Comparison

Row Forge vs Swelldone

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

Swelldone

Experience an open-world paddling game with realistic wave physics and dynamic swells. Connect your erg for immersive training, race head-to-head in multiplayer, and explore iconic real-world venues. Choose from various paddlers, vessels, and workouts to enhance your fitness and enjoy virtual ocean adventures.

Highlights
  • Open-world ocean with realistic wave physics
  • Multiplayer virtual training and racing
  • Selectable paddlers, vessels, and real-world venues
  • Ergometer and trainer connectivity (FTMS)
  • Customizable and pre-set workout library
  • Sync with Apple Health, Strava, C2 Logbook
Features
Read full description

Swelldone is an open-world paddling training game. The concept is simple: choose your paddler, pick your vessel, and go find some virtual waves and have fun. Learn and experience surfing the open ocean. If you have an erg, connect to it and get fully immersed in your training! If you paddle, you get it. FEATURES: - Infinite ocean with accurate waves physics model, dynamic and adjustable swells - Multiplayer head-to-head gameplay for virtual training and racing - Choose your course from iconic, real-world venues - Choose your paddler from various avatars - Choose your vessel from various boats including SUPs, outrigger canoes, surfskis, Sprint C1, Sprint K1, rowing sculls, marathon canoes, and dragon boats - Connect to your paddle ergs, rowers, bike trainers that support FTMS protocol for immersive training. - Choose from a library of workouts directly from the app or create your own custom workout - Sync your workouts to Apple Health, Strava, C2 Logbook - Designed to work with the Concept2 PM5 console, KayakPro GenesisPort console, Whipr, and Wahoo sensors. OHANA MEMBERSHIP Subscription Enjoy unlimited access to everything when connected to erg for Virtual Training. Row or Paddle as much as you want with Swelldone's monthly subscription of $9.99. Prices may vary from country to country. Payment will be charged to your App Store Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Account settings at any time after purchase. Terms of Service: https://www.swelldoneapp.com/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.swelldoneapp.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Row Forge4 screens
Swelldone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Row Forge at freemium against Swelldone's subscription. Row Forge also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 38%). Swelldone's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.9). On price, ratings volume, 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 Swelldone sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Swelldone holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 103 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Row Forge's written reviews are positive against 38% of Swelldone's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Row Forge ships an update fortnightly, Swelldone every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Row Forge versus Swelldone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRow ForgeSwelldone
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (36 ratings)4.3 (103 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews — better38.1% of reviews
Number of ratings36103 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB1.2 GB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRow Forge LLC5007490 Ontario Ltd.

Customer experience

Row Forge

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

Swelldone

All ratings101 ratings
Positive81.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive38.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative57.1%

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
3 purchases

Swelldone

Subscriptions3
  • Wiki Member (Weekly)$3.997 Days
  • Ohana Membership$9.991 Month
  • Hoku Membership (Annual)$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Row Forge free?
Row Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Swelldone free?
Swelldone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Row Forge or Swelldone?
Swelldone is rated higher. Row Forge averages 3.9 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Swelldone averages 4.3 from 103 ratings.
Do Row Forge or Swelldone have ads?
Neither Row Forge nor Swelldone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Row Forge or Swelldone?
Row Forge ships an update fortnightly, and Swelldone every 3 weeks. Most recently, Row Forge was updated on October 16, 2026 and Swelldone on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons