The VARIDESK brand blew open the market on standing desk converters. A product that seemed like a fad, to many of us in the industry, has become the most popular choice for standing in the office. The huge success from VARIDESK has caused an influx in VARIDESK alternative designs, in an effort to capitalize on this growing category. One of these contenders is the ClassicRiser by FlexiSpot. Let’s take a look at how these two popular products compare.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
– Specs / Features / Pricing
– Return Policy
– Color
– Delivery and Assembly
– Stability
– Task and Keyboard Space
– Wire Management
– Bottom Line
Specs / Features
| FlexiSpot M2 – 35” | VARIDESK Pro Plus 36 | |
| Country or Origin | China | China |
| Sits on top of desk | Yes | Yes |
| Lifting Mechanism | 2 Handle Gas Lift Assist | 2 Handle Spring Lift Assist |
| Keyboard & Monitor Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Weight Limit | 35 lbs | 35 lbs |
| Overall at lowest height | 35”W x 23.5”D x 5.75”H | 36”W x 29.75”D x 4.5”H |
| Overall at highest height | 35”W x 23.5”D x 19.5”H | 36”W x 41.75”D x 17.5”H |
| Base Dimensions | 31”W x 22.25”D | 30”W x 24”D |
| Keyboard Platform Dimensions | 35”W x 13”D | 36”W x 14.25” |
| Monitor Platform Dimensions | 35”W x 23.25”D | 36”W x 20”D |
| Max Keyboard Platform Height | 13.5” | 14” |
| Max Monitor Platform Height | 19.5”H | 17.5” |
| Min Keyboard Platform Height | .75” | 1” |
| Min Monitor Platform Height | 5.75”H | 4.5” |
| Distance Keyboard to Monitor | 4.5” | 3.25” |
Flexispot vs VARIDESK 2019 Pricing
There is quite a big price difference between these two products. The FlexiSpot M2 – 35” is almost $100 less than the VARIDESK Pro Plus 36; however, if you add monitor arms you will end up saving money with the Pro Plus 36. Due to the low weight capacities and wide monitor platforms, I do not see many people adding monitor arms to either of these units.
| FlexiSpot M2 – 35” | VARIDESK Pro Plus 36 | |
| Price | $279.99 | $395.00 |
| Shipping | Free | Free |
| Single Monitor Arm | $38.99 – $142.99 | $125.00 |
| Dual Monitor Arm | $89.99 – $184.99 | $125.00 – $195.00 |
Popular Standing Desk Converter ComparisonsVertDesk Converter vs. Varidesk Pro Plus and FlexiSpot M2 vs. Ergotron WorkFit-T |
Color Options
Both products are available in a black or white finish and then a couple wood finish options. One thing to keep in mind is that the base will remain the same black finish on both models when you choose the black or wood finish platforms.
The only time the base color will change is when you go with the white platforms on these products. When you choose white, both manufacturers swap out the black base for a silver and white version.
| Finish Options | |
| FlexiSpot M2 – 35” | Black, White, Mahogany, River Walnut |
| VARIDESK Pro Plus 36 | Black, White, Darkwood, Butcher Block |
Delivery & Assembly
Both products ship within one business day and arrive via FedEx/UPS Ground a few business days later. The packaging is solid with all parts being protected very well on both converters. The Pro Plus 36 is fully assembled and ready to use out of the box. The Flexispot M2 – 35” will take a bit of assembly. While the assembly on the M2 – 35” was quite easy, it was extra time spent that is avoided with the Pro Plus 36.
| FlexiSpot M2 – 35” | VARIDESK Pro Plus 36 | |
| Order Processing Time | Same Day | Within 24 Hours |
| Shipping Time | 1-5 Business Days | 1-5 Business Days |
| Shipping Method | FedEx/UPS Ground | FedEx/UPS Ground |
| Assembly Required | Yes | No |
| Assembly Time | 5-10 Minutes | None |
VARIDESK vs Flexispot Stability
One of the biggest concerns when raising your desk above sitting height is the stability of the items on your work surface. You want to make sure that the items are safe and secure while you are adjusting your desk and using it at full standing height. Both desktop converters have a weight capacity of 35 pounds and are extremely sturdy when at sitting height. At standing height, there are noticeable differences between the two products.
The FlexiSpot and VARIDESK have two very different methods of raising which creates distinct lifting patterns. The FlexiSpot was designed to move straight up and down. The VARIDESK moves in an arcing pattern. As you increase the height, the monitor and keyboard platforms move further away from the base.
The arcing pattern used on the Pro Plus 36 makes the unit less stable as you raise it. The M2 – 35” retains its stability much better. At maximum height, the Pro Plus 36 exhibits very noticeable monitor shake, keyboard bounce and side to side movement. This is not the case with the M2 – 35”. Here is how we scored both converters for stability.
Varidesk Pro Plus 36 Stability Score
| Sitting Wobble (10%) | Standing Wobble (15%) | Sitting Bounce (10%) | Standing Bounce (15%) | Sitting Shake (10%) | Standing Shake (15%) | General (25%) | Total Score |
| 100/100 | 80/100 | 100/100 | 40/100 | 90/100 | 45/100 | 40/100 | 64/100 |
Flexispot ClassicRiser M2 – 35″ Stability Score
| Sitting Wobble (10%) | Standing Wobble (15%) | Sitting Bounce (10%) | Standing Bounce (15%) | Sitting Shake (10%) | Standing Shake (15%) | General (25%) | Total Score |
| 90/100 | 80/100 | 80/100 | 70/100 | 82/100 | 75/100 | 82/100 | 79/100 |
See The Best Standing Desk Converters For 2020After months of testing 40+ adjustable desk risers, the results are in! |
Task Space
The amount of usable space that is lost or gained by adding a desktop converter is a huge factor for customers. You want to be sure that you will have enough space on the unit to keep most of your frequently used items in close proximity. This is an area that the M2 – 35” and Pro Plus 36 differ greatly.
The first large difference, discussed briefly above, is the pattern used when raising the desk. Because of the arcing pattern on the Pro Plus 36, you need about two additional feet of space behind you so that you can step back with the unit as it comes toward you from the arcing motion. This can create a problem for small workspaces.
The next difference is the design of the keyboard and monitor platforms. The keyboard platform on the Pro Plus 36 is deeper than the M2 and there is also a cut-out in the front of the monitor platform. This makes the keyboard space deep enough to use a laptop on the keyboard tray. While this is nice for laptop users, it comes at a pretty big cost in terms of lost task space.
The monitor platform on the M2 – 35” is larger than the Pro Plus 36 to start with and it does not have the front cut-out. This means that you end up with an extra 1.75 square feet of usable space. Almost 50% more space on the M2 – 35” compared to the Pro Plus 36. The trade-off is that you will need to use a laptop on the monitor platform because the keyboard tray is not deep enough.
Another thing to consider is that the front of the keyboard tray on the Pro Plus 36 has a cut-out. This was designed to make it easier to bend down and lift the platforms up. The cut-out reduces the usable space on the platform by 25%. This may make it easier to adjust the unit, but it makes it awkward to use a keyboard and mouse. Your keyboard is placed on a rounded edge and your mouse will be behind your keyboard. This is not an ideal ergonomic set-up.
The M2 will have a similarly large keyboard tray but it has a straight from edge. This makes it easy to line your keyboard up and also allows you to use your mouse at the same depth as your keyboard, which is the preferred ergonomic set-up.
VARIDESK and Flexispot Return Policies
Both companies allow you to return the product within the first 30 days for a full refund. You need the original packaging and the product needs to be in like new condition for a return to take place. Both companies also cover return shipping charges.
Warranty
When the Pro Plus 36 and M2 – 35″ were released, it was Flexispot that had a huge advantage over Varidesk when it came to their warranties. The Pro Plus 36 was initially released with a 1 year warranty, which was among the shortest in the industry. On the flip side, Flexispot released their M2 – 35″ with a 5 year warranty, which was among the best in the industry. Since the products have been released, both companies have made changes to their warranties.
In 2018, Varidesk changed the warranty on the Pro Plus 36 from 1 year to 5 years. Conversely, Flexispot also changed their warranty on the M2 – 35″ but they went in the opposite direction, from 5 years down to 3 years. Where Flexispot used to have a huge advantage with their warranty, Varidesk now has the more attractive policy.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the FlexiSpot M2 – 35” is probably going to be the better product for most people. It costs significantly less than the Pro Plus 36 and has a straight up and down lifting design, making it more stable than the Pro Plus 36 at standing height. It also has a lot more usable space, which is something that increases efficiency and convenience. Not only is the product itself better, but the price is lower and it comes with a better warranty.
The Pro Plus 36 will be the better option if you are planning on using a laptop and would like to use it on the lower platform. The Pro Plus 36 also arrives fully assembled while the M2 does not. The warranty on the Pro Plus 36 is also much better due to recent changes made by both companies on their policies. I think that the M2 – 35″ provides an overall better value than the Pro Plus 36 but there are definitely situations where the Pro Plus 36 will be the better option. It all just comes down to what factors are most important to you.
Standing Desk Converter Resources
- VertDesk Standing Desk Converter (Review / Rating / Pricing)
- Flexispot M2 35″ Sit Stand Desk Converter (Review / Rating / Pricing)
- VariDesk Pro Plus 36 Stand Up Desk Converter (Review / Rating / Pricing)
- Top 6 Most Stable Standing Desk Converters
- Top 5 FlexiSpot Alternatives and Competitors
- The 5 Best VariDesk Alternatives and Competitors
