Comparison

Start Rowing vs RowUp

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 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
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

RowUp

Features
Read full description

RowUp turns your indoor rower into a coached session. Pair a Bluetooth erg and a heart-rate strap, pick a workout, and get live splits, stroke rate, power, and pace the whole way through. Built for people who actually row: steady-state mornings, sharp interval days, and everything between. CONNECT YOUR GEAR - Pairs with Bluetooth rowing machines and heart-rate monitors - Live stroke rate, split, pace, power, and distance as you pull - Stroke calibration so your numbers match your machine TRAIN THE WAY YOU WANT - Free row: no timers, no targets, just pull - Intervals: alternating work and rest, built your way - Set targets by time, distance, or stroke count - Training plans: structured programs that build week over week SEE EVERY SESSION - A clean live screen with the metrics that matter, front and center - Full workout summaries: splits, heart-rate zones, power, and pace - History that keeps every row so you can track progress over time APPLE WATCH - Start and run workouts from your wrist - Heart rate from the Watch feeds straight into your session SYNCS WHERE IT COUNTS - Workouts and heart rate save to Apple Health - iCloud keeps your history and plans in sync across your devices RowUp is free to use. RowUp Premium unlocks the full experience with a one-time purchase (no subscription), and there's a 30-day free trial so you can try everything before you decide. Questions or ideas? Get in touch through the support link. RowUp is built by a rower who wanted better numbers on the water indoors.

Screenshots

Start Rowing4 screens
RowUp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: RowUp at every 3 days against Start Rowing's every 3 weeks. Start Rowing's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and RowUp sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Start Rowing ships an update every 3 weeks, RowUp every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Start Rowing versus RowUp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStart RowingRowUp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (682 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings682 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVigour Group LtdFernando Balandran

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

RowUp

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
1 purchases

RowUp

One-time1
  • RowUp Premium$4.99

Questions

Is Start Rowing free?
Start Rowing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RowUp free?
RowUp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Start Rowing or RowUp have ads?
Neither Start Rowing nor RowUp shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Start Rowing or RowUp?
Start Rowing ships an update every 3 weeks, and RowUp every 3 days. Most recently, Start Rowing was updated on November 7, 2026 and RowUp on October 31, 2026.

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