Comparison

Row Forge vs Start Rowing

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

Head to head
About

Row Forge

This app acts as a personal rowing trainer, offering personalized workouts and a scalable training program designed to improve your performance. It tracks your metrics and stats, providing targeted interval training and conditioning programs. Gamified elements like badges add a fun aspect to your fitness journey.

Highlights
  • Personalized signature workouts
  • Targeted High Intensity Interval Training
  • Effective conditioning program
  • Eleven baseline tests
  • Build a performance profile
  • Earn badges
Features
Read full description

YOUR CONCEPT2 GIVES YOU DATA. ROW FORGE TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO WITH IT. Row Forge is a connected training system for Concept2 RowErg, SkiErg, and BikeErg athletes. Connect your PM5, test your fitness, discover your strengths and weaknesses, and train with workouts built around your performance. Row Forge Intelligence helps you decide what to train next, understand your results, and stay on track. And when you want more hands-on guidance, Row Forge Coaching connects you with a real coach who can help guide your training. ROW FORGE INTELLIGENCE Stop guessing what workout to do. • Today's Workout — Get a workout recommendation based on your fitness tests, training history, and campaign progress. • Post-Workout Analysis — Understand what your completed workout means and what to carry into your next session. • Ask Row Forge — Ask questions about your training, results, weaknesses, and what to work on next. ROW FORGE COACHING Take your training further with guidance from a real coach. Available coaching plans can include personalized training, scheduled coaching sessions, direct coach messaging, and feedback on your workouts. Your coach can work with the same training context you build inside Row Forge, helping connect your workouts, performance, and goals in one place. VIKING POWER PROFILE Your 2K doesn't tell the whole story. Build your Viking Power Profile through fitness tests across different distances. Row Forge uses your results to show your strengths, identify areas to improve, and set training targets based on your own performance. STRUCTURED TRAINING Choose from workouts built around different training goals: • Signature Workouts • HIIT sessions • Fitness tests and benchmarks • Training campaigns • Personalized power targets • Free Row • Free Ski • Free Cycle CONNECTED TO YOUR CONCEPT2 Connect directly to a compatible Concept2 PM5 over Bluetooth. During supported workouts, Row Forge displays live performance data including watts, pace, distance, stroke rate, elapsed time, heart rate, and workout targets. ROW. SKI. CYCLE. Row Forge supports Concept2 RowErg, SkiErg, and BikeErg equipment with compatible PM5 monitors. Keep your training history together whether you're rowing, skiing, or cycling. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Review completed workouts with detailed results, splits, pace, watts, stroke rate, heart rate, and other performance data. Track your progress over time and keep the context behind every workout. Eligible completed workouts can also be uploaded to your Concept2 Online Logbook. APPLE WATCH Use Apple Watch with supported Row Forge workouts to bring heart-rate data into your training experience. COLD IMPACT Track cold exposure alongside your training and explore how cooling relates to your own performance. TRAIN WITH PURPOSE Whether you're chasing a faster 2K, building your aerobic base, improving your power, or simply trying to get more from your Concept2, Row Forge gives your training direction. Use Row Forge Intelligence for data-driven guidance. Add Row Forge Coaching when you want a real person in your corner. Test. Train. Learn. Improve. Some features require an active Row Forge membership or Coaching subscription. Feature availability may depend on your plan, device, connected equipment, and permissions. Row Forge is independently developed and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Concept2, Inc. Concept2, RowErg, SkiErg, BikeErg, and PM5 are trademarks of Concept2, Inc. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Start Rowing

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
Read full description

Start Rowing without any previous experience needed. Get in shape, build strength and burn calories. Our rowing app's workout plans will train you for the next stage in your rowing journey. Never rowed before? Start with our beginner plan. In 8 weeks you’ll be comfortable rowing 2000 meters with correct technique. Experienced erger? Use our intermediate and advanced plans to improve your overall fitness while increasing your rowing capacity. Start Rowing will guide you step by step, letting you know when to change rowing intensity and when to rest. Each plan is designed to slowly become more challenging so your body can adapt and gain endurance while minimising any risk of injury. Spend just 10-30 minutes a day, 2-5 days a week. You’ll be fitter, stronger and a much better rower! Features - Choose from Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced training plans. - Session based Challenger workouts to exercise your whole body. - Audio coach to guide your through your rowing workout. - Rowing metronome to help you keep in time. - Log your workouts and keep track of your overall progress. - Share your progress. - APPLE HEALTH INTEGRATION: Connect your workouts to Health App to track your daily activity. 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 Start Rowing 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

Row Forge4 screens
Start Rowing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Start Rowing at 4.7 against Row Forge's 3.9. Start Rowing also leads on ratings volume (682 vs 36). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Row Forge sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Start Rowing holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Start Rowing has 682 ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Row Forge's written reviews are positive against 73% of Start Rowing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Row Forge ships an update fortnightly, Start Rowing every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Row Forge versus Start Rowing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRow ForgeStart Rowing
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (36 ratings)4.7 (682 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews73.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36682 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB55 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRow Forge LLCVigour Group Ltd

Customer experience

Row Forge

All ratings36 ratings
Positive69.4%
Neutral8.3%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral6.9%
Negative24.1%

Start Rowing

All ratings682 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral9.3%
Negative17.5%

Bugs and requests

Row Forge

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Start Rowing

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Blank screen during workouts
  • Inconsistent stroke rate changes
  • Automatic screen shutoff during workouts

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Row Forge

Subscriptions6
  • Monthly1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • Row Monthly Subscription$29.991 Month
  • Row Monthly with Two Week Trial14 Days trial$29.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Annual1 Month trial$89.991 Year
  • Regular Six-Month Membership$143.996 Months
  • Six-Months with Two Week Trial14 Days trial$143.996 Months
7 purchases

Start Rowing

Subscriptions6
  • Start Rowing Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Premium Yearly$79.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$179.99

Questions

Is Row Forge free?
Row Forge 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, Row Forge or Start Rowing?
Start Rowing is rated higher. Row Forge averages 3.9 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Start Rowing averages 4.7 from 682 ratings.
Do Row Forge or Start Rowing have ads?
Neither Row Forge nor Start Rowing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Row Forge or Start Rowing?
Row Forge ships an update fortnightly, and Start Rowing every 2 weeks. Most recently, Row Forge was updated on October 12, 2026 and Start Rowing on October 10, 2026.

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