review

Tonal Review (2025): Our Experts Put the Smart Home Gym to the Test Tonal is a high-tech smart gym that makes starting an effective strength workout as easy as stepping into the next room. It has a cable resistance system with multiple attachments, so there is no need for additional equipment. You can choose between instructor-led sessions or work out independently using the demonstrations on the large touchscreen. There are a variety of workouts outside of strength training, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardio, dance, yoga, Pilates, and more. As a certified personal trainer and wellness product reviewer, I’ve tried (and stopped using) several pieces of home gym equipment. I also work with a team of other expert product reviewers, some of whom have had Tonal for several years and still use it consistently. This Tonal review describes our experience using it, including details about the equipment, workouts, accessories, and other features. We also spoke to fitness expert Rachael Gonzalez, C.P.T., C.S.C.S., about Tonal’s workout modes and how they can benefit exercisers. Related: Best Home Gym Equipment How I Rate Tonal Based on our experience, we give Tonal an overall 5/5 rating. The only category where it didn’t receive a score is assembly, which doesn’t apply since professional installation is required. Here’s a look at the scoring breakdown on a scale of 1–5: Overall: 5 out of 5 We’re extremely satisfied with the Tonal equipment and programming. We can get a full workout without taking up a lot of space with free weights or having to pay to go to a gym and leave the house. Durability: 5 out of 5 The equipment is durable, and we haven’t had any issues. However, moving the arms can be noisy, which may concern people installing it on a shared wall. We had one arm that clicked slightly for a while, but following the troubleshooting instructions on the Tonal website helped fix it. Feel and Comfort: 4 out of 5 Some weightlifting moves don’t feel entirely safe or stable, so we usually replace them with ones we’re more comfortable with. The handles, bar, and rope accessories are comfortable to hold and easy to use. Optionality/Adjustments: 5 out of 5 Tonal automatically adjusts weight as you progress, which is really nice. Some workouts have a movement replacement option where you select a modification for the recommended exercise, which has been helpful in certain instances. For example, during pregnancy, you’re supposed to avoid twisting moves, so when one of our testers started lifting after her first trimester, she could easily substitute these moves. Functionality: 5 out of 5 Tonal has worked very well, and one of our testers says it has drastically improved her strength. When she started using Tonal in 2021, she was in the bottom 25 percent of all women. Now, she’s in the top 28 percent, and watching her score increase has motivated her to keep improving. Tonal Dimensions: 21.5″ W x 50.9″ H x 5.25″ D Display: 24-inch touchscreen Max Weight: 200 lbs (100 lbs per arm) Training Types: Strength, HIIT, cardio, dance, yoga, recovery, mobility, barre, Pilates, pre/postnatal Accessories: None included Warranty: 2-year limited warranty Return: 30-day money-back guarantee Check Price What Is Tonal? The Tonal machine is a wall-mounted smart mirror with a built-in touchscreen and two adjustable arms that extend from the sides of the machine and can be moved up and down depending on what exercises you’re doing. You can choose between an on-demand or live instructor-led class or do your own exercises using the Free Lift option. Throughout each class and in Free Lift mode, a trainer explains how to adjust the arms and attach accessories and demonstrates proper form. Workouts on the built-in workout app include weightlifting exercises such as squats, deadlifts, shoulder presses, lat pulldowns, tricep extensions, curls, and bench presses. The movement library has over 170 exercises to choose from. Each exercise is performed under the resistance of a cable pulley system using a bar, rope, or handle attachment, with up to 100 pounds of resistance per side for a combined 200 pounds. Related: Best Functional Trainers Tonal recommends weights for each session based on an initial assessment, and your progress and performance determine adjustments. It offers unique weight modes, video form feedback, and floor workouts such as yoga and Pilates. The Tonal app also gives you access to workouts that don’t require the machine arms, so you can work out on the go. Tonal Technology Tonal uses artificial intelligence—Coach AI—to track progress, movement, and data from your workouts to make adjustments, weight recommendations, program suggestions, and more. You don’t have to worry about answering questions like: What do I need to work on today? What weights should I use? Should I focus on my lower body or do a full-body workout? Instead, one tap of the 24-inch touchscreen reveals an interactive library of on-demand and live classes or workout programs. Even in Free Lift mode, an option often used by experienced lifters, Coach AI tracks your data and makes adjustments and weight recommendations. The first time you use Tonal, you’ll complete the Strength Assessment, which starts by choosing from the following goals: Gain strength by focusing on large muscle groups and increasing resistance Improve performance with sport-specific training such as cycling, running, or swimming Boost energy with upbeat cardio workouts Build muscle with high-volume hypertrophy training Get lean with HIIT Maintain fitness with well-rounded workouts After selecting your goal, you’ll indicate whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced exerciser and perform several movements—including a seated lat pulldown, seated overhead press, bench press, and neutral grip deadlifts—to help Coach AI get to know you and adapt to your needs, much like an online personal trainer. Your strength assessment results are used by Coach AI as a baseline when selecting the weight for each movement and to recommend workouts and programs. While this is a good starting point, it could be better. It’s hard to assess your overall fitness based on a single workout—what if you had an off day? Tonal addresses