# RowHero vs Start Rowing

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RowHero at none against Start Rowing's 8. RowHero also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 73%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Start Rowing's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (681 vs 19). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Start Rowing sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. RowHero asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for RowHero against 4.7 for Start Rowing. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Start Rowing has 681 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of RowHero's written reviews are positive against 73% of Start Rowing's.

RowHero ships an update every 3 weeks, Start Rowing every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RowHero | Start Rowing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowhero/id1475494233/reviews) | **[4.7 (681 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **681** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 73.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RowHero, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475494232) | [Vigour Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546613605) |

## What reviewers say

### RowHero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowhero/id1475494233)

This app provides stroke-by-stroke rowing performance data for athletes and coaches, storing results indefinitely. It offers insights into technique and fitness to help users improve their rowing speed and performance.

**Highlights:** Stroke-by-stroke erg results, Wireless Concept2 PM5 connection, Permanent workout storage, Stroke length and potential split metrics, Personalized improvement insights, Team performance comparison

**In-app purchases:** none


### Start Rowing

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

This app provides structured rowing machine training plans for all experience levels, from beginner to advanced. It guides users through workouts with audio cues and a metronome, helping them build strength, burn calories, and improve rowing technique. Track progress and integrate with Apple Health for a comprehensive fitness journey.

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

**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 RowHero free?

RowHero is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Start Rowing free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RowHero or Start Rowing?

Start Rowing is rated higher. RowHero averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Start Rowing averages 4.7 from 681 ratings.

### Do RowHero or Start Rowing have ads?

RowHero shows ads; Start Rowing does not.

### Which is updated more often, RowHero or Start Rowing?

RowHero ships an update every 3 weeks, and Start Rowing every 2 weeks. Most recently, RowHero was updated on June 1, 2026 and Start Rowing on September 11, 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.*