# Hydrow vs ErgZone

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydrow | ErgZone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrow/id1458653991/reviews) | [4.8 (458 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ergzone/id1474566270/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 458 |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | **81.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 188 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hydrow, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1371506837) | [ERGZONE LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/455154242) |

## What reviewers say

### Hydrow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrow/id1458653991)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Basic | $29.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during workouts
- Difficulty logging in or syncing account
- Inconsistent video/audio quality

**Requested features**

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


### ErgZone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ergzone/id1474566270)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EZ+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| EZ+ Annual | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


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