Do you need a subscription to use a Hydrow?

You can row without it in a basic 'Just Row' mode, but the classes, scenic rows, leaderboards, and most on-screen coaching require the monthly membership - which is the main reason to buy a Hydrow in the first place. Budget for it as an ongoing cost.

Is the Hydrow Wave worth it over the full-size Hydrow?

For most people, yes. The Wave has the same class library and resistance feel in a smaller, lighter, cheaper package. The full-size Hydrow mainly adds a larger screen and a heavier frame, which only some buyers need.

How does a Hydrow compare to a Concept2?

A Hydrow is quieter and offers instructor-led classes on a big screen with a subscription; a Concept2 is louder but offers more accurate data, legendary durability, strong resale value, and no monthly fee. Choose Hydrow for the classes, Concept2 for the training.

Hydrow Rowing Machines: Full Range, Reviewed

Everything about Hydrow rowers - the full-size Hydrow and the Hydrow Wave, the subscription, who they're for, and the alternatives worth weighing first.

Hydrow is the rower that turned indoor rowing into a connected-fitness category. Its pitch is simple: a near-silent electromagnetic drive, a large pivoting touchscreen, and a library of live and on-demand classes filmed on real water with charismatic athlete-instructors. For people who stay consistent because a coach is talking them through every stroke, that experience is the whole point - and Hydrow does it better than almost anyone.

But a Hydrow is really two purchases: the hardware, and the membership that makes the screen worth having. Below is the full Hydrow line-up we've reviewed, an honest look at the subscription and resale realities, and the rivals you should price against it before you commit.

Hydrow rowing machines we've reviewed

Hydrow Rower

Smart/connected rower · ~$2,195

3.8/5

Best for: Buyers who want an immersive, instructor-led connected rowing experience in a quiet home and are comfortable paying an ongoing subscription.

Read our full Hydrow Rower review

Hydrow Wave

Smart/connected rower · ~$1,695

4.0/5

Best for: Buyers who want a guided, studio-style connected rowing experience in a compact footprint and are willing to pay an ongoing subscription.

Read our full Hydrow Wave review

The subscription is the real cost

Hydrow's membership unlocks the classes, the leaderboards, and most of the on-screen guidance - without it you have an expensive, beautiful rower running a stripped-back 'Just Row' mode. Budget for the monthly fee as part of the purchase, every month, for as long as you own the machine. Over three years the subscription can cost as much as the hardware did.

That's not a criticism so much as a framing: if the classes are what will keep you rowing, the all-in cost is fair for what you get. If you suspect you'll drift away from instructor-led sessions, a Concept2 plus a free app gives you better data and zero monthly fees - which is exactly why we cross-shop the two so often.

Hydrow vs Hydrow Wave: which one

The Wave is the smaller, lighter, cheaper Hydrow: a slightly smaller screen, a more compact footprint, and a lower price, with the same class library and resistance feel. For most homes the Wave is the smarter buy - the full-size Hydrow mainly earns its premium with a larger screen and a more substantial frame. Our head-to-head walks through exactly who should stretch for the original.

Hydrow comparisons

Cross-shopping? These head-to-heads pit Hydrow against the machines buyers weigh it against most.

Hydrow vs Concept2: Which Rowing Machine Is Better?Peloton Row vs Hydrow: Which Connected Rower Wins?Hydrow vs Ergatta: Instructor-Led or Gamified Rowing?Hydrow vs Hydrow Wave: Which Hydrow Should You Buy?Echelon Smart Row vs Hydrow: Budget or Premium Connected?

The bottom line

Buy a Hydrow if instructor-led, scenic classes are what get you on the machine, you want near-silent resistance for an apartment, and the monthly fee fits your budget. The Wave is the right Hydrow for most people; the full-size model is for those who want the biggest screen and frame.

If you care more about training data, resale value, or avoiding a subscription, read our Hydrow-vs-Concept2 comparison before buying - it's the decision most Hydrow shoppers should actually make.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a subscription to use a Hydrow?: You can row without it in a basic 'Just Row' mode, but the classes, scenic rows, leaderboards, and most on-screen coaching require the monthly membership - which is the main reason to buy a Hydrow in the first place. Budget for it as an ongoing cost.
Is the Hydrow Wave worth it over the full-size Hydrow?: For most people, yes. The Wave has the same class library and resistance feel in a smaller, lighter, cheaper package. The full-size Hydrow mainly adds a larger screen and a heavier frame, which only some buyers need.
How does a Hydrow compare to a Concept2?: A Hydrow is quieter and offers instructor-led classes on a big screen with a subscription; a Concept2 is louder but offers more accurate data, legendary durability, strong resale value, and no monthly fee. Choose Hydrow for the classes, Concept2 for the training.

References

What Damper Setting and Drag Factor to Use on the Concept2 RowErg - Concept2

Still deciding between brands? See all rowing machine brands, our best rowing machine guides, or the full reviews library.