# Hydrow vs WaveSleep

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Hydrow at 3.6K against WaveSleep's 1. Hydrow also leads on iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hydrow sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per month and WaveSleep sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WaveSleep holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrow has 3.6K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, WaveSleep every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydrow | WaveSleep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrow/id1458653991/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavesleep/id6803250300/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 187 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hydrow, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1371506837) | [AlphaOriginal](https://appshunter.io/developer/6803250302) |

## 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


### WaveSleep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavesleep/id6803250300)

Create personalized soundscapes for sleep with a tactile interface. Mix and shape ambient sounds, nature recordings, and white noise generators. Integrates with Apple Health for sleep tracking insights.

**Highlights:** Single dial interface for volume and timer, Infinite playback with customizable timer, Mix up to six sounds with individual shaping, Red-orange interface for low light visibility, Real-time generated and recorded sounds, Apple Health integration for sleep stage tracking, Apple Watch app and widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WaveSleep Plus | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Wave Sleep Plus | $4.99 | per month |
| WaveSleep Plus | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hydrow free?

Hydrow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is WaveSleep free?

WaveSleep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Hydrow or WaveSleep?

WaveSleep is rated higher. Hydrow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while WaveSleep averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Hydrow or WaveSleep have ads?

Neither Hydrow nor WaveSleep shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hydrow or WaveSleep?

Hydrow ships an update every 3 weeks, and WaveSleep every 2 weeks. Most recently, Hydrow was updated on November 6, 2026 and WaveSleep on October 31, 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.*