Speediance packs a cable machine, Smith trainer, squat rack, rower, and AI coaching into a single freestanding unit the size of a large suitcase — no wall mounting, no subscription required. Independent testing from PCMag, Tom’s Guide, and T3 confirms the concept works. The question is whether the execution justifies the price.
Speediance launched its original Gym Monster on Kickstarter in 2021 and has since shipped to thousands of US customers. The Gym Monster 2 is the second-generation version — faster, quieter, and with 220 lbs of magnetic resistance controlled digitally, meaning no plates, no cables to manually adjust, and no weight stack to load. Resistance changes in real time through the app or touchscreen, mid-rep if needed.
It has been reviewed by PCMag, PCWorld, Tom’s Guide, T3, and Yahoo Health. The consensus: genuinely impressive versatility for its footprint, with a few software quirks and accessory quality inconsistencies worth knowing about before you buy.
Packages and Pricing
The Gym Monster 2 ships in four bundle configurations. Every package includes the machine, Bluetooth ring controller, adjustable barbell, barbell hooks, handles, ankle straps, and triceps rope. The differences are in the bench and rowing components:
Basic
$3,749
Machine + all cable accessories, no bench
Works
$3,949
Adds flat bench
Works Plus
$4,099
Adds adjustable bench (most popular)
Family Plus
$4,499
Adds adjustable bench + rowing bench
HSA/FSA payment is accepted via Truemed. Financing through Klarna and Affirm is available at checkout, with 0% APR plans included. White-glove delivery and professional assembly start at $150 for ground-floor service.
What the Machine Actually Does
The Gym Monster 2 is built around a dual-cable functional trainer with 11 adjustable pulley heights. The digital resistance engine supports four distinct training modes beyond standard weight selection: Standard (consistent resistance throughout the rep), Eccentric (increases resistance on the return phase to overload the negative), Chains (resistance builds as you approach the top of the lift, mimicking barbell chains), and AI Assist (detects fatigue and reduces resistance to help complete the rep safely).
The rowing attachment connects directly to the base, and the machine supports skiing, squats, bench press, lat pulldown, chest fly, deadlift, overhead press, and hundreds of cable variations — essentially the full movement vocabulary of a commercial gym floor, from a footprint of roughly 4.1 × 2.3 feet.
The Gym Monster 2 does not require wall mounting. It is freestanding, foldable for storage, and portable enough to relocate between rooms — a significant practical advantage over wall-mounted competitors like Tonal.
How It Compares to Other Smart Home Gyms
| Machine | Price (Base) | Max Resistance | Subscription | Wall Mount | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speediance GM2 | $3,749 | 220 lbs | Optional | ✗ (freestanding) | 2yr motor/screen |
| Tonal 2 | $4,295 | 200 lbs | $59/mo (required) | ✔ (required) | 2yr |
| Tempo Studio | $2,495 | 200 lbs | $39/mo (required) | ✗ | 2yr |
| Vitruvian Trainer+ | $2,990 | 440 lbs | $30/mo | ✗ | 2yr |
| MAXPRO Smart Cable | $999 | 300 lbs | Optional | ✗ | 1yr |
Speediance’s clearest structural advantage is the lack of a mandatory subscription. Competitors like Tonal and NordicTrack lock most guided workouts behind a monthly fee. Speediance currently includes its full workout library — over 500 guided programs — in the device cost, with an optional AI coaching tier in the works. That said, PCMag and T3 both noted the software experience is less polished and less instructor-led than Tonal’s platform, which has had years of content development behind it.
What Reviewers Actually Found
Across five major independent reviews in 2025, the Gym Monster 2 earned consistent praise for its build quality, training versatility, and guided workout library. The dual 5-watt speakers plus 20-watt subwoofer were called out specifically as unexpectedly good. The Bluetooth ring controller — a small wearable that lets you adjust resistance, track reps, and navigate menus without touching the screen mid-set — was universally highlighted as a thoughtful design detail.
Recurring criticisms were more software-side: music auto-plays at every session start with no way to disable it by default; the “Why are you stopping?” prompt appears every time a workout ends early; and some exercise naming conventions differ from standard gym terminology, which can briefly confuse experienced lifters. T3’s reviewer also noted that the AI coaching tier, while promising, felt more like smart automation than genuine personalization in its current form.
For heavy lifters — those regularly pressing or pulling over 220 lbs — the resistance ceiling is a genuine limitation. Speediance positions the GM2S variant for advanced users who need more headroom, though pricing information on that model continues to be updated.
Final Assessment
- Best for: Busy professionals, beginners to intermediate lifters, and families who want a full-gym experience in a compact footprint without a recurring subscription.
- Standout features: No mandatory subscription, four resistance modes (including Eccentric and Chains), Bluetooth ring controller, and freestanding design that requires no installation.
- Limitations: 220 lb resistance ceiling limits advanced strength athletes; software polish lags behind Tonal; accessory quality is inconsistent across the bundle.
- vs. Tonal: Speediance undercuts Tonal on base price and eliminates the mandatory $59/month fee — a meaningful cost difference over 3–5 years of ownership.
- Bottom line: For buyers who want maximum workout variety in minimal space and don’t want a subscription dependency, the Gym Monster 2 is one of the most compelling all-in-one home gyms available at this price point.
HSA/FSA eligible · Financing from $0 APR · White-glove delivery available · Ships in 7–10 days within the USShop Gym Monster 2 →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Speediance Gym Monster 2 require a subscription?
No — all 500+ guided workouts and training programs are included in the purchase price. An optional AI coaching subscription is being introduced, but the core workout library remains accessible without any monthly fee, which is a major differentiator from competitors like Tonal or NordicTrack.
How much space does it need?
The machine’s footprint is approximately 4.1 feet long by 2.3 feet wide. It folds for storage and doesn’t require wall mounting. You’ll want a clearance area of roughly 6–8 feet in each direction to perform cable exercises comfortably.
Is 220 lbs of resistance enough?
For the majority of home gym users — including intermediate lifters across most exercises — yes. The ceiling becomes a limitation primarily for advanced athletes performing heavy compound movements. Speediance offers the GM2S variant with higher resistance headroom for those users.
How long does setup take?
Self-assembly takes approximately one hour and requires no tools beyond the included Allen key. Speediance also offers professional white-glove delivery and assembly starting at $150, which most reviewers recommend given the machine’s 172-pound shipping weight
