Best Rowing Machines for Home | Runner-Tested for Every Budget

The best rowing machines can be a great addition to your training, especially when you want to keep building your cardio without adding even more miles.

As runners, we love to run. Shocking, I know.

But our bodies can benefit from mixing things up and giving those hard-working running muscles a break. That is where cross-training comes in.

Rowing is a great way to keep your heart rate up without adding more impact to your week.

It’s also easy to adjust a rowing workout based on what you need that day. Keep things easy when your legs need a break, or add some harder intervals when you’re ready to put in a little more work.

Of course, the best rowing machine depends on how you plan to use it, how much space you have, and what you’re willing to spend.

We’ve pulled together some of the best rowing machines for home gyms to help you narrow down your options.

Best Rowing Machines

If you’re looking to add more cross-training to your routine, these are the best rowing machines our team gives a thumbs-up to.

• Best Budget Rower – Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Magnetic Rower
• Best Classic Rower – Concept2 Rower
• Best Value Rower – Echelon Row Smart Home Rower
• Best Gamified Workouts Rower – Aviron Strong Series Rower
• Best for Immersive Workouts – Hydrow Origin Rower
• Best for iFit Workouts – NordicTrack RW900 Rower
• Best Community-Focused Rower – Peloton Row+

7 Best Rowing Machines for Home

We’ve included a bit of everything, from rowers with all the bells and whistles to simpler options that let you hop on and get in a solid workout. We recommend all of these rowers, but it depends on what you’re looking to get out of a rowing machine. And if you’re looking for our recommendations for the best treadmills for the home, we’ve got you covered there as well.

Now, let’s look at each of the best home rowing machines one by one:

Best Budget Rower – Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Magnetic Rower ($199)

This is an ideal option if you want to add rowing into your training but don’t want to spend a ton of money.

The Sunny rower is our budget-friendly pick, and it’s definitely one of the most basic options on this list.

You get what you pay for here, but it can do the trick if you just want a simple way to add cross-training to your routine.

Taller runners may also find it a little limiting since there may not be enough room to move through the full rowing motion comfortably.

Oh, and once you build it, you’ll probably want to leave it where it is rather than moving it around.

Best Classic Rower – Concept2 Rower ($990)

The OG rowing machine and a go-to for anyone who wants a straightforward, reliable rower without the extras.

The Concept2 is the no-frills option on our list, and you’ve probably seen one in plenty of gyms over the years.

It’s a straightforward rower without the classes, subscriptions, or extra features you’ll find on some newer machines.

You get a simple digital screen to track your workout metrics, and that’s about it.

It’s also lightweight and easy to move around, making it a great pick if you just want to row without all the bells and whistles.

If you’re looking for a rower for HIIT or CrossFit-style workouts, this will get the job done.

Best Value Rower – Echelon Row Smart Home Rower ($1,299 on sale for $899)

A nice middle ground for anyone who wants a connected rowing experience without going all-in on a premium machine.

The Echelon rower is a nice option if you want some of the perks of a fancier rower without spending quite as much. It’s currently on sale for under $1,000, which is a bargain!

There’s no built-in screen, but you can set up your tablet or phone and connect through Bluetooth to use the Echelon app.

When your workout is done, the rower folds up so you can store it out of the way.

Best Gamified Workouts Rower – Aviron Strong Series Rower ($2,549 on sale for $1,999)

If you get bored easily while cross-training (I mean, who doesn’t?!) Aviron’s games make it a whole lot easier to stay focused and maybe even get a little competitive.

The Aviron rower is a great option if you want plenty of ways to keep your workouts interesting.

You can take classes, play games, try scenic rows, or stream while you work out. There is a monthly (or yearly) membership, but it’s not required unless you want access to regularly updated workouts and content.

It’s also one of the more accommodating rowers we’ve found, supporting users up to 6’8″ and 507lbs. 

And when you’re done rowing, it folds up so you can store it out of the way.

Best for Immersive Workouts – Hydrow Origin Rower ($2,195 on sale for $1,745)

Follow along with professional rowers for workouts that bring the experience of being out on the water indoors.

The Hydrow Origin offers more than rowing, with over 5,000 on-demand classes, including strength, circuit training, yoga, and mobility.

We really like the instructional classes for improving your form, especially if you’re new to rowing. The electromagnetic resistance is also super quiet and designed to give you more of that on-the-water feel.

Plus, professional rowers who spend their days rowing in incredible places worldwide lead all the classes.

Best for iFit Workouts – NordicTrack RW900 Rower ($2,799 on sale for $1,799)

If you already love iFit, the RW900 brings those workouts and training options to the rower. It’s a high-quality machine that will last a long time. Plus, with iFit, you can try all kinds of workouts and incorporate the rower.

If you’re already a fan of NordicTrack, their rower is another solid machine for your home gym. It’s a good-quality option that’s designed to hold up for the long haul.

With an iFit membership, you also get access to a variety of workouts beyond rowing. The seat even has built-in handlebars you can use for Pilates and other core workouts, giving you more ways to use the machine beyond cardio.

The rower automatically adjusts resistance based on the workout and offers 26 levels.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t fold up, so once you set it up, it has to stay where it is.

Best Community-Focused Rower – Peloton Row+ ($3,495)

If you want a little more support, Peloton gives you a built-in community along with the guidance to help improve your rowing form.

The Peloton Row+ is a great option if you want a little extra guidance while you row. The + means it’s powered by Peloton IQ, which uses a built-in camera to check your form and help you make adjustments along the way.

We also like that the screen swivels for workouts off the rower, so you’ll get more out of the machine than just rowing! It has a fan to keep you cool, and voice commands for a totally hands-free experience. That means you can keep working out and ask the Peloton IQ to make changes (for example, changing weights during a strength class).

When you’re done, simply fold it up and connect it to a wall-mounted latch to save floor space.

Peloton All Access membership is separate from the purchase of the rower

The most important thing is finding the machine that is best for how you train.

We hope that this list has helped in your search for the best rowing machines.

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