# CITYROW vs Start Rowing

CITYROW and Start Rowing both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of CITYROW's written reviews are positive against 73% of Start Rowing's. Start Rowing's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CITYROW sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month and Start Rowing sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for CITYROW against 4.7 for Start Rowing. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 717 and 681 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of CITYROW's written reviews are positive against 73% of Start Rowing's.

CITYROW ships an update weekly, Start Rowing every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 23, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CITYROW | Start Rowing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (717 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cityrow-at-home-fitness/id1342846845/reviews)** | [4.7 (681 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **717** | 681 |
| Positive reviews | **88.3% of reviews** | 73.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CITYROW Interactive, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1342846844) | [Vigour Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546613605) |

## What reviewers say

### CITYROW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cityrow-at-home-fitness/id1342846845)

Access a wide range of on-demand rowing and strength training classes designed for all fitness levels and goals. Track your performance in real-time and connect with your rowing machine for a comprehensive workout experience.

**Highlights:** On-demand rowing and strength classes, HIIT, cardio, endurance, and yoga workouts, Real-time performance metrics tracking, Connects with rowing machines via Bluetooth, Progress tracking and badges, Instructor-led workouts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $299.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great workouts
- 👍 Engaging instructors
- 💪 Variety of classes
- 🤸‍♀️ Full-body workouts
- 🏠 Convenient home workouts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App connectivity issues
- 🔍 Lacking detailed workout data
- 🎵 Subpar music options
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Difficult to find/navigate classes

**Reported bugs**

- Connectivity issues with rowers
- App crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate workout tracking

**Requested features**

- Integrate with fitness trackers
- Provide more detailed workout metrics
- Allow custom music selection
- Improve class search and scheduling
- Expand on-demand class library


### Start Rowing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767)

This app provides structured rowing machine training plans for all experience levels, from beginner to advanced. It guides users through workouts with audio cues and a metronome, helping them build strength, burn calories, and improve rowing technique. Track progress and integrate with Apple Health for a comprehensive fitness journey.

**Highlights:** Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced training plans, Audio coach guidance, Rowing metronome, Workout logging and progress tracking, Apple Health integration, Session-based Challenger workouts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start Rowing Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $179.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for beginners
- 🚀 Structured workout plans
- 👍 Easy to follow
- 👍 Enjoyable and motivating
- 🚀 Useful metronome and pacing features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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)

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen during workouts
- Inconsistent stroke rate changes
- Automatic screen shutoff during workouts

**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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CITYROW free?

CITYROW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Start Rowing free?

Start Rowing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CITYROW or Start Rowing?

CITYROW is rated higher. CITYROW averages 4.8 out of 5 from 717 ratings, while Start Rowing averages 4.7 from 681 ratings.

### Do CITYROW or Start Rowing have ads?

Neither CITYROW nor Start Rowing shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CITYROW or Start Rowing?

CITYROW ships an update weekly, and Start Rowing every 2 weeks. Most recently, CITYROW was updated on August 23, 2026 and Start Rowing on September 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*