Speediance Gym Monster 2 Review: Worth It?
Our Speediance Gym Monster 2 review: what long-term owners love, the cable, remote and support problems they report, and who should buy this smart home gym.
The Speediance Gym Monster 2 is the most complete small-space strength machine we've researched: up to 220 lb of motorised resistance in 1 lb steps, folding to under 15 inches deep, with no required subscription. Long-term owners who train 4–5 days a week love it. But it caps out at 220 lb, can't do explosive lifts, cables wear, and support complaints are common, so buy from a retailer with an easy return policy.
- Best for
- Small spaces and people who want a coach on screen
- Skip it if
- You train for strength with heavy barbell lifts. A rack and plates do more for less.
- Price
- About $3,000–$3,850
Speediance Gym Monster 2 specs
| Resistance | Up to 220 lb digital, 1 lb steps |
|---|---|
| Size | 48 × 27 × 73″, folds to 14.6″ deep |
| Subscription | Optional (Wellness+ for AI plans and classes) |
| Warranty | 2 years standard; paid Care plans extend it |
| Price | About $3,000–$3,850 (checked October 2026) |
What we like
- Folds to about 15″ deep, so it fits in a spare room or apartment
- Changes weight with a dial, in 1 lb steps
- Basic use needs no monthly membership
- Owners using it 4–5 times a week for 1–2 years are happy
What we don't
- Lat pulldowns are at an angle, not straight down
- Can’t handle explosive lifts: the motor has a top speed
- Only a 2-year standard warranty on a $3,000 machine
- Occasional firmware and Bluetooth glitches
Price and ratings (October 2026): From about $3,035 (Basic) on Speediance’s site. 4.9 out of 5 from 352 on Speediance’s site; 4.3 out of 5 from 144 on Amazon (77% five-star, 12% one-star).
The gap between Speediance’s own rating and Amazon’s is worth noticing: Amazon shows a meaningful share of one-star reviews. That matches the pattern on Reddit, where most owners are delighted and a minority have serious support problems.
Who it’s for
The Gym Monster 2 suits people who want cable, press, row and squat training in the space of a large mirror, and who value convenience over maximum load. The typical happy owner is busy: one r/SpeedianceCommunity owner, a working dad who uses it 5+ days a week for 1.5 years, calls it “a godsend” and says he’s in the best shape of his life at nearly 40. A 6′2″ owner and a 6′4″ owner (10 months, 4–5 times a week) both report no problems with movements.
What owners love
- Convenience and safety. Owners call it the most convenient and safe home gym they’ve had: no plates, no spotter needed.
- Consistent use. Several owners report using it 3–5 days a week for over a year.
- No forced subscription. Owners chose it over Tonal partly for no monthly fees.
- Build quality. Even owners who criticise the software say the machine itself feels great.
What owners complain about
- 220 lb cap. “You won’t do heavy squats with this thing,” says a 1.5-year owner.
- No explosive lifts. The motors have a maximum retraction speed, so it suits hypertrophy-style training, not power cleans or jumps.
- Lat pulldowns. It isn’t tall and there’s no thigh pad, so pulldowns are angled and hard to brace.
- Cables and accessories. Cables wear and the metal end balls can come apart; owners replace them in 10–15 minutes with a screwdriver, though one calls the swap “scary”. Included handles feel cheap and accessories are overpriced.
- The finger remote. Several owners say the Bluetooth ring remote disconnects often enough to disrupt workouts.
- Support and software. One owner with “major buyer’s remorse” after a year lists poor customer service, the remote, handles, fraying cables and AI features moving behind a paywall. A European owner posted about a legal dispute; a North American owner who bought through Amazon reports a trouble-free year.
Where it falls short
It’s a strength machine, not a cardio or yoga platform: a Peloton owner who added a GM2 says it’s great for strength but the software is less polished. And it costs about as much as a rack, bar, plates and a cable attachment, which go heavier and never need a firmware update.
Speediance vs the alternatives
- Force USA G3 (about $2,000): a rack, Smith machine and cable station in one plate-loaded frame. Heavier loads, no electronics, but far bigger. See our Force USA G3 review.
- REP Arcadia (about $2,200): a steel dual-stack trainer with a lifetime frame warranty, but no barbell work and a bigger footprint.
- Major Fitness B52 (about $1,100): the budget all-in-one, with a one-year warranty.
Should you buy it?
Buy the Gym Monster 2 if space is your biggest constraint and you’ll train consistently: owners who use it most love it most. Buy from a retailer with an easy return policy (owners note Costco now carries it), consider the extended Care plan, and keep spare cables. If you lift heavy or want a machine that will run for 20 years without support, buy steel instead: see our best cable machines.
How we rated the Speediance Gym Monster 2
Our rating is based on verified specifications and owner reports, not hands-on testing. How we research and score.
| Performance and versatility | 4.4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Build quality and owner-reported durability | 4.0 | |
| Space, assembly and setup | 4.6 | |
| Warranty and customer service | 3.2 | |
| Value for money | 3.8 | |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Featured in: Best cable machines · Best home gym equipment
Speediance Gym Monster 2 FAQ
Is the Speediance Gym Monster 2 worth it?
For people who want a full strength setup in a small space and value convenience, yes. Owners who use it 4–5 days a week for a year or more say it's transformed their training. It's less worth it if you lift heavy (it caps at 220 lb), do explosive lifts, or want a machine that never needs support.
Does the Speediance Gym Monster 2 need a subscription?
No. The core functions and workouts work without a paid plan; Speediance sells an optional membership for extra content. Some owners worry Speediance will move more features behind a paywall, citing AI features that may become paid.
How heavy can the Speediance go?
Up to 220 lb of resistance in total, adjustable in 1 lb steps. Owners say that's plenty for most cable, press and row work, but not for heavy squats or deadlifts.
What problems do Speediance owners report?
The most common complaints are cables that fray or wear (owners say they swap in 10–15 minutes with a screwdriver), an unreliable Bluetooth finger remote, cheap included handles, software quirks and slow or difficult customer service in some regions.
What warranty does the Speediance Gym Monster 2 have?
Two years standard. Speediance sells Care plans that extend main-unit coverage to four years. Given owner reports about support, we'd consider the extended plan or buying through a retailer with a generous return policy.
Sources
- Speediance: Gym Monster 2
- r/SpeedianceCommunity: Long-term owners, are there real downsides of the Gym Monster 2?
- r/SpeedianceCommunity: Give me reasons you regret buying Speediance
- r/SpeedianceCommunity: Why do more people not have a Gym Monster 2?
- r/SpeedianceCommunity: Stay clear of Speediance, see my legal dispute