If I could only own one piece of cardio kit, it would be a rowing machine. Why? Because from my experience, it builds fitness better than any other.
Rowing machines force your body to work as one to generate power, providing a low-impact workout that recruits most muscles across the body. If you use one consistently, your heart, lungs and muscles will reap the rewards.
Now which one should you buy? If fitness-boosting efficiency is your priority, look no further than the Concept2 RowErg – the robust rowing machine that dominates gym floors and fitness competitions the world over. If fun workouts are at the top of your wishlist, the compact Hydrow wave kept me entertained for hours with its pristine screen and immense library of follow-along classes.
There are other options out there worthy of your consideration too, each serving different fitness goals, audiences and budgets. I tested a selection of the best to bring you my top recommendations.
Read more: Best men’s gym trainers, tested by a fitness writer
The best rowing machines for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Concept2 RowErg: £990, Amazon.co.uk
- Best connected rowing machine – Hydrow wave rower: £1,315, Hydrow.com
- Best value for money – JTX freedom air: £499, JTXfitness.com
- Best water rower – Water Rower Original: £1,199, Waterrower.co.uk
- Best premium machine – TechnoGym skillrow: £3,735, Technogym.com
How I tested
I’m an amateur club rower who competes in national tournaments, meaning I have plenty of experience on the water. I have also used plenty of rowing machines over the years to build boat-ready fitness back on dry land. I tested each of the machines on this list against a list of strict criteria, looking for key factors such as resistance, feedback, comfort and noise levels. You can read more about my in-depth testing process at the end of this guide.
Read more: Best protein powders for supporting your fitness goals
Concept 2 RowErg
Best: overall rowing machine
Resistance: Air
Dimensions: 244cm x 61cm
Weight: 26kg
Why we love it
- Responsive flywheel
- Ergonomic
- Easy to store and transport
Take note
- Need a tablet for more immersive follow-along workouts
You just can’t have an indoor rowing round-up without a Concept2. The RowErg replaces the industry standard model D and relies on air resistance to deliver an effective workout, which you can track on the clear, concise and well-organised PM5 performance monitor.
The flywheel feels very responsive to the effort you put in, so you feel in control of your session, and the nickel-plated steel chain is never sloppy at the catch, with a smooth action throughout. The high build quality the American manufacturer is renowned for is evident, and the whole machine feels ergonomic when in use, with a nicely weighted handle, comfortable seat and effortless monorail. The unit is wheeled and, like other Concept2s before it, it can actually be separated into two pieces (without tools) for easy storage and transportation.
In short: the concept2 RowErg is a brilliant machine that is built to last. if you want engaging visuals, the black and white PM5 monitor won’t hit the spot, delivering all the metrics you need for a great workout and nothing more. But y9u can link it to third-party apps via a phone or tablet for fun follow-along workouts.
Buy now £990, Amazon.co.uk
Xterra ERG600W
Best: budget water rower
Resistance: Water
Dimenions: 205cm x 56cm
Weight: 39kg
Why we love it
- Quiet
- Can be stored on its end
Take note
- Tank needs to to be manually filled and emptied
If you haven’t got the £1,000 budget for the original water rower (£1,099, Waterrower.co.uk), this is a solid budget-friendly alternative. It offers six levels of resistance, adjusted by manually filling or emptying the tank – a surprisingly simple process, I found, courtesy of the machine’s clever design.
Instead of a chain drive powering the water paddles, there’s a belt, which provided a fluid stroke and made the machine incredibly quiet – all you can hear are the paddles in the tank going through the water. Contoured seats, large flexible foot plates and a smooth rail system meant, even when I was rowing over greater distances, I never had to worry about the machine and could just concentrate on my technique.
The LCD console has programmable modes such as racing against the computer and various countdown programmes measuring time, distance, strokes and calories. Meanwhile, for storage, the rower stands neatly on its end.
Buy now £499, Sweatband.com
Hydrow wave rower
Best: connected rowing machine
Resistance: Electromagnetic
Dimensions: 204cm x 49cm
Weight: 46.3kg
Why we love it
- Smooth rowing action
- Reassuring build quality
- Lighter than the original
Take note
- Kit for storing upright is sold separately
The wave aims to be a more compact (by 30 per cent) version of the original Hydrow. Thankfully, it still retains most of the features we liked so much from the original – such as the “drag technology”, which combines magnetic resistance with a polyester belt to produce a smooth rowing action with no stutter.
It also shares Hydrow’s brilliant coaching platform. For £44 per month, you gain access to thousands of workouts from various rivers across the globe, each showing a third-person view of your coach in the boat (there are strength training, flexibility and Pilates sessions available as well). The coaches are both highly motivating and extremely knowledgeable, providing excellent technique cues throughout – something I really liked.
In short: there’s a lot to like. But the Hydrow wave does have some cost-saving tweaks too.
For starters, the wave’s 16in screen has been reduced by 6in and is now static, so you can no longer swivel it for non-rower workouts. Also, rather than the original’s aluminium build, it has a lighter polycarbonate frame.
Thankfully, it retains a robust feel and tends to cost a few hundred quid less than the original, depending on the offers in place at the time of purchase.
Once you’re finished with the rower, you can store it upright, but you need a vertical anchor kit for this, which will cost you extra. You can also order the wave in four different bright or bold colours if you want it to make more of a statement.
Buy now £1435, Hydrow.com
JTX freedom air rowing machine
Best: value for money rowing machine
Resistance: Magnetic and air
Dimensions: 230cm x 55cm
Weight: 40kg
Why we love it
- Comfortable
- Easy to read the monitor
Every air rower is naturally going to be compared to the industry-standard Concept2 RowErg. While not at the top of my list, this JTX model holds its own impressively well – and it’s only a little over half the price.
Throughout assembly, which is easier with two people, you can tell the component quality is high with the freedom air – it’s a rower that’s built to last. Both the seat and foot-plates are comfortable, and the slide rail allows for a smooth stroke with no lag on the handle.
It combines the fan wheel with magnetic features to deliver eight levels of resistance, providing a realistically dynamic rowing experience – the harder you pull, the harder it gets. The performance monitor is easy to read, no matter how hard you’re working, and it has all the relevant metrics as well as being heart-rate-monitor compatible.
Buy now £499, Jtxfitness.com
Water Rower Original
Best: water rowing machine
Resistance: Water
Dimensions: 209cm x 56cm
Weight: 30.5kg (without water)
Why we love it
- Good looks
- Can be stored upright
Take note
- Expensive
Rowing machines are historically ugly bits of kit. Water Rower changed that with its fabulous design, crafting something you’d be proud to display in your home.
Thankfully, it’s not a case of style over substance – the performance of the S4 is exceptional. It uses paddles inside the water tank to create the drag as you pull the soft handle, which grips well. There are no damper settings – the harder you row, the more resistance you’ll feel from the water – and the rower produces a lovely fluid stroke even when you’re going hard. In addition, the monitor is well set out and gives you all the necessary data, from stroke rate to total distance.
At the end of your session, you can store the rower upright, giving it the smallest footprint of any on this list, But when something looks this good, it’s almost a shame to put it in a corner.
Buy now £1199, Waterrower.co.uk
TechnoGym skillrow
Best: premium rowing machine
Resistance: Magnetic and air
Dimensions: 43cm x 62cm
Weight: 61kg
Why we love it
- Realistic rowing experience
- Supremely ergonomic
- Quiet
Take note
- Very expensive
- Doesn’t feature a large screen
This rowing machine is brilliant. It is also incredibly expensive, even without a HD screen. It does, however, promise startling realism courtesy of a “multidrive” hybrid resistance profile that uses both air and magnets.
The primary resistance (there are 10 levels) is all air and offers a smooth yet dynamic rowing movement. This felt more like rowing through water than any other machine I tested. You can also switch to “power mode”, where the machine uses magnets to provide more resistance and deliver a power-building stimulus for your muscles.
From seat to footplate, this was the most ergonomic rower on test, with a build quality that is second to none. You can just row using the standard metrics displayed on the rower’s backlit monitor or you can clip in a smartphone and use the skillrow app, which broadens your training options to include training videos and online racing.
Finally, you won’t need to worry if you train at unsocial hours because the machine is very muted during use. The skillrow effortlessly splits into two pieces that can be stored on their ends too.
Buy now £3735, Technogym.com
NordicTrack RW900
Best: resistance setup rowing machine
Resistance: Magnetic and air
Dimensions: 208cm x 55cm
Weight: 58kg
Why we love it
- Free one-year membership to training library
- Resistance adjusts automatically
The RW900’s greatest strength is its versatility. It is another dual resistance rower, offering 10 levels of air resistance and a further 26 of magnetic, so there really is something for all fitness levels.
Getting up close and personal with the various parts of the rower during setup, I could tell the RW900 is a high-quality, robust machine that can withstand a lot of punishment. The finishing touch is the 22in HD touch tablet, which connects you to NordicTrack’s iFit training library – membership is free for one year after purchase. Without iFit, you can still use the rower manually. But the live and on-demand workouts are well curated and will benefit all experience levels.
One of the standout features during these workouts is the automatic resistance adjusting to match the wind and water conditions you’re seeing on-screen. All that’s left for you to focus on is working hard and nailing your form.
Buy now £1599, Nordictrack.co.uk
Echelon row
Best: rowing machine for live classes
Resistance: Magnetic
Dimensions: 221cm x 26cm
Weight: 136kg
Why we love it
- Echelon app offers up to five live daily classes
- Resistance can be easily adjusted
- Handy folding design
Take note
- Use your phone or tablet instead of a dedicated screen
This rower launched in 2020 – prime time for home gym kit – but its continued popularity is well-deserved. It’s also one of the most cost-effective options on this list.
Echelon saves money by outsourcing a screen to your phone or tablet. There, via the Echelon app, you can stream an impressive library of workouts, with memberships starting at £19.99 a month.
The app is split into featured, on-demand and live tabs, giving access to hundreds of classes for all levels and all outcomes. If you’re into training live alongside a trainer and other “real” rowers, the app also boasts up to five live classes every day. These classes put plenty of emphasis on technique, as well as giving you a thorough workout, which I appreciated.
Away from the app, the Echelon is a quality machine with straightforward assembly and 32 levels of smooth resistance coming from a magnetic flywheel. One of the standout features is the resistance or damper control, which is increased or decreased using two red buttons in the handle, so it’s easy to adjust mid-row without disrupting your stroke. Foot rests were sturdy and adjustable, and the rower stayed static during even the most energetic session.
The Echelon also made storage very easy – with a very simple action, you can fold the rail upwards so you don’t have to worry about it taking over a room.
Buy now £699, Echelonfit.uk
Your questions about rowing machines answered
What is the best rowing machine?
The Concept2 RowErg is the gold standard for rowing machines. It provides a smooth stroke reminiscent of the dynamism of being on the water, it’s incredibly hardy and it is second to none for building fitness. For that reason, it earns the top spot.
The only drawback is the basic black and white monitor – fine for keen rowers and CrossFit fans, but not particularly engaging for those simply looking to get in shape sans-gym.
For this latter crowd, the Hydrow wave is the way to go. The machine itself is brilliant, and Hydrow’s online platform offers thousands of immersive classes that will develop your heart, lungs and rowing technique – all while being incredibly enjoyable.
And finally, for a more cost-effective option, try the JTX freedom air. This rower provides a smooth row through its hybrid resistance system (magnetic and air), all for a fraction of the cost of competitors.
How I tested the best rowing machines
I’ve used lots of different rowing machines over the years, so I know exactly what to look for in the best ones. I tested each of the machines on this list against the following criteria:
Is it safe to row every day?
As with any exercise you’re new to, it’s important to gradually build up strength and stamina – you wouldn’t try to squat 200kg on your first day in the gym. So, while it is safe to row every day, it is dependent on how intense your workouts are.
However, be wary that over-training can lead to injuries and your body needs time to recover from hard workouts. If you’re buying your first rowing machine, start slow and build up to stronger workouts.
What muscles does a rowing machine work?
An oft-quoted study from the English Institute of Sport found that rowing recruits 86 per cent of muscles in your body. Most of the power comes from the muscles in your lower body, but you will also engage your core, back muscles and biceps while drive phase and finish of each stroke. This won’t provide the stimulus needed to build muscle, that is what strength training is far, but it will provide an excellent conditioning workout.
What is the difference between a magnetic, air and water-powered rowing machine?
How much do you need to spend?
You can spend anything from £100 to well over £1,000 on a rowing machine, depending on your needs.
Cheaper magnetic rowers usually have everything you need to build fitness as a beginner. But the quality and durability can be poor, while the strokes can feel unrealistic and stuttering.
For £100 to £800, you will be able to get your hands on an air or magnetic machine, which is likely to have more features than budget versions, such as different resistance options and preset programs.
If you’re able to spend upwards of £800, you’ll be able to get a high-quality connected machine that does it all. Most rowers in this price range will be quiet, offer varying levels of resistance and a digital monitor that can track your workouts. If it’s a more high-tech water resistance model you’re after, expect to pay £800 or more.
Does the level of resistance on a rowing machine matter?
Some magnetic rowing machines have resistance settings; the higher the resistance, the greater the force you have to overcome with each stroke, making for a harder workout.
With air rowers like the industry-standard Concept2, things become a little more complicated. They have “damper” settings from one to 10, with higher numbers allowing more air into the flywheel housing. These higher settings mean more force is needed to get the spin the flywheel, and it slows faster during the recovery portion of each stroke – but it’s not to be confused with resistance. Concept2 recommends looking at it like gears on a bike: “It affects how it feels but does not directly affect the resistance. A lower damper setting is comparable to easier gears on a bike.”
Water rowers adopt a similar system, but you adjust it by altering the amount of water in the drum.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The IndyBest team specialises in finding you the best products at the best prices. That doesn’t mean we sit on ice each year until the Black Friday sales roll around.
We spend our time testing top products from across homes, tech, beauty fashion and, of course, fitness. That way, we can recommend those that deliver on quality, while helping you swerve items that don’t live up to their billing.
Jon Axworthy is a freelance writer and contributing editor who has been feature writing since 1996. He has been writing consumer reviews for IndyBest since 2017 and is an expert in everything fitness and activity, having reviewed everything from kayaks and mountain bikes to paddle boards and hiking rucksacks.
For more at-home gym equipment recommendations, read our round-up of the best exercise bikes