Trying to choose the best treadmill for your home gym? We’ll help you decide by giving you an in-depth look at two of the most popular cardio brands. This is a showdown between Horizon vs NordicTrack treadmills, and it ain’t over until GGR sings!
Horizon vs. NordicTrack: Company Overviews
Horizon Fitness is a subsidiary of Johnson Health Tech, which was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Taichung, Taiwan. You might be familiar with a few of the other brands under the Johnson Health Tech umbrella, such as Matrix and Vision Fitness. Those brands typically produce commercial cardio equipment that you’d find at your local gym.
NordicTrack is also a subsidiary of a larger company, Icon Health & Fitness. Icon Health & Fitness owns iFIT, ProForm, and a few other smaller brands. They are headquartered in Logan, Utah, which is about an hour and a half away from Salt Lake City.
Horizon vs. NordicTrack Treadmills At a Glance
| Brand | Horizon | NordicTrack |
| Treadmill models | 6 models | 7 models |
| Price range | $999-$2,699 | $1,999.99-$4,299.99 |
| Interactive programming | FitU (Ability to connect various interactive programming services to their machines via Bluetooth) | iFIT Train (individual membership, handheld devices): $15/month or $180/year iFIT Pro (Up to 5 users, works with built-in screens): $39/month or $396/year |
Editor’s Note: NordicTrack also has the Ultra 1 Treadmill that costs $15,000, but we didn’t include that in our table, as we felt it was priced outside the realistic budget of most people.
Who Should Buy Horizon Treadmills?
- People on a budget
- Those who don’t care about a touchscreen
- Someone who wants a more entry-level machine
- Individuals who want a lifetime warranty on both their frame and motor
Who Should Buy NordicTrack Treadmills?
- Serious runners
- Those who like on-demand programming
- Tech enthusiasts
- People who like knowing the horsepower of their treadmill motor
Horizon vs. NordicTrack: Key Similarities and Differences
To help you find the best option for your needs, here’s a chart comparing the key similarities and differences between Horizon and NordicTrack treadmills.
NordicTrack Treadmills
NordicTrack offers a variety of treadmills at different price points ranging from $1,999.99-$4,299.99. On average, they cost more than Horizon treadmills, but they often have upgraded features, like large screens for streaming your iFIT workouts.
Our Favorite NordicTrack Treadmills
To help you get started, here’s a look at some of our favorite offerings from NordicTrack.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
Our favorite treadmill that NordicTrack offers is the Commercial 1750. This super-sized cardio machine clocks in at 340 pounds when it arrives at your door, so it isn’t exactly petite.
However, if you have the space to handle the 1750’s footprint, you’ll likely really enjoy this sturdy machine and its stellar iFIT programming. The 1750 features a 14-inch touchscreen, a 22-inch-by-60-inch deck, and both incline and decline options.
- Spacious running deck
- Compatible with iFIT
- 14-inch touchscreen
- Incline and decline training
- Financing available
Check out our full NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill review to learn more.
NordicTrack X24 Treadmill
For a more premium option, the NordicTrack X24 treadmill is another great option, and one of our favorites. It offers an impressive incline that reaches 40%, as well as an option for 6% decline. For those who want a challenging run, or anyone who wants to simulate steep incline training, this is a great option.
Not to mention, you can take advantage of the 24″ touchscreen to stream iFIT workouts, and the treadmill is powered by a 4.25 CHP motor.
- Goes down to a -6% decline or up to a 40% incline
- Speed range of 0-12 mph
- 24″ swiveling touchscreen
- SmartAdjust technology automatically adjusts speed and incline levels during iFIT classes
- Powerful 4.25 CHP motor
You can read our full NordicTrack X24 Treadmill Review to see all the details.
NordicTrack T Series 10 Treadmill
For users who want an interactive treadmill that’s a bit more affordable, the NordicTrack T Series 10 is a great choice. It offers a 12% incline, speeds up to 12 miles per hour, and a folding frame, which means helps minimize its footprint for smaller spaces.
The 3.0 CHP motor isn’t as powerful as the X24, but it still has plenty of power for most home users, and it features a 10″ HD touchscreen for streaming iFIT workouts.
- SmartAdjust technology
- Compatible with iFIT
- 10” HD touchscreen
For more, be sure to read our complete NordicTrack T Series 10 Treadmill Review.
Horizon Treadmills
Horizon’s treadmills are a bit more affordable, making them a good choice for the average home consumer, especially if you don’t need a built-in touchscreen. None of the Horizon models include a screen, but you can easily use your own phone or tablet to follow your favorite streaming workout services while you’re using your machine.
Our Favorite Horizon Treadmills
To help you find the right fit, here’s a quick look at some of the highest-rated Horizon treadmills we’ve tested.
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
Out of Horizon’s treadmill offerings, my personal favorite is the 7.0 AT Treadmill. As a tall woman, I particularly like the deck on the 7.0 AT. The 20-inch-by-60-inch belt is excellent for those with long legs or lengthy strides.
RELATED: Best Treadmill for Tall Runners
Plus, at under $1,000, the 7.0 AT is a budget-friendly home treadmill that still features great extras like cup holders, Bluetooth speakers, and multiple preset programs. The 7.0 AT also has a 325-pound weight capacity, which is above the industry standard of 300 pounds.
- Affordably priced
- Spacious 60-inch running deck
- Bluetooth connectivity
- QuickDial controls for both the speed and incline
For more, check out our in-depth Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill review.
Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill
If you want the next step up from the Horizon 7.0, the 7.4 makes a lot of sense. It has a higher price tag, but you’re paying for a wider deck, more built-in programs, an advanced Bluetooth package, and an extended parts warranty.
The 7.4 AT also has a maximum user weight of 350 pounds, while the 7.0 AT only has a weight capacity of 325 pounds, so the 7.4 may be a better choice for larger individuals.
- Lifetime frame and motor warranty
- Monthly payment plans available
- QuickDial controls for speed and incline
Read more in our Horizon 7.4 Studio Tread Review.
Horizon T101 Treadmill
For those shopping on a budget, the Horizon T101 Treadmill may be just what you’re looking for. It’s a bit smaller–the 20-inch-by-55-inch deck is a bit smaller, and the weight capacity is only 300 pounds, but we still think it’s a good fit for most home users.
The incline can reach 10%, and the speed tops out at 10 miles per hour, which is plenty for most people, although serious runners may need something with a bit more power.
- Foldable treadmill
- Best suited for walkers, joggers or cardio newbies
- Compact, sturdy, and easy to use
- Console fan, Bluetooth speakers, device holder, and a rapid-charge USB port
To learn more, be sure to read our complete Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill Review.
Company Policies
When choosing a treadmill, although the machine itself is the main focus, we still have to consider company policies. Imagine if you found the best treadmill in the world, but it has a terrible warranty. You’d probably pause before purchasing it, right? The same goes for everything else that relates to customer experience including assembly, returns, and financing options, which is why I break it all down below.
Warranty
The best warranties should be 15 years to life on the frame, at least two years on parts, and one year on labor, which would earn a 5-out-of-5 star rating for warranty coverage from us.
| Horizon Treadmill Warranty | NordicTrack Treadmill Warranty |
| All Horizon treadmills have a lifetime frame and motor warranty. The parts and labor guarantees can vary between a year to five years, depending on how expensive a particular model is. | Standard NordicTrack treadmill warranties offer a 10-year frame, lifetime motor, 2-year parts, and 1-year labor warranty. |
Return Policies
The industry standard is 30 days from date of delivery to be eligible for a refund. Only a few companies refund shipping and won’t charge a restocking fee, however, and those generous return policies would earn 5 out of 5 scores.
| Horizon Return Policy | NordicTrack Return Policy |
| You can return your Horizon treadmill within 30 days of delivery. However, you may be charged a 20% restocking fee if you get white-glove delivery. | If you don’t love your new NordicTrack treadmill, you can return it within 30 days of delivery for your money back, but you’ll have to pay a $249.99 fee to ship the machine back. |
Financing Options
Industry standard is to provide some type of financing through third-party vendors, with rates varying based on credit approval.
| Horizon Financing Options | NordicTrack Financing Options |
| Horizon has their own financing program where you can pay as little as 0% APR, but you do have to qualify based on your credit score. It says in the fine print that the traditional APR is 29.99% for other customers. | NordicTrack has great financing available––0% APR for anywhere between 12-48 months. However, you do have to qualify for these options first. |
Assembly
The meet the industry standard, threshold delivery is available, and assembling the machine would take two people no longer than 1.5 hours.
| Horizon Assembly | NordicTrack Assembly |
| Horizon offers three different delivery and assembly options––standard delivery for $79, in-room delivery for $159, or $299 for white glove delivery. | NordicTrack offers free standard delivery, or you can pay an additional $299 for room of choice delivery and assembly. |
Horizon and NordicTrack FAQs
Is NordicTrack better than Horizon?
NordicTrack and Horizon are two excellent cardio brands. However, what might be best for you isn’t necessarily my best option. If you’re looking for a more tech-heavy treadmill and don’t mind paying some serious cheese for one, NordicTrack likely has your best option. If sturdiness and excellent warranties appeal to you, I would choose a Horizon treadmill.
Are NordicTrack or Horizon treadmills better cushioned?
In regards to cushioning, I personally prefer the deck of the NordicTrack treadmills. However, if you like a deck that feels akin to the outdoors, you may enjoy the Horizon treadmill cushioning best.
What interactive programming can I use with Horizon treadmills?
You can use almost any type of programming with every Horizon treadmill, but with some caveats. Certain apps like Peloton, Zwift, and Studio will show a variety of stats and be more connected to the treadmill. Other programming, like iFIT, will connect to the Bluetooth speakers on a Horizon treadmill, but won’t work in tandem to show the same metrics.
