Rowing app alternatives, compared honestly

The right rowing app depends on the machine and the job. Row Smarter is strongest as a large live rowing computer with a private, detailed stroke history. Other products are better at several things.

Concept2 ErgData

ErgData is Concept2's free first-party PM5 app. It sends workouts directly to the Concept2 Online Logbook, where PM-recorded pieces can be marked verified and entered in rankings. It also joins Concept2's wider challenge and Logbook system. Row Smarter cannot replicate that network and does not upload to the Logbook today.

Choose ErgData when verified Concept2 results, rankings and automatic Logbook history are the priority.

RowsAndAll

RowsAndAll is stronger for deep post-workout analysis in a web browser. It can compare selected strokes and force curves across workouts, combine many data sources and support on-water analysis. Row Smarter is an iPad and iPhone app centred on the live indoor row and the private history that follows it.

Choose RowsAndAll when the main job is detailed post-hoc analysis at a computer.

EXR

EXR turns rowing into movement through 3D worlds. It has virtual courses, avatars, events, challenges and broad platform support. Row Smarter has boats for pacing and racing, but no virtual scenery or game world.

Choose EXR when immersion and virtual courses make indoor rowing easier to return to.

ErgZone

ErgZone has a mature workout and coaching ecosystem, community challenges, broad third-party integrations and automatic verified Concept2 Logbook uploads. It also shows PM5 force curves and live curve deltas. Row Smarter should not claim those ideas as unique.

Choose ErgZone when programmed training, coach distribution and connected services matter most.

The stock WaterRower S4 or S5 monitor

The stock monitor wins on simplicity. It is already attached, needs no phone or tablet, and shows the basic row without opening an app. The S4 shows time, distance, pace, watts, calories and stroke rate. Row Smarter asks for another screen and a compatible Bluetooth path in return for a larger display, stored sessions and analysis.

Choose the stock monitor when you want to sit down, row and leave the result on the machine.

What Row Smarter does differently

Row Smarter keeps a more complete private record than a summary log. It stores every sample, every stroke and every force curve the machine provides. It keeps the heart strap's beat-to-beat intervals and the original heart-rate reading before repair. That record supports technique analysis now and new analysis over old sessions later.

• An iPad-sized live display designed to be read from the handle.
• Force curves on a fixed scale, plus peak position, fullness, consistency and repeated-break analysis.
• Sessions and plans synchronised through the athlete's private iCloud database.
• Live public or private racing, plus pace boats and races against a previous session.
• No Row Smarter account for the personal training archive.

No single item in that list makes every other app obsolete. The combination is the reason to choose Row Smarter.

The roadmap, without pretending it has shipped

Direct Concept2 Logbook sync is planned because manual export is a real disadvantage. It is not available today and has no promised date. FIT export, personal stroke signatures and workout sharing by link are built for the coming release but are not in the current TestFlight build.

Read the machine compatibility details, learn how to read a force curve, or try the current TestFlight beta.