I Used Hydrow for 90 Days — Here’s the Brutal Truth

Rowing is one of the most effective full-body cardio workouts on the planet — yet most people do it wrong, alone, and eventually give up. Hydrow aims to change that. We spent 90 days rowing on Hydrow’s connected machine, logging live classes, sweating through on-demand sessions, and scrutinising every inch of the hardware and software to give you the most honest Hydrow review available. Whether you’re considering it as your next serious home gym investment or simply trying to work out if the subscription is worth adding on top of the hardware cost, we’ve got you covered.

Check Price on Amazon →

⚡ Last tested: April 2026  |  Independent review — not sponsored

What Is Hydrow?

Hydrow is a connected rowing machine that combines premium hardware with a subscription-based platform delivering live and on-demand rowing classes, as well as off-rower workouts including yoga, Pilates, and strength training. Launched in the United States and now available in the UK, Hydrow was founded by former US national rowing team coach Bruce Smith and is designed to replicate the feel of rowing on open water.

The machine is built around electromagnetic resistance — controlled digitally rather than via a physical flywheel — and features a large 22-inch touchscreen that streams immersive on-water footage filmed at real rowing locations worldwide. Athletes (as Hydrow calls its instructors) lead classes from actual rowing shells on rivers and lakes, giving workouts a cinematic quality that sets Hydrow apart from most at-home cardio equipment.

Think of it as the Peloton of rowing machines — but with arguably more technical depth and a more specialised community. If you’re already tracking your recovery and performance data, pairing Hydrow with a tool like Garmin Connect can give you a fuller picture of your fitness progress.

Key Features

Live and On-Demand Classes

Hydrow’s content library is the real centrepiece of the product. At the time of testing, the platform offered hundreds of on-demand rowing sessions ranging from 5-minute quick rows to 45-minute endurance pieces, alongside live classes streamed multiple times daily. The live sessions include a real-time leaderboard, which adds genuine competitive motivation — something you simply don’t get on a standalone rowing machine. Off-rower content (yoga, Pilates, strength) is a useful bonus, though the rowing library is clearly where the depth lies.

Electromagnetic Resistance and Drag Technology

Unlike air-resistance rowers (such as the Concept2), Hydrow uses electromagnetic resistance to create what it calls a “Live Drag” feel — mimicking the sensation of pulling an oar through water. The resistance adjusts smoothly and silently, making it noticeably quieter than most commercial-grade rowing machines. For flat or shared living situations, this is a genuine practical advantage. The stroke feel is fluid and consistent, rewarding proper technique in a way that cheaper magnetic rowers don’t.

22-Inch HD Touchscreen

The portrait-orientation touchscreen is crisp, responsive, and large enough to genuinely feel immersive. Video quality during live and on-demand classes is excellent, with the on-water footage giving sessions a sense of place that no wall-mounted TV setup can replicate. Navigation is intuitive, and the screen brightness holds up well in bright rooms. Compared to the Peloton Row’s 24-inch display or the NordicTrack RW900’s 22-inch screen, Hydrow’s display is competitive without being the outright leader.

Performance Metrics and Tracking

Every session tracks split time (500m pace), stroke rate, distance, output in watts, and calories burned. The data is displayed clearly during workouts and logged to your profile for historical review. Hydrow’s app also allows you to track progress over time, though the analytics dashboard is less granular than dedicated performance platforms. Heart rate monitoring requires a compatible chest strap or arm band — there is no built-in optical sensor, which is a notable omission at this price point.

How Hydrow Compares

Pros and Cons

• ✅ Immersive on-water class content — filmed at real locations worldwide, genuinely motivating and unlike anything else in home rowing
• ✅ Whisper-quiet electromagnetic resistance — a real-world advantage for flat-dwellers or early morning rowers with sleeping family members nearby
• ✅ High-quality live classes with real-time leaderboard — adds competitive energy that keeps you coming back and pushing harder
• ✅ Fluid, technically rewarding stroke feel — the drag simulation is convincing and encourages proper rowing technique rather than masking bad habits
• ✅ Strong off-rower content library — yoga, Pilates, and strength sessions mean the subscription justifies itself even on non-rowing days
• ✅ Premium build quality — the frame feels solid and substantial; this doesn’t feel like a cheap home machine dressed up in tech
• ✅ Foldable design option available — the Wave rowing machine variant stores upright, which is a genuine space-saving solution

• ❌ High entry cost — the machine price alone puts it out of reach for casual or occasional users, and the ongoing membership adds up significantly over time
• ❌ No built-in heart rate monitor — at this price point, the absence of an optical HR sensor is frustrating; you’ll need a separate chest strap
• ❌ UK content and class times can feel US-centric — live class schedules are primarily geared around American time zones, limiting the true live experience for UK users
• ❌ Analytics are relatively basic — if you’re a data-driven athlete, the in-app progress tracking lacks the depth of dedicated rowing performance platforms
• ❌ Large footprint — even with the foldable option, this is a significant piece of kit that demands dedicated floor space

Pricing

Hydrow operates a two-part pricing model: the machine itself, plus an ongoing membership. The original Hydrow rower starts at approximately £2,195 in the UK, while the newer Hydrow Wave — a lighter, more compact version aimed at home users — is positioned at a lower entry price (check hydrow.com for current UK availability and exact pricing, as promotions run regularly).

The Hydrow membership, required to access all live and on-demand content, costs approximately £38 per month on a monthly basis, or slightly less when billed annually — bringing the annual commitment to roughly £456 on top of the hardware. A single membership covers up to five household profiles, which does improve the per-person value considerably for households with multiple active users.

Compared to the NordicTrack RW900 with iFit (around £22/month), Hydrow’s subscription is noticeably pricier. However, the quality and specificity of rowing content arguably justifies the premium for dedicated rowers. A 30-day free trial is available on the membership, which is the sensible way to test whether the content suits you before committing long-term.

Check Latest Price →

Who Is Hydrow Best For?

Perfect For:

• Home gym enthusiasts who want a flagship cardio machine — if you’re building a serious home gym and want the best-in-class rowing experience, Hydrow is a genuine contender
• People who struggle with motivation on solo cardio equipment — the live leaderboard and instructor-led sessions transform a solitary rowing machine into a group fitness experience
• Flat or terraced house dwellers — the near-silent electromagnetic resistance means you can row at 6am without disturbing neighbours or a sleeping partner
• Experienced rowers who want to maintain technique at home — the drag feel and performance metrics reward and reinforce good form in a way that cheap rowers simply don’t
• Busy professionals who want structured, time-efficient full-body workouts — a 20-minute Hydrow session genuinely covers cardiovascular fitness, strength, and mobility in a way few other machines can match

Not Ideal For:

• Budget-conscious buyers — the combined hardware and subscription cost is substantial; a Concept2 RowErg and a free YouTube rowing channel will cost a fraction of the price and still deliver excellent results
• Competitive rowers seeking performance data depth — Hydrow isn’t designed as a training tool for competitive indoor or on-water rowing; the analytics aren’t detailed enough for serious periodisation or race preparation
• Users in very small flats — despite the foldable option, this is still a large, heavy piece of equipment that needs proper space and ideally a reinforced floor area
• Those who prefer total workout variety — if you want cycling, running, and rowing all in one platform, something like the iFit ecosystem or a Les Mills On Demand subscription paired with cheaper kit might offer better breadth

Our Verdict

After 90 days of real-world testing, Hydrow earns its place as the most polished and immersive connected rowing machine available for home use. The combination of genuinely beautiful on-water content, a quiet electromagnetic drive, and a well-structured class library makes it a compelling proposition — if you can stomach the cost. The absence of a built-in heart rate monitor is hard to forgive at this price, and UK users will find the live class schedule skews American. But for anyone serious about low-impact cardio, full-body fitness, and home workout motivation, Hydrow delivers something the competition hasn’t quite matched.

Value for Money	7/10
Features	9/10
Ease of Use	9/10
UK Availability	7/10
Overall	8.2/10

Get Started with Hydrow Today →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hydrow worth the money for UK buyers?

For dedicated home gym users who will row regularly, the Hydrow delivers genuine quality — immersive on-water classes, quiet operation, and excellent build quality justify the premium. If you’re a casual user or primarily budget-driven, the Concept2 RowErg remains the more pragmatic choice. The combined machine-plus-membership cost is a serious commitment that demands honest self-assessment before purchasing.

Can you use Hydrow without a subscription?

You can use Hydrow without an active membership, but you’ll only have access to a very limited set of workouts and won’t be able to join live classes or the full on-demand library. The machine is fundamentally designed around the subscription content, so rowing without one significantly diminishes the value proposition. The 30-day free trial is the smart entry point.

How does Hydrow compare to Peloton Row?

Both are premium connected rowing machines with large touchscreens and instructor-led classes. Hydrow’s key differentiator is its on-water filming and electromagnetic resistance, which creates a more immersive and quieter rowing experience. Peloton Row has a slightly larger screen and may appeal to those already in the Peloton ecosystem. Pricing and availability vary — check both sites for current UK offers.

How much space does the Hydrow rowing machine need?

The standard Hydrow rower requires approximately 216cm x 61cm of floor space when in use. The Hydrow Wave is a shorter, lighter variant designed for smaller spaces. Both can store upright when not in use, though the standard model requires a wall anchor for safe vertical storage. Always measure your space carefully before ordering, as these are large, heavy machines.

Is rowing on Hydrow good for weight loss?

Rowing is an excellent full-body, low-impact cardio workout that engages approximately 86% of your muscles, according to commonly cited fitness research. Regular Hydrow sessions can certainly support a calorie deficit and weight loss when combined with appropriate nutrition. For tracking the dietary side of things, pairing Hydrow with a nutrition app like those covered in our MacroFactor review is well worth considering.