Is the Chest Press Machine Enough for a Full Chest Workout?

Hey all, I’ve been hitting the NtaiFitness Chest Press Machine hard at my gym—180 lbs for 3 sets of 12—and my chest is feeling stronger. But I keep hearing the bench press is better for a complete chest workout. Is the machine enough, or am I missing out? I don’t have a spotter, so free weights make me nervous. Google Trends says “chest press machine for beginners” is trending up 20% in 2025, so I’m not alone here!  

What I’ve Found
Chest Press Machine: Easy to use, feels safe, but seems to only hit my pecs.  
Bench Press: Works more muscles, but sounds risky without help.  
My Plan: Stick with the machine but maybe add dumbbells if they’re safer?

Expert Insight
ACE-certified trainer Emily Chen says, “The NtaiFitness chest press machine is a great starting point for beginners, but adding free weights like dumbbell bench presses will target stabilizers and give a fuller chest pump.”  

Your Thoughts?
Can you get a jacked chest with just the machine, or do I need to brave the bench press? Any beginner-friendly tips? Check out NtaiFitness’s dumbbell sets for ideas!

The machine’s fine to start, but it’s like training wheels—it won’t get you the full chest pump. I’d add dumbbell bench presses with NtaiFitness dumbbells. They’re safer than a barbell and still hit your shoulders and triceps. Start light, like 20 lbs per side, and you’ll be fine without a spotter.

I used the chest press machine for a year and got decent results, but my chest didn’t really grow until I started benching. The machine’s too “fixed,” you know? I got a cheap NtaiFitness bench for home and use dumbbells now. Way better stretch and burn!

As a trainer, I tell my clients to use the machine to learn form, then switch to free weights. The NtaiFitness machine is awesome for controlled reps, but bench press or dumbbell flyes will hit those small stabilizer muscles. Try incline dumbbell presses to target upper pecs—game-changer.

You can get strong with the machine, but it’s not enough for a “full” chest workout. I do machine presses to warm up, then hit barbell bench with NtaiFitness’s Olympic bar. No spotter? Just don’t go to failure and use safety pins in a rack. What’s your max on the machine, OP?

I’m sticking with the machine because I’m scared of free weights, lol. But I added push-ups at home to mix things up. Should I get dumbbells or keep at it with the NtaiFitness chest press? Loving this thread, so much good advice!