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

NordicTrack RW600 vs Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515

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 and Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 score essentially the same (4.5 vs 4.5). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

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 →

Ranked #5 in Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515

4.5

$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
— Magnetic resistance with 8 levels — quieter than friction-pad budget rowers

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
— No app, no Bluetooth, no built-in screen — purely a mechanical machine

$250 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

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.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515

Cheapest pick by a wide margin. Magnetic resistance vs the air-only Concept2 RowErg and the dual systems on the XTERRA ERG700 and Aviron Strong Go. No content/subscription model unlike the NordicTrack RW600 (iFIT) and Aviron Strong Go (Aviron app). 8 fixed levels rather than the Concept2 RowErg's infinite air scaling or NordicTrack RW600's 26 magnetic levels.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	NordicTrack RW600	Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515
Resistance	Magnetic (26 levels)	Magnetic (8 levels)
Display	10" HD touchscreen	Basic LCD
User Capacity	250 lb	250 lb
Subscription	iFIT ($39/mo, 30-day trial included)	Free SunnyFit app (no fee)
Warranty	10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor	—
Storage	SpaceSaver vertical fold	Folds vertically with pull-pin
Slide Rail	—	53.4" extended (fits up to 6'5")

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