Comparison

Hydrow vs Rowing Machine Workouts

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

Rowing Machine Workouts

Guided indoor rowing workouts for fat loss, cardio, and strength. Offers plans for all fitness levels, from beginner to weight loss, with features like audio coaching and activity tracking. Works with any rower.

Highlights
  • Guided rowing plans for various goals
  • SPM metronome for pace control
  • Audio coaching with music support
  • Activity tracking and workout logging
  • Customizable workout builder
  • Free Row mode
  • Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

Full-body indoor rowing workouts — fat loss, cardio, strength & technique. Works for any rower or home setup. Get stronger and fitter with guided rowing machine workouts. Build muscle, lose weight, or enhance your overall health!  Follow along with rowing programs that help you smash your goals. Rowing is an excellent full-body workout that caters to all fitness levels, helping you live with energy and vitality. Why this app? Rowing workouts that help you achieve and exceed your personal targets. If you’re new to rowing, start with our Beginner Plan. Looking to shed some pounds? Our Weight Loss Plan is perfect for you! Rowing regularly will help you see progress and feel stronger over time. Train from just 2 days a week to improve your rowing ability and technique with simple approachable routines. Use the SPM metronome to keep your stroke rate in time. Each rowing plan is designed to help your body adapt and improve while minimizing the risk of injury or burnout. Why choose us? These rowing machine workouts are perfect as a supplement to your gym routine or for use with an at-home rowing machine, such as the Concept2. They're easy to follow and can be used regardless of your fitness level. No specific equipment needed! FEATURES GUIDED ROUTINES: Choose a rowing plan based on your fitness level and goals. Target your ideal SPM and follow rest guidance with HIIT-based rowing training, perfect for indoor rowing. ACTIVITY TRACKING: Monitor your rowing activity to ensure continuous growth. Use the countdown timer to enhance your rowing ability and endurance. AUDIO COACHING: Enjoy audio coaching with support to play your own music in the background. The metronome helps you maintain your target SPM, ensuring you row at the perfect pace. CUSTOM WORKOUTS: Build your own rowing workouts. Set your desired SPM and duration to row your way, while staying in sync with the metronome. FREE ROW: Row at your own pace with Free Row. Simply increment or decrement your SPM as you go to follow along with the metronome and phase guide. WORKOUT LOGGER: Log all your rowing workouts and repeat your favorites. Track metrics like average heart rate, distance, and split time to monitor your improvement over time. APPLE HEALTH INTEGRATION: Sync your rowing workouts with the Health App to get a comprehensive view of your daily activity. DAILY EXERCISES: Supplement your rowing workouts with recommended exercises. Warm-up, cool down, and build full-body strength with additional exercises. 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 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

Hydrow4 screens
Rowing Machine Workouts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Hydrow at none against Rowing Machine Workouts's shown. Hydrow also leads on ratings volume (3.3K vs 349). Rowing Machine Workouts's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 59%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Rowing Machine Workouts sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. 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 4.7 for Rowing Machine Workouts. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrow has 3.3K ratings behind it against 349, 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 87% of Rowing Machine Workouts's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, Rowing Machine Workouts weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hydrow versus Rowing Machine Workouts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHydrowRowing Machine Workouts
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings) — better4.7 (349 ratings)
Positive reviews59.2% of reviews87.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.3K — better349
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHydrow, Inc.Vigour Group Ltd

Customer experience

Hydrow

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

Rowing Machine Workouts

All ratings349 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral4.3%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews188 reviews
Positive87.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative7.4%

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

Rowing Machine Workouts

From 349 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Effective graphics and workout
  • 👍 Straight forward and easy to use
  • 👍 Metronome helps with pacing
  • 👍 Variety of workouts and programs
  • 👍 Warm-up and cool-down exercises

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Subscription issues and lost access
  • ⚠️ Lacks ability to sync with rowing machines
  • ⚠️ Interrupts stroke when changing pace
  • ⚠️ Limited data tracking and analytics

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

Rowing Machine Workouts

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Free trial not functioning properly
  • Connectivity issues with some rowing machines

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to create custom workouts
  • Integration with Apple Watch
  • More detailed workout data and progress tracking

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Hydrow

Subscriptions1
  • Digital Basic1 Month trial$29.991 Month
9 purchases

Rowing Machine Workouts

Subscriptions8
  • Rowing Workouts Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Premium Yearly1 Year trial$79.991 Year
  • Premium$79.991 Year
  • Rowing Workouts Yearly$79.991 Year
  • Rowing Workouts Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Rowing Workouts Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$249.99

Questions

Is Hydrow free?
Hydrow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rowing Machine Workouts free?
Rowing Machine Workouts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hydrow or Rowing Machine Workouts?
Hydrow is rated higher. Hydrow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Rowing Machine Workouts averages 4.7 from 349 ratings.
Do Hydrow or Rowing Machine Workouts have ads?
Rowing Machine Workouts shows ads; Hydrow does not.
Which is updated more often, Hydrow or Rowing Machine Workouts?
Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, and Rowing Machine Workouts weekly. Most recently, Hydrow was updated on October 11, 2026 and Rowing Machine Workouts on October 13, 2026.

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