9 Best Rowing Machines

Buying an indoor rower is a little like adopting a dog: the right one changes your life, the wrong one makes you question your decision-making while it stares at you from the corner of the room. The good news? Rowing is one of the rare “cardio” things that also feels like you’re doing something usefullike moving furniture, escaping a zombie movie, or powering a tiny Victorian steamship (respectfully).

A rowing machine can deliver a low-impact, full-body workout that trains legs, core, and upper body in one smooth movement. But “best rowing machine” means different things depending on whether you want whisper-quiet apartment cardio, CrossFit-style suffering, or a gorgeous wooden rower that looks like it belongs in a design magazine.

Below are the 9 best rowing machines worth your money in the U.S. market right now, with clear recommendations on who each one is forand who should keep scrolling.

Why Rowing Machines Are a Big Deal (Besides the Sweat)

Full-body training without pounding your joints

Rowing combines a strong leg drive with a controlled pull and core stabilization. Because you’re seated and gliding, it’s typically gentler on knees and hips than high-impact cardio, while still letting you work hard enough to earn that “I did something today” glow.

Cardio, strength endurance, and posture-friendly muscle work

A solid rowing session challenges your heart and lungs while building muscular endurance through the legs, glutes, back, and arms. It also rewards good posture and rhythmwhen you row well, you feel it immediately; when you row like a question mark, your body sends a strongly worded complaint.

Efficient workouts for real life schedules

Rowing is easy to scale: you can do steady-state “zone 2” sessions, spicy intervals, or quick technique drills. If you’re short on time, a 15–20 minute session can still pack a punch.

How to Choose the Best Indoor Rower for Your Home

1) Resistance type: air, magnetic, water, or hybrid

• Air resistance: Smooth, responsive, and great for intervals. Usually louder (fan sound).
• Magnetic resistance: Quieter and controlled. Great for apartments and early mornings.
• Water resistance: Natural feel with a soothing “whoosh.” Often gorgeous, sometimes pricey.
• Hybrid (air + magnetic): A mix of responsiveness and controloften paired with “smart” features.

2) Space and storage: measure before you fall in love

Rowers are long. Many store upright, fold, or break into piecesjust remember that “stores upright” still means “tall object living in your home now.” If you’re tight on space, prioritize a stable, easy storage method you’ll actually use.

3) The “subscription tax” (and how to avoid it)

Connected rowing machines can be wildly motivating, but some features live behind a monthly membership. Decide whether you want:

• Subscription optional: Great hardware you can use fully without paying forever.
• Subscription preferred: You want coaching, programs, and a library that keeps you consistent.

4) Comfort and fit: seat height, footplates, and your future self

Look for a comfortable seat, secure foot straps, and smooth rail travel. Taller users should verify max inseam/height. If you have mobility concerns, a higher seat height can be a game changer for getting on and off safely.

Quick safety note about used smart rowers

If you shop secondhand, always check for current recallsespecially on machines with large consoles. For example, the U.S. CPSC announced a recall involving certain NordicTrack rowers (model NTRW19147 / RW900) due to a screen console overheating fire hazard. If you’re buying used, verify the model number and confirm the remedy has been completed before you bring it home.

The 9 Best Rowing Machines (With Real-World Reasons)

1) Concept2 RowErg (PM5) Best Overall for Most People

If “buy once, cry once” had a cardio mascot, it would be the Concept2 RowErg. It’s the gym-standard, competition-trusted rower with a reputation for durability, consistent feel, and strong resale value. The PM5 monitor is excellent for tracking performance and supports popular connectivity options.

• Best for: All-around training, intervals, progress tracking, long-term value
• Resistance: Air
• Why it wins: Reliable, widely supported, great data, stores upright
• Skip if: You need near-silent rowing or hate fan noise

2) Hydrow Origin Rower Best “On-the-Water” Coaching Experience

Hydrow is for people who want rowing to feel like an experience, not a chore. The Origin pairs a sleek, stable machine with immersive coached sessions filmed on water, plus a strong training ecosystem. It’s the pick for motivation: if you’re more likely to show up when someone is coaching you through it, Hydrow gets you moving.

• Best for: Studio-style coaching, scenic workouts, staying consistent
• Resistance: Electromagnetic
• Notable: 22″ HD touchscreen, upright storage kit available (sold separately)
• Skip if: You want a “no subscription, no fuss” rower

3) Peloton Row / Row+ Best for Form Feedback and Peloton Fans

Peloton’s rower is the “smart coach” choiceespecially if you already love Peloton programming. A standout feature is real-time technique feedback and post-class form insights. It’s also designed to transition into off-row workouts with a rotating screen, which helps if you want a one-stop fitness hub.

• Best for: Guided training + form help, Peloton ecosystem households
• Resistance: Magnetic (quiet, smooth)
• Notable: Large HD touchscreen; designed for easy transitions to other workouts
• Skip if: You’re allergic to premium pricing and memberships

4) WaterRower Original (Oak) Best Wooden Rower for Minimalist Vibes

The WaterRower is the rower you don’t mind leaving out in your living space. It’s beautiful, and the water flywheel delivers a smooth, natural stroke with that calming water sound that makes you feel like you’re doing something athletic and poetic at the same time.

• Best for: Quiet-ish rowing, design-forward homes, water feel
• Resistance: Water
• Why it’s loved: Looks great, stores upright, soothing sound
• Skip if: You want built-in classes without adding apps

5) Ergatta (WaterRower-built) Best Gamified Rower That Doesn’t Feel Like Gym Class

Ergatta is what happens when a water rower and a video game have a very productive meeting. It’s aimed at people who stay motivated by goals, races, and game-like progression rather than instructor-led workouts. The interface is clean, the design is high-end, and the programming leans “competitive fun” instead of “shouty bootcamp.”

• Best for: Gamified training, performance goals, design + tech balance
• Resistance: Water
• Standout: Goal-based workouts and racing-style challenges
• Skip if: You want traditional coaching with detailed technique cues

6) Aviron Strong Series Best for Gamers and “I Need Variety” People

Aviron leans hard into variety: games, programs, challenges, and a content library that tries to keep your brain entertained while your legs do the heavy lifting. Many users love it because it feels less like “endless rowing” and more like “I’m unlocking my next level of fitness like it’s a quest.”

• Best for: Gamified workouts, variety, competitive households
• Resistance: Hybrid (commonly air + magnetic style experience)
• Why it’s different: Entertainment-first training options
• Skip if: You want a simple machine with zero screens

7) Echelon Row-S Best Folding Smart Rower for Mid-Range Value

Want smart features without paying “premium connected fitness” money forever? The Echelon Row-S delivers a big touchscreen experience and magnetic resistance, plus a fold-up design for space-conscious homes. It’s a practical pick if you want classes and convenience but still care about footprint.

• Best for: Folding storage, app-based classes, quiet rowing
• Resistance: Magnetic with electronic levels + handlebar controls
• Notable: Large swivel touchscreen; folds upright
• Skip if: You need the “heavy, commercial” feel of gym rowers

8) Sole SR550 Best Comfort-Focused Smart Rower (Without the Mega-Screen Lifestyle)

The Sole SR550 is a strong “grown-up purchase” option: smooth motion, a built-in touchscreen (smaller than the giant studio screens), and a foldable design. It’s often recommended for people who want a modern, comfortable rower with useful featureswithout turning their living room into a boutique fitness showroom.

• Best for: Comfortable daily rowing, moderate tech, easy storage
• Resistance: Air + magnetic style motion (smooth, controlled feel)
• Why it works: Feature-rich but not overwhelming
• Skip if: You want the simplest “no screen ever” setup

9) Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5801 Best Budget Rower That Still Feels Legit

If your budget is tight but your motivation is strong, Sunny Health & Fitness makes one of the most commonly recommended entry-level magnetic rowers. It’s foldable, straightforward, and gets the job done: steady cardio, technique practice, and a gateway into rowing without a luxury price tag.

• Best for: Beginners, small budgets, apartments (quieter magnetic)
• Resistance: Magnetic
• Why it’s popular: Affordable, space-friendly, simple operation
• Skip if: You want advanced metrics, elite durability, or heavy sprint work

Honorable “niche pick” you might want instead

If you love high-intensity workouts and want a rugged air rower built for punishment, look at the AssaultRower Pro. It’s a favorite for HIIT-style sessions where the rower is basically a truth-telling machine: it reveals exactly how much effort you’re putting in, in real time.

Mini FAQ: Buying and Using a Rowing Machine Like a Pro

What’s the “best” resistance type?

For performance training and intervals, air is hard to beat. For quiet apartments, magnetic is your friend. For a natural feel and a rower you don’t want to hide, water is a classic.

Do I need classes?

You don’t need thembut they can keep you consistent. If you’ve ever bought equipment and then ghosted it, coaching or gamification may be worth the monthly cost because it gets you to show up.

What’s the #1 mistake beginners make?

Rowing with the arms first. Think: legs drive, then body swing, then arms. Your legs are the engine; your arms are the steering wheel.

Conclusion: The Best Rower Is the One You’ll Actually Use

If you want the safest “buy it and keep it forever” pick, go with the Concept2 RowErg. If you crave motivation from coaching and scenic sessions, Hydrow shines. If you love smart feedback, Peloton Row is the premium technique-forward choice. Prefer quiet rowing and a living-room-friendly look? WaterRower or Ergatta are hard to top. And if you’re starting on a budget, Sunny Health & Fitness gets you rowing without making your wallet cry.

Real-World Experiences With Rowing Machines (The Stuff You Only Learn After You Buy One)

Here’s what most people discover in the first few weeksno matter which of the “best rowing machines” they choose.

Your first week will be humbling (in a useful way)

Rowing looks simple until you try to do it with good form. The first few sessions often feel like your body is negotiating a new treaty: legs want to sprint, arms want to yank, and your core is silently filing a complaint. Expect a learning curve. The good news is that progress comes fastonce you get the rhythm, rowing starts to feel smooth and oddly satisfying, like cracking the code to a movement you didn’t know you needed.

“Rowing soreness” is a real genre of soreness

People expect legs and arms. Then they meet the surprise guests: upper back, lats, and that area around your ribs that makes you say, “Is that… a muscle?” It’s normal. The most common experience is getting sore from doing too much too soon because rowing doesn’t feel as brutal as it actually isuntil the next day. A gentle ramp-up (short sessions at first, with clean technique) usually keeps the honeymoon phase alive.

Noise matters more than you thinkespecially at 6 a.m.

In showrooms, everything seems quiet. In real life, air rowers create a fan sound that can be totally fine in a garage, but noticeable in an apartment with thin walls. Water rowers create a soothing “whoosh” that many people love, but it’s still sound. Magnetic rowers tend to be the stealthiestgreat if you want to row while someone else is sleeping or if you don’t want your neighbors to learn your interval schedule.

Storage is either easy… or a daily negotiation

A rower that stores upright is wonderfulunless it’s heavy and awkward for you to move, in which case it becomes a “once a month” event. Foldable designs help, but “foldable” doesn’t automatically mean “effortless.” Many owners end up leaving the machine out more often than planned. That’s not a failure; it’s actually a win, because visible equipment gets used. The best storage solution is the one that matches your routine and strength level, not the one that sounds nicest on a product page.

Subscriptions can be annoying… and also weirdly effective

A common experience with connected rowers is membership math: you start calculating cost per workout like a tiny accountant living in your brain. But here’s the honest partmany people row more consistently when coaching, challenges, or games remove the “What should I do today?” problem. If classes keep you rowing three or four times a week, the subscription may be cheaper than buying a machine you don’t touch.

The “best” rower becomes your favorite based on personality

Data lovers fall hard for performance monitors and repeatable workouts. Competitive people love leaderboards and races. Aesthetic-minded folks want a rower that fits the room. Busy parents often want the fastest setup and the least friction. Your most realistic long-term experience will be this: you’ll use the rower that fits your life, not the one that wins the most internet arguments. Pick the machine that makes it easiest to startand you’ll be amazed how quickly rowing becomes part of your week.