9 Best Rowing Machines of 2026

The Concept2 RowErg is the reference machine for indoor rowing, and its spec sheet explains why it tops this list on value. It costs $990 with standard legs, includes the PM5 Performance Monitor and a device holder, and Concept2 rates it for users up to 500 lb in its own testing. The monitor connects to the free ErgData app and, by Concept2's count, more than 40 other apps, so no subscription is required. The frame is 96 inches long and 24 inches wide, and Concept2 recommends 9 by 4 feet of space with clearance while rowing. For storage it separates into two parts, roughly 25 by 33 by 54 inches with standard legs, and caster wheels help move it. The trade-offs for small homes are the long footprint and the air flywheel, which pushes air as you row and is not sold as a quiet machine. If silence matters most, a water or magnetic rower further down this list is the better fit.

The WaterRower Original suits people who want a rower that looks like furniture and goes away between workouts. It is built from solid Appalachian hardwood, hand-finished in Danish oil and made in Rhode Island, with six wood finishes listed. Resistance comes from the patented WaterFlywheel, a paddle spinning in a water tank, so the harder you pull, the more resistance you feel. WaterRower says the machine runs quietly with only the sound of moving water and that, stood upright, it takes up no more floor space than a dining chair, which matches this list's focus on quiet, stowable cardio. The S4 Bluetooth Monitor shows stroke rate, intensity and distance and connects to WaterRower Connect and other apps. There is no screen with classes, and the seat sits only 12 inches off the floor unless you add the HiRise adapter. The warranty covers the frame for 5 years and parts for 3 years. We could not verify the USD price from our location.

The Hydrow Wave is the smallest rower in Hydrow's lineup and the one the company recommends for people who have limited space and want the quietest experience. It measures 80 by 19 by 43 inches, weighs 102 lbs and supports users up to 375 pounds. Resistance comes from Hydrow's patented electromagnetic drag, which the company describes as nearly silent in operation. The 16 inch touchscreen does not rotate, but it streams Hydrow's library of more than 6,000 classes, including rows filmed on real waterways plus strength, yoga and Pilates. That content requires the Hydrow membership at $50 per month for the household, which adds $600 a year to the $1,895 sale price we saw. Upright storage is optional and needs the $190 Vertical Anchor. Hydrow includes a free 30-day home trial, free shipping and a 1-year warranty, which is shorter than several rivals here. Buy it for the coaching and the quiet ride, not for the lowest total cost.

The Aviron Strong Series Rower combines a rowing machine with a game console. Its 16 inch HD touchscreen rotates and pivots and runs races, scenic routes, guided programs and streaming apps, with a 22 inch Pro screen offered for $199 more. Resistance blends an air fan with magnetic resistance up to 100 lbs, which Aviron uses for strength-style workouts as well as cardio. At 84 inches long it is shorter than the Concept2, it stands upright without a wall mount, and Aviron rates it at 507 lbs and users up to 6 feet 8 inches. Aviron states it runs at about 60 decibels, or conversational volume. The headline 20-year warranty applies only while your initial membership is active and only if you bought direct; otherwise coverage is 10 years on the frame and 1 year on parts. Aviron says membership is optional for streaming, metrics and tracking. At $1,799 on sale it costs more than the Concept2 or Ergatta Lite.

The Ergatta Lite is a smaller, cheaper version of Ergatta's wooden water rower, built for people who find plain rowing dull. Its 17.3 inch HD touchscreen runs game-based workouts with speed and cadence targets, and the same content runs on the larger Ergatta Luxe. The frame is handcrafted from oak in the USA and weighs 72 lbs with water and 40 lbs without. In use it measures 82 by 23 by 38 inches; stood upright for storage it takes 21 by 23 inches of floor and needs a 7 foot ceiling. Water resistance adjusts naturally with how hard you pull. The limits are 6 feet 4 inches or a 38 inch inseam and 320 lbs, so taller or heavier users should look at the Luxe, rated to 6 feet 8 inches and 500 lbs at $1,999 on sale. Membership runs $32.50 per month on a 1-year plan or $27 on a 5-year plan. Ergatta includes a 5-year warranty and a 30-day trial that refunds both the rower and the membership.

The XTERRA ERG550W brings water resistance down to a sale price of $499.99, about $400 below its regular price when we checked. Its vertically mounted tank uses 16 impeller blades, and you set one of 6 resistance levels by changing the water level. A 5 inch LCD without backlight shows basic metrics and runs 5 workout programs, while Bluetooth FTMS lets it connect to third-party apps such as Kinomap, so no paid membership is needed. Set up, the rower measures 76.7 by 20.1 inches; stood on end with its transport wheels, the footprint shrinks to 36.4 by 20.1 inches. It weighs 61.4 lbs and holds users up to 300 lbs, but XTERRA recommends it for heights from 5 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 1 inch, which rules out taller rowers. The warranty covers the frame for 3 years and parts for 1 year. For stowable water rowing on a budget it is one of the best values here.

The NordicTrack RW900 has the most hardware for the money among the connected rowers: a 24 inch pivoting HD touchscreen and 26 levels of what NordicTrack calls Silent Magnetic Resistance, for $1,799.99 on sale when we checked. iFIT trainers can change the resistance automatically during classes, and NordicTrack lists more than 10,000 iFIT workouts plus streaming apps. The footprint is 80.1 by 21.8 by 52.7 inches and the user capacity is 300 lbs. The warranty covers the frame for 10 years, with 2 years on parts and 1 year on the tablet and labor. The catch for this list's readers is storage: NordicTrack does not document folding or upright storage for the RW900, so it needs a permanent spot. An iFIT Pro membership is required for full content after the included first month. The 30-day in-home trial carries a $249.99 return shipping charge, so measure the space before buying.

The Echelon Row Smart Home Rower takes a different approach to connected rowing: instead of a built-in screen, it has a device holder with a 90 degree swivel for your own tablet or phone, linked by Bluetooth to the Echelon Fit app. Resistance changes come from a controller built into the handlebar, so you can adjust effort mid-interval without reaching for a dial. Echelon describes a space-saving foldable design, and the machine measures 84 by 21 by 45 inches, weighs 106.5 lbs and supports users up to 300 lbs. When we checked it was $749.99 on sale, down from $1,299.99. Classes require the Premier membership at $39.99 per month after a 30-day free trial, or $399.99 for a year, shared with up to 5 family members. The product page does not state the resistance type, the number of levels or a noise rating, which makes it harder to compare with the magnetic and water rowers here.

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 is the cheapest way onto this list: it was $399.99 at Sunny's US store when we checked. It uses magnetic resistance with 8 levels set by a twist knob, which Sunny describes as smooth and quiet, and an LCD that cycles through time, count, calories and total count. The steel rail folds upright, shrinking the machine from 81.8 by 18.9 inches to a folded footprint of 43.3 by 18.9 inches, and transport wheels help move it. It weighs 60.9 lbs. The limits show the price: the maximum user weight is 250 lbs, the lowest here, Sunny lists no Bluetooth connection, and the warranty covers the frame for 3 years but other parts for only 180 days. For a beginner who wants quiet, foldable cardio and can live with basic tracking, it covers the essentials for a fraction of the connected rowers' price.