# Start Rowing - Workouts App — user reviews > 97 indexed App Store user reviews of Start Rowing by Vigour Group Ltd, rated 4.70/5 from 681 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 550 · 4★ 97 · 3★ 20 · 2★ 5 · 1★ 9 ## What do users think of Start Rowing? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Helpful for beginners - 🚀 Structured workout plans - 👍 Easy to follow - 👍 Enjoyable and motivating - 🚀 Useful metronome and pacing features - 👍 Integrates with health apps **Cons** - 🐛 Connectivity issues (blank screen, spinning circle) - 🔋 High battery drain - 💰 Misleading about free access, requires subscription - 👎 Limited customization and flexibility - 👎 Inconsistent performance (stroke rate changes, screen shutoff) **Commonly reported bugs** - Blank screen during workouts - Inconsistent stroke rate changes - Automatic screen shutoff during workouts **Most requested features** - Allow custom workout creation - Improve volume control for metronome and audio - Add more advanced workout options - Enhance user interface and navigation - Improve sync and data tracking across devices ## Newest reviews (17 of 97) ### 3/5 — Annoying app *2025-09-12* The workouts are great and enjoyed but it’s more than mildly annoying that the screen keeps shutting off mid-workout and the time doesn’t keep going. I have changed all my settings on my iPhone including auto-shutoff = never and the app itself has no settings to keep the screen on so my workouts are constantly interrupted. If they don’t fix this by the time my subscription ends (possibly sooner) I will definitely be switching apps. **Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate it. I'm going to look into this asap and see what I can do! Nick ### 4/5 — Iwatch *2025-03-21, version 12.3* No puedo usarlo con mi iwatch ultra 👎🏼 ### 3/5 — Need more flexibility *2025-03-04, version 12.3* I really dislike that there is no option to revisit workouts in a given plan. I wish it was more flexible like a c25k plan, but for rowing. ### 3/5 — Blanke Theorie *2024-10-24* Nichts für mich. habe eine App gesucht, welche ich mit meinem Rudergerät koppeln kann. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback, hoffentlich ist dies in Zukunft möglich. ### 5/5 — Easy to Use *2024-08-08, version 12.0* This app is easy to use, strait forward and reasonable price wise. ### 5/5 — Super App und Support *2024-08-05* Ich benutze die App nun seit 1 Monat und bin sehr zufrieden mit dem Angebot. Gute Einheiten und schnelle Unterstützung bei Fragen und Problemen. Kann ich nur empfehlen!!! **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für die nette Bewertung! ### 5/5 — Super workout! *2024-08-03* I enjoyed it, I like the app it’s really helpful. **Developer response:** Thank you for the kind words! ### 3/5 — Helpful *2024-07-29, version 11.9* Overall I find the app helpful in learning pacing for different abilities and routines. ### 5/5 — Just what I needed! *2024-07-12, version 11.7* Thankful for this app! I bought a low budget rowing machine on Amazon and wanted an app to keep track of my progress and this does the trick! Thank you so much! ### 5/5 — Good stuff *2024-07-02, version 11.6* Good stuff ### 5/5 — Great app *2024-06-17, version 11.5* Works well. Simple and effective. ### 5/5 — Love this app! *2024-05-31, version 11.4* Wanted something to inspire me to start rowing. Found it! Thank you. ### 4/5 — Great for pacing and custom workouts *2024-05-11* The app is great for pacing yourself. You can create custom routines. Premium has plans with workouts. At $60+ a year I cancelled my subscription, just a steep ask for limited premium feature set. **Developer response:** Thank you for the review and feedback. I'm always looking to improve the app so hopefully I can lure you back in the future! ### 5/5 — Nice simple clean app. *2024-04-11* First day using the app. The set up is clean and I really like how it helps you keep pace. The pacing lines up perfectly with my rowers internal pacer. After a few days of use I will come back and rate again. **Developer response:** Thank you for your review! ### 5/5 — Enjoyable and easy to follow *2024-04-05, version 11.4* I wanted a gradual app for towing, something like couch to 5k for running, but for rowing… and this is the winner! I like that it’s very easy and helps you keep a nice relaxed and above all, even stroke pace in the first week. It’s not overwhelming or intense, which a lot of workout apps tend to be. Rowing is a tricky beast, lots can go wrong and you can become overwhelmed and discouraged easily when you are starting out. I used to row when I was younger, so finding this app helps motivate me to get back into it, as I am only now remembering how intense of a workout it can be to start up. This app I would highly recommend for anyone starting out, or getting back into it. To give you a heads up- if you wanna do the weekly intervals, you have to sign up for the 1st week trial, but I personally think it’s worth the investment. I’d definitely suggest trying the first week at least before shutting the idea down, it’s super easy to follow this weekly breakdown for beginners. ### 5/5 — Awesome setup *2024-04-04* Visual clear and ques were precise not sure is there was an audio at excercise change but when posted on screen was very helpful **Developer response:** Thank you very much for the review! ### 5/5 — Developer is Awesome *2024-03-01* I first left a 3star review detailing the missing features that would make this app worthwhile. Within a few weeks, the dev had actually listened and incorporate a free-row and a custom workout module where you can design your own. It’s truly incredible that the dev actually takes user feedback into consideration and also incorporates it so quickly. The app is perfect now and is honestly worth every penny. **Developer response:** Update: I have released a new Custom Workouts feature today, and a 'Free Row' feature should be ready for release next week. Thanks for the feedback! Thank you for the review and feedback, I really appreciate it. - I'm currently working on Custom Workouts, where you will be able to set your own SPM and durations. Free-Row is a great idea and something I will look into. - I appreciate the feedback on rates changing mid-workout. It's something I am aware of and want to improve on. - I do understand the frustration with auto-renewal. It's the default behaviour with subscriptions through Apple and you can cancel it at any time but I do clearly need to make this more obvious, so I can only apologise for the inconvenience. Thanks so much for the feedback as I want to keep making the app better! Nick ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Currently testing. update rating in six days. *2026-04-23, version 13.2* So far it seems to be useful, but I’m not sure how the free features are if there are any so that’s gonna be big factor in my decision. ### 1/5 — Just a spinning circle *2025-11-02, version 13.1* Just downloaded this but all it does is show a spinning yellow circle ### 1/5 — Misleading cost *2025-07-30, version 13.1* Not free you have to have a subscription to get the workout plan. ### 1/5 — Komisch *2023-05-15* Zur Probe runtergeladen, gekündigt und gleich teures Abo am Hals **Developer response:** Hallo, unser Jahresabonnement beinhaltet eine 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion. Können Sie mir unter apps@vigour.fitness Bescheid geben, wenn etwas schief gelaufen ist? ### 1/5 — Can’t open now. Have paid *2022-12-05, version 9.1* I paid a monthly subscription and the app just sticks at a yellow spinning disc. ### 1/5 — Not worth $80. Bad choice *2022-09-26, version 8.6* Unfortunately I didn’t shop around. Later Found other apps much cheaper or free with similar functionality. This one you can’t make custom workouts. Prebuilt challenges are ok but can’t build your own. Also the body weight exercises (lunges, planks, jump squats, etc.) are just poor quality links to random YouTube videos many of which don’t work. I suggest taking a look at “Rowing Trainer” instead. My fault not shopping around and flushing $80. :( ### 1/5 — All subscription now😒 *2022-07-26, version 8.6* Been using one of the basic programmes for a while but after the last update it is all premium now. Shame. ### 1/5 — Not great *2022-01-05, version 6.5* Requires a sign up. Won’t even let you do manual logs. ### 1/5 — Useless *2021-02-26, version 5.6* Absolutely useless. Save your space and don’t downlod it. ### 1/5 — Sneaky fees *2021-01-25, version 5.0* Seems that the only way to access the app is to sign up for one of their plans. Not saying it should be free - but it should be made clear that it’s not free before asking for my email. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Just do it! *2026-05-22* Sometimes all the frills just get in the way. If you’ve rowed with other apps, the learning curve for this app is next to zilch. Distractions are minimized and the metrics are on point and to the point. The stoke ark is both functional and unobtrusive. I use it to adjust my rhythm to exactly match the segment’s stroke count. This is all you need. So do it! ### 5/5 — Arrancando mi cambio *2026-02-24, version 13.2* Fácil y sin complicaciones ### 5/5 — Really helpful *2025-08-16, version 13.1* I got a lovely water rower second hand and never really know what to do. By following the app I got the exact stroke rate and I feel like I have a doable plan at last. Only first day but I feel excited ### 5/5 — Best workout *2025-05-11, version 12.8* Love this app! Keeps me in the best shape! ### 5/5 — Vielen Dank! *2025-05-03* Ich habe schon einige Ruder Apps ausprobiert. Für mich und für meine Zwecke ist das die Beste! **Developer response:** Danke! ### 5/5 — Beginner Rower *2025-01-06* I’m a beginner with rowing and I wanted to test an app before spending money on a subscription. I do like the fact that this app lets you build your own workout to test it out. I like the ability to “sync” my rowing\timing with the SPM Timer in the app and the “tink” I get in my ear buds when I got my head down due to exhaustion. **Developer response:** Thank you so much for the review and feedback, I really appreciate it! ### 5/5 — Just what I was looking for *2024-10-21, version 12.0* Great guide and metronome that plays subtly but noticeably while running music too. ### 5/5 — So viel Spaß *2024-10-03* Wer hätte gedacht, dass mich ein kleiner roter Balken besser unterhält als eine Serie oder jede Ladschaftsaufnahme. Bisher beste Ruderapp! Danke **Developer response:** Das ist toll zu hören, ich freue mich sehr, dass es dir gefällt. Danke schön! ### 5/5 — Great App *2024-09-03, version 12.0* Structured workouts and a metronome to help consistent pacing. Integrated with Apple Health. ### 5/5 — Sehr gut auch für Anfänger *2024-08-09* Durch die Trainingspläne gut auch für Anfänger geeignet, die Fortschritte muss ich noch machen. Macht aber Spaß, da kann man am Ball bleiben. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback und die Bewertung! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-03.*