Comparison

Start Rowing vs EXR | Virtual indoor rowing

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Start Rowing

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
Read full description

Start Rowing without any previous experience needed. Get in shape, build strength and burn calories. Our rowing app's workout plans will train you for the next stage in your rowing journey. Never rowed before? Start with our beginner plan. In 8 weeks you’ll be comfortable rowing 2000 meters with correct technique. Experienced erger? Use our intermediate and advanced plans to improve your overall fitness while increasing your rowing capacity. Start Rowing will guide you step by step, letting you know when to change rowing intensity and when to rest. Each plan is designed to slowly become more challenging so your body can adapt and gain endurance while minimising any risk of injury. Spend just 10-30 minutes a day, 2-5 days a week. You’ll be fitter, stronger and a much better rower! Features - Choose from Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced training plans. - Session based Challenger workouts to exercise your whole body. - Audio coach to guide your through your rowing workout. - Rowing metronome to help you keep in time. - Log your workouts and keep track of your overall progress. - Share your progress. - APPLE HEALTH INTEGRATION: Connect your workouts to Health App to track your daily activity. 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 Start Rowing 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.

About

EXR | Virtual indoor rowing

Transform your indoor rowing workouts with immersive virtual worlds and engaging challenges. Connect your rowing machine to explore scenic routes, race against others globally, and track your progress with detailed analytics. Gamified features and structured training plans help you achieve your fitness goals.

Highlights
  • Virtual rowing worlds and courses
  • Global races and challenges
  • Avatar customization and gear unlocks
  • Structured training plans and tests
  • Performance analytics and progress reports
  • Sync with Concept2, TrainingPeaks, Strava
  • FTMS Bluetooth rowing machine connectivity
Features
Read full description

Connect your rowing machine to row in virtual worlds. Boost your motivation as you beat challenges, crush goals and race to become #1. Row more than ever before with EXR! ___ Download the virtual indoor rowing app created by the award-winning game development studio Salty Lemon Entertainment. BOOST YOUR WORKOUT MOTIVATION - Explore real rowing hotspots and new courses - Beat daily, weekly and monthly challenges - Create and crush custom goals - Unlock achievements - Level up to unlock gear for your avatar SPICE UP YOUR ROWING ROUTINE - Row alongside friends at your own pace in Just Row - Race against rowers from all across the globe - Compete against your PR with ghost boats - Play minigames and become #1 TRAIN LIKE A CHAMP - Find out your FTP score with the ramp test and the 20-minute test - 100+ workouts based on your fitness level and 3 difficulty levels - Workouts created by the trainer of ex-indoor rowing champion Ward Lemmelijn ANALYZE & SHARE YOUR PROGRESS - Analyze your performance with detailed reports - Sync to Concept2 logbook, TrainingPeaks and Strava. - Visit your EXR web profile to download your workout data as FIT files for manual uploads. EASILY CONNECT YOUR GEAR - Connect your FTMS Bluetooth rowing machine in a few clicks. - Add your heart rate monitor for extra data (compatible with Apple Health). - Use EXR cross-platform on your favorite Apple devices. JOIN ONE OF THE BIGGEST VIRTUAL ROWING COMMUNITIES - “Never rowed as much in a period as I have with EXR.” - “I really like the Buoy Blast minigame! Real motivator for sprint rowing.” - “Works great and excellent motivator, customer service is great also.” - “I love all of the data the app collects and how easy it is to use.” - “EXR is the best app I have used and I think I have tried most of them. Absolutely love it.” GET STARTED IN 3 QUICK STEPS 1. Download the EXR app now on your iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Apple TV. 2. Enjoy a risk-free 14-day free trial by creating your free EXR account. 3. Connect your rowing machine and heart rate monitor and you’re ready to start your virtual rowing journey! A subscription is required after the 14 day trial period EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Start Rowing4 screens
EXR | Virtual indoor rowing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Start Rowing at 4.7 against EXR | Virtual indoor rowing's 4.5. EXR | Virtual indoor rowing's advantage is device support (5 vs 3). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Start Rowing sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and EXR | Virtual indoor rowing sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.95 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Start Rowing holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 681 and 291 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Start Rowing's written reviews are positive against 65% of EXR | Virtual indoor rowing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Start Rowing ships an update every 2 weeks, EXR | Virtual indoor rowing fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Start Rowing versus EXR | Virtual indoor rowing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStart RowingEXR | Virtual indoor rowing
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (681 ratings) — better4.5 (291 ratings)
Positive reviews73.2% of reviews — better65.4% of reviews
Number of ratings681 — better291
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB866 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVigour Group LtdSalty Lemon Entertainment

Customer experience

Start Rowing

All ratings681 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral9.3%
Negative17.5%

EXR | Virtual indoor rowing

All ratings291 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.6%
Written reviews211 reviews
Positive65.4%
Neutral8.5%
Negative26.1%

User reviews

Start Rowing

From 681 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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)

EXR | Virtual indoor rowing

From 291 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Motivational and data-driven
  • 🚀 Immersive rowing experience
  • 🎮 Fun and engaging games
  • 💪 Helps achieve fitness goals
  • 🤝 Supportive community

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription is overpriced
  • 🐛 Connectivity issues and bugs
  • 🤖 Avatar movement not in sync
  • 📊 Lack of integration with Apple Health
  • 🎵 No option to use own music

Bugs and requests

Start Rowing

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Blank screen during workouts
  • Inconsistent stroke rate changes
  • Automatic screen shutoff during workouts

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

EXR | Virtual indoor rowing

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Account creation and login issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Inaccurate data sync with Concept2
  • Incompatibility with certain devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Live multiplayer races
  • More training programs and maps
  • Customizable workout editor
  • Age-based leaderboards
  • 360-degree live footage

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Start Rowing

Subscriptions6
  • Start Rowing Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Premium Yearly$79.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$179.99
3 purchases

EXR | Virtual indoor rowing

Subscriptions3
  • EXR (1 Month)$14.951 Month
  • EXR (6 Months)$71.906 Months
  • EXR (1 Year)$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Start Rowing free?
Start Rowing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EXR | Virtual indoor rowing free?
EXR | Virtual indoor rowing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Start Rowing or EXR | Virtual indoor rowing?
Start Rowing is rated higher. Start Rowing averages 4.7 out of 5 from 681 ratings, while EXR | Virtual indoor rowing averages 4.5 from 291 ratings.
Do Start Rowing or EXR | Virtual indoor rowing have ads?
Neither Start Rowing nor EXR | Virtual indoor rowing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Start Rowing or EXR | Virtual indoor rowing?
Start Rowing ships an update every 2 weeks, and EXR | Virtual indoor rowing fortnightly. Most recently, Start Rowing was updated on September 11, 2026 and EXR | Virtual indoor rowing on September 22, 2026.

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