Hydrow vs Virtual View AR by Hot Spring
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Virtual View AR by Hot Spring
Visualize spa models in 3D within your own space before purchasing. Browse, compare, and shop from anywhere, sending favorites directly to a dealer. Find your ideal hot tub with augmented reality.
- View spa models in 3D
- Visualize fit in your space
- Browse and compare models
- Shop anytime, anywhere
- Send favorites to dealer
- Find your perfect spa
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Take out the guesswork from choosing your perfect spa by visualizing how it will look in any space you choose - before you buy. With Virtual View™ AR by Hot Spring you can: • View any spa model in 3D • See how it fits in your space • Browse and compare • Shop anywhere, anytime • Send your favorites to your dealer • Find your perfect spa
Screenshots
Verdict
Hydrow and Virtual View AR by Hot Spring both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Virtual View AR by Hot Spring's written reviews are positive against 59% of Hydrow's. Virtual View AR by Hot Spring also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). Hydrow's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.5K vs 13). On price, rating and device support 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
Both are free to download. Hydrow sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per month. Virtual View AR by Hot Spring asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hydrow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrow has 3.5K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of Hydrow's written reviews are positive against 100% of Virtual View AR by Hot Spring's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, Virtual View AR by Hot Spring every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hydrow | Virtual View AR by Hot Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (3.5K ratings) — better | 4.6 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.5K — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 186 MB | 204 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hydrow, Inc. | Watkins Manufacturing Corporation |
Customer experience
Hydrow
Virtual View AR by Hot Spring
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
Virtual View AR by Hot Spring
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hydrow
- Digital Basic1 Month trial$29.991 Month
Virtual View AR by Hot Spring
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hydrow free?
Is Virtual View AR by Hot Spring free?
Which has better reviews, Hydrow or Virtual View AR by Hot Spring?
Do Hydrow or Virtual View AR by Hot Spring have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hydrow or Virtual View AR by Hot Spring?
Other comparisons
