Best Home Rowing Machine in 2021 (Reviews & Guide)

The XTERRA Fitness ERG650W Water Rower comes with all the features of a high-quality rowing machine, providing you with the natural flowing motion and stroke of real-life rowing but at a much lower price tag.

This good rowing machine has an advanced multi-impeller water tank with six resistance levels, providing a sufficient challenge for any user. The water tank is placed at 45 degrees to facilitate resistance adjustments, which have to be done manually by altering the tank’s water level. 

This machine is so durable that the frame is covered by a lifetime warranty, a rarity in the industry. The construction may be sturdy, but the rower is incredibly easy to move and store. It folds and rests vertically against a wall, making this the best-rated home rowing machine with water resistance. 

The 5.5″ LCD monitor isn’t particularly fancy, but it shows all the essentials like time, distance, calories burned, watts, and drag force. On top of that, it features over 15 programmed workouts to keep you motivated and add some range to your training. Finally, the 15’’ seat height adds to this machine’s convenience as you will be able to get on and off the rower with ease. 

When it comes to rowing machine comparison, the NordicTrack RW900 may be more expensive, but it’s unrivaled in terms of design, smart connectivity, and overall rowing experience. 

The RW900 comes with a free, one-year iFit Family Membership. This subscription provides you with access to interactive rowing sessions with personal trainers, which you can view on the machine’s impressive 22’’ Smart HD touchscreen.

The trainers don’t just give pointers as they also adjust your resistance levels depending on the workout. However, thanks to RW900’s dual-resistance design, you can always alter the tension manually through an air control located on the wheel. 

Coaching provided by this top rowing machine isn’t limited to rowing. Yoga and full-body toning classes are available within the iFit program, as well as personalized health and lifestyle coaching—from exercise to proper nutrition and sleep. 

In terms of design, the RW900 meets all the requirements for a comfortable, strain-free workout, including a molded seat, pivoting pedals, SoftTouch™ handles, and an oversized steel seat rail. It’s silent and compact, too—the ideal rowing machine for home use.  

If you are willing to splurge a bit on the best at–home rowing machine, the Hydrow should be your number one choice.

This machine features a sweat- and dust-resistant 22” touchscreen that gives you access to live workouts, on-demand classes, and even rower-free exercises, like yoga, pilates, and strength training. There is also a Live Outdoor Reality option with scenic backgrounds that will make you feel like you’re right on the river. 

The Hydrow app is mobile too, letting you connect and even compete with other users for extra motivation. But smart connectivity isn’t the only feature contributing to this rowing machine’s high ratings.  

Built of a durable aluminum and steel frame on a flat anthracite polymer body, it boasts a 10-roller seat roller system and low-stress handles for ultimate support and comfort. 

On top of that, the electromagnetic drag provides a full-body workout, as well as a silent and smooth stroke—the features most customers appreciate in their rowing machine.

Similar to the NordicTrack and the Hydrow mentioned above in our home gym rowing machine reviews, Proform 750R Rower incorporates smart tech into your workout, but at a much lower price. 

The rower comes free if you purchase an iFit Family Membership for three years. Similar to the NordicTrack, purchasing this subscription gives you access to interactive classes with certified trainers.

However, unlike the RW900, classes on this rower are streamed on a tablet that can be integrated into the console, but the device isn’t included in the purchase of this top-rated home rowing machine. 

The console does house a 5” easy-to-use display that monitors all your data. Each session is recorded and then used to create future exercises and nutrition plans tailored to your routine.

The rower itself is sturdy, well-built, and ergonomically engineered to give you the smoothest and comfiest row of your life. 

With 24 resistance levels, a small footprint, and low-noise production, the ProForm 750R Is an excellent piece of rowing exercise equipment even without the high-tech perks.

The Schwinn Crewmaster Rower has all the elements you’ll need for a full-body, calorie-burning training session, more than one rowing machine review agrees. 

First off, it features a wide seat, large stable row pedals, and comfort grip handles—all designed to provide support and comfort.  And with ten levels of resistance to choose from, it’s ideal for any trainee. 

Next up is the LCD monitor that displays distance, time, strokes, calories, and pulse. The console’s angle can be adjusted, giving you a clear sight of the progress you’re making. 

Lastly, this rower can be folded and put away when not in use—an excellent benefit for trainees working with a limited amount of space.

If you’re looking for the best rowing machine for beginners and professional athletes, the Women’s Health Men’s Health Bluetooth Rower is the one for you.

Featuring a whopping 14 levels of resistance, this smooth and silent magnetic rower is perfect for users of all ages, genders, and fitness backgrounds.

Thanks to solid steel construction, a padded seat, and pivoting footrests, even long-session workouts will be comfortable. After you’re done, just fold up this compact rowing machine and store it out of the way. 

Best of all, this rower comes with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to access coaching videos, scenic routes, and a tailored program within the MyCloudFitness App. 

The smart tech also monitors watts, calories burned, time, distance, and strokes per minute—everything you need to stay on top of your progress.

The Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower, rated as one of the best home rowing machines, combines a drum magnetic control system and electronic tension control to generate optimal friction for unbelievably smooth strokes. 

The sturdy aluminum frame, molded-foam padded seat, and non-slip foot pedals, on the other hand, allow you to stay in the proper position as well as remain comfortable during your training. 

The console houses an LCD monitor keeping track of the essential parameters like the number of strokes per minute, calories burned, and pulse. In addition, this rowing machine, deemed the best rowing machine for home by many customers, comes with preset programs adding tons of variety to your workout routine. 

The best feature of this model, however, is the noise level. Virtually  silent, it won’t disturb others and let you enjoy your exercise time while watching TV or listening to music. Combined with the fact that it folds for convenient storage makes this rower the best rowing machine for apartment settings.

Another excellent model for a small apartment is the ECHANFIT Foldable Rower, the best compact rowing machine on the market. 

This home rowing machine has a foldable design and transport wheels, allowing you to quickly put it away after a long workout. When folded, the rower is just 46” tall and 30” long—ideal for storing in closets and clearing up space for other purposes. 

Another feature that makes the ECHANFIT the best rowing machine for a home you share with other people is the quiet magnetic belt system, which not only provides a smooth rowing stroke but is also virtually noiseless. 

Other characteristics of this magnetic rower include ergonomically-designed handles, a padded seat, non-slip pedals, and a handy water bottle holder making sure you are comfy, secure, and hydrated as you burn calories. Plus, there is a tablet holder on the console, the angle of which can be adjusted according to your preferences. 

Finally, this fitness device has an impressive 16 levels of resistance, offering a vast range of exercise intensity options.

When it comes to experiencing the dynamic response of real-life rowing, air rowers are the best type of rowing machine. And taking the number one spot in that category is the MaxKare Air Fan Rower. 

In addition to air resistance, which increases tension the harder you pull, the MaxKare uses a dual belt transmission system for extra resistance as well as stability and security.  

This rower is recommended as an amazing method for the alleviation of joint, back, and shoulder aches, and it works wonderfully in combination with the best pain-relieving supplements. 

The machine includes a built-in monitor, as well. Even though it only shows fundamentals, home rowing machine reviews say that it provides all the info you need for the ultimate training session. Plus, it has a tablet holder so you can watch videos as you work out.

Last but not least, MaxKare Air Fan Rower is ergonomically designed (it has a PU contoured seat and two adjustable foot platforms for extra comfort), doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it’s foldable to boost. 

All these features put this exercise equipment on the list of top rowing machines in 2021.

This simple, no-frills rower is possibly the best inexpensive rowing machine you can buy right now. 

The Lanos Hydraulic Rowing Machine has a molded, gliding seat that supports your neck and back with each stroke, while the pivoting footplates ensure you keep proper form throughout your workout.

There is an LCD screen, as well, that displays various parameters, such as row count and calories burned—taking all the guesswork out of your exercise routine. 

Incredibly easy to use, this rower comes with a control knob that lets you manually choose one of the 12 resistance settings. Rowing machine reviews point out that even the lower setting will give you a pretty good workout, whereas the higher levels are reserved for elite athletes. 

Finally, this rower can be easily folded and tucked away, making it one of the most compact rowing machines out there. All in all, if you are looking for a budget option that comes with design and tech perks, you should most certainly look into the Lanos Hydraulic Rowing Machine.