things interesting.”
“The instruction is top-notch.”
“Tonal prioritizes safety features.”
“AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you.”
“It is space-efficient.”
“You can improve your form and receive feedback.”
“It supports partner workouts.”
“The first thing I noticed when my Tonal arrived was its compact and sleek silhouette.”
“Easy-to-use interface and installation service is provided.”
“It allows you to have multiple user profiles.”
“I also felt my strength gains in other workouts.”
“It is fun and easy to use.”
“The AI-powered technology helps you improve with every session.”
“It sets and adjusts weight for you.”
“The system generates a lot of data and keeps you engaged by encouraging you to maintain your weekly streaks.”
“It has intuitive, automatic weight adjustments.”
“Tonal offers hundreds of strength training programs, focusing on everything from improving fitness to building muscle to getting lean.”
“It is multiuser friendly.”
“It has easy and intuitive touch screen.”
“Installation is done by professionals.”
“Spotter mode is great for safety.”
💸 Top Current Discount
❌ Cons
“It’s a solo experience.”
“After my very first workout, the clip that allows me to move the Tonal arms to various angles for different exercises, got stuck and wouldn’t move back into place.”
“It is expensive.”
“Your wall has to meet the requirements to safely put up the Tonal.”
“It also does require a substantial amount of space cleared around the machine.”
“I also would love a scheduling tool, so that I can mark classes and get a reminder.”
“It has high initial price tag.”
“If you compete in strength sports or you’re pushing a ton of weight, the 200 pounds of magnetic resistance may be a little limiting for you.”
“Sometimes misses reps.”
“It limits our exposure to the outside world.”
“No one’s really monitoring your form.”
“Setting up a Tonal in your home is not a simple process.”
“The price is high and the cost doesn’t include all accessories or installation.”
“12-month initial subscription required (and an additional cost).”
“Despite everything we love about Tonal, there is no way to ignore the fact that it is a very expensive piece of fitness equipment.”
“It is expensive.”
“There is potentially uncertain future of an independent company.”
“It has limited cardio offerings.”
“No live class offerings means programs get stale quickly.”
“In terms of the live classes, I do wish there was more of a chance to interact with people, like a message board or chat feature.”
“According to the installation instructions, you need a 7′ x 7′ space to install and use Tonal.”
“Squatting and benching with the pulleys takes some getting used to, so anyone who is partial to the traditional style of lifting may not enjoy those lifts with Tonal.”
“Accessories cost extra and are pretty crucial to your workouts.”
“It’s not cheap, and I totally get it if that’s what defers you from purchasing.”
“It can be time-consuming to adjust the arms for a full body workout.”
⚖️ Final Say
Read the summaries of what reviewers think about Tonal below.
“Tonal is one of the most advanced workout machines on the market thanks to AI-powered weight adjustments, form correction and other intuitive training features.”
“All in all I believe Tonal delivers on the ultimate promise of smart home fitness devices, using sophisticated technology to offer a seamless, intuitive user experience. Having Tonal in my home feels like having a full home gym, as well as a suite of personal trainers on call, but in a fraction of the space and at a fraction of the cost. (Though, let’s be honest, it’s still pricey.) It’s not the best fit for someone whose fitness goals are centered around cardio, but if you’re in the market for a comprehensive strength training program at your fingertips, Tonal is hard to beat.”
“The Tonal system isn’t cheap, but it’s like having a full gym’s worth of strength training equipment—and a virtual personal trainer—in your home.”
“I love how easy it is to use, the variety of programs, and that someone like me, without a lot of fitness knowledge, is building confidence and strength in a safe way.”
“I would recommend this to anyone who is intimidated by strength training, people who are serious about seeing strength and toning gains, and fitness buffs who love using technology to optimize their workout.”
“Tonal is for all intents and purposes an artificially intelligent personal trainer. You pay for the equipment and then you pay a monthly subscription for the training. Is it for everyone? No. But those that use it and have bought, myself included, love it.”
“I didn’t want to like the Tonal. But it won me over with the effectiveness of digital weight, time efficiency, and convenience. Almost every source of friction to strength training disappeared when the Tonal staff mounted it to my wall. And for a fairly comprehensive strength training device, the form factor is unobtrusive.”
“Tonal is a great way to make strength training accessible for anybody, regardless of whether you’re new to weight lifting or a professional bodybuilder. The built-in cables and AI features make using Tonal a breeze, so you can exercise without a ton of space or commuting back-and-forth to the gym. Although it’s expensive, we think it’s worth the price tag if you can afford to splurge and and want to get a great workout that’s comparable to a personal training session in the privacy of your own home.”
“Tonal combines top-notch instruction with up to 200 pounds of resistance in a compact package that’s mostly unobtrusive in the home, making it the best option for those who enjoy strength training, but not the daily trek to the gym.”
“Overall, Tonal does a solid job at providing instruction and guidance throughout workouts, and we think it will work for a majority of users who can afford the lofty price tag. There’s no denying that this device is expensive and not accessible for everyone, but if you’re looking for a compact and interactive smart home gym, Tonal is one of the best.”
“Overall, I don’t think Tonal is for everyone. While it does have beginners’ classes and can correct form, I can’t see a novice exerciser wanting to drop over $3,000 on a high-tech workout machine. I do think this is a weightlifter’s dream, and it will appeal to those who are well-versed in strength training and are tech-savvy. If I had the space and money, I would consider purchasing a Tonal for my home.”
“There are very few products that I can unequivocally recommend but this is absolutely one of them. Like any other physical activity, though, you still have to do the work. There are days that I don’t feel like doing my program but, honestly, it would be so incredibly lame not to just do it given the convenience. The Tonal will still have you sweating and feeling spent after a workout but once you get some momentum (and Tonal does everything it can to help you with that), the benefits will compound and it’ll all be worth it.”
“The investment might just be worth it if Tonal becomes your gym, your Pilates studio, your stretch leader, and your fitness teacher. The convenience can’t be beat, and the smart features make progressive strength training a mental (if not physical) breeze. My family’s year with Tonal has shown me that making this device the center of your fitness universe works better for some people than it does for others.”
“All-in-all, yes. I think I actually convinced myself even more so while writing this review… By comparing it to a full cable machine that costs at least around $2,000, and factor in the space saving design, smart features and guided workouts, it’s well worth the cost of Tonal.”
“If you are the kind of person who is already mentally prepared to commit to weight training, the Tonal is an excellently designed machine that’s much sleeker than your traditional home gym equipment. It’s space-efficient and great for multiple people in the house to use since each profile saves their personalized weights for the next time they work out. Plus, you can’t deny the perks of grunting and sweating in your own private space instead of a public gym.”