Best rowing machines 2024: Top 6 picks from Concept2, Ergatta and more

Choosing a rowing machine is not an easy task. There are plenty of options out there, from basic foldable machines like the Echelon Smart to premium rowers brimming with high-tech features — such as Hydrow Wave or Aviron Strong Series. However, any rowing machine is worth investing in.

Rowing is a great way to increase your endurance, boost your heart health and burn A LOT of calories. While most cardio machines target mostly your legs, rowers engage all major muscle groups in your body, including your core and shoulders, Sarah Fuhrmann, the owner of ucanrow2 and a certified rowing instructor, told Live Science. Moreover, rowing machines will not put excessive strain on your joints or take up a huge chunk of your floor space — unlike the best treadmills, for example. You can read more about the benefits of these exercise machines in our Rowing machines FAQs section down below. 

We have tried and tested some of the best rowing machines on the market to help you pick the right model. We looked at their design, features, durability and ease of use. We also checked whether they make a lot of noise or require an additional subscription. Scroll down to our How we test section to find out more about our testing protocol. 

From budget options and beginner-friendly machines to state-of-the-art premium rowers for fitness fanatics, here is our roundup of the best rowing machines the money can buy in 2024. 

The quick list

See the quick list below for a brief overview of our favorite rowers, or scroll further down for more in-depth reviews of each machine.

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The best rowing machines we recommend in 2024: Fully tested by our experts with hands-on, real-world experience

The best rowing machine overall

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The Concept2 RowErg needs no introduction — this iconic rowing machine takes the top spot thanks to its unbeatable performance, sturdy design, and data-tracking prowess.    

This top-end model is beloved by rowers, too, and it's regularly used in prestigious indoor rowing competitions and installed in gyms across the country. When we tested it out during our Concept2 RowErg review, we found it delivered a smooth, comfortable workout and we were happily surprised at how quiet it was, too. 

Keeping track of how much you've rowed (and being rewarded when you reach landmarks) is simple with the Concept2 logbook. All that data is synced, which means you can also enter competitions and pit yourself against other users over set distances.

The flywheel is common to all air-resistance machines and produces a white noise that is certainly louder than a magnetic rowing machine, and less appealing than the swoosh of the water rower, but the Concept2 RowErg's noise levels aren't excessive. We found it produced around 70-100 dB while in use, which is similar to a regular washing machine. 

The rowing machine's monitor is compatible with the free ErgData app, which allows you to monitor all your performance statistics; it stores and displays your workout results; and it uploads everything to the Concept2 online logbook. The app also works with Android and iOS devices. The monitor also connects to a suite of other apps so you can take advantage of online classes, coaching and training programs. You can even sync up to virtual racing. 

The advantage of the machine's simple design and tech is that there's very little to go wrong, and people tend to keep their Concept2 RowErg for many years, replacing parts as they wear out and taking advantage of the extremely helpful customer support.

• Read our full Concept2 RowErg review

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Best water-based rowing machine

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The Ergatta Rower is the best water-based rowing machine we have ever tested, period. It is stylish, durable, and offers a great rowing experience. During our Ergatta Rower review, it particularly impressed us with its extensive workout gamification. 

The Ergatta Rower gamifies regular exercise sessions with workout modes such as “Meteor” and “Pulse” requiring you to increase and decrease your effort in order to hit targets. There is a fantastically fun, adrenaline-pumping race mode too, which sees you go head to head with several other members of the thousands-strong Ergatta community or friends you’ve connected with via the platform. As sporty sorts, we found this extra competitive element was a major motivator. 

We also liked how the entire Ergatta platform experience was personalized to us. An initial 1,000 meter calibration test was used to determine our ability level, and workouts were adjusted accordingly.

Designed with apartment living in mind, the Ergatta's handcrafted cherry wood frame also looks fantastic. It can be folded flat and stored upright too, so it takes up a patch of floor little over 20 square inches when not in use. 

The monthly membership costs means it’s on the expensive side, but if you’re looking to replace your gym membership with this motivational machine then we think it’s worth it. 

• Read our Ergatta Rower review

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Best value rowing machine

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The Proform 750R is solid, quiet and comfortable. It’s not flashy — there’s no touchscreen display here and it’s not built from aesthetically-pleasing wood. But during our ProForm 750R review, we found it performs well, offering consistent, magnetic-based resistance and a whisper-quiet workout. If you're looking for a well-priced, well-built machine that doesn't come with unnecessary extras, then this is a perfect option at less than $600.

Like other Proform and NordicTrack models, this rower comes with a free trial to the iFit app, which contains plenty of workouts for you to follow — some led by famous Olympians. During classes, the resistance on your machine will be adjusted by your instructor’s prompts, which is a neat little extra.

However, to access this feature – and to be able to clearly see the workout – you’ll need to secure a tablet to the front of your machine. There is a basic digital display included with the rower, which will show you metrics such as calories, distance, speed, time and strokes per minute, but you won’t be able to see the iFit classes on this.

Despite the lack of screen, we think you’d be hard pressed to find a better option at this mid-range price. The machine comes with 24 different resistance levels – we found the top-end of this to be suitably challenging. It’s also incredibly easy to fold away, making it a good option for those with limited floor space.

Be warned that the set-up process is quite tricky for this rower. The machine is incredibly heavy to move around – make sure you have a friend to help you with the installation process – and the screws come vacuum packed, which make them difficult to access. Once installed, the machine is solid and sturdy, but be prepared to sink some time into the set-up. It wheels into position too, though we only tried it on a hard floor. It might be harder to move on a carpet.

• Read our full ProForm 750R review

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Best rowing machine for beginners

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Rowing is not as intuitive as running or cycling, which is why many beginners feel apprehensive about trying this calorie-busting activity. But with the Hydrow Wave rower, even a complete novice will quickly get a good grasp of rowing basics.     

Having tested (and fallen in love with) the original Hydrow, our expert was understandably sceptical about any attempt to improve this impressive machine. Yet, credit where credit’s due, it has managed to do incredibly well during our Hydrow Wave review. 

The inaugural machine scored top marks for its accessible and engaging rowing workouts, likable instructors and realistic electromagnetic resistance system, but lost points for its hard to accommodate dimensions and high asking price. The Hydrow Wave maintains the original’s winning formula of fun workouts and a real rowing feel, but packs all of this into a smaller, lighter machine. And the best thing? At $1,495, it’s $1,000 cheaper than its predecessor.

Despite its significantly lower price tag, the Hydrow Wave still benefits from full access to the thousands of workouts available on the Hydrow platform (if you pay a monthly membership fee). Rather than taking you into an artificially lit studio — à la Peloton and the like — each of these sessions brings you aboard the rowboat of a former Olympian, professional athlete or elite coach for a follow-along class on some of the world’s most beautiful waterways.

It’s for the reasons listed above that the Hydrow Wave equals the industry-standard Concept 2 RowErg as our top-scoring rowing machine. So if you’re looking for a new way to get in shape at home, we can’t recommend it highly enough.

•  Read our full Hydrow Wave review

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Best rowing machine for fun workouts

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If you want to make your rowing sessions fun, you can't go wrong with the Aviron Strong Series Rower. This rowing machine offers a mind-boggling array of features designed to keep you coming back for more, from addictive games and rowing challenges to races against other Aviron users. With the Strong Series Rower, you can do your workouts while watching your favorite streaming services or row to the footage of beautiful sceneries from all across the globe. And if you do a great job with your workouts, you can even land on the leaderboards and unlock new features. The Aviron Strong Series Rower is designed to get you hooked on exercise — and does it well. 

This rowing machine is also exceptionally sturdy. Heavy and resilient, it holds up to 507 lbs (230 kg). During our Aviron Strong Series Rower review, it remained stable even during some of the most intense workouts. We were also impressed by its smooth, quiet strokes and user-friendly design — this rowing machines has an unusually high seat and widely adjustable footplates, making it accessible to larger individuals and those with limited mobility. 

However, there are two major downsides to the Aviron Strong Series Rower: size and cost. This rowing machine is priced at around $2,499 (plus it requires subscription fees to access the fun features) and it takes up a lot of space, even when stored upright. 

• Read our full Aviron Strong Series Rower review

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Best for rowing machine for small spaces

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Foldable rowing machines are a perfect option if you do not have much floor space available, or if you prefer to keep your exercise machines out of reach of children and curious pets — and this sleek piece of kit is one of the best on the market.  

Slickly designed and easy to fold away, the Echelon Smart Rower is a stylish and convenient bit of kit for home rowers. During our Echelon Smart Rower review, we tested it out for several weeks and enjoyed the vast range of classes – available via the app – and the whisper-quiet magnetic resistance on the machine.

There’s a lot to like about this particular rower. We were really impressed with how easy it was to set-up (although it was heavy to move around) and the foldable mechanism is very straightforward to operate. And despite the folding hinge, the machine felt solid and sturdy throughout our rowing sessions. 

There’s no screen, which is a shame as you need to view the Echelon app to track your metrics. Instead, there’s an ‘arm’ that can hold your tablet or phone (we'd recommend sticking with a tablet, as phone screens are too small.)

At $999, this is a fairly mid-range option, but prices can soon rack up when you calculate the additional cost of the Echelon app subscription ($34.99 per month.) Without the app, you don’t get any feedback on things like resistance levels or your speed – which means you can’t really track your progression. 

There are a wealth of classes available on the app though, so if you need a little extra motivation to get going then this could be a great option. It will certainly look the part in anyone’s home gym, thanks to its sleek design.

• Read our full Echelon Smart Rower review