Comparison

Erg Dude 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

Erg Dude

This app offers a fun rowing game that can be played with or without a compatible rowing machine. Score points by collecting coins and power-ups while avoiding obstacles. Adjust game difficulty and length through in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Play with or without a rowing machine
  • Collect coins for points
  • Use power-ups like lightning bolts and grenades
  • Adjustable game difficulty
  • In-app purchases for extended game time
  • Customizable game backgrounds
Features
Read full description

Erg Dude is a fun app that allows a user to play the game with or without a Concept2 rowing machine equipped with a PM5 monitor. This game works best with Concept2 Rowing Machines equipped with PM5 monitors with wireless capability switched on. To enable wireless, first press the 'More Options' Button > then click the button for 'Turn Wireless On'. Press the button in the main menu to connect to the PM5. On the next screen press the button at the top to scan for available devices. When you find the identification number of the monitor, press that identifier and you should be connected to your machine. The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible in the time allowed. Start rowing and the game will begin. At the end of each stroke pulled, Erg Dude will jump. If Erg Dude collects a coin you will score 5 points. If Erg Dude hits a bomb you will lose 1 point. You can earn a power-up by collecting the lightning bolts which will double your score for a short period of time. Pick up the smart grenade and all of the bombs on the screen will be destroyed clearing the way to collect more coins. Pick up the laser gun and you will fire a shot that will potentially clear any bombs in the way allowing for more collection of coins. Game difficulty can be controlled in the settings screen. The player needs to pull harder in order to make Erg Dude jump when the game difficulty is increased. You can also play the game without using the Concept2 rower if you choose. The free version of the app allows for game times of 1 or 2 minutes. The In-App game length purchase allows for games between 1 to 8 minutes in length. Another In-App purchase allows game time to extend to up to 20 minutes. Both in-app purchases allow for a selection of different game backgrounds. Choose your favorite!

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

Erg Dude2 screens
Rowing Machine Workouts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rowing Machine Workouts at 87% against Erg Dude's 33%. Rowing Machine Workouts also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). Erg Dude's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Erg Dude sells 2 one-off in-app purchases 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

Rowing Machine Workouts holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rowing Machine Workouts has 349 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Erg Dude's written reviews are positive against 87% of Rowing Machine Workouts's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Erg Dude ships an update every 6 weeks, Rowing Machine Workouts weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Erg Dude versus Rowing Machine Workouts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterErg DudeRowing Machine Workouts
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (19 ratings)4.7 (349 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews87.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings19349 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB76 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperPower Ten Development LLCVigour Group Ltd

Customer experience

Erg Dude

All ratings19 ratings
Positive73.7%
Neutral5.3%
Negative21.1%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Rowing Machine Workouts

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

Bugs and requests

Erg Dude

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

2 purchases

Erg Dude

One-time2
  • Extend Game Time (3 to 8 min)$0.99
  • Extend Game To 3-20 Minutes$1.99
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 Erg Dude free?
Erg Dude 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, Erg Dude or Rowing Machine Workouts?
Rowing Machine Workouts is rated higher. Erg Dude averages 4.0 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Rowing Machine Workouts averages 4.7 from 349 ratings.
Do Erg Dude or Rowing Machine Workouts have ads?
Rowing Machine Workouts shows ads; Erg Dude does not.
Which is updated more often, Erg Dude or Rowing Machine Workouts?
Erg Dude ships an update every 6 weeks, and Rowing Machine Workouts weekly. Most recently, Erg Dude was updated on October 6, 2026 and Rowing Machine Workouts on October 13, 2026.

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