Best Rowing Machines of 2026: Top 10 Rowers for Home Gyms
Ten currently sold rowing machines compared on published resistance type, screen size, dimensions and price, from the classic Concept2 to smart connected rowers from Hydrow and Ergatta.
How this guide was built: Guidevio compiled it from manufacturers' official product pages and specifications. We did not buy, borrow or test any of these rowers, and nothing here is a lab result, a review score, or a sponsored placement. Prices are the regular list price shown on each brand's US site at the time of research and can change at any time; several brands run frequent promotions that lower the price below list, and this guide notes that separately from the regular price. All links go directly to the brand's own product page and are not affiliate links; Guidevio does not use Amazon links in this guide, and commissions never decide which products are included or how they're ranked.
This guide rounds up ten rowing machines confirmed for sale on manufacturer sites at the time of research, spanning a no-frills mechanical rower, mid-range magnetic and air rowers, and smart connected rowers with touchscreens and on-demand classes. Every machine here is a real, named product with a working product page; nothing has been invented, and prices, specs and features are quoted only where a brand publishes them.
Several picks are smart, subscription-based rowers whose brands charge a separate monthly membership fee for classes and metrics on top of the machine price. This guide states that clearly for each one and reports only what the brand itself publishes about its own product, never a third party's test results or star ratings.
None of these rowers has been tested by Guidevio. This is desk research built from manufacturer product pages. Prices shown are each brand's regular, non-promotional US list price where confirmable; where a brand runs an ongoing sale, this guide notes the regular list price separately and does not use the discounted figure as the headline price.
Who this guide is for
- Rowers who want the sport's long-standing training standard, used in clubs, gyms and competitions
- Shoppers who want a smart, screen-equipped rower with on-demand or live class content
- Budget-conscious buyers who want a basic magnetic or mechanical rower for general cardio
- Apartment dwellers who want a compact rower that stores upright
- Anyone comparing published resistance type, screen size, dimensions and price before buying
How we chose
- Only rowers with a live, working page on a manufacturer's site at the time of research were included
- Every URL cited in the underlying research was checked rather than assumed from a search snippet
- Prices are each brand's regular US list price, not a temporary sale price, checked directly on the brand's own site
- The list spans premium connected rowers, mid-range digital rowers, and simple budget rowers rather than ranking purely by price
- No rower in this guide has been tested, used, or evaluated by Guidevio; descriptions are drawn from published product information
- Where a brand's price page showed an active discount, this guide reports the regular list price and notes the promotion separately
Top 10 at a glance
Specifications as published by the manufacturer or the listing we consulted. Scroll sideways on a small screen.
| Pick | Best for | Resistance type | Screen | Weight | Price | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. RowErg | Rowers who want the training standard used by clubs, gyms and competitions | Air | PM5 monitor, no touchscreen | Not published by Concept2 | $990 (standard legs) | Visit |
| 2. RW900 Rower | Shoppers who want the largest screen and most iFIT-driven experience in NordicTrack's rower lineup | Magnetic | 24 in pivoting HD touchscreen | Not published by NordicTrack | $1,999 | Visit |
| 3. RW700 Rower | Shoppers who want NordicTrack's magnetic resistance system with a smaller screen and lower price than the RW900 | Magnetic | 10 in tilting HD touchscreen | Not published by NordicTrack | $1,499 | Visit |
| 4. RW600 Rower | Budget-conscious buyers who still want NordicTrack's touchscreen and magnetic resistance system | Magnetic | 7 in Smart HD touchscreen | Not published by NordicTrack | $999 | Visit |
| 5. Wave Rower | Buyers who want Hydrow's smart rowing experience in the smallest, lightest frame | Electromagnetic | 16 in touchscreen | 102 lbs | $1,995 | Visit |
| 6. Origin Rower | Buyers who want Hydrow's original, most widely reviewed rower design | Electromagnetic | 22 in pivoting touchscreen | 145 lbs | $2,195 | Visit |
| 7. Arc Rower | Buyers who want Hydrow's most advanced current rower and largest screen | Electromagnetic | 24 in pivoting touchscreen | 147 lbs | $2,295 | Visit |
| 8. WaterRower Original | Rowers who want the natural feel and sound of water resistance in a furniture-like wood frame | Water | S4 Bluetooth monitor, no touchscreen | 67 lbs (without water) | $1,199 | Visit |
| 9. SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine | Budget-conscious buyers who want a simple, no-frills magnetic rower | Magnetic | Basic LCD monitor, no touchscreen | Not published by Sunny Health & Fitness | See current price at Sunny Health & Fitness | Visit |
| 10. Ergatta Luxe | Buyers who want game-based, competitive rowing workouts instead of instructor-led classes | Electromagnetic | 21.5 in touchscreen | 106.5 lbs (with water) | $2,499 | Visit |
The ten picks in detail
RowErg
Concept2
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageRowErg
Air-resistance flywheel and PM5 monitor that make it the comparability standard for indoor rowing
The indoor rowing standard used in clubs, gyms and competitions worldwide, built around Concept2's air-resistance flywheel and PM5 performance monitor, available with standard or tall legs.
Why it is on this list: It's the machine used for training, testing and racing worldwide, with a published price and specs directly from Concept2.
Key features
- Air-resistance flywheel
- PM5 performance monitor included
- Separates into two pieces for storage
- Standard or tall-leg seat height options
- Resistance type: Air
- Seat height: 14 in standard / 20 in tall
- Monitor: PM5
- Pros
- PM5 performance monitor included, per Concept2
- Separates into two pieces for storage, per Concept2
- Available with standard (14 inch) or tall (20 inch) seat height
- Cons
- No touchscreen or on-demand class content built in
- Air resistance is louder than magnetic or water rowers, a known tradeoff of the flywheel design
- Tall-leg version costs more, at $1,155
Before you buy: Concept2 doesn't build in a touchscreen or streaming class content; riders who want that should look at a connected rower instead.
RW900 Rower
NordicTrack
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageRW900 Rower
A 24-inch pivoting touchscreen paired with silent magnetic resistance and 26 resistance levels
NordicTrack's flagship rower, built with silent magnetic resistance and a 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen for iFIT-powered trainer-led workouts.
Why it is on this list: It's NordicTrack's top rower with the largest published screen and resistance range in its lineup.
Key features
- 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen
- 26 digital resistance levels
- Silent Magnetic Resistance (SMR)
- 10-year frame warranty
- Resistance type: Magnetic
- Screen: 24 in pivoting HD touchscreen
- Resistance levels: 26
- Pros
- 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen, per NordicTrack
- 26 levels of digital resistance, per NordicTrack
- 10-year frame warranty, per NordicTrack
- Cons
- iFIT membership costs $39/month and is effectively required for trainer-led content
- NordicTrack doesn't publish an exact unit weight on this page
- At $1,999, it's among the pricier rowers on this list
Before you buy: iFIT membership is a separate $39/month subscription; the rower itself is far less useful for trainer-led content without it.
RW700 Rower
NordicTrack
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageRW700 Rower
A 10-inch tilting touchscreen with the same 26-level magnetic resistance as the flagship RW900
NordicTrack's mid-tier rower with a 10-inch tilting HD touchscreen, the same silent magnetic resistance system and 26 resistance levels as the RW900 at a lower price.
Why it is on this list: It's NordicTrack's mid-tier rower, giving buyers the brand's resistance system at a lower price than the RW900.
Key features
- 10-inch tilting HD touchscreen
- 26 digital resistance levels
- Silent Magnetic Resistance (SMR)
- 10-year frame warranty
- Resistance type: Magnetic
- Screen: 10 in tilting HD touchscreen
- Resistance levels: 26
- Pros
- 10-inch tilting HD touchscreen, per NordicTrack
- 26 levels of digital resistance, same as the RW900
- 10-year frame warranty, per NordicTrack
- Cons
- Smaller screen than the RW900
- iFIT membership costs $39/month and is effectively required for trainer-led content
- NordicTrack doesn't publish an exact unit weight on this page
Before you buy: iFIT membership is a separate $39/month subscription; the rower itself is far less useful for trainer-led content without it.
RW600 Rower
NordicTrack
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageRW600 Rower
The lowest-priced rower in NordicTrack's touchscreen lineup, with the same 26-level resistance system
NordicTrack's entry-level rower with a 7-inch smart HD touchscreen and the same 26-level digital magnetic resistance as its pricier siblings.
Why it is on this list: It's NordicTrack's entry point into its magnetic-resistance, iFIT-compatible rower lineup at the lowest published price.
Key features
- 7-inch Smart HD touchscreen
- 26 digital resistance levels
- SmartAdjust workout adaptation
- Resistance type: Magnetic
- Screen: 7 in Smart HD touchscreen
- Resistance levels: 26
- Pros
- 26 levels of digital resistance, same as the RW700 and RW900
- Lowest price in NordicTrack's rower lineup, per NordicTrack
- SmartAdjust automatically adapts workouts, per NordicTrack
- Cons
- Smallest screen in the RW lineup at 7 inches
- iFIT membership costs $39/month and is effectively required for trainer-led content
- NordicTrack doesn't publish an exact unit weight on this page
Before you buy: iFIT membership is a separate $39/month subscription; the rower itself is far less useful for trainer-led content without it.
Wave Rower
Hydrow
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageWave Rower
A compact, 102-pound smart rower with a 16-inch touchscreen and electromagnetic resistance
Hydrow's smallest and lightest smart rower, with a 16-inch touchscreen, electromagnetic resistance, and access to Hydrow's on-demand and live class library through a separate membership.
Why it is on this list: It's Hydrow's smallest and lightest rower, giving space-constrained buyers access to the brand's connected workout platform.
Key features
- 16-inch touchscreen
- Electromagnetic drag resistance
- 102 lbs, per Hydrow
- HydroMetrics real-time form feedback
- Resistance type: Electromagnetic
- Screen: 16 in touchscreen
- Weight: 102 lbs
- Pros
- Compact open-frame design at 102 lbs, per Hydrow
- Electromagnetic drag resistance, per Hydrow
- Free 30-day home trial and free shipping, per Hydrow
- Cons
- Hydrow membership costs $50/month and is needed for the full class library
- Screen doesn't pivot, unlike the Origin and Arc
- Hydrow's site currently shows this rower discounted; $1,995 is the regular list price
Before you buy: Hydrow's site currently lists this rower on sale below $1,995; $1,995 is Hydrow's regular, non-promotional list price. A separate $50/month membership is needed for full class access.
Origin Rower
Hydrow
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageOrigin Rower
A 22-inch pivoting touchscreen on Hydrow's original flagship frame
Hydrow's original flagship rower, with a 22-inch pivoting HD touchscreen, electromagnetic resistance, and personalized workout recommendations through a separate Hydrow membership.
Why it is on this list: It's Hydrow's iconic original rower, still sold new with a published price and full spec sheet directly from the brand.
Key features
- 22-inch pivoting HD touchscreen
- Electromagnetic drag resistance
- 145 lbs, per Hydrow
- Personalized workout recommendations
- Resistance type: Electromagnetic
- Screen: 22 in pivoting touchscreen
- Weight: 145 lbs
- Pros
- 22-inch pivoting HD touchscreen, per Hydrow
- Free 30-day home trial and free shipping, per Hydrow
- HSA/FSA eligible, per Hydrow
- Cons
- Hydrow membership costs $50/month and is needed for the full class library
- Heavier than the Wave at 145 lbs, per Hydrow
- Hydrow's site currently shows this rower discounted; $2,195 is the regular list price
Before you buy: Hydrow's site currently lists this rower on sale below $2,195; $2,195 is Hydrow's regular, non-promotional list price. A separate $50/month membership is needed for full class access.
Arc Rower
Hydrow
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageArc Rower
Hydrow's largest touchscreen and fastest processing, on the brand's current flagship frame
Hydrow's current top-tier rower, with a 24-inch pivoting touchscreen, faster processing, and enhanced front-facing speakers, replacing the brand's earlier Pro model as its flagship.
Why it is on this list: Hydrow's earlier flagship, the Pro Rower, is no longer listed on Hydrow's current rower comparison page; the Arc is the brand's current equivalent top-tier model and replaces it on this list.
Key features
- 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen
- Electromagnetic drag resistance
- 147 lbs, per Hydrow
- Enhanced front-facing speaker
- Resistance type: Electromagnetic
- Screen: 24 in pivoting touchscreen
- Weight: 147 lbs
- Pros
- 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen with faster processing, per Hydrow
- Enhanced front-facing speaker, per Hydrow
- Free 30-day home trial and free shipping, per Hydrow
- Cons
- Highest price in Hydrow's current lineup at $2,295
- Hydrow membership costs $50/month and is needed for the full class library
- Heaviest Hydrow model at 147 lbs, per Hydrow
Before you buy: This pick replaces the discontinued Hydrow Pro Rower, which is no longer sold on Hydrow's site; the Arc is Hydrow's current flagship. A separate $50/month membership is needed for full class access.
WaterRower Original
WaterRower
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageWaterRower Original
A solid-wood frame with water-tank resistance that mimics the feel and sound of rowing on water
WaterRower's classic solid-wood rower, using a water tank and paddle flywheel to simulate the feel and sound of rowing on open water, with the S4 Bluetooth performance monitor included.
Why it is on this list: It's WaterRower's classic model, in continuous production since 1988, with a published price, dimensions and the S4 Bluetooth monitor included.
Key features
- Water-tank WaterFlywheel resistance
- Solid hardwood frame
- S4 Bluetooth performance monitor included
- Stores upright
- Resistance type: Water
- Dimensions: 82.25 in L x 22.25 in W x 20 in H
- Weight: 67 lbs (without water)
- Pros
- Water-tank resistance that scales naturally with effort, per WaterRower
- Crafted from solid hardwood, per WaterRower
- Stores upright to save floor space, per WaterRower
- Cons
- No touchscreen or on-demand class content built in
- WaterRower doesn't publish a subscription-based content platform for this model
- Requires filling and periodic water treatment, a known tradeoff of water resistance
Before you buy: WaterRower doesn't publish a subscription class platform for this model; it's sold as a self-contained mechanical rower rather than a connected-fitness device.
SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine
Sunny Health & Fitness
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageSF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine
A simple, extended-rail magnetic rower at one of the lowest price points in this guide
Sunny Health & Fitness's long-running budget magnetic rower, with an extended slide rail, 8 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance, and a basic LCD monitor.
Why it is on this list: It's a long-running, widely available budget rower with published specs on Sunny Health & Fitness's own site, for buyers who don't want a screen-based subscription rower.
Key features
- 48-inch slide rail
- 8-level magnetic resistance
- LCD monitor with time, count, calories and scan modes
- Foldable, upright storage
- Resistance type: Magnetic
- Slide rail length: 48 in
- Resistance levels: 8
- Pros
- Extended 48-inch slide rail, per Sunny Health & Fitness
- 8 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance, per Sunny Health & Fitness
- Foldable, upright storage design, per Sunny Health & Fitness
- Cons
- No touchscreen or trainer-led video content built into the console
- Fewer resistance levels than Sunny's newer smart rowers
- Price varies across retailers; confirm the current price directly with Sunny Health & Fitness before buying
Before you buy: Sunny Health & Fitness's own product page didn't display a stable list price at the time of research, and third-party retailers show a range of prices; confirm the current price on sunnyhealthfitness.com before buying.
Ergatta Luxe
Ergatta
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageErgatta Luxe
A handcrafted cherrywood connected rower built around game-based workouts and multiplayer races
Ergatta's handcrafted cherrywood connected rower, built around game-based workouts and races rather than instructor-led classes, with a 21.5-inch touchscreen and a separate membership.
Why it is on this list: It's Ergatta's flagship rower, with a published regular price, materials and screen size distinct from the instructor-led class format used by other connected rowers here.
Key features
- 21.5-inch Full HD touchscreen
- Handcrafted cherrywood frame
- Game-based workouts and multiplayer races
- Coach AI form-tracking feature, per Ergatta
- Resistance type: Electromagnetic
- Screen: 21.5 in touchscreen
- Weight: 106.5 lbs (with water)
- Pros
- 21.5-inch Full HD touchscreen, per Ergatta
- Game-based workout format distinct from studio-class rowers, per Ergatta
- Free 30-day risk-free trial, per Ergatta
- Cons
- Ergatta membership costs $39/month (or $32.50/month prepaid annually) and is recommended for full features
- Ergatta's site currently shows this rower discounted; $2,499 is the regular list price
- Heaviest rower on this list with water added, at 106.5 lbs, per Ergatta
Before you buy: Ergatta's site currently lists this rower on sale below $2,499; $2,499 is Ergatta's regular, non-promotional list price. A separate membership is recommended, though not strictly required, for full features.
How the top picks actually differ
How these rowers differ
Across this list, resistance type is the clearest dividing line: the Concept2 RowErg uses air resistance and no screen at all, the WaterRower Original uses water resistance with a basic Bluetooth monitor, and every other pick here uses electromagnetic or magnetic resistance paired with a screen ranging from a basic LCD (Sunny) up to a 24-inch touchscreen (Hydrow Arc, NordicTrack RW900). Price generally tracks screen size and subscription content: the budget end (Concept2, Sunny, NordicTrack RW600) runs from about $990 to about $999, plus an unconfirmed price for the Sunny model, while the connected, subscription-based rowers from Hydrow and Ergatta run from about $1,995 to $2,499 before their required or recommended monthly membership.
Who should choose what
You want the training and racing standard with no subscription required
Concept2 RowErg
You want a touchscreen and iFIT content at a lower price than Hydrow or Ergatta
NordicTrack RW model
You want Hydrow's connected experience in the smallest, lightest frame
Hydrow Wave
You want Hydrow's original, most widely available connected rower
Hydrow Origin
You want Hydrow's largest screen and current flagship model
Hydrow Arc
You want a furniture-like wood frame and natural water resistance with no subscription
WaterRower Original
You want the lowest-cost basic magnetic rower on this list
Sunny SF-RW5515
You are more motivated by game-based competition than instructor-led classes
Ergatta Luxe
How to choose
Decide on a resistance type
Air resistance (Concept2) scales with effort and feels close to on-water rowing but is louder. Magnetic resistance (NordicTrack, most Hydrow and Ergatta models, Sunny) is quieter and lets you dial in a fixed level. Water resistance (WaterRower) uses a paddle in a water tank for a natural feel and sound but needs occasional water treatment.
Decide if you want a subscription
Hydrow and Ergatta rowers are built around a paid membership (about $39 to $50 a month) for full access to classes or games; Concept2, WaterRower and the Sunny model work without any subscription.
Check your space and storage needs
Most rowers on this list store upright, but full-length footprints and stored heights vary by brand and model; check the exact published dimensions for the rower and room you have in mind.
Compare screen size against your budget
Screen size scales with price across NordicTrack's and Hydrow's lineups, from no touchscreen up to 24 inches. Decide how much a large built-in display matters to you before choosing between similarly priced options.
Confirm the current price before buying
Several brands here run frequent promotions below their regular list price. This guide reports each brand's regular list price, but check the brand's own site for the current price, which may be lower at the time you buy.
Common questions
- Do I need a membership to use these rowers?
- Concept2, WaterRower and the Sunny model work fully without any subscription. Hydrow requires a $50/month membership for its full class library, and Ergatta recommends (but doesn't strictly require) a membership starting around $32.50 to $39/month for full features.
- What's the difference between air, magnetic and water resistance?
- Air resistance (Concept2) uses a flywheel that scales resistance with how hard you pull. Magnetic resistance (NordicTrack, Hydrow, Ergatta, Sunny) uses adjustable magnets for a quieter, steadier feel. Water resistance (WaterRower) uses a paddle in a water tank for a natural feel and sound, as each brand describes its own system.
- Are the prices in this guide sale prices?
- No. This guide lists each brand's regular, non-promotional US list price, confirmed directly on the brand's site. Several brands, including Hydrow and Ergatta, run frequent promotions below that regular price; check the brand's site for the current price when you buy.
- Why isn't the Hydrow Pro Rower on this list?
- Hydrow's current rower comparison page no longer lists a Pro model; its current lineup is the Origin, Wave and Arc. The Arc is Hydrow's current top-tier equivalent, so it's included here in place of the discontinued Pro.
- Which rower folds or stores most compactly?
- Several models on this list, including the Sunny SF-RW5515 and the WaterRower Original, are designed to store upright. Check each brand's published stored dimensions against your space before buying.
- Do any of these rowers include a heart rate monitor?
- Not by default. Where a brand publishes heart-rate compatibility (for example, via Bluetooth or an optional accessory), that's noted in the product's own specs; otherwise this guide doesn't assume it.
- Has Guidevio tested any of these rowing machines?
- No. This guide is desk research built from official manufacturer product pages and specifications. Guidevio has not purchased, borrowed or tested any of the rowers listed here.
Sources consulted
Official product pages, specification sheets and retailer listings used to compile this guide.
- https://www.concept2.com/ergs/rowerg
- https://www.nordictrack.com/product/rw900-rower
- https://checkout.nordictrack.com/rowing-machines/rw700
- https://checkout.nordictrack.com/rowing-machines/rw600
- https://hydrow.com/rowing-machines/
- https://hydrow.com/products/rowers/hydrow-wave/
- https://hydrow.com/products/rowers/hydrow-rower/
- https://www.waterrower.com/wr_us/waterrower-original-rower.html
- https://sunnyhealthfitness.com/products/sunny-health-and-fitness-sf-rw5515-magnetic-rowing-machine-rower-w-lcd-monitor
- https://ergatta.com/products/the-ergatta-rower
- https://ergatta.com/pages/compare-rowers
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