Coachswain vs upliNK Rowing
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Coachswain
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Coachswain is your rowing companion for tracking, analyzing, and improving every session. Record outdoor rows with GPS, pace, distance, duration, splits, stroke rate, and heart rate. Review detailed workout summaries, compare performance over time, and keep your rowing logbook organized in one place. Coachswain works with Apple Health, Apple Watch, and Strava, so your workouts fit naturally into the tools you already use. Save rowing sessions to Apple Health, view heart rate insights, and upload selected activities to Strava. With Coachswain Premium, unlock deeper charts and advanced workout analysis to better understand your progress on the water. Features: GPS rowing route tracking Pace, distance, duration, and split summaries Heart rate support with Apple Health Stroke rate estimation Apple Watch workout support Strava activity uploads Workout history and logbook GPX export Premium charts and insights Whether you row for fitness, training, or performance, Coachswain helps you make every stroke count. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy URL: https://coachswain-c88f2.web.app/privacy.html
upliNK Rowing
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Most rowing analysis tools (including the official app) only scratch the surface of what your SpeedCoach records, especially when paired with the NK Empower Oarlock. UpliNK is designed for rowers, scullers, and coaches who want deeper insights, clearer visualizations, and more meaningful performance analysis. Whether you're training for your next regatta, refining technique, or tracking long-term progress, the app transforms raw NK SpeedCoach data into actionable information that helps you row smarter and faster. Advanced Performance Analysis Go beyond average splits and basic workout summaries. Analyze your sessions with powerful tools designed specifically for rowing: • Detailed interval and segment analysis • Custom-defined segments for targeted review • Median and average performance metrics • Session-to-session comparisons • GPS-based performance evaluation • Interactive maps and course analysis See exactly where performance gains and losses occur on the water. • High-resolution GPS route maps • Color-coded performance overlays • Compare multiple sessions on the same course, or different courses • Visualize boat speed, stroke rate, and other metrics along the route • Overlay comparison lines from previous rows Whether you're evaluating race pieces or daily training rows, the map tools make it easy to identify patterns that traditional data tables miss. Powerful Stroke Visualization When paired with data from an NK Empower Oarlock, the app provides detailed stroke-level analysis that helps reveal technical strengths and weaknesses. Visualize metrics including: • Maximum angle • Effective angle • Catch angle • Finish angle • Slip • Wash • Drive length • Stroke length • Quadrant analysis • Force curve characteristics Understand not just how fast you rowed, but how effectively each stroke produced speed. Customizable Charts Every athlete and coach focuses on different metrics. Create the views that matter most to you. • Multiple graph types • Custom metric selection • Compare metrics on the same chart • Analyze trends over time • Focus on individual segments or entire sessions Compare Sessions Like Never Before Improvement happens over weeks, months, and seasons—not just individual workouts. Quickly compare: • Technique metrics between rows • Boat speed and stroke rate trends • GPS tracks on the same course • Quadrant distributions • Segment performance • Empower Oarlock measurements See exactly how changes in technique translate into performance gains. Built for Rowers This app was created specifically for the rowing community—not adapted from generic fitness software. The analysis tools are designed around the metrics that matter on the water. Requirements • Requires workout data recorded by an NK SpeedCoach (.csv or .fit files). • Some advanced stroke analysis features require data from an NK Empower Oarlock. NK Empower Oarlock data requires .csv. • NK SpeedCoach and NK Empower products are sold separately and are not included with this app. This app is not affiliated with Nielsen-Kellerman. Take your rowing analysis beyond basic summaries. Turn every stroke into insight and every workout into an opportunity to improve.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: upliNK Rowing at none against Coachswain's 2. Coachswain's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. Coachswain sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. upliNK Rowing asks for nothing beyond the download.
Coachswain ships an update every 5 days, upliNK Rowing every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Coachswain | upliNK Rowing |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 6 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ali Demir | Nicholas Smart |
In-app purchases
Coachswain
- Coachswain Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
- Coachswain Premium Annual Plan7 Days trial$12.991 Year
upliNK Rowing
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Coachswain free?
Is upliNK Rowing free?
Do Coachswain or upliNK Rowing have ads?
Which is updated more often, Coachswain or upliNK Rowing?
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