Head-to-head · Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

Aviron Strong Go vs Concept2 RowErg (Model D)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Concept2 RowErg (Model D) comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 4.9). The gap is mostly about serious rowers, CrossFit athletes, and anyone training for performance rather than entertainment — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

Aviron Strong Go

4.3

$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)
— 20-year warranty — second only to the XTERRA ERG700's lifetime frame coverage

Watch-outs

— Currently iPad-only (no Android support) — Android users get nothing
— No built-in display — you must mount your own tablet
— Aviron app subscription required for the marquee gamified content (~$29/month)

$999 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

Concept2 RowErg (Model D)

4.9

$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+
— No subscription required — 30+ third-party apps (ErgData, Kinomap, Asensei) integrate natively

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 is at the price ceiling for this category — only the NordicTrack RW600 and Aviron Strong Go come close

$990 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Aviron Strong Go

Dual air + magnetic resistance — same combo as the XTERRA ERG700. Requires user-supplied iPad vs the NordicTrack RW600's built-in screen. Content focus is gamification + streaming, distinct from the NordicTrack RW600's trainer-led iFIT classes. 20-year warranty — longer than every pick except the XTERRA ERG700.

Concept2 RowErg (Model D)

The gold-standard pick. Air resistance vs the magnetic NordicTrack RW600, XTERRA ERG700 (combo), Aviron Strong Go (combo), and Sunny SF-RW5515 (magnetic). No content subscription unlike NordicTrack RW600 (iFIT) and Aviron Strong Go (Aviron app). Higher user weight capacity (500 lb) than any other pick here.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Aviron Strong Go	Concept2 RowErg (Model D)
Resistance	Air + magnetic (up to 100 lb)	Air (mechanical flywheel)
Display	Bring-your-own iPad (no Android)	PM5 with Bluetooth + ANT+
Subscription	Aviron app (~$29/mo, includes streaming)	None (free ErgData app)
Warranty	20-year	5-year frame, 2-year parts
User Capacity	507 lb	500 lb
Storage	Stores upright (no wall mount)	Separates into two pieces

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