Comparison

RowingCoach vs ErgZone

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RowingCoach

Track your rowing sessions on land or water with detailed metrics like stroke rate, distance, pace, and calories burned. Use your iPhone or Apple Watch independently or together for flexible workout recording and progress analysis. Syncs with iCloud and Apple Health, and exports to popular fitness platforms.

Highlights
  • Track stroke rate, distance, pace, pulse, and calories
  • Use iPhone or Apple Watch for recording
  • Siri integration for workout control
  • Automatic stroke detection
  • Workout display on map
  • Export to Strava, TrainingPeaks, and more
  • iCloud synchronization
Features
Read full description

RowingCoach, available also for the Apple Watch, allows you to track your rowing sessions, compare your workouts and see your overall progress – whether you train on land or on water. == RowingCoach displays the following metrics: • Your current and overall stroke rate (SPM) • The distance covered • Your current and overall pace • Your pulse • Your calories burned == Use the app as suits you best: • Track your session on the iPhone • Only use your Apple Watch to record the training (and leave your iPhone onshore!) • Use the iPhone as display for your Apple Watch recording. Very useful for indoor rowing. == RowingCoach also offers these features: • Use Siri to start and stop your workout • Automatic Stroke detection • Get notified after a certain distance covered, strokes reached or time passed • Display your workout on a map • Speed/pulse shown in color-coding • Share your rowing track with iMessage • Weather conditions are recorded for outdoor workouts • iCloud synchronisation: Have your workouts on all your devices. • Apple Health App integration • Watch Complication: See your weekly progress at a glance • Use Force Touch in the Watch app to quickly start and stop a workout • Today Widget: See your weekly and monthly progress from the Today screen • Add notes (to remember who was cox for example) == Export and upload your workouts to other platforms: • Upload to Strava • Export to RowsAndAll • Upload to MapMyFitness • Upload to TrainingPeaks • Upload to Concept2 Logbook • Upload to Intervals.icu External bluetooth heart rate monitors are supported. If you want to export your workouts via e-mail or want to record more than 3 workouts - you can get to a subscription right in the app.

About

ErgZone

Optimize indoor training with real-time performance data, personalized pacing, and engaging challenges. Seamlessly integrates with various fitness machines, automating setup and providing critical metrics to enhance your workouts.

Highlights
  • Easy monitor setup
  • Live performance metrics
  • Smart interval pacing
  • Real-time workout alerts
  • Workout variety options
  • Performance history tracking
  • Community challenges
Features
Read full description

ErgZone is a cutting-edge fitness platform designed to optimize your indoor training sessions. By seamlessly integrating with your Concept2, RP3, Rogue, WaterRower, Assault Fitness or FTMS-enabled machines, ErgZone provides real-time performance data, personalized pacing, and engaging challenges to push your limits. Why Choose ErgZone? Designed to streamline your training, ErgZone minimizes setup time, automates monitor configurations, and calculates critical metrics so you can focus on performance, not prep. Key Features: • Easy Monitor Setup: No need to manually set intervals – simply connect to the ergometer, and the app handles the rest. Start moving right away. • Live Metrics: View real-time data during workouts, including time, distance, pace, strokes/minute (SPM), calories, watts, heart rate (HR) zones, and more. • Smart Interval Pacing: Suggested pace per interval based on personal benchmarks (1K, 2K, 5K for rowing and skiing; 2K, 4K, 10K for cycling). • Real-Time Alerts: Instant feedback if your pace, SPM, or split time drifts from the target. • Workout Variety: Options to train by time, distance, or calories with flexibility for mixed or weighted workouts. • Daily Workouts: Access the Concept2 Workout of the Day, plus discover workouts and training plans from top coaches. • Performance History: Save your favorite workouts, track heart rate progress, and monitor key metrics. • Compete & Connect: Join challenges, follow ErgFlix workouts, and interact with our partner coaches who release weekly free workouts. • Beyond Default Metrics: Track advanced metrics like stroke count, drag factor (DF), calories, watts, SPI, HR zones, and more. • Automatic Syncing: Results are automatically uploaded to the Concept2 LogBook. Unlock ErgZone+ for Premium Tools: • Enhanced Metrics & Graphs: View each interval's post-workout heart rate and power zones in a single graph. • Expanded Metrics: Access Drive Length, Max Power, Avg. Force, Force Curve, and more. The app remembers your last-used metrics for easy setup. • Time Cap & AMRAP: For added versatility, use automatic time-capped workouts and AMRAP (as many rounds as possible). • Flexible Targets: Set workout intensity using power metrics like FTP (Functional Threshold Power), SPI, or Watts percentage. • ReRow, ReSki, ReRide: Revisit previous sessions and strive to beat your pace or time. • Communities: Create and join communities, share workouts, and engage with friends. Enable leaderboards for a fun, competitive edge. • Apple Health Integration: Sync workouts and heart rate data directly to Apple Health. • Heart Rate Monitor: Connect your favorite Bluetooth HRM to track your heart rate in real-time during workouts. • Web Dashboard: Manage workouts, schedule training, and view live stats on a computer. • MultiErg Workouts: Create custom workouts incorporating two or all three Concept2 machines in a single workout. • Dynamic Interval Intensity: Set workout pace based on a previous interval. • Apple Watch Integration: Capture heart rate data from our Apple Watch app. • Organize Your Training: Create groups, libraries, and training plans to manage better and organize your workouts. • FIT Workouts: Track non-erg workouts such as weight training, HYROX, CrossFit, etc. Requirements: • Supported Machines: Concept2 RowErg, BikeErg, SkiErg with PM5, RP3 Rower, Rogue Echo Bike or Rower, WaterRower S4 (with ComModule or CR BLE), FTMS-enabled machines. • Device: iPhone or iPad Terms of Use: https://www.erg.zone/terms

Screenshots

RowingCoach4 screens
ErgZone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ErgZone at 4.8 against RowingCoach's 3.3. ErgZone also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 38%) and ratings volume (458 vs 117). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. RowingCoach sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and ErgZone sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ErgZone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 117 and 458 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of RowingCoach's written reviews are positive against 81% of ErgZone's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RowingCoach versus ErgZone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRowingCoachErgZone
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (117 ratings)4.8 (458 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.4% of reviews80.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings117458 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGunther CronenbergERGZONE LLC

Customer experience

RowingCoach

All ratings117 ratings
Positive49.6%
Neutral16.2%
Negative34.2%
Written reviews151 reviews
Positive38.4%
Neutral24.5%
Negative37.1%

ErgZone

All ratings458 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive80.9%
Neutral4.4%
Negative14.7%

User reviews

RowingCoach

From 117 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⌚ Excellent Apple Watch integration
  • 🗺️ Accurate GPS tracking for on-water rowing
  • ❤️ Heart rate monitoring functionality
  • 📊 Comprehensive workout statistics and metrics
  • 🔄 Seamless syncing with Apple Health

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 📏 Inaccurate distance estimation (especially indoors)
  • ⚠️ Strokes per minute (SPM) consistently underreported
  • 🔋 Excessive battery drain on Apple Watch
  • ❌ Data loss after pausing workouts

ErgZone

From 458 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy workout programming
  • 🚀 Seamless Concept2 integration
  • 💡 Comprehensive metrics and data
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • ❤️ Responsive developers

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🚫 No lifetime membership option
  • ⚠️ Poor UI for logbook/rankings
  • ❌ Incompatible with WaterRower
  • ❓ Confusing group membership for premium features

Bugs and requests

RowingCoach

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Distance resets to zero when workout is paused
  • SPM not displaying in real-time during workouts
  • App crashes when receiving phone calls
  • GPS tracking stops working after iOS updates
  • Stroke count significantly underreported (off by 30-50%)
Show 15 more
  • Distance values wildly inaccurate (2-3x actual distance)
  • Workouts not appearing in app history despite being tracked
  • Subscription validation fails on Apple Watch
  • App hangs on workout start
  • Data not uploading to Apple Health
  • Clock overlay blocking metrics on Apple Watch
  • Display elements overlapping when phone is rotated
  • SPM showing zero for entire workouts
  • Metrics switching between metric and imperial units mid-workout
  • App freezing when trying to save workouts
  • PM5 connection showing as connected but not syncing data
  • Strava export missing distance data for indoor rows
  • Watch app not appearing after installation
  • Contact/feedback link in app not functional
  • Inconsistent heart rate detection

Requested features

18 requests
  • Calibration settings for different rowing machines
  • Automatic pause/resume detection
  • Customizable workout countdown timers
  • Bluetooth connectivity for Concept2 PM5
  • Improved calorie burn calculations
Show 13 more
  • Watt power output calculations
  • Distance per stroke efficiency metric
  • Audible stroke rate announcements
  • Always-on display support for Apple Watch
  • Manual workout editing capabilities
  • Automatic Strava uploads
  • Detailed heart rate and pace graphs
  • Training plan integration
  • Ghost/challenge mode for self-competition
  • Garmin Connect integration
  • Multiple language support (French, German)
  • Improved watch display optimization for larger screens
  • Better contrast for outdoor visibility

ErgZone

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Heart monitor sync issues with Samsung Galaxy watch
  • Workouts not appearing in logbook when connected to ErgData
  • Inaccurate total time in uploads
  • Rest distance not included in Strava upload
  • Group membership premium features unclear
Show 4 more
  • Workouts not shown chronologically
  • Occasional hesitation to connect to PM5
  • Cannot figure out how to connect to PM5
  • Workout completion and upload to logbook could be more intuitive

Requested features

7 requests
  • Sync with Samsung Galaxy watch
  • Add a beep function for interval changes
  • Confirmation pop-up for unsaved workout changes
  • Require unique names for workouts
  • Apple Health integration
Show 2 more
  • Native Apple Health synchronization
  • Sharing with Apple Health

In-app purchases

3 purchases

RowingCoach

One-time3
  • Unltd. recs & export (1 Month)$0.99
  • Unltd. recs & export (3 Months)$1.99
  • Unltd. recs & export (1 Year)$4.99
2 purchases

ErgZone

Subscriptions2
  • EZ+ Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • EZ+ Annual$49.991 Year

Questions

Is RowingCoach free?
RowingCoach is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ErgZone free?
ErgZone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RowingCoach or ErgZone?
ErgZone is rated higher. RowingCoach averages 3.3 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while ErgZone averages 4.8 from 458 ratings.
Do RowingCoach or ErgZone have ads?
Neither RowingCoach nor ErgZone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RowingCoach or ErgZone?
RowingCoach ships an update every 2 months, and ErgZone every 2 months. Most recently, RowingCoach was updated on September 21, 2026 and ErgZone on September 18, 2026.

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