# Fitness Coach vs Start Rowing

The clearest difference is monetization model: Start Rowing at free with in-app purchases against Fitness Coach's subscription. Start Rowing also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 40%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Fitness Coach's advantage is ratings volume (73K vs 682). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fitness Coach sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Start Rowing sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Start Rowing holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fitness Coach has 73K ratings behind it against 682, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Fitness Coach's written reviews are positive against 73% of Start Rowing's.

Fitness Coach ships an update monthly, Start Rowing every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fitness Coach | Start Rowing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (73K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fitness-coach-workout-plan/id1472638797/reviews) | **[4.7 (682 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **73K** | 682 |
| Positive reviews | 39.8% of reviews | **73.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 209 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luni](https://appshunter.io/developer/1274051421) | [Vigour Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546613605) |

## What reviewers say

### Fitness Coach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fitness-coach-workout-plan/id1472638797)

Personalized workout plans adapt to your fitness goals and level, whether you train at home, the gym, or outdoors. Access numerous training sessions and hundreds of exercises to target all muscle groups. Track your progress over time and stay motivated with 30-minute sessions.

**Highlights:** Personalized workout programs, Goal-based training adaptation, Dozens of training sessions, Hundreds of exercises, Progress tracking, 30-minute sessions

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week Fitness Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Fitness Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Fitness Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Fitness Premium | $15.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Fitness Premium | $19.99 | per month |
| 1 Month of Fitness | $19.99 | per month |
| Coach + | $19.99 | per month |
| 1 Quarter Fitness Premium | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Quarter Fitness Premium | $49.99 | per 3 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great workouts
- 🚀 Diverse workout options
- 🚀 Helpful meal plans
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Tracks progress well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes
- 🐛 Workouts too intense for some
- 🐛 Doesn't recognize allergies in meal plans

**Reported bugs**

- Videos don't load properly
- Workout progress not tracked accurately
- Subscription issues and inability to cancel

**Requested features**

- Allow customization of workouts
- Add audible cues during workouts
- Provide more free workout options
- Improve user interface and navigation


### Start Rowing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767)

This app offers structured rowing workout plans for all experience levels, helping users build strength, burn calories, and improve rowing technique. It provides guidance on intensity and rest, with features like an audio coach and metronome for effective training sessions.

**Highlights:** Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced training plans, Session-based Challenger workouts, Audio coach guidance, Rowing metronome, Workout logging and progress tracking, Apple Health integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start Rowing Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $179.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for beginners
- 🚀 Structured workout plans
- 👍 Easy to follow
- 👍 Enjoyable and motivating
- 🚀 Useful metronome and pacing features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues (blank screen, spinning circle)
- 🔋 High battery drain
- 💰 Misleading about free access, requires subscription
- 👎 Limited customization and flexibility
- 👎 Inconsistent performance (stroke rate changes, screen shutoff)

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen during workouts
- Inconsistent stroke rate changes
- Automatic screen shutoff during workouts

**Requested features**

- Allow custom workout creation
- Improve volume control for metronome and audio
- Add more advanced workout options
- Enhance user interface and navigation
- Improve sync and data tracking across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fitness Coach free?

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

### Is Start Rowing free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fitness Coach or Start Rowing?

Start Rowing is rated higher. Fitness Coach averages 4.5 out of 5 from 73K ratings, while Start Rowing averages 4.7 from 682 ratings.

### Do Fitness Coach or Start Rowing have ads?

Neither Fitness Coach nor Start Rowing shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fitness Coach or Start Rowing?

Fitness Coach ships an update monthly, and Start Rowing every 3 weeks. Most recently, Fitness Coach was updated on November 10, 2026 and Start Rowing on November 10, 2026.

---

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