Best Rowing Machine App in 2026: 8 Tools Compared

ErgData is the companion app for Concept2 RowErg machines with PM3, PM4, and PM5 monitors. It connects by Bluetooth, shows pace, watts, stroke rate, and distance during a workout, and lets you build interval sessions in the app rather than on the monitor. After a workout, data syncs to the free Concept2 Online Logbook and can be shared with other fitness platforms. The limit is variety. There are no live classes, scenic videos, or coached programmes in ErgData, so rowers who want instruction need a second app or a training plan. For a Concept2 owner who values accurate data and a free app, ErgData is hard to beat, and it sets the baseline every paid app has to justify beating.

Hydrow is built around coached rowing. Instructors lead classes on the water and in the studio, and the app tracks metrics, leaderboards, and progress over time. That structure helps rowers who struggle to stay consistent alone, because a class gives a start time, a coach, and a clear session plan. The catch is hardware. Hydrow classes work best on a Hydrow rower with its screen, though the app can be used with other setups in a more limited way. Check the current membership price on the vendor site, since recent listings vary. Hydrow fits rowers who want a class habit and are happy to pay a monthly membership for it.

Kinomap plays real-world routes on your phone, tablet, or Apple TV while your rower controls resistance or pace feedback where supported. Rowing along a river, lake, or coastal route feels different from a studio class, and the video library covers cycling, running, and rowing as well. That breadth helps households where different people use different machines. Recent listings put the monthly plan at around $11.99 per month, with an annual plan at a lower monthly equivalent and a 14-day free trial. Kinomap works with dozens of machine brands, but check the compatibility list for your exact model before subscribing. It suits rowers who want scenery and variety without buying a single-brand machine.

Ergatta turns rowing into games and races. You compete against other rowers, chase targets, and follow structured programmes that adapt to your level. That game layer helps rowers who find steady-state sessions dull and who respond well to competition and visible progress. Recent listings put Ergatta at around $26 per month, which is higher than most rowing apps here. The full experience is tied to Ergatta hardware or compatible machines, so check compatibility before subscribing. Ergatta fits rowers who already row regularly and want a new reason to keep going, rather than beginners who first need basic technique guidance.

Peloton App suits people who already use Peloton for cycling, running, or strength work and want rowing classes in the same membership. Rowing classes cover intervals, endurance, and technique, and the app tracks metrics when paired with a compatible rower. That breadth means one membership can cover several training days each week. The trade-off is depth. Peloton does not focus only on rowing, so specialist rowing features such as detailed stroke analysis and rowing-specific programmes are thinner than in ErgData or EXR. Recent listings put the app membership from around $12.99 per month. Choose Peloton when rowing is one part of a mixed routine.

Apple Fitness+ offers rowing workouts led by trainers, with metrics from an Apple Watch shown on screen during the session. That integration suits people who already own an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Apple Watch and want a simple way to follow a guided row without buying a specialist rower app. Rowing is one workout type among many, including strength, yoga, and HIIT, so the rowing library is smaller than a rowing-only platform. Recent listings put Fitness+ at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. It fits Apple users who row a few times a week as part of a general fitness routine, not rowers chasing detailed performance data.

iFIT offers guided workouts filmed in real locations and in studios, with trainers who adjust intensity through the session. Rowing workouts sit beside treadmill, bike, and strength sessions, which helps households that share one membership across different machines. The app also tracks progress and offers training programmes over weeks. Recent listings put iFIT from around $15 per month. The full interactive experience works best on iFIT-compatible machines, so check your rower model before subscribing. iFIT suits rowers who like guided scenic sessions and who also use other cardio machines in the same household.

EXR, also written as EXR Game, puts rowers in virtual 3D worlds where they can row courses, join events, and chase personal bests. The app tracks pace, power, stroke rate, and heart rate where supported, and it offers structured workouts for different levels. That mix of game world and serious data appeals to rowers who want both engagement and numbers. Recent listings put EXR at $9.99 per month or $83.99 per year. Compatibility matters, since EXR works with specific Concept2 and other smart rowers, and the 3D app needs a capable phone, tablet, or computer. EXR fits rowers who enjoy virtual racing and who already own a compatible machine.