Comparison

Start Rowing vs Ergatta

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

Ergatta

Plan workouts, track performance, and view detailed historical data. Monitor your progress, rankings, and challenges, even without your rower. Sync data with Apple Health for a comprehensive view of your fitness.

Highlights
  • Workout history and breakdown
  • Workout library browsing and filtering
  • Detailed stats and personal records
  • Community and group rankings
  • Challenge progress tracking
  • Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

Enhance your workout and race performance by planning ahead and staying on top of the results. Keep up with the Rankings and see where you stand, browse your workout libraries, see your history, highlights, and progress, even if your Ergatta rower is stored away. The Ergatta Companion App Includes: APPLE HEALTH INTEGRATION Sync your Ergatta workouts to the Apple Health App, where they will appear as part of your daily activity. YOUR WORKOUT HISTORY • View all our your completed workouts • Get a granular breakdown of each workout • See your monthly distance, time, and calorie totals • Favorite workouts YOUR WORKOUT LIBRARY • Browse through the workout libraries and filter by time, distance, type, and more • See each workout’s details and your projected performance • Favorite workouts for later YOUR STATS • View your dashboard • Personal Records • Monthly, weekly, and daily breakdowns of your stats • Your personal records and highlights RANKINGS • Your full rankings report • Monthly breakdowns of the full community, your age group, gender, and weight group • Sort by distance rowed, best split, and average split CHALLENGES Check in on challenges and track your progress This app is frequently updated with new features and enhancements, just as the Ergatta Experience evolves. Have an input? Email support@ergatta.com and share with the team.

Screenshots

Start Rowing4 screens
Ergatta4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Start Rowing at 4.7 against Ergatta's 4.1. Start Rowing also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Ergatta's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, ads 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. Start Rowing sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Ergatta asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Start Rowing holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Start Rowing has 682 ratings behind it against 80, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Start Rowing's written reviews are positive against 58% of Ergatta's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Start Rowing ships an update every 2 weeks, Ergatta monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Start Rowing versus Ergatta: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStart RowingErgatta
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (682 ratings) — better4.1 (80 ratings)
Positive reviews73.2% of reviews — better58.1% of reviews
Number of ratings682 — better80
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVigour Group LtdErgatta

Customer experience

Start Rowing

All ratings682 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral9.3%
Negative17.5%

Ergatta

All ratings80 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive58.1%
Neutral16.1%
Negative25.8%

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

Ergatta

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

Ergatta

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Start Rowing free?
Start Rowing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ergatta free?
Ergatta is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Start Rowing or Ergatta?
Start Rowing is rated higher. Start Rowing averages 4.7 out of 5 from 682 ratings, while Ergatta averages 4.1 from 80 ratings.
Do Start Rowing or Ergatta have ads?
Neither Start Rowing nor Ergatta shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Start Rowing or Ergatta?
Start Rowing ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ergatta monthly. Most recently, Start Rowing was updated on October 10, 2026 and Ergatta on October 16, 2026.

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