Last Updated: 11-19-2020
For many people considering the purchase of a budget treadmill, it is important to understand how these treadmills have reviewed against each other. There are many budget treadmills available, but most of these cheap treadmills aren’t worth the boxes they arrive in. However, ProForm and Horizon have manufactured two extremely affordable and high-quality treadmills for treadmill buyers on a budget. These treadmills are the Horizon T101 and the ProForm Performance 400i.
We hope that by directly comparing these treadmills, you will be able to clearly determine which one is the right one for your needs.
ProForm Performance 400i & Horizon T101 General Spec Comparison
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$500-$700 price range |
$500-$700 price range |
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300 lbs |
300 lbs |
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30 |
18 |
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55” height, 70” length, 34” width |
59.75” height, 73.25” length, 35.5” width |
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20” wide by 55” long, 2-ply |
20” wide by 55” long, 2-ply |
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Yes |
Yes |
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2.25 CHP |
2.5 CHP |
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0% to 10% |
0% to 10% |
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10 mph |
10 mph |
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Yes |
No |
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Handlebar Grip |
Handlebar Grip |
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165 lbs |
200 lbs |
Cost – These treadmills both have earned a spot among the best treadmills between $500-$700. For the surprisingly low price of $599, an individual can purchase the Performance 400i. So, while the T101 priced at $700 is a good price, the Performance 400i price is a bit more impressive.
Category Winner – ProForm 400i
Weight Capacity – Both of these budget treadmills have the top weight limit of 300 lbs, which is 50 lbs more than many other cheap treadmills.
Category Winner – Tied
Available Programs – There are 18 pre-installed exercise programs found on the Performance 400i, which is quickly outclassed by the 30 exercise programs available on the Horizon T101.
The programs on the Performance 400i break down into two exercise categories – tempo programs and interval programs, along with the manual setting. More variety is available on the T101, which are a manual program, calorie programs, steps programs, interval programs, and distance programs.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Dimensions – A desirable benefits of budget treadmills is their smaller dimensions. This smaller size is highly convenient for those without much room for exercise equipment. Particularly compact is the T101’s measurements, which are 55” tall, 70” in length, and 34” wide. Compared to the Performance 400i measurements which are 59.75” in height, 73.25” long, and 35.5” in width, the 400i comes off as bulkier and more space-consuming.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Running Surface – These treadmills have identical treadmill belt dimensions which measure 55” in length and 20” wide. Along with these dimensions, both of these belts are 2-ply, which adds a higher level of durability than many other budget treadmills which only have 1-ply belts.
Category Winner – Tied
Folding – While both of these treadmills have the ability to fold up to free up extra space, they do not have equal folding abilities. The Performance 400i does not have an easy lift assistance system. Instead, users will need to manage the treadmill deck with one hand and pull back the spring-loaded pin to secure the deck in an upright position. Users of this treadmill will also have to lower the deck manually.
With the T101, folding up the deck is much simpler as this treadmill comes with a hydraulic system which assists with folding and lowering the deck. The hydraulic system makes it easier to raise the deck and the deck will secure itself once raised up high enough. To release the deck to use the treadmill, using the foot to depress the locking mechanism, users can allow the treadmill deck to lower hands-free.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Motor Size – The motor in the T101 is a 2.25 CHP motor and the Performance 400i has a 2.50 CHP motor. Both motors run quietly when in use, even when transitioning between inclines and speeds. However, the more powerful motor in the 400i makes it a little stronger in function than the T101.
Category Winner – ProForm 400i
Incline Range – Identical in their incline range, both the Performance 400i and T101 have ranges of 0% to 10% incline. This kind of incline range is the best that can be found in budget treadmills.
Category Winner – Tied
Speed – Users can only coax a max speed of 10 MPH out of both of these treadmills, which is for the bests, as budget treadmills are really only designed for walking and some light jogging.
Category Winner – Tied
Fans – There are no fans on the Performance 400i. In contrast, there is a fan located at the base of the T101. While this fan doesn’t put out much in the way of a breeze, it is better than nothing.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Heart Rate Monitoring – Budget treadmills have limited heart rate monitoring capabilities and these treadmills are no exception. They only have handlebar pulse grips, which are notoriously inaccurate.
Category Winner – Tied
Treadmill Weight – The Performance 400i weighs 200 lbs, which is fairly light for a treadmill. However, the T101 only weighs 165 lbs, which is exceptionally light for a treadmill which comes with as many features as the T101.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Look and Feel Of The Treadmill
Materials – Users will find that the Performance 400i has more metal in its overall build, reinforcing the molded plastic parts of the treadmill. The T101 has more plastic parts making up its overall frame, causing this treadmill to be a bit more vulnerable to being damaged if the user doesn’t take care of it.
Category Winner – ProForm 400i
Sturdiness – While the material quality does assist in making a treadmill sturdy, an important aspect of sturdiness comes when the treadmill is in use. The Performance 400i treadmill console has an alarming tendency to wiggle even when the user is operating the treadmill at a walking pace. This unexpected movement becomes even more pronounced if the user attempts to use the incline functions on the 400i.
The T101 is the lighter treadmill but it is very solid underfoot. Even tested at its top incline level of 10% incline, the T101 remains steady.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Moving the treadmill – Many people dread moving their treadmills, as they are often heavy and unwieldy. While the T101 and Performance 400i have bulky frames, neither of these treadmills are difficult to move as they are both fairly light. The T101 is less prone to jamming than the Performance 400i and is also lighter as well as more compact. These features all lead the T101 to be the easier treadmill to move.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Cushioning – The cushioning on these budget treadmills are fairly basic. Both the T101 and Performance 400i have manufacturer proprietary cushioning technology, with the T101 being equipped with 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning and the Performance 400i having ProShox Cushioning built-in. Neither type of treadmill deck cushioning is noticeably superior to the other.
Category Winner – Tied
Assembly – Both of these treadmills come partially assembled, that way buyers have an easier time putting them together at home. However, there are more parts to assemble on the Performance 400i and many of these parts look identical, making it more difficult to put together.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
User Interface
Speed and Incline Controls – On both of these treadmills the incline and speed controls are easy to access. The T101 has the controls positioned along the sides of the console as well as having quick incremental adjustment controls located just below the treadmill fan. There is also quick incremental speed and incline controls on the Performance 400i, which are sandwiched between the handlebar pulse grips.
Category Winner – Tied
Fan Controls – As there is no fan on the Performance 400i, which defaults this comparison to the T101 treadmill. It does help that the T101 has easy to use fan controls.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Program Selection – As mentioned above, the T101 has 30 workout programs to choose from, giving users more options than expected from a budget treadmill. These programs are broken into 5 categories, with a different colored button to help differentiate between the various programs. Users can scroll through the different program sections then press the enter key to select their desired program.
There are only two program categories on the Performance 400i, tempo and intervals. Users will have to scroll using by either repeated pressing the tempo button to reach their desired workout or do the same to choose an interval workout.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Visual Display – The display on the Performance 400i is basic, with a small LED window which has a ring which will light up as users move through the intensity levels of endurance, tempo, and peak. Users need to scroll to see different workout data, from the time elapsed to calories burned. In contrast, a 4.5” LCD screen is embedded in the T101, allowing users to see workout information more readily as well as workout intensity via a dot display.
Category Winner – Horizon T101
Entertainment Features
Speakers – When it comes to budget treadmills, the speakers are generally not the best. While users can find two speakers on both the Performance 400i and T101, neither treadmill has very high-quality speakers. Both sound fairly tinny and the sound degrades fairly quickly once pushed past the mid-volume level.
Category Winner – Tied
USB Port – Neither of these treadmills have a USB port.
Category Winner – Tied
Other Entertainment Features – Entertainment is limited on these treadmills, with an integrated tablet holder mounted above the Performance 400i. That way the user’s tablet can be securely mounted above the console for entertainment purposes. The T101 has no such entertainment abilities.
Category Winner – ProForm 400i
Data Tracking
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Data Display – Workout data on the Performance 400i and T101 is basic when compared to more expensive treadmills. However, these treadmills will give users an equal amount of exercise information.
Category Winner – Tied
Fitness Apps – While there are fitness apps associated with Horizon treadmills, the T101 lacks the capacity to sync with any apps. The Performance 400i can be synced with iFit for $39 per month for up to 5 profiles. This app will allow users to access countless virtual running locations, challenges from other users and iFit personale, and much more.
Category Winner – ProForm 400i
ProForm & Horizon Financing Options
Horizon Financing
- Go through third-party financing company called FuturePay.
- FuturePay charges a flat financing charge of $1.50/month for every $50 dollars in a carried balance of $50 or more.
- No money down purchases
- Minimum payments can be as low as $25/month
- You can pay off the balance at any time
- Subject to credit approval
ProForm Financing
- No money down, no interest if paid in full in 18 Months; Interest is charged from the purchase date if the purchase amount is not paid in full within 18 months. Standard APR 29.99%. Advertised payment is greater than required minimum payment.
- The ProForm Financing program account is issued and administered by TD Bank, N.A.
- All non-UPS shipments are curbside delivery and require a customer signature. Return shipping and a 10% restocking fee will apply.
- If you receive a machine that is damaged beyond repair we will be happy to send a replacement machine or give a full refund.
- ProForm allows a 30-day trial period on all products. You pay return shipping and a 10% restocking fee.
- Products being returned must be disassembled and packaged in the original box or comparable package. If you do not have a box, we can provide one for you.
- You can expect a refund in the same form of payment originally used for the purchase within 30 days of our receiving your returned product.
Horizon and ProForm Warranties
Horizon Warranty
- 30-day trial and return period. Full refund minus freight and assembly charges.
- Returns need to be authorized through customer service (877-700-8730) and your account will be credited upon receipt of the item.
- Lifetime warranty on frame, motor, 2-year parts, with 1-year cushioning and labor.
- Parts will be shipped to your home, with labor repair provided for free for the first year.
ProForm Warranty
- A 30-day trial period for a full refund (minus shipping and restocking fees)
- Lifetime warranty on motor, deck, and frame; 5 years for parts; 2 years for labor.
- The warranty extends only to the original purchaser.
- Repairs first need authorization. Shipping to service centers for repairs is at customers cost. Shipping for replacement parts sent to your home is also at your cost. For in-home service, the customer pays a minimal trip charge.
Overall Favorite
Total Categories Compared: 28
Total Ties Between the Performance 400i and the T101: 11
Total Horizon Favored Categories: 11
Total ProForm Favored Categories: 6
People looking to build up their home gym by adding a budget treadmill to it need to be careful when selecting a treadmill from the lower price ranges. Many manufacturers choose to cut corners to save money. While no such penny-pinching practices were employed to produce the Horizon T101 and ProForm Performance, they do have fewer features when compared to more expensive treadmills from their manufacturers. However, between the two of them, the T101 still was able to offer better qualities when compared to the Performance 400i.
We hope you have been able to determine which of these treadmills is the right one for you. To help you purchase one of these affordable treadmills at an even better price, be sure to use our Treadmill Reviews exclusive coupons.
