Rowing Machine NerdConcept2 Alternatives: Cheaper, Quieter & Connected Options
The best Concept2 alternatives - a budget air rower, quieter water and magnetic options, and connected rowers - and when an alternative actually makes sense.
The Concept2 is the rower we recommend most, so the honest headline is that most people shouldn't look past it. But it has real downsides: the fan is loud, the styling is utilitarian, and it has no built-in screen or classes. If one of those matters to you, here are the alternatives worth weighing.
Each pick below beats the Concept2 on a specific axis - price, noise, looks, or connected features - while being a genuinely good machine in its own right.
Xebex Air Rower
Air rower · ~$749
The closest thing to a cheaper Concept2: a sturdy air rower with comparable feel and solid data at a lower price. The compromise is resale value and the vast Concept2 ecosystem, but the rowing itself is close.
Read our full Xebex Air Rower review
WaterRower Natural
Water rower · ~$1,200
If the Concept2's fan noise or industrial look puts you off, the WaterRower Natural is quieter, smoother, and beautiful enough to leave in a living room - at the cost of the Concept2's precise, standardised data.
Read our full WaterRower Natural review
NordicTrack RW200
Air + magnetic rower · ~$700
Want near-silent resistance and guided classes on a screen? A magnetic, connected rower like the NordicTrack RW200 suits apartments and class-led training in a way the Concept2 doesn't - though the data isn't as trusted.
Read our full NordicTrack RW200 review
Sunny Phantom Hydro Water Rowing Machine
Water rower · ~$600
If the Concept2 is simply out of budget, a well-chosen Sunny machine gets you rowing for far less. You trade durability, data accuracy, and resale value, but it's a real, usable rower to start on.
Read our full Sunny Phantom Hydro Water Rowing Machine reviewFrequently asked questions
- Is there a cheaper alternative to the Concept2?
- Yes. The Xebex Air Rower offers similar air-rower performance for less, and budget brands like Sunny get you started cheaper still - though you trade away durability, data accuracy, and the Concept2's strong resale value.
- What's a quieter alternative to the Concept2?
- Water rowers (like the WaterRower Natural) and magnetic rowers (like the NordicTrack RW200) are markedly quieter than the Concept2's air fan, which makes them better suited to apartments and shared spaces.
References
Set on the Concept2? See the full the Concept2 range. Otherwise, browse all best rowing machine guides, head-to-head comparisons, and other alternatives.