Comparison

Rowing in Motion vs Rowly

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Rowing in Motion

This app helps rowers track and improve their performance with detailed metrics and custom workout programs. It analyzes boat acceleration, speed, and stroke rate, offering live feedback and post-session analysis. Features include customizable interfaces and sonification for real-time guidance.

Highlights
  • Track boat acceleration, speed, and stroke rate
  • Create custom workout programs
  • Live feedback and stroke analysis
  • Upload and analyze sessions on online logbook
  • Sonification for real-time feedback
  • Supports various rowing types
Features
Read full description

Rowing in Motion is the ultimate training performance tool for every rower looking to track and improve their rowing performance. TRACK: boat acceleration, speed and stroke-rate and stroke-metrics using your device's GPS and Accelerometer with detailed live feedback on how efficiently you move your boat forward and where you can improve your rowing technique to row faster. WORKOUT: Create custom workout programs with fully customizable distance, time and rest intervals. Intervals also support a target stroke-rate. Subscription: The App features a subscription via In-App-Purchases: ANALYZE: Upload and analyze your recorded rowing sessions to your account on our online logbook "Rowing in Motion Analytics" (https://analytics.rowinginmotion.com). Track your training volume and intensity, analyze your races and how your rowing technique improves over time. ALL FEATURES: * Measures Strokerate, Speed, Distance and Boat Acceleration, giving you insight into all aspects of your stroke * Full Screen Graphs: Showing your boat acceleration compared to an average of the previous strokes * Create, edit and row your custom workout programs * Customizable user interface: Display all the data you need to see to improve your rowing stroke * Instantly upload and analyze your recorded rowing sessions with your Analytics account (subscription required) * Stroke Analysis: Live average acceleration graphs, speed graph * Sonification: Turn your boat acceleration into a sound for a better realtime feedback to help you improve the effectiveness of your stroke. * Stroke Metrics: Stroke Metrics derived from boat acceleration allow you to easily focus on specific aspects of the stroke * Supports Canoe, Dragon Boat and Fixed Seat rowing (e.g. Surfboats, Para-rowing, Gigs...)

About

Rowly

Features
Read full description

Rowly is a rowing performance tracking app designed for on-water training and post-session analysis. It uses your phone’s GPS and motion sensors to record key rowing metrics in real time and presents them in a clear, practical way for review after each session. Rowly is free to use for real-time tracking during your sessions. See your pace, stroke rate, distance, and more as you row. More extensive analytics, integration with heart-rate sensor, and uploads to Strava are available in the Premium plan - with which you help me cover the cost of development. Rowly is suitable for both individual rowers and coxswains who want better insight into pace, rhythm, efficiency, and consistency during and after training. Uses advanced sensor fusion combining GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope with Kalman filtering and zero-crossing stroke detection for accurate speed, stroke rate, and boat stability tracking — no external hardware needed. Terms of use / EULA can be accessed here: https://rowly.ecvis.nl/terms

Screenshots

Rowing in Motion3 screens
Rowly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Rowly at weekly against Rowing in Motion's fortnightly. Rowing in Motion's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). 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. Rowing in Motion sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month and Rowly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rowing in Motion ships an update fortnightly, Rowly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Rowing in Motion versus Rowly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRowing in MotionRowly
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size345 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDecent RowingErik Christiaan Visser

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Rowing in Motion

Subscriptions1
  • Analytics Subscription1 Month trial$5.991 Month
3 purchases

Rowly

Subscriptions2
  • Rowly Premium - Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Rowly Premium - Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Rowly Premium - Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Rowing in Motion free?
Rowing in Motion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rowly free?
Rowly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Rowing in Motion or Rowly have ads?
Neither Rowing in Motion nor Rowly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rowing in Motion or Rowly?
Rowing in Motion ships an update fortnightly, and Rowly weekly. Most recently, Rowing in Motion was updated on October 7, 2026 and Rowly on October 8, 2026.

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