# Swelldone vs Rowr

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rowr at 100% against Swelldone's 38%. Rowr also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Swelldone's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swelldone sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Rowr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rowr holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Swelldone has 103 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Swelldone's written reviews are positive against 100% of Rowr's.

Swelldone ships an update every 3 weeks, Rowr every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swelldone | Rowr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (103 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swelldone-virtual-row-plus-paddle/id1522371496/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowr/id1622407822/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **103** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 1.2 GB | 261 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [5007490 Ontario Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1522371498) | [Rowr Fitness, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622407824) |

## What reviewers say

### Swelldone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swelldone-virtual-row-plus-paddle/id1522371496)

Experience an open-world paddling game with realistic wave physics and dynamic swells. Connect your erg for immersive training, race head-to-head in multiplayer, and explore iconic real-world venues. Choose from various paddlers, vessels, and workouts to enhance your fitness and enjoy virtual ocean adventures.

**Highlights:** Open-world ocean with realistic wave physics, Multiplayer virtual training and racing, Selectable paddlers, vessels, and real-world venues, Ergometer and trainer connectivity (FTMS), Customizable and pre-set workout library, Sync with Apple Health, Strava, C2 Logbook

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wiki Member (Weekly) | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Ohana Membership | $9.99 | per month |
| Hoku Membership (Annual) | $99.99 | per year |


### Rowr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowr/id1622407822)

This app connects to your indoor rowing machine to offer guided workouts and challenges. Experience virtual rowing with videos of real locations, designed by expert coaches to enhance your fitness.

**Highlights:** Connects to indoor rowing machines, Virtual rowing video experiences, Coach-designed workouts, Individual fitness challenges, Supports Concept II rowers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swelldone free?

Swelldone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Rowr free?

Rowr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Swelldone or Rowr?

Rowr is rated higher. Swelldone averages 4.3 out of 5 from 103 ratings, while Rowr averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Swelldone or Rowr have ads?

Rowr shows ads; Swelldone does not.

### Which is updated more often, Swelldone or Rowr?

Swelldone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Rowr every 3 months. Most recently, Swelldone was updated on November 3, 2026 and Rowr on November 3, 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.*