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VERVE Makoto vs Technogym Selection: Strength Machine Comparison (2026)

By Niall Wogan |2 April 2026|13 min read

The VERVE Makoto Commercial Series ($4,599–$5,999 per machine) offers genuine commercial-grade strength training at roughly half the price of Technogym Selection ($8,000–$15,000). A full Makoto circuit costs ~$55,000 versus ~$120,000+ for Technogym. The Selection wins on industrial design, the Technogym ecosystem, and luxury brand appeal. The Makoto wins on value, range breadth (15+ machines), and total cost of ownership. For 90% of commercial gyms, the Makoto delivers equivalent training outcomes at a fraction of the investment.

Our Verdict

VERVE Makoto Commercial Series
Best value for 90% of commercial gyms
The Makoto delivers equivalent training outcomes to the Technogym Selection at roughly half the cost. Unless your gym competes in the ultra-premium luxury segment, the Makoto is the smarter investment. Save $65,000+ on your strength circuit and put it toward cardio, marketing, or cash reserves.

Machine-by-Machine Price Comparison

The table below compares equivalent machines from the VERVE Makoto and Technogym Selection ranges. Technogym prices are approximate dealer prices in AUD (they vary by dealer, configuration, and order size). VERVE Makoto prices are current retail as of April 2026.

Machine Type VERVE Makoto Technogym Selection Saving
Chest Press $4,599 ~$10,000 ~$5,400
Converging Chest Press $4,999 ~$11,000 ~$6,000
Shoulder Press $5,999 ~$11,500 ~$5,500
Lat Pulldown / Seated Row $5,999 ~$12,000 ~$6,000
Pec Fly / Rear Delt $5,299 ~$11,000 ~$5,700
Leg Extension $5,999 ~$10,500 ~$4,500
Prone Leg Curl $5,999 ~$10,500 ~$4,500
Leg Press $5,499 ~$13,000 ~$7,500
Hip Abduction $5,999 ~$10,000 ~$4,000
Abdominal $5,999 ~$9,500 ~$3,500
10-Machine Circuit Total ~$56,390 ~$109,000 ~$52,600
Bottom line: A 10-machine Makoto circuit saves you roughly $50,000–$65,000 compared to an equivalent Technogym Selection circuit. That is enough to fund an entire cardio floor, six months of marketing spend, or a significant chunk of your gym’s fitout budget. Browse the full Makoto range at vervefitness.com.au/collections/makoto-commercial-series.

Design and Aesthetics

This is where Technogym genuinely excels. The Selection range is designed by Antonio Citterio, one of Italy’s most celebrated industrial designers. The machines have clean lines, concealed cable routing, slim profiles, and a level of visual refinement that makes them look like furniture rather than gym equipment. If your gym is in a five-star hotel lobby, a luxury residential building, or a premium boutique studio where aesthetics are a core part of the brand, Technogym looks the part in a way few competitors can match.

The VERVE Makoto has a more traditional commercial gym aesthetic — matte black powder-coated frames, visible structural steel, and a robust industrial look. It is clean, professional, and consistent across the range, but it does not have the same design finesse as the Selection. For the vast majority of commercial gyms, 24/7 facilities, and PT studios, the Makoto looks great on the floor. It is only in ultra-premium environments where the visual gap becomes meaningful.

Technogym SelectionWinner

  • Award-winning industrial design by Antonio Citterio
  • Concealed cable routing and slim profiles
  • Extensive custom branding and colour options
  • Premium feel that justifies high membership pricing

VERVE Makoto

  • Clean matte black finish, professional appearance
  • Consistent look across 15+ machines
  • Black standard upholstery with brown accent option
  • Looks the part in any standard commercial gym

Build Quality and Durability

Both ranges are built for 24/7 commercial gym use. The Technogym Selection uses high-quality steel with precision manufacturing, refined bearing systems, and tight tolerances throughout. The VERVE Makoto uses heavy-gauge steel frames with commercial-grade welds and thick powder-coat finishes. In daily use, both machines feel planted, solid, and stable under maximum loads.

The practical difference comes down to refinement rather than durability. Technogym machines feel slightly more polished in their transitions — seat adjustments click with a more precise feel, weight stacks are fractionally quieter, and moving parts have tighter tolerances. The Makoto machines are robust and smooth, but there is a small perceptible gap in the premium feel of the adjustment mechanisms and hardware. Under actual training loads, the difference in the resistance curve and exercise quality is negligible. Both will handle thousands of reps per week for years without structural issues.

Our take: Build quality is a draw for practical purposes. Both ranges will last 10+ years in a busy commercial gym. The Technogym has more refined finishing; the Makoto is equally durable where it counts — frame integrity, cable systems, and weight stack mechanics.

Technology and Connected Fitness

This is Technogym’s strongest competitive advantage. The Selection range integrates with the Mywellness ecosystem — a connected fitness platform that lets members track workouts, follow guided programs, and log sets automatically via NFC key technology. Gym owners can use the Mywellness dashboard to see equipment utilisation data, create workout programs for members, and deliver a tech-forward experience. Technogym has invested heavily in this ecosystem and it works well for gyms that want to differentiate on technology.

The VERVE Makoto does not offer connected fitness, digital tracking, or app integration on its strength machines. There is no screen, no NFC, no automatic rep counting. Members track their workouts manually or via their own fitness apps.

Is this a dealbreaker? For most gyms, no. Connected fitness on strength machines has low adoption rates even in gyms that have it. Members tend to care about connected features on cardio equipment (treadmill screens, bike apps, rower displays) far more than on pin-loaded machines. The practical impact of not having Mywellness on your chest press is minimal for the average gym member. However, if technology and data are core to your brand proposition, Technogym’s ecosystem is genuinely impressive and hard to replicate.

Technogym SelectionWinner

  • Mywellness connected fitness ecosystem
  • NFC key tracking for automatic set logging
  • Equipment utilisation analytics for owners
  • Guided workout programs delivered to machines

VERVE Makoto

  • No connected fitness or digital tracking
  • No screens or NFC technology
  • Simpler, fewer things to break or maintain
  • Members use their own apps (most already do)

Full Circuit Cost Comparison

The biggest practical difference between these two ranges is cost. Here is what a full strength floor looks like at three different scales:

Circuit Size VERVE Makoto Technogym Selection Saving with Makoto
5-Machine Starter ~$28,000 ~$55,000 ~$27,000
10-Machine Standard ~$56,000 ~$109,000 ~$53,000
15-Machine Full Floor ~$83,000 ~$160,000+ ~$77,000+

These savings are not trivial. A $53,000–$77,000 saving on your strength floor can fund:

  • A complete cardio lineup — 10 treadmills, 5 bikes, and 5 rowers
  • Six months of marketing — enough to fill your gym before equipment payments start
  • Better flooring, lighting, and fit-out — members notice the environment more than the brand on the weight stack shroud
  • Cash reserves — 3–6 months of operating expenses as a safety net
The math is simple: If your members get the same training stimulus (they do), and the machines last just as long under commercial use (they do), then the $50,000–$77,000 you save with Makoto is money that can be deployed elsewhere in your business for a greater return.

Warranty and After-Sales Support

Warranty coverage is comparable between the two ranges, with a meaningful practical difference in local support.

Warranty Area VERVE Makoto Technogym Selection
Frame Warranty Structural warranty 10-year frame warranty
Parts and Labour 2 years 2 years parts
Service Location Local — Upper Coomera, QLD Via authorised AU dealers
Parts Lead Time Days — ex-stock in Australia 2–16 weeks (sourced from Italy)
Service Network Direct from VERVE Fitness Third-party authorised technicians

The practical advantage for VERVE is speed. When a cable snaps or a pulley needs replacing in a busy gym, the difference between a 3-day turnaround and a 12-week wait for parts from Italy matters enormously. A machine out of commission for months frustrates members and reduces the capacity of your gym floor. VERVE’s local Australian operation means faster parts availability and direct communication with the support team.

Who Should Choose Which

Choose the VERVE Makoto if:

  • You are an independent gym owner, 24/7 facility, or PT studio
  • Your membership pricing is under $60 per week
  • Value and total cost of ownership are top priorities
  • You want a full strength circuit from a single supplier with consistent aesthetics
  • Fast local Australian support and parts availability matter to you
  • Connected fitness on strength machines is not a priority
  • You would rather save $50,000–$77,000 and invest it in cardio, marketing, or cash reserves

Choose the Technogym Selection if:

  • Your gym targets the ultra-premium segment ($80+ per week memberships)
  • You are fitting out a luxury hotel gym, high-end residential building, or premium boutique studio
  • Design aesthetics are a core part of your brand and member experience
  • You want the Mywellness connected fitness ecosystem across your entire floor
  • Brand prestige matters to your target market
  • Budget is less of a constraint than brand positioning
The 90/10 rule: Approximately 90% of commercial gyms in Australia will get better overall value from the Makoto. The remaining 10% — true luxury operators where brand and design are primary differentiators — may justify the Technogym premium. Know which category your gym falls into before you write the purchase order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the VERVE Makoto as good as Technogym Selection?

For training outcomes, yes. The VERVE Makoto delivers equivalent biomechanics, smooth cam-driven resistance curves, and commercial-grade durability at roughly half the price. The Technogym Selection wins on industrial design aesthetics, connected fitness via the Mywellness ecosystem, and luxury brand prestige. For 90% of commercial gyms, the Makoto provides the same training quality members need at a significantly lower investment.

How much cheaper is a Makoto circuit compared to Technogym Selection?

A 10-machine Makoto circuit costs approximately $56,000 AUD. An equivalent Technogym Selection circuit costs $109,000–$150,000 AUD. That is a saving of $53,000–$94,000 — enough to fund your entire cardio floor, six months of marketing, or a significant portion of your gym fitout. View the full Makoto range at vervefitness.com.au.

Does Technogym Selection have better build quality than the Makoto?

Both are genuine commercial-grade machines built for 24/7 gym use. The Technogym Selection has a more refined industrial design with smoother external finishes and attention to aesthetic detail. The Makoto uses heavy-gauge steel frames with commercial-grade welds and thick powder-coat finishes. In terms of structural durability and functional longevity under heavy commercial use, they are comparable. The Selection looks more premium; the Makoto is built just as tough.

Should I choose Technogym if my gym targets premium members?

If your gym charges $80+ per week and competes with luxury hotel gyms or premium boutique studios, the Technogym brand and Mywellness ecosystem can justify the premium. If you are a standard commercial gym, 24/7 facility, PT studio, or independent operator charging $15–$50 per week, the Makoto delivers the same training experience at half the cost. Most members judge equipment by how it feels to use, not the logo on the shroud.

Can I mix VERVE Makoto and Technogym machines on the same floor?

Yes, many gym owners mix brands. A common approach is to use Technogym for high-visibility cardio (treadmills with screens, bikes with apps) and VERVE Makoto for the strength floor. This gives you the Technogym brand presence where members notice it most while saving significantly on strength machines where brand visibility matters less. The aesthetic difference is manageable as both ranges use dark frames and clean lines.

What warranty does each brand offer on strength machines?

The VERVE Makoto comes with a structural frame warranty and 2-year parts and labour warranty with local Australian support from Upper Coomera, QLD. Technogym Selection typically offers a 10-year frame warranty and 2-year parts warranty, with service through authorised Australian dealers. Both provide adequate commercial coverage. The practical advantage for VERVE is faster local parts availability — Technogym replacement parts can take 8–16 weeks if sourced from Italy, while VERVE stocks parts locally for days-not-weeks turnaround.

Browse the Full Makoto Commercial Series

15+ machines designed for 24/7 commercial gyms. Pin-loaded and plate-loaded options from $4,599. Save $50,000–$77,000 compared to Technogym Selection on a full strength circuit.

View the Makoto Collection

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