Comparison

SmartRow vs Rowing Machine Workouts

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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!

About

Rowing Machine Workouts

Guided indoor rowing workouts for fat loss, cardio, and strength. Offers plans for all fitness levels, from beginner to weight loss, with features like audio coaching and activity tracking. Works with any rower.

Highlights
  • Guided rowing plans for various goals
  • SPM metronome for pace control
  • Audio coaching with music support
  • Activity tracking and workout logging
  • Customizable workout builder
  • Free Row mode
  • Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

Full-body indoor rowing workouts — fat loss, cardio, strength & technique. Works for any rower or home setup. Get stronger and fitter with guided rowing machine workouts. Build muscle, lose weight, or enhance your overall health!  Follow along with rowing programs that help you smash your goals. Rowing is an excellent full-body workout that caters to all fitness levels, helping you live with energy and vitality. Why this app? Rowing workouts that help you achieve and exceed your personal targets. If you’re new to rowing, start with our Beginner Plan. Looking to shed some pounds? Our Weight Loss Plan is perfect for you! Rowing regularly will help you see progress and feel stronger over time. Train from just 2 days a week to improve your rowing ability and technique with simple approachable routines. Use the SPM metronome to keep your stroke rate in time. Each rowing plan is designed to help your body adapt and improve while minimizing the risk of injury or burnout. Why choose us? These rowing machine workouts are perfect as a supplement to your gym routine or for use with an at-home rowing machine, such as the Concept2. They're easy to follow and can be used regardless of your fitness level. No specific equipment needed! FEATURES GUIDED ROUTINES: Choose a rowing plan based on your fitness level and goals. Target your ideal SPM and follow rest guidance with HIIT-based rowing training, perfect for indoor rowing. ACTIVITY TRACKING: Monitor your rowing activity to ensure continuous growth. Use the countdown timer to enhance your rowing ability and endurance. AUDIO COACHING: Enjoy audio coaching with support to play your own music in the background. The metronome helps you maintain your target SPM, ensuring you row at the perfect pace. CUSTOM WORKOUTS: Build your own rowing workouts. Set your desired SPM and duration to row your way, while staying in sync with the metronome. FREE ROW: Row at your own pace with Free Row. Simply increment or decrement your SPM as you go to follow along with the metronome and phase guide. WORKOUT LOGGER: Log all your rowing workouts and repeat your favorites. Track metrics like average heart rate, distance, and split time to monitor your improvement over time. APPLE HEALTH INTEGRATION: Sync your rowing workouts with the Health App to get a comprehensive view of your daily activity. DAILY EXERCISES: Supplement your rowing workouts with recommended exercises. Warm-up, cool down, and build full-body strength with additional exercises. Legal Disclaimer This app and any information given by it are for educational purposes only. They are not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any fitness program. If you upgrade to a premium subscription, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. There is no increase in cost when renewing. Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal turned off in Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. Once purchased, the current period cannot be cancelled. Any unused portion of a free trial period is forfeited if you choose to purchase a premium subscription. Find the full terms and conditions at https://www.vigour.fitness/terms, and our privacy policy at https://www.vigour.fitness/privacy.

Screenshots

SmartRow4 screens
Rowing Machine Workouts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Rowing Machine Workouts at 4.7 against SmartRow's 3.8. Rowing Machine Workouts also leads on review sentiment (87% vs 46%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). SmartRow's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Rowing Machine Workouts sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. SmartRow asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rowing Machine Workouts holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 73 and 349 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of SmartRow's written reviews are positive against 87% of Rowing Machine Workouts's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmartRow ships an update every 2 months, Rowing Machine Workouts weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SmartRow versus Rowing Machine Workouts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartRowRowing Machine Workouts
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (73 ratings)4.7 (349 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.0% of reviews87.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings73349 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErgometer Innovations B.V.Vigour Group Ltd

Customer experience

SmartRow

All ratings73 ratings
Positive64.4%
Neutral15.1%
Negative20.5%
Written reviews200 reviews
Positive46.0%
Neutral28.0%
Negative26.0%

Rowing Machine Workouts

All ratings349 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral4.3%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews188 reviews
Positive87.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative7.4%

User reviews

SmartRow

From 73 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate data and metrics
  • 🔍 Detailed performance tracking
  • 📊 Integration with Strava and Apple Health
  • 🔧 Customizable display and settings
  • 🤖 Seamless Bluetooth connectivity

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unstable Apple Watch integration
  • 🔍 Limited data export options
  • 🕰️ Lack of pause/resume functionality
  • 🔢 Distance-based intervals not supported
  • 🔌 Occasional connectivity issues

Rowing Machine Workouts

From 349 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Effective graphics and workout
  • 👍 Straight forward and easy to use
  • 👍 Metronome helps with pacing
  • 👍 Variety of workouts and programs
  • 👍 Warm-up and cool-down exercises

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Subscription issues and lost access
  • ⚠️ Lacks ability to sync with rowing machines
  • ⚠️ Interrupts stroke when changing pace
  • ⚠️ Limited data tracking and analytics

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
Show 1 more
  • Customizable heart rate zone settings

Rowing Machine Workouts

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Free trial not functioning properly
  • Connectivity issues with some rowing machines

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to create custom workouts
  • Integration with Apple Watch
  • More detailed workout data and progress tracking

In-app purchases

None

SmartRow

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Rowing Machine Workouts

Subscriptions8
  • Rowing Workouts Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Premium Yearly1 Year trial$79.991 Year
  • Premium$79.991 Year
  • Rowing Workouts Yearly$79.991 Year
  • Rowing Workouts Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Rowing Workouts Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$249.99

Questions

Is SmartRow free?
SmartRow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rowing Machine Workouts free?
Rowing Machine Workouts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SmartRow or Rowing Machine Workouts?
Rowing Machine Workouts is rated higher. SmartRow averages 3.8 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while Rowing Machine Workouts averages 4.7 from 349 ratings.
Do SmartRow or Rowing Machine Workouts have ads?
Rowing Machine Workouts shows ads; SmartRow does not.
Which is updated more often, SmartRow or Rowing Machine Workouts?
SmartRow ships an update every 2 months, and Rowing Machine Workouts weekly. Most recently, SmartRow was updated on October 5, 2026 and Rowing Machine Workouts on October 10, 2026.

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