Are Rowing Machines Worth It?
Updated June 2026
Short answer: Worth It
For most people who’ll use one a few times a week, a rowing machine is worth it — rowing is a genuine full-body, low-impact cardio-and-strength workout that’s easier on the joints than running and works roughly 85% of your muscles in one motion. The bigger money question isn’t whether to row but how to buy: a no-subscription machine you own outright (Concept2) versus a connected rower with classes and a monthly fee. If you’ll actually row, it’s one of the best home-cardio investments; the main way to waste money is overspending on a subscription rower you won’t use, or buying a cheap one that rows poorly.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page — it never affects our scores or picks. How we make money.
Price breakdown
Rowers split into two camps. A no-subscription performance rower — the Concept2 RowErg — is $990 with no ongoing cost, free apps, and excellent resale. Connected rowers run roughly $1,695 (Hydrow Wave) to $3,295 (Peloton Row), plus a $29–$44/month membership — so over five years a connected rower can cost $4,000–$5,000+ all-in, two to three times the lifetime cost of a Concept2. Budget machines exist under $500 but tend to row poorly and wear out. The honest framing: spend on the rowing experience you’ll actually stick with, and weigh subscription costs over years, not just the sticker.
Performance benefits
Rowing is one of the most efficient workouts you can do at home: it combines cardio and strength, engages legs, core, back, and arms in a single low-impact stroke, and scales from gentle recovery sessions to brutal intervals. It’s gentler on knees and hips than running, which makes it sustainable long-term, and it’s genuinely effective for cardiovascular fitness and full-body conditioning. The catch with any home machine is consistency — which is exactly why the connected rowers sell classes, and why a self-motivated rower can do just as well with a Concept2 and a free app.
Longevity
This is where the buying decision pays off or backfires. A Concept2 RowErg lasts decades, uses cheap user-replaceable parts, holds strong resale value, and never needs a subscription — a genuine buy-it-for-life machine. Connected rowers are tied to their platforms: short parts warranties (12 months on the Hydrow and Peloton Row), repair costs that can run into the hundreds, and hardware that loses most of its value if you cancel the membership. So if longevity and cost-per-year matter to you, a no-subscription machine is the safer long-term bet; if classes are what keep you rowing, factor the recurring fee in honestly.
Alternatives to consider
- Concept2 RowErg
Our Best Overall — the durable, accurate, no-subscription rower that costs the least to own over time.
9.3 - Hydrow Wave
The class-motivated pick — immersive instructor-led workouts, if you’ll use them and pay the membership.
6.7 - NordicTrack RW900
The value big-screen option — the most iFit content per dollar on sale, with the brand’s reliability caveats.
7.0
The verdict
Rowing machines are worth it for anyone who’ll use one regularly — it’s an efficient, low-impact, full-body workout and one of the best home-cardio buys. The key is matching the purchase to yourself: if you’re self-motivated or value-minded, the no-subscription Concept2 RowErg is the smart, lasting choice; if instructor classes are what get you moving, a connected rower like the Hydrow can be worth the ongoing cost. Just be honest about how often you’ll really row before you spend.