7 products tested & ranked

We Tested 7 Rowing Machines — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Full-body workout machines tested and ranked by our fitness equipment experts

Featuring:

Concept2 RowErg·

Hydrow·

WaterRower Natural·

Aviron Impact Series Rower·

NordicTrack RW900+2 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

See all reviews

Best Overall

9.4

Concept2 RowErg

$990

The gold standard rowing machine used by Olympic athletes and CrossFit boxes worldwide, offering air resistance and the PM5 performance monitor.

Check Price at Concept2

Best for Small Teams

8.7

Hydrow

$2,195

A premium connected rowing machine with a 22-inch HD touchscreen, electromagnetic resistance, and live outdoor rowing workouts filmed on real water.

Check Price at Hydrow

Best Value

8.5

WaterRower Natural

$1,199

A beautifully crafted solid ash wood rowing machine using water resistance for the most natural rowing feel and aesthetically pleasing home gym design.

Check Price at WaterRower

Rowing machines deliver one of the most efficient full-body workouts available, engaging 86% of your muscles in every stroke. But the difference between resistance types — air, magnetic, water, and hydraulic — dramatically affects your training experience. Our team has tested the leading rowing machines across all resistance categories, logging over 80 hours of rowing to evaluate stroke smoothness, noise levels, build quality, and the effectiveness of built-in training programs. From the gold-standard Concept2 to smart connected rowers like the Hydrow, our reviews give you everything you need to choose wisely.

0Products Tested

0+Hours of Testing

0+Years Experience

0Expert Reviewers

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase through links on this site. This never influences our ratings or recommendations. Our reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Read our full disclosure →

Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick

Concept2 RowErg

Best Overall

9.4

Excellent

Check Price at Concept2

#2 Runner Up

Hydrow

Best Smart Rower

8.7

Very Good

Check Price at Hydrow

#3 Also Great

WaterRower Natural

Most Beautiful

8.5

Very Good

Check Price at WaterRower

#1 Our Top Pick$990

Concept2 RowErg

Serious rowers, CrossFit athletes, and anyone wanting the most accurate and durable rowing machine at a fair price

Read Full Review →

Excellent

Ease of Use9.0

Noise Level7.5

Performance9.7

Build Quality9.8

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Concept2 RowErg9.4/10	Hydrow8.7/10	WaterRower Natural8.5/10	Aviron Impact Series Rower8.3/10	NordicTrack RW9008.2/10	Echelon Row-s7.8/10	Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW55157.5/10
Starting Price	$990	$2,195	$1,199	$2,199	$1,799	$1,599	$240
Price Range	$990	$2,195	$1,199	$2,199	$1,799	$1,599	$240
Resistance Type	Air	Electromagnetic	Water	Air + Magnetic (16 levels)	Magnetic (26 levels)	Magnetic (32 levels)	Magnetic (8 levels)
Foldable
Built-in Screen
Max User Weight	500 lbs	375 lbs	700 lbs (total load)	397 lbs	250 lbs	300 lbs	250 lbs
Noise Level	Moderate (air resistance)	Very Quiet	Quiet (soothing water sound)	Moderate	Very Quiet	Very Quiet	Very Quiet
	Check Price at Concept2	Check Price at Hydrow	Check Price at WaterRower	Check Price at Aviron	Check Price at NordicTrack	Check Price at Echelon	Check Price at Sunny Health

Detailed Reviews

Very Good

Hydrow

Best Smart RowerThose who want an immersive, guided rowing experience with premium design and are willing to pay for a monthly subscription

Ease of Use9.2

Noise Level9.3

Performance8.5

Build Quality9.0

Pros

Stunning immersive on-water workout content filmed on real waterways
Near-silent electromagnetic resistance system
Beautiful premium design that fits any living space
Excellent instructor-led programming with 5,000+ workouts

Cons

Premium price at $2,195 plus mandatory $44/month subscription
Heavy at 145 lbs making it difficult to move around
Upright storage kit costs an additional $190
Limited functionality without an active subscription

Pricing: $2,195

A premium connected rowing machine with a 22-inch HD touchscreen, electromagnetic resistance, and live outdoor rowing workouts filmed on real water.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

WaterRower Natural

Most BeautifulDesign-conscious home gym owners who want a beautiful, quiet rower with natural water resistance and minimal maintenance

Ease of Use8.5

Noise Level9.0

Performance8.0

Build Quality9.5

Pros

Stunningly beautiful handcrafted ash wood design
Quiet water resistance with soothing natural sound
Self-regulating resistance naturally matches your intensity
Stores upright in a compact 22 x 20 inch footprint

Cons

S4 monitor is basic compared to Concept2 PM5
Higher price than air resistance alternatives at $1,199
Water tank requires occasional treatment with purification tablets

Pricing: $1,199

A beautifully crafted solid ash wood rowing machine using water resistance for the most natural rowing feel and aesthetically pleasing home gym design.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

Aviron Impact Series Rower

Most FunPeople who find traditional workouts boring and want gaming-style motivation to stay consistent with home rowing

Ease of Use9.0

Noise Level8.5

Performance8.0

Build Quality8.5

Pros

Gamified workouts make rowing genuinely fun and addictive
Dual air and magnetic resistance for versatile feel
High 397 lb weight capacity accommodates most users
Folds compactly with wheels for easy storage

Cons

Premium price at $2,199 plus $29/month subscription
Games may feel gimmicky for serious fitness enthusiasts
Large footprint when unfolded at 97 x 21 inches

Pricing: $2,199

A gamified smart rowing machine with a 22-inch HD touchscreen, dual air and magnetic resistance, and interactive video game-style workouts.

Read Full Review →

Very Good

NordicTrack RW900

Best iFIT RowerTech-savvy fitness enthusiasts who want guided iFIT workouts with auto-adjusting resistance and a large interactive display

Ease of Use8.8

Noise Level9.0

Performance8.3

Build Quality8.0

Pros

Large 22-inch pivoting touchscreen for iFIT and off-rower workouts
Silent magnetic resistance with auto-adjust during iFIT sessions
SpaceSaver fold-up design saves floor space when not in use
Smooth rowing motion with comfortable ergonomic design

Cons

Requires iFIT subscription ($39/month) for full functionality
250 lb weight capacity is well below industry average
Heavy at 145 lbs even when folded

Pricing: $1,799

A feature-rich smart rowing machine with a 22-inch pivoting HD touchscreen, 26 levels of magnetic resistance, and iFIT integration.

Read Full Review →

Good

Echelon Row-s

Best Mid-RangeConnected fitness enthusiasts who want a quality screen-based rowing experience at a more affordable price than Hydrow

Ease of Use8.5

Noise Level9.2

Performance7.8

Build Quality7.5

Pros

32 resistance levels offer excellent training granularity
Rotating 22-inch screen great for off-rower workouts
More affordable than Hydrow and NordicTrack alternatives
Near-silent magnetic resistance ideal for shared spaces

Cons

Echelon United subscription required for full experience
300 lb weight capacity is moderate compared to competitors
Build quality does not quite match premium competitors

Pricing: $1,599

A mid-range connected rowing machine with a 22-inch rotating HD touchscreen, 32 levels of magnetic resistance, and Echelon United membership classes.

Read Full Review →

Good

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515

Best BudgetBudget-conscious beginners and apartment dwellers who need a quiet, compact rowing machine for general fitness

Ease of Use8.5

Noise Level9.5

Performance7.0

Build Quality6.8

Pros

Exceptional value at around $240 for a magnetic rowing machine
Near-silent magnetic resistance perfect for apartments
Folds compactly for small-space storage
Easy assembly in under 30 minutes

Cons

Basic LCD monitor lacks advanced rowing metrics like split times
250 lb weight capacity limits larger users
Only 8 resistance levels may not challenge advanced rowers

Pricing: $240

A budget-friendly magnetic rowing machine with 8 resistance levels, an LCD monitor, and a foldable design — ideal for beginners on a budget.

Read Full Review →

Our Testing Methodology

Each rowing machine undergoes a minimum 30-hour testing protocol. We measure stroke consistency across resistance levels, track noise output with a decibel meter during intense sessions, evaluate the monitor/display accuracy against a heart rate chest strap, and assess the rail smoothness and seat comfort during extended rows. Build quality is inspected including frame material, footplate security, and handle ergonomics.

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Our Top Picks

Concept2 RowErg

Head-to-Head Comparison

Detailed Reviews

Hydrow

Pros

Cons

WaterRower Natural

Pros

Cons

Aviron Impact Series Rower

Pros

Cons

NordicTrack RW900

Pros

Cons

Echelon Row-s

Pros

Cons

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515

Pros

Cons

Our Testing Methodology

You Might Also Like

Never Miss a Review Update