Rowing Machine Reviews Hub Page
Best Rowing Machine Reviews & Comparisons for Your Home Gym
In-depth reviews of the top indoor rowing machines — Concept2, Hydrow, Ergatta, and WaterRower — written by competitive rowers who've spent years on (and off) the water. No paid placements. Just honest takes.
If you're shopping for a rowing machine, you probably already know what we've been saying for years: rowing is one of the most complete workouts you can get. It engages 86% of your muscles, it's low-impact, and the machines themselves tend to take up far less space than a treadmill or elliptical. The hard part isn't deciding whether to buy one — it's figuring out which one.
That's where we come in. We've spent hundreds of hours testing, comparing, and — let's be honest — obsessing over indoor rowers. The reviews and comparisons below represent our genuine assessments, built on years of competitive rowing experience and a borderline unreasonable amount of time on ergometers. (I still have a Concept2 from the 1990s. It still works. That should tell you something.)
- Individual reviews of the Concept2 RowErg, Hydrow, and Ergatta
- Head-to-head comparisons: Hydrow vs. Concept2 and WaterRower vs. Concept2
- A side-by-side spec comparison of every machine we've tested
- Quick picks for best value, best premium experience, and quietest rower
- Answers to the most common questions we get about choosing a rowing machine
Our Rowing Machine Reviews & Comparisons
Each of these pieces goes deep — covering design, resistance feel, noise, metrics, storage, pricing, and the intangibles that only come from putting in real meters on each machine. Start with whatever catches your eye, or read them all if you're the thorough type.
Concept2 RowErg Review (2026)
The gold standard. If there's one rowing machine that virtually every competitive rower, CrossFit box, and university boathouse has in common, it's the Concept2. At under $1,000 with no monthly fees, it's also the smartest long-term investment — these machines are, in our experience, virtually indestructible. Our review covers why it outperforms competitors at twice the price and whether the no-frills approach works for non-rowers, too.
Read the full Concept2 reviewHydrow Rower Review
Hydrow brings the "Peloton of rowing" concept to life with a 22-inch touchscreen, live outdoor reality workouts, and electromagnetic resistance that mimics the feel of the water. It's the premium option — and the price tag reflects that. Our review breaks down whether the immersive experience, coaching quality, and community justify the investment over more affordable alternatives.
Read the full Hydrow reviewErgatta Rower Review
Built on a WaterRower base with a beautiful oak frame, the Ergatta takes a completely different approach to connected fitness: instead of instructor-led classes, it uses gamified, data-driven workouts that adapt to your fitness level. The result is something that looks like a piece of furniture and feels like a video game. Our review digs into whether the game-based approach actually keeps you coming back — and how it stacks up against class-based models.
Read the full Ergatta reviewHydrow vs. Concept2: Which Is Right for You?
This is the matchup most people are weighing: the connected, premium Hydrow against the tried-and-true Concept2. We compare them across every criterion that matters — from resistance feel and noise to long-term cost of ownership. (Spoiler: the right answer depends entirely on what motivates you to row.)
Read the full comparisonWaterRower vs. Concept2: The Complete Guide
Water versus air — it's one of the defining choices in the rowing machine world. The WaterRower is quieter, more visually elegant, and has a uniquely satisfying resistance feel. The Concept2 is lighter, better calibrated, and the universal standard for performance tracking. We go deep on both, including a closer look at the WaterRower A1 model that might just be the best of both worlds.
Read the full comparisonHow to Choose a Rowing Machine for Your Home
Before you dive into individual reviews, it helps to know what actually matters when you're picking a rower. After testing these machines extensively — and having coached people through buying decisions for years — here's where we'd focus your attention.
What Kind of Resistance Do You Want?
This is the single biggest differentiator between machines. Air resistance (Concept2) gives you a dynamic feel where the harder you pull, the more resistance you encounter — very similar to rowing on the water. Water resistance (WaterRower, Ergatta) creates a smooth, naturally dampened stroke with a soothing sound. Electromagnetic resistance (Hydrow) is the quietest and offers precisely controlled, adjustable resistance levels. Each has trade-offs, and we break them down in the resistance types section below.
Do You Need a Subscription?
Some machines are designed around their software. The Hydrow and Ergatta both offer compelling subscription-based experiences — live classes and gamified workouts, respectively — but that also means ongoing monthly costs on top of the purchase price. The Concept2 and WaterRower work perfectly well without any subscription at all, and the Concept2's free ErgData app is actually quite good for tracking and community challenges.
How Much Space Do You Have?
All rowing machines take up a similar footprint during use (roughly 7–8 feet long), but storage is where they diverge. The Concept2 splits into two pieces and stores vertically with no extra hardware. The WaterRower and Ergatta also stand upright neatly. The Hydrow requires a separately sold upright storage kit — and at 145 lbs, moving it around isn't exactly effortless.
What's Your Budget — Really?
Prices range from roughly $990 (Concept2) to $2,245 (Hydrow) before you factor in subscriptions. Over three years, the total cost of ownership varies significantly — the Concept2 with its free app stays under $1,100 total, while the Hydrow approaches $4,000 including subscription fees. That doesn't make either one "better," but it's worth understanding the full picture before pulling the trigger.
Rowing Machine Comparison: Specs at a Glance
Here's everything side by side. For deeper analysis on any of these criteria, check the individual reviews linked above.
| Feature | Concept2 | Hydrow | Ergatta | WaterRower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $990 | $2,245 | ~$2,199 | $1,295+ |
| Monthly Fee | $0 (free app) | $44/mo | $29/mo | $0 |
| Resistance | Air (flywheel) | Electromagnetic | Water | Water |
| Weight | 57 lbs | 145 lbs | 103 lbs | ~75–117 lbs |
| Max User Weight | 500 lbs | 375 lbs | 500 lbs | 700 lbs |
| Screen | PM5 monitor | 22" touchscreen | 16" touchscreen | Basic LCD |
| Noise Level | Moderate | Quiet | Very quiet | Very quiet |
| Vertical Storage | Built-in | Kit sold separately | Built-in | Built-in |
| Best For | Athletes, value | Immersive classes | Gamification fans | Quiet home use |
Quick Picks
Short on time? Here's the bottom line on each machine, distilled from hundreds of hours of testing and more meters rowed than we'd care to admit.
Concept2 RowErg
The machine used at the World Indoor Rowing Championships, in your living room, for under $1,000. No subscription, virtually indestructible, and it stores vertically in a corner. If you only buy one rowing machine in your life, this is the safest bet.
Hydrow
If you thrive on coached, immersive workouts and want something that feels closer to a studio experience, the Hydrow delivers. The live outdoor reality rowing sessions are legitimately beautiful, and the coaching is top-tier.
Ergatta / WaterRower
Water resistance produces a gentle, almost meditative sound. If you're rowing early mornings with roommates or in a thin-walled apartment, this is the way to go. The Ergatta adds gamified software on top of that quiet WaterRower base.
Ergatta
Ergatta's game-based, adaptive workouts are unlike anything else in this category. If you get bored with traditional class formats and want your rowing sessions to feel more like play, this approach is genuinely engaging.
Understanding Resistance Types: Air vs. Water vs. Electromagnetic
One of the most common questions we get is about resistance — specifically, which type feels most like rowing on the water. The honest answer? They all replicate the general sensation, but each does it differently.
Air Resistance
Used by Concept2. Dynamic — harder pulls create more resistance. Closest to on-water feel for competitive rowers. Moderate noise level.
Water Resistance
Used by WaterRower and Ergatta. Smooth, naturally dampened stroke. Very quiet with a gentle swoosh. Adjust by adding or removing water.
Electromagnetic
Used by Hydrow. Precisely controlled, quiet, and adjustable digitally. Some find it smoother; others prefer the variability of air.
Worth noting: as we cover in our WaterRower vs. Concept2 comparison, there's an interesting paradox with water resistance. While beginners often find it more intuitive, it doesn't perfectly replicate on-water rowing — the resistance stays fairly constant through the stroke, whereas on the water (and on the Concept2), you feel the handle lighten through the back half of the drive as the boat accelerates. It's a subtle difference, but competitive rowers tend to notice it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rowing Machines
For most people, we'd point you to the Concept2 RowErg. At $990 with no subscription fees, it's the industry standard used by Olympic athletes, CrossFit gyms, and university rowing programs worldwide. It weighs only 57 lbs, stores vertically without any extra hardware, and these machines routinely last 20+ years. If you want guided, instructor-led classes with a beautiful screen, the Hydrow is the premium pick — but it'll cost you roughly three to four times as much over the first few years.
It depends entirely on what motivates you to work out. The Hydrow's 22-inch touchscreen, live outdoor reality classes, and coaching community are compelling — if that immersive experience is what gets you on the machine every day, then yes, it's worth it. But if you're self-motivated or data-driven, the Concept2 gives you a better workout per dollar by a wide margin. You can even subscribe to the Hydrow app and mount a tablet on your Concept2 if you want the best of both worlds.
Water resistance machines — the Ergatta and the standard WaterRower — are the quietest options, producing only a gentle water swoosh. The Hydrow's electromagnetic resistance is also relatively quiet. The Concept2's air resistance flywheel is the loudest of the bunch, though the modern RowErg is considerably quieter than older models. If noise is a dealbreaker, go with water resistance.
The Ergatta is actually built on a WaterRower base — Ergatta partnered with WaterRower to manufacture the machines, then added their own 16-inch touchscreen and gamified software. So the physical rowing experience is essentially the same. The difference is in the software: the Ergatta provides data-driven, game-like workouts that adapt to your fitness level automatically, rather than a class-based or traditional training model.
Not at all. The Concept2 works perfectly with its free ErgData app (which is quite good for tracking, community challenges, and integration with third-party apps). The WaterRower also operates independently. The Hydrow ($44/month) and Ergatta ($29/month) are designed around their subscription platforms, and much of what makes them special comes from the guided or interactive content — but the machines themselves still function without active subscriptions.
This is one of the Concept2's biggest advantages. Because it's the machine used for all official indoor rowing records — including the World Indoor Rowing Championships — your times are directly comparable to a massive global community of rowers, from Olympians to beginners. WaterRower and Hydrow have their own communities, but the calibration differs between machines (a WaterRower split can read significantly faster than a Concept2 split for the same effort), so cross-platform comparisons don't quite work.
Most rowing machines need about 8 feet by 2 feet of floor space during use. Where they really differ is storage. The Concept2 splits into two lightweight pieces and stands vertically in a corner — no extra hardware needed. The Ergatta and WaterRower also store upright easily. The Hydrow, at 145 lbs, requires a separately purchased upright storage kit and a bit more muscle to move around.
Still have questions?
Check out our Complete Guide to Rowing Machine Benefits for more on why indoor rowing might be the best workout decision you'll make — or dive into any of the individual reviews above.
