# Hydrow vs Rowing Machine Workouts

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydrow | Rowing Machine Workouts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrow/id1458653991/reviews)** | [4.7 (349 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowing-machine-workouts/id1552557008/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 349 |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | **87.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 188 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hydrow, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1371506837) | [Vigour Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546613605) |

## 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


### Rowing Machine Workouts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowing-machine-workouts/id1552557008)

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rowing Workouts Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Rowing Workouts Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Rowing Workouts Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Rowing Workouts Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $249.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Free trial not functioning properly
- Connectivity issues with some rowing machines

**Requested features**

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


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