Comparison

Hydrow vs ErgZone

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

Head to head
About

Hydrow

Access over 5,000 on-and-off rower workouts led by elite athletes filmed in beautiful locations. Track performance, connect with a community, and share achievements. Compatible with Concept2 PM5 rowers for integrated metrics and leaderboards.

Highlights
  • 5,000+ on-and-off rower workouts
  • Elite athlete instructors
  • Global scenic filming locations
  • Performance tracking
  • Rowing community features
  • Strava and Apple Health integration
  • Concept2 PM5 rower compatibility
Features
Read full description

Hydrow offers more than just a full-body workout – access over 5,000 on-and-off rower workouts led by elite athletes and filmed in stunning locations around the globe. Feature overview: • Track your performance and stay connected to a passionate rowing community: cheer on fellow rowers, form racing teams, and review racing stats • Share your achievements on Strava • Apple Health integration for further personalization • Now compatible with Concept2 PM5 rowers, Hydrow offers serious rowers the variety they seek, allowing you to pair your iPhone or iPad for in-workout rowing metrics and participate in competitive leaderboards Whether you aim to build strength, improve endurance, or perfect your technique, Hydrow delivers the benefits of rowing wherever you are.

About

ErgZone

Optimize indoor training with real-time performance data, personalized pacing, and engaging challenges. Seamlessly integrates with various fitness machines, automating setup and providing critical metrics to enhance your workouts.

Highlights
  • Easy monitor setup
  • Live performance metrics
  • Smart interval pacing
  • Real-time workout alerts
  • Workout variety options
  • Performance history tracking
  • Community challenges
Features
Read full description

ErgZone is a cutting-edge fitness platform designed to optimize your indoor training sessions. By seamlessly integrating with your Concept2, RP3, Rogue, WaterRower, Assault Fitness or FTMS-enabled machines, ErgZone provides real-time performance data, personalized pacing, and engaging challenges to push your limits. Why Choose ErgZone? Designed to streamline your training, ErgZone minimizes setup time, automates monitor configurations, and calculates critical metrics so you can focus on performance, not prep. Key Features: • Easy Monitor Setup: No need to manually set intervals – simply connect to the ergometer, and the app handles the rest. Start moving right away. • Live Metrics: View real-time data during workouts, including time, distance, pace, strokes/minute (SPM), calories, watts, heart rate (HR) zones, and more. • Smart Interval Pacing: Suggested pace per interval based on personal benchmarks (1K, 2K, 5K for rowing and skiing; 2K, 4K, 10K for cycling). • Real-Time Alerts: Instant feedback if your pace, SPM, or split time drifts from the target. • Workout Variety: Options to train by time, distance, or calories with flexibility for mixed or weighted workouts. • Daily Workouts: Access the Concept2 Workout of the Day, plus discover workouts and training plans from top coaches. • Performance History: Save your favorite workouts, track heart rate progress, and monitor key metrics. • Compete & Connect: Join challenges, follow ErgFlix workouts, and interact with our partner coaches who release weekly free workouts. • Beyond Default Metrics: Track advanced metrics like stroke count, drag factor (DF), calories, watts, SPI, HR zones, and more. • Automatic Syncing: Results are automatically uploaded to the Concept2 LogBook. Unlock ErgZone+ for Premium Tools: • Enhanced Metrics & Graphs: View each interval's post-workout heart rate and power zones in a single graph. • Expanded Metrics: Access Drive Length, Max Power, Avg. Force, Force Curve, and more. The app remembers your last-used metrics for easy setup. • Time Cap & AMRAP: For added versatility, use automatic time-capped workouts and AMRAP (as many rounds as possible). • Flexible Targets: Set workout intensity using power metrics like FTP (Functional Threshold Power), SPI, or Watts percentage. • ReRow, ReSki, ReRide: Revisit previous sessions and strive to beat your pace or time. • Communities: Create and join communities, share workouts, and engage with friends. Enable leaderboards for a fun, competitive edge. • Apple Health Integration: Sync workouts and heart rate data directly to Apple Health. • Heart Rate Monitor: Connect your favorite Bluetooth HRM to track your heart rate in real-time during workouts. • Web Dashboard: Manage workouts, schedule training, and view live stats on a computer. • MultiErg Workouts: Create custom workouts incorporating two or all three Concept2 machines in a single workout. • Dynamic Interval Intensity: Set workout pace based on a previous interval. • Apple Watch Integration: Capture heart rate data from our Apple Watch app. • Organize Your Training: Create groups, libraries, and training plans to manage better and organize your workouts. • FIT Workouts: Track non-erg workouts such as weight training, HYROX, CrossFit, etc. Requirements: • Supported Machines: Concept2 RowErg, BikeErg, SkiErg with PM5, RP3 Rower, Rogue Echo Bike or Rower, WaterRower S4 (with ComModule or CR BLE), FTMS-enabled machines. • Device: iPhone or iPad Terms of Use: https://www.erg.zone/terms

Screenshots

Hydrow4 screens
ErgZone4 screens

Verdict

The call

Hydrow and ErgZone both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of ErgZone's written reviews are positive against 59% of Hydrow's. ErgZone also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 18.6). Hydrow's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3.3K vs 458). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Hydrow sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per month and ErgZone sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Hydrow against 4.8 for ErgZone. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrow has 3.3K ratings behind it against 458, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Hydrow's written reviews are positive against 82% of ErgZone's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, ErgZone every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Hydrow versus ErgZone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHydrowErgZone
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings)4.8 (458 ratings)
Positive reviews59.2% of reviews81.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.3K — better458
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.613.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHydrow, Inc.ERGZONE LLC

Customer experience

Hydrow

All ratings3,327 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive59.2%
Neutral18.4%
Negative22.3%

ErgZone

All ratings458 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive81.6%
Neutral3.9%
Negative14.5%

User reviews

Hydrow

From 3.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth motion
  • 🚀 Engaging video coaching
  • 👍 Variety of workouts
  • 👍 Motivating instructors
  • 👍 Convenient for travel

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App issues (no iPad support, audio sync, etc.)
  • 🔒 Lack of account management features
  • 💰 Expensive subscription cost
  • 💰 Requires expensive rower hardware

ErgZone

From 458 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy workout programming
  • 🚀 Seamless Concept2 integration
  • 💡 Comprehensive metrics and data
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • ❤️ Responsive developers

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🚫 No lifetime membership option
  • ⚠️ Poor UI for logbook/rankings
  • ❌ Incompatible with WaterRower
  • ❓ Confusing group membership for premium features

Bugs and requests

Hydrow

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes during workouts
  • Difficulty logging in or syncing account
  • Inconsistent video/audio quality

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to search/filter workouts
  • More data analytics and tracking
  • Integration with other fitness devices/apps
  • Ability to manage account on app/website

ErgZone

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Heart monitor sync issues with Samsung Galaxy watch
  • Workouts not appearing in logbook when connected to ErgData
  • Inaccurate total time in uploads
  • Rest distance not included in Strava upload
  • Group membership premium features unclear
Show 4 more
  • Workouts not shown chronologically
  • Occasional hesitation to connect to PM5
  • Cannot figure out how to connect to PM5
  • Workout completion and upload to logbook could be more intuitive

Requested features

7 requests
  • Sync with Samsung Galaxy watch
  • Add a beep function for interval changes
  • Confirmation pop-up for unsaved workout changes
  • Require unique names for workouts
  • Apple Health integration
Show 2 more
  • Native Apple Health synchronization
  • Sharing with Apple Health

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Hydrow

Subscriptions1
  • Digital Basic1 Month trial$29.991 Month
2 purchases

ErgZone

Subscriptions2
  • EZ+ Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • EZ+ Annual$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Hydrow free?
Hydrow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ErgZone free?
ErgZone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hydrow or ErgZone?
Hydrow and ErgZone are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3.3K and 458 ratings respectively.
Do Hydrow or ErgZone have ads?
Neither Hydrow nor ErgZone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hydrow or ErgZone?
Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, and ErgZone every 2 months. Most recently, Hydrow was updated on October 11, 2026 and ErgZone on October 11, 2026.

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