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The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·May 19, 2026

Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

Top 5 rowing machines under $1000 reviewed and ranked.

Quick answer

Concept2 RowErg (Model D) is our top pick for rowing machines under $1000 — an averaged 4.9/5 across 1 published review at about $990. Runner-up: NordicTrack RW600 (~$999).

Read the Concept2 RowErg (Model D) review →$990 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review
1Concept2 RowErg (Model D)Top Score
(1 source)
$990Best for: serious rowers, CrossFit athletes, and anyone training for performance rather than entertainment
$990 · Check Price on Amazon
2NordicTrack RW600
(1 source)
$999Best for: users who want trainer-led classes on a built-in screen and don't mind the iFIT subscription
$999 · Check Price on Amazon
3XTERRA Fitness ERG700
(1 source)
$870Best for: users who want resistance feel and warranty coverage but don't want any monthly subscription
$870 · Check Price on Amazon
4Aviron Strong Go
(1 source)
$999Best for: iPad-owning users who struggle to stay engaged on stoic machines and want gamified workouts
$999 · Check Price on Amazon
5Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515
(1 source)
$250Best for: first-time buyers testing whether rowing fits their routine, and apartment dwellers on a strict budget
$250 · Check Price on Amazon
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Reviews aggregated from
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The full ranking

How we rank →
Concept2 RowErg (Model D)
#1 · Top Score
Best for: serious rowers, CrossFit athletes, and anyone training for performance rather than entertainment
Concept2 RowErg (Model D)
from 1 source$990

The RowErg Model D is the answer when someone asks 'what rowing machine should I buy.' Forty years of refinement, used by elite rowers and Olympians, with the PM5 monitor that's the de facto standard for tracking work in watts and 500m splits. No subscription cost, no proprietary content lock-in — pair it with a free app like ErgData or pay nothing and just row. The trade-off vs the NordicTrack RW600 and Aviron Strong Go is content: this is a serious training tool, not an entertainment platform. For anyone who treats rowing as exercise rather than as gamified screen time, this is the right buy.

Strengths
  • — Industry gold standard — used by Olympians, college crew teams, and CrossFit gyms for 40+ years
  • — PM5 performance monitor displays watts, pace, split, and 500m times, with Bluetooth + ANT+
Watch-outs
  • — Air resistance produces a noticeable whoosh — louder than the magnetic-only NordicTrack RW600 or Sunny SF-RW5515
  • — PM5 is a numbers display, not a touchscreen — no streamed class content like the NordicTrack RW600
$990 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. NordicTrack RW600 →
NordicTrack RW600
#2
Best for: users who want trainer-led classes on a built-in screen and don't mind the iFIT subscription
NordicTrack RW600
from 1 source$999as of May 20

The RW600 is the smart-rower pick under $1,000. Built-in 10" touchscreen + iFIT class library means no iPad juggling — turn it on, pick a class, row. Auto-resistance during classes is the standout: the instructor calls 'level 18,' the machine adjusts itself. Best for users who like guided cardio over self-directed work, and who'll actually use the iFIT subscription. The hidden cost is that subscription — strip it away and the RW600 is competing with the Concept2 RowErg purely on resistance feel, which is a fight it doesn't win.

Strengths
  • — 10" HD pivoting touchscreen built in — no iPad or phone required
  • — 26 magnetic resistance levels adjusted from the console or via iFIT auto-resistance during classes
Watch-outs
  • — iFIT subscription is ~$39/month after the included 30-day trial — meaningful ongoing cost
  • — 250 lb user capacity is half the Concept2 RowErg's 500 lb
$999 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Concept2 RowErg (Model D) →
XTERRA Fitness ERG700
#3
Best for: users who want resistance feel and warranty coverage but don't want any monthly subscription
XTERRA Fitness ERG700
from 1 source$870as of May 20

The ERG700 is the dual-resistance pick under $1,000 without a content subscription. Air-plus-magnetic gives a more nuanced resistance feel than the magnetic-only NordicTrack RW600, and the lifetime frame warranty backstops the long-term investment. Console is basic — this is not a screen-led machine like the NordicTrack RW600 or Aviron Strong Go. Best for users who want resistance authority and durability without locking into a monthly subscription, and who already have a tablet or phone they can prop up for class content if they want it.

Strengths
  • — Dual air + magnetic resistance — only pick here besides the Aviron Strong Go that combines both systems
  • — 16 magnetic resistance levels stack on top of the air-flywheel feel
Watch-outs
  • — Console is a basic LCD with 10 preset workouts — no streamed content like the NordicTrack RW600 or Aviron Strong Go
  • — Build quality and console refinement trail the Concept2 RowErg's PM5 monitor
$870 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Concept2 RowErg (Model D) →
Aviron Strong Go
#4
Best for: iPad-owning users who struggle to stay engaged on stoic machines and want gamified workouts
Aviron Strong Go
from 1 source$999as of May 20

The Strong Go is the gamified-experience pick. Aviron's whole pitch is that traditional rowing is boring; their 1,000+ game library and integration of streaming services (Netflix, Disney+) is meant to make sessions feel like screen time, not training. It works — Garage Gym Reviews and Live Science both call out the engagement angle. The catches are real: iPad required (not Android), no built-in screen, and the marquee content is behind the app subscription. For users who own an iPad and lose motivation easily on stoic machines like the Concept2 RowErg, this is the right buy.

Strengths
  • — Dual air + magnetic resistance up to 100 lb of pulling force
  • — Aviron app: 1,000+ games, programs, and streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, YouTube)
Watch-outs
  • — Currently iPad-only (no Android support) — Android users get nothing
  • — No built-in display — you must mount your own tablet
$999 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Concept2 RowErg (Model D) →
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515
#5
Best for: first-time buyers testing whether rowing fits their routine, and apartment dwellers on a strict budget
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515
from 1 source$250

The SF-RW5515 is the budget pick — at ~$250 it's roughly a quarter the price of every other rower in this lineup, and the most-reviewed rower on Amazon. Magnetic resistance with 8 fixed levels and a basic monitor; no Bluetooth, no app, no streaming. The trade-off vs the Concept2 RowErg is enormous in build quality and resistance feel, but for users who want to find out if rowing fits into their routine before spending $1,000 on the Concept2 RowErg or NordicTrack RW600, this is the right risk-adjusted buy. Outgrown faster than any other pick here.

Strengths
  • — Cheapest pick by a wide margin — roughly a quarter the price of the next-cheapest option
  • — 25,000+ Amazon reviews at a 4.5-star average — the most-reviewed rower on the platform
Watch-outs
  • — Basic monitor — tracks time, count, calories, total count, but no distance per stroke
  • — 8 fixed resistance levels vs the Concept2 RowErg's air-flywheel infinite scaling
$250 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Concept2 RowErg (Model D) →

Spec comparison

5 products
SpecConcept2 RowErg (Model D)NordicTrack RW600XTERRA Fitness ERG700Aviron Strong GoSunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515
ResistanceAir (mechanical flywheel)Magnetic (26 levels)Air + magnetic (16 levels)Air + magnetic (up to 100 lb)Magnetic (8 levels)
User Capacity500 lb250 lb350 lb507 lb250 lb
Warranty5-year frame, 2-year parts10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year laborLifetime frame, 5-year parts, 1-year labor20-year—
StorageSeparates into two piecesSpaceSaver vertical foldFoldableStores upright (no wall mount)Folds vertically with pull-pin
DisplayPM5 with Bluetooth + ANT+10" HD touchscreenLCD with 10 preset workoutsBring-your-own iPad (no Android)Basic LCD
SubscriptionNone (free ErgData app)iFIT ($39/mo, 30-day trial included)NoneAviron app (~$29/mo, includes streaming)Free SunnyFit app (no fee)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best rowing machines under $1000?
Concept2 RowErg (Model D) is our top pick for rowing machines under $1000, with an averaged rating of 4.9/5 from 1 published reviews. The RowErg Model D is the answer when someone asks 'what rowing machine should I buy.' Forty years of refinement, used by elite rowers and Olympians, with the PM5 monitor that's the de facto standard for tracking work in watts and 500m splits. No subscription cost, no proprietary content lock-in — pair it with a free app like ErgData or pay nothing and just row. The trade-off vs the NordicTrack RW600 and Aviron Strong Go is content: this is a serious training tool, not an entertainment platform. For anyone who treats rowing as exercise rather than as gamified screen time, this is the right buy.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 (around $250) rates 4.5/5 in our analysis. The SF-RW5515 is the budget pick — at ~$250 it's roughly a quarter the price of every other rower in this lineup, and the most-reviewed rower on Amazon. Magnetic resistance with 8 fixed levels and a basic monitor; no Bluetooth, no app, no streaming. The trade-off vs the Concept2 RowErg is enormous in build quality and resistance feel, but for users who want to find out if rowing fits into their routine before spending $1,000 on the Concept2 RowErg or NordicTrack RW600, this is the right risk-adjusted buy. Outgrown faster than any other pick here.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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