Comparison

Start Rowing vs Cycle Unit

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

Cycle Unit

This app tracks cycling activities using your Apple Watch and iPhone, offering route planning, turn-by-turn navigation, and equipment maintenance logs. It prioritizes user privacy with no account or cloud storage required. Advanced features like route planning and navigation are available through a Pro subscription.

Highlights
  • GPS ride tracking with Apple Watch and iPhone
  • Route planning and turn-by-turn navigation
  • GPX route import and export
  • Equipment maintenance tracking
  • Strava segment integration
  • Group ride tracking with Game Center
  • Indoor trainer support
Features
Read full description

Track your rides with Apple Watch and iPhone together, save workouts to Apple Health, import GPX routes, plan new routes, follow turn-by-turn hints, connect to smart trainers, and push yourself with the Pacer / Ghost Rider. No account. No cloud login. No servers. Full privacy. Cyclé Unit works without external storage or a required online account. Your workout data stays on your device or in Apple Health. Never on our servers. New! Route Planner & Navigation Plan your next ride directly in Cyclé Unit. • Simple route planning with drag & drop waypoints • Calculate the best route between your points • See estimated distance and ride time Turn Hints Never miss a turn. Smart turn hints guide you along your route with clear, well-timed cues on iPhone and Apple Watch. • Get improved turn-by-turn hints while riding • Import GPX routes and generate navigation hints automatically • Convert existing routes for better in-app navigation • Back-to-route calculation helps you return to your planned route when you leave it Route Planner and advanced navigation features are part of Cyclé Unit PRO. New! Strava Connection Export your rides to Strava and bring segments into your workout. Cyclé Unit shows Strava Segments directly on the map, lets you pin favorites, and notifies you when you start and finish a segment on your route. Rider Connection • Connect with up to 15 other riders using Game Center multiplayer • Ride together and track each rider’s live position during a group ride Equipment Tracking • Track distance and ride time for your bikes • Track multiple accessories separately, including tires, brakes, and last chain wax service • Reset each item individually • Keep an eye on wear, service intervals, and maintenance More Features & Highlights • Apple Health: Saves cycling workouts including routes • Watch + iPhone together: Live heart rate from Apple Watch, mirrored on iPhone • Routes your way: Plan routes, import GPX files, record new rides, or create routes from past workouts • Pacer / Ghost Rider: Race yourself or follow an adjustable target pace • Live Weather: Wind, rain alerts, temperature, and UV index for outdoor rides • Custom HR Zones: Set your own heart-rate zones • Elevation View: See your elevation profile and current position on the route • Live Metrics: Speed, distance, time, elevation, grade %, heart rate, and more • Clear modern UI: Easy to read while riding • Tile Hunting: See which parts of the map you have covered and collect new tiles Indoor Training Mode Cyclé Unit is also built for smart indoor training. • FTMS trainers via Bluetooth: Supports the FTMS standard • Tested with Wahoo KICKR v4+, KICKR Core, and Van Rysel D100 • Ride your routes indoors: Replay outdoor rides, planned routes, or imported GPX tracks on your smart trainer • Gradient & difficulty simulation: If your trainer supports Controllable, resistance follows the route’s elevation and grade • Ghost & Pacer indoors: Race your best time or ride against an adjustable target pace Notes Trainer compatibility: Requires Bluetooth FTMS. Gradient simulation requires a trainer that supports Controllable. Route planning and advanced navigation are PRO features. Basic route usage may include imported GPX routes, recorded rides, and past workouts depending on your setup. Trademarks Wahoo, KICKR, Van Rysel, Komoot, and Strava are trademarks of their respective owners. Cyclé Unit is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Privacy Cyclé Unit is built for privacy. The app requires no account, uses no external servers, and stores your workout data only on your device or in Apple Health. Nothing is uploaded, tracked, or shared without your explicit consent. Health App Integrations Cyclé Unit uses HealthKit to display active energy, record your workouts, and show your current heart rate. Privacy Policy: http://apps.gogolith.com/privacy Terms and Conditions: http://apps.gogolith.com/cycle-terms

Screenshots

Start Rowing4 screens
Cycle Unit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cycle Unit at 100% against Start Rowing's 73%. Cycle Unit also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Start Rowing's advantage is ratings volume (681 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Cycle Unit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cycle Unit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Start Rowing has 681 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of Cycle Unit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Start Rowing versus Cycle Unit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStart RowingCycle Unit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (681 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings681 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVigour Group LtdChristoph Gogolin

Customer experience

Start Rowing

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

Cycle Unit

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Cycle Unit

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
2 purchases

Cycle Unit

Subscriptions2
  • All Pro features (monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Pro yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year

Questions

Is Start Rowing free?
Start Rowing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cycle Unit free?
Cycle Unit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Start Rowing or Cycle Unit?
Cycle Unit is rated higher. Start Rowing averages 4.7 out of 5 from 681 ratings, while Cycle Unit averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Start Rowing or Cycle Unit have ads?
Neither Start Rowing nor Cycle Unit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Start Rowing or Cycle Unit?
Start Rowing ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cycle Unit every 2 weeks. Most recently, Start Rowing was updated on October 23, 2026 and Cycle Unit on October 26, 2026.

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