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

Concept2 RowErg (Model D) 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

Concept2 RowErg (Model D) comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.9 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about serious rowers, CrossFit athletes, and anyone training for performance rather than entertainment — read the strengths below before deciding.

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 →

Ranked #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

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.

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	Concept2 RowErg (Model D)	NordicTrack RW600
Resistance	Air (mechanical flywheel)	Magnetic (26 levels)
User Capacity	500 lb	250 lb
Warranty	5-year frame, 2-year parts	10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
Storage	Separates into two pieces	SpaceSaver vertical fold
Display	PM5 with Bluetooth + ANT+	10" HD touchscreen
Subscription	None (free ErgData app)	iFIT ($39/mo, 30-day trial included)

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