The Concept2 RowErg is the better buy for most people who simply want to row: it costs roughly half as much as a Hydrow Wave before any subscription, it needs no membership to work, and it is the machine used in a great many gyms and rowing clubs. Hydrow is the better buy if you know you will only exercise when a live or on-demand instructor, a big screen and scenery keep you honest, and you are comfortable paying a monthly fee for that.
The price gap is the headline. Hydrow lists the Wave at around $1,995 with membership at about $50 a month or $600 a year, with sale pricing that comes and goes, while review sites put the standard RowErg near $990. Treat every number here as a snapshot and verify current pricing before buying. This is a research-based comparison, not a lab test, and we are not claiming a measured result for either machine.
Hydrow Versus Concept2 at a Glance
| Factor | Hydrow Wave | Concept2 RowErg |
|---|---|---|
| Machine price | About $1,995 list, sales vary (verify current pricing) | About $990 per review sites (verify current pricing) |
| Ongoing cost | About $50 a month or $600 a year for full features | None required; the performance monitor works on its own |
| Resistance | Electromagnetic | Air flywheel |
| Screen and classes | Built-in touchscreen, live and on-demand rows | PM5 monitor; classes through third-party apps |
| Storage | Foldable design | Splits into two pieces for storage |
| Warranty | Check Hydrow for current terms | Retailers list 5 years on frame, 2 years on other parts; confirm with Concept2 |
Our single-product write-ups go deeper on each machine: the Hydrow review and the Concept2 rower review. For wider options, see best rowing machines and the best home gym equipment guide.
What You Pay Over Two Years
Using list prices from the sources we checked, a Hydrow Wave with a monthly membership comes to about $2,595 in the first year and roughly $3,195 by the end of the second, before tax, shipping or delivery fees. A RowErg stays near its purchase price because no subscription is required to row. Sales shift both figures, so redo the math at checkout. Hydrow also notes that without a membership the machine falls back to a limited Just Row mode, so the subscription is effectively part of the price.
How the Two Machines Feel to Row
The RowErg uses an air flywheel, so resistance rises the harder you pull, and it is loud in proportion. The Wave uses electromagnetic resistance, which is generally quieter and tends to feel smoother, though we do not have a measured noise comparison and will not invent one. Because both are rowing machines, technique matters more than the brand: a poor stroke on either one is a poor workout, and coaching from a qualified instructor can help.
How We Compared These Rowers
We compared manufacturer pricing and spec pages, retailer listings, and published independent reviews, and flagged anywhere those disagreed. We did not log our own rowing sessions for this article, so there are no personal performance numbers, calorie counts or stroke-rate data here. Where one source gave a figure we could not confirm elsewhere, we hedged it or left it out.
Classes, Motivation and the Screen
Hydrow is built around a 16 inch touchscreen and outdoor-filmed rows led by athletes and coaches, which is its real selling point. If the screen keeps you showing up, the fee has value. The Concept2 PM5 monitor is basic but accurate and can connect over Bluetooth to the optional ErgData app and other apps, so you can add your own entertainment or classes. We could not confirm from the sources we found whether ErgData costs anything, so check Concept2 directly.
Space, Setup and Upkeep
Both machines are long when in use. One retailer lists the RowErg at roughly 2.4 meters long and about 57 pounds in its standard height, and it separates into two pieces for storage. The Wave is designed to fold. Measure your room, including the clear space behind the seat, before ordering either one. Concept2 recommends routine chain care, which is a small ongoing task that screen-based machines do not always need.
Who Should Check With a Doctor First
Rowing is a full-body, repetitive movement that loads the lower back, hips and shoulders. If you have back, joint or heart concerns, are returning from injury, are pregnant, or have been inactive for a long time, ask your doctor or a physical therapist before starting. A machine is not a treatment for any condition, and neither brand can see your medical history.
Which Rower Fits Which Buyer
- Budget-first buyers: Concept2, because the cost stops at the machine.
- Motivation-first buyers: Hydrow, if you will use the classes enough to justify the membership.
- Small apartments: Compare folded and stored footprints for both before choosing.
- Shared households: Check how Hydrow handles multiple profiles before buying.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy Either One
Start with honesty about your habits. If you have bought exercise equipment before and stopped using it, the cheaper machine limits what you lose, while a pricier machine with classes may be the nudge you need. Ask how long you plan to row per session, whether you will watch a screen or listen to music, and whether anyone else in your home will share the machine. Check delivery terms, return windows and assembly requirements on both, since a rower is heavy and awkward to ship back. Also check your floor: a long, vibrating machine can be noisy in an upstairs apartment, and a mat may help. None of these questions has a single right answer, but answering them will make the price gap feel more or less justified.
The bottom line: Buy the Concept2 RowErg if you want the best value and a machine that needs no subscription, and choose the Hydrow Wave only if classes and a screen are what will actually keep you rowing.
