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

Aviron Strong Go vs NordicTrack RW600

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

NordicTrack RW600 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about users who want trainer-led classes on a built-in screen and don't mind the iFIT subscription — 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 #2 in Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

NordicTrack RW600

4.5

$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
— Quiet magnetic resistance — apartment-friendly compared to the Concept2 RowErg's air whoosh

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
— Touchscreen doesn't tilt or pivot like the higher-tier RW700 / RW900

$999 · 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.

NordicTrack RW600

Only pick with a built-in touchscreen — the Concept2 RowErg has a numbers display, the Aviron Strong Go requires your own iPad, the XTERRA ERG700 and Sunny SF-RW5515 have basic LCDs. Quieter than the Concept2 RowErg. Lower user capacity (250 lb) than the Concept2 RowErg's 500 lb and XTERRA ERG700's 350 lb.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Aviron Strong Go	NordicTrack RW600
Resistance	Air + magnetic (up to 100 lb)	Magnetic (26 levels)
Display	Bring-your-own iPad (no Android)	10" HD touchscreen
Subscription	Aviron app (~$29/mo, includes streaming)	iFIT ($39/mo, 30-day trial included)
Warranty	20-year	10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
User Capacity	507 lb	250 lb
Storage	Stores upright (no wall mount)	SpaceSaver vertical fold

← See the full ranking of best rowing machines under $1000