Best Rowing Machines (2026)

The NordicTrack RW900 delivers the most immersive screen experience in this comparison: a 22-inch HD rotating touchscreen that can pivot to face you during floor exercises, making it a dual-purpose fitness display rather than just a rowing monitor. The iFIT platform runs live and on-demand workouts led by instructors who automatically adjust resistance to match the workout program, removing the need to manually control resistance settings. At $1,638 plus an iFIT subscription fee, this is the most expensive machine in the comparison. The electromagnetic auto-adjusting resistance integrates tightly with the iFIT programming — when an instructor calls for a resistance increase, the machine adjusts without you touching a control. The foldable frame at 81x22x57 inches stores vertically, and the 10-year frame warranty provides long-term coverage on the most expensive component. The trade-off is the iFIT ecosystem dependency. The RW900 is designed to be used with iFIT, and without the subscription, you're operating an expensive piece of equipment through a relatively basic manual mode. NordicTrack's history of increasing subscription prices and changing platform terms is worth factoring into the long-term cost calculation. For users committed to the iFIT ecosystem who already own NordicTrack treadmills or bikes, adding the RW900 consolidates training into a single platform. For users new to connected fitness, evaluate the Hydrow Wave's more rowing-specific content alongside this machine's broader fitness platform.

The Hydrow Wave is the streaming fitness platform approach to rowing — it's as much a connected workout service as a piece of equipment. The 16-inch HD touchscreen delivers live and on-demand rowing workouts filmed on open water, with instructors rowing alongside athletes on rivers and oceans. The electromagnetic resistance adjusts automatically based on the workout program, and the foldable frame stores vertically when not in use. At $1,495 plus a $44/month subscription for access to the full content library, the total cost over two years is roughly $2,500 — the premium tier of home rowing investment. The subscription is what differentiates Hydrow from the Concept2: you're not just buying a machine, you're buying into a guided workout program that keeps you engaged through the inherent monotony of rowing intervals. The honest trade-off is dependency. The Hydrow Wave is significantly more compelling with the subscription than without it — the hardware alone, without access to the Hydrow content library, is an expensive electromagnetic resistance rower with a large screen. If you cancel the subscription, you lose most of what makes the experience worth the premium. The machine also requires a subscription login even to access pre-downloaded workouts in some configurations. For users who know they want structured, instructor-led rowing content and will use it consistently, the engagement factor drives consistent training in a way that an unguided machine can't match.

The Concept2 RowErg is the gold standard of indoor rowing machines — not because of screens or subscription services, but because it's the machine used for athlete testing, competitive rowing training, and erg races worldwide. The air resistance flywheel responds directly to your rowing power: pull harder and you get more resistance; ease off and resistance drops immediately. This dynamic relationship between effort and resistance replicates open-water rowing mechanics more accurately than any electromagnetic or hydraulic alternative. The PM5 Performance Monitor handles everything you need: split times, stroke rate, watt output, heart rate (with a compatible monitor), and workout logging through Concept2's ErgData app. The device holder lets you follow a training video while the PM5 tracks your metrics simultaneously. Storage is simple — the machine separates into two pieces for vertical standing storage in a closet or garage corner. At $990, the RowErg is the mid-tier price in this comparison, and it's the only machine here without a monthly subscription requirement for full functionality. The PM5 tracks all metrics and connects to third-party apps without a Concept2 subscription fee. The trade-off is the experience: air resistance is louder than electromagnetic alternatives, and there's no integrated screen or instructor-led content. If you're training for fitness rather than competitive rowing and want guided workouts on a screen, the Hydrow or NordicTrack RW900 offers a more complete entertainment-fitness experience. If you want the machine that serious rowers actually train on, this is it.