SmartRow vs RP3 Rowing Lite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartRow
Transform your WaterRower into a high-precision ergometer. Track detailed workout metrics including force curves and heart rate, and monitor fitness indicators like Watts-per-Beat. Sync your progress seamlessly with Apple Health.
- Lab-grade ergometer conversion
- Detailed force curve analysis
- Heart rate graphing
- Workout tracking and history
- Fitness metrics (Watts-per-Beat, Watts-per-Kilogram)
- Apple Health synchronization
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The SmartRow App (together with the SmartRow-conversion) will turn your WaterRower into a lab grade ergometer. It will not only show you power, distance, work-per-stroke, calories etc., it will show you each force-curve, heart rate graph and much, much more! It keeps track of your workouts, and even shows you well-known fitness metrics like 'Watts-per-Beat' and 'Watts-per-Kilogram'. It even syncs your workout data with Apple Health. This is the best training tool you can invest in—after hiring a coach, of course!
RP3 Rowing Lite
This application connects to your RP3 rowing ergometer via Bluetooth to provide real-time performance data. Analyze stroke rate, speed, distance, and heart rate, with in-depth force curve analysis. Program custom interval training sessions and export your workout data for further analysis.
- Bluetooth connectivity to ergometer
- Real-time stroke rate, speed, distance, heart rate
- In-depth force curve analysis
- Customizable interval training programming
- Workout data export to online portal
- Performance analysis
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Your monitor for the RP3 Rowing ergometer. Get the most precise insights in your performance for the True rowing experience. RP3 Rowing is designed to connect to your RP3-S or RP3-T ergometer through Bluetooth. It provides a training tool that any rower can use to get real-time stroke rate, speed, distance, heart rate information, in depth force curve analysis and much more. Program an interval training consisting of duration, strokes or distance parts and measure your performance while doing so, if it is just a full on 2K performance test or an hour long HIIT training. Each stroke of your workout is recorded and can be exported to your RP3 Rowing account on https://portal.rp3rowing.com/. Go online to get a deep dive into your data or export it for further analysis.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SmartRow at 3.8 against RP3 Rowing Lite's 1.7. SmartRow also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 8%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SmartRow holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartRow has 73 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of SmartRow's written reviews are positive against 8% of RP3 Rowing Lite's.
SmartRow ships an update every 2 months, RP3 Rowing Lite every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on June 22, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartRow | RP3 Rowing Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (73 ratings) — better | 1.7 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 46.0% of reviews — better | 7.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 73 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ergometer Innovations B.V. | RP3 Rowing B.V. |
Customer experience
SmartRow
RP3 Rowing Lite
Bugs and requests
SmartRow
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes during long rows
- Workout data not saving properly
- Connectivity issues with Bluetooth devices
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
Requested features
6 requests- Distance-based interval workouts
- Audible cues and prompts during workouts
- Ability to duplicate/sort custom workouts
- Integration with Garmin devices
- More advanced performance analytics
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- Customizable heart rate zone settings
RP3 Rowing Lite
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SmartRow
No in-app purchases
RP3 Rowing Lite
No in-app purchases
