Comparison

RowBetter vs Buff

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

Head to head
About

RowBetter

Enhance your rowing workouts with AI-driven coaching and advanced performance analytics. Track progress, visualize trends, and set personalized goals to optimize your training and achieve new personal bests.

Highlights
  • AI smart coach for adaptive training plans
  • Advanced performance analytics (split trends, stroke rate vs. split)
  • Weekly training challenges
  • Seamless workout logging and sync
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Goal tracking for distance, split, and rate
Features
Read full description

Row smarter. Row faster. RowBetter. Whether you are training for a 2k personal best or hitting the daily steady-state grind, RowBetter is the ultimate companion for your rowing journey. Stop guessing your progress and start seeing it with professional-grade analytics and ai-driven coaching. Train with an AI smart coach Get a training plan as unique as your stroke. Our AI smart coach analyzes your history and goals to build adaptive programs. need to adjust for a seat race or recovery? just ask the coach. it’s like having a professional trainer in your pocket, 24/7. Advanced analytics Go beyond the monitor. Visualize your performance with precision: • Split trends: see exactly how your pace evolves over months of training. • Stroke rate vs. split: understand your efficiency and find your power-per-stroke sweet spot. • Meters over time: track your volume and stay consistent with your yardage. challenge yourself every week features a new "challenge of the week" designed to keep your training fresh. From low-rate power sessions to high-intensity sprints, there’s always a new way to level up your fitness. Seamless logging and sync • Quick log: add workouts in seconds with an intuitive, dark-mode interface. Directly sync with Concept 2 erg for even faster logging. • icloud sync: your data is yours. everything stays synced and secured across your devices. • Goal tracking: set your targets for distance, split, and rate, and watch the progress bar climb. take the guesswork out of the erg. Download RowRetter today. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Buff

Features
Read full description

Build a nutrition plan that fits your goals, then see how each day and week adds up. Buff is a calorie, macro and progress tracker for people who want one clear place to log food, workouts and body changes. Set editable targets based on your age, body profile, activity and goal, or choose your own numbers. LOG FOOD YOUR WAY • Search foods and recent meals • Scan barcodes or enter foods manually • Create custom foods and reusable recipes • Review calories, protein, carbs and fat before saving SEE THE WHOLE DAY • Track calories eaten, remaining and burned • Review protein, carb and fat targets at a glance • Organise entries by breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks • Spot daily and weekly patterns, totals and streaks TRACK FITNESS AND PROGRESS • Log workouts manually • Optionally import workout energy from Apple Health • Follow weight and body-fat trends over time • Record chest, waist, hips, arms and thighs • Add front, side and back progress photos OPTIONAL BUFF+ Buff+ unlocks AI meal-photo analysis and follow-up corrections. Add up to three meal photos, review the editable calorie and macro estimate, make any changes, and save only when you’re happy. BUILT FOR REAL LIFE Buff is offline-first: logging stays responsive and sync resumes when you’re connected. Meal reminders, metric and imperial units, light and dark themes, and account deletion are built in. AI estimates and calorie targets are starting points, not medical advice. Always review estimates and consult a qualified health professional for personal guidance. BUFF+ SUBSCRIPTIONS Buff+ is available as monthly and annual auto-renewing subscriptions. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Terms: https://usebuff.app/terms/ Privacy: https://usebuff.app/privacy/

Screenshots

RowBetter4 screens
Buff4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Buff at none against RowBetter's 3. RowBetter's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. RowBetter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Buff asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RowBetter ships an update weekly, Buff every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 9, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
RowBetter versus Buff: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRowBetterBuff
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.518.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTara StegerSPACEMANCODES LTD

In-app purchases

3 purchases

RowBetter

Subscriptions2
  • RowBetter Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • RowBetter Pro Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • RowBetter Pro Lifetime$59.99
None

Buff

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RowBetter free?
RowBetter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Buff free?
Buff is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RowBetter or Buff have ads?
Buff shows ads; RowBetter does not.
Which is updated more often, RowBetter or Buff?
RowBetter ships an update weekly, and Buff every 5 days. Most recently, RowBetter was updated on October 9, 2026 and Buff on October 9, 2026.

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