# Start Rowing vs RowUp

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Start Rowing | RowUp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (682 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-rowing-workouts-app/id1504306767/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **682** | — |
| Positive reviews | 73.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 55 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vigour Group Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546613605) | [Fernando Balandran](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781458616) |

## What reviewers say

### Start Rowing

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

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:** 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


### RowUp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowup/id6777244251)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RowUp Premium | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*