Concept2 RowErg
Gym Score 100/100
Best for
Serious rowers + anyone who values longevity over polish
Concept2 vs Hydrow vs Ergatta — Best Rower 2026
The rower market splits three ways. Concept2 is the eternal default — flywheel-based, no subscription, used in every CrossFit gym in the world. Hydrow brought magnetic resistance + premium video classes. Ergatta gamified the whole experience. Each wins for a different person.
Quick verdict
Concept2 wins for serious rowers and anyone who hates subscriptions. Hydrow wins for class-first users. Ergatta wins for adults who need gamification to stay consistent.
Ergatta Rower
Gym Score 63/100
Best for
Beginners who need gamification to stay consistent
Side by side
| Spec | Concept2 RowErg | Ergatta Rower |
|---|---|---|
| Gym Score | 100/100 | 63/100 |
| Rating | ★ 4 (12,988) | ★ 4.4 (520) |
| Tier | premium | premium |
| Best price | $990 | $2,499 |
| Resistance Type | Air | Water |
| Monitor | PM5 | — |
| Max User Weight | 500 lb | — |
| Damper | 1-10 setting | — |
| Display | — | Tablet-style |
| Membership | — | $29/mo |
Pros & cons
Concept2 RowErg
Pros
- +PM5 monitor is the gold standard
- +Air resistance feels natural
- +20+ year service life
- +Globally standardized watts metric
Cons
- −Loud (air rowers always are)
- −Not on Amazon (direct from Concept2)
- −No built-in classes
Ergatta Rower
Pros
- +Game-ified workouts
- +Water resistance feel
- +No instructor classes (game mode)
Cons
- −$29/mo membership
- −Games can feel gimmicky long-term
- −Less precise than PM5
See all rowing machines
These are three popular picks. The full rowing machines category has more, ranked by Gym Score.
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