Rowing Machine NerdConcept2 vs Echelon Smart Row: Erg or Connected Rower?
These two land at a similar price - the Concept2 Model D around $990, the Echelon Smart Row often around $800 - but they offer almost opposite things. The Concept2 is the no-frills performance benchmark with no subscription; the Echelon is an affordable connected rower built around a big touchscreen and class library. If you're cross-shopping them, you're really deciding whether you want a tool or an experience.
Here's how they compare on the things that matter, and the running-cost difference that's easy to overlook.
Verdict: The better machine for the money - unless on-screen classes are what keep you rowing.
Concept2 Model D vs Echelon Smart Row: at a glance
| Concept2 Model D | Echelon Smart Row | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.8/5 | 3.4/5 |
| Price | ~$990 | ~$800-$1,900 |
| Resistance | Air (spiral damper, 10 settings) | Magnetic, 32 electronic levels |
| Monitor / screen | PM5 (backlit; Bluetooth & ANT+; USB) | 22" HD swivel touchscreen (Row-S); device holder on base Row |
| Connectivity | ErgData + 40+ compatible apps | Bluetooth, Echelon Fit app |
| Max user weight | 500 lb (227 kg) | 300-350 lbs (varies by source) |
| Footprint / size | 96" × 24" (244 × 61 cm) | Approx. 84-85" L x 21-24" W x 45" H |
| Storage | Separates into two parts; front casters | Folds for storage |
| Warranty | 5-yr frame / 2-yr parts & monitor | 1-2 yr standard; up to 5 yr with Premier membership |
Full Concept2 Model D review Full Echelon Smart Row review
Classes and screen vs data and feel
The Echelon's appeal is its 22-inch swiveling HD touchscreen and Echelon's class library - guided, instructor-led workouts that some people need to stay engaged, plus the swivel for off-rower classes. If a screen and classes are what get you training, the Concept2 simply doesn't offer that out of the box.
What the Concept2 offers instead is the best feel and data in the category. Its air resistance scales infinitely with effort and responds instantly, while the Echelon's magnetic resistance is quieter but flatter and has a ceiling a fit rower can outgrow. And the PM5's globally comparable data has no equal on the Echelon. If training quality matters more than on-screen classes, the Concept2 is far ahead.
The subscription difference
This is the big hidden cost. The Echelon's connected experience leans heavily on a paid membership (around $40/month) to be worthwhile - without it, you've bought an expensive magnetic rower with a screen you can't fully use. The Concept2 has no required subscription at all: the PM5, ErgData app, and online logbook are free forever.
Over a couple of years, the Echelon's fees can exceed the price of the machine, which flips the apparent value. The Concept2's higher sticker price is the whole cost; the Echelon's lower sticker is just the start.
Build, storage and longevity
The Echelon's clear practical win is that it folds for storage, which the Concept2 doesn't (it separates into two pieces instead). For a tight apartment, that folding frame is a genuine advantage. The Echelon is also near-silent, versus the Concept2's fan whoosh.
But on longevity and value retention, the Concept2 is in a different league: famously durable, commonly running a decade-plus, and holding 75-85% of its resale value. The Echelon's plastic shrouding and membership-dependent model make it less of a long-term keeper. One lasts and holds value; the other is cheaper to buy but costs more over time and ages faster.
Choose the Concept2 Model D if…
- You want the best feel, data, and infinite air resistance
- You want to avoid a monthly subscription entirely
- You value durability and strong resale value
- You're self-directed and don't need on-screen classes
Choose the Echelon Smart Row if…
- On-screen, instructor-led classes are what keep you training
- You want a folding frame for a tight space
- Near-silent magnetic resistance for an apartment is a priority
- A lower upfront price matters and you'll use the membership
Our verdict
For workout quality, data, durability, and true cost of ownership, the Concept2 Model D is the better buy - and once you factor in the Echelon's ongoing membership, it's often cheaper over time despite the higher sticker. It's the machine to get if you're self-directed.
The Echelon Smart Row makes sense for a specific buyer: someone who needs a touchscreen and classes to stay motivated, wants a folding frame for a small space, and will actually use (and pay for) the membership. If that's you, it's a reasonable, affordable way into connected rowing. If not, the Concept2 wins on nearly every front.
References
- Understanding Splits - Concept2
- What Damper Setting and Drag Factor to Use on the Concept2 RowErg - Concept2
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Concept2 or Echelon Smart Row better?
- The Concept2 Model D is better for feel, data, durability, and total cost of ownership - and it has no required subscription. The Echelon Smart Row is better if you want on-screen instructor-led classes, a folding frame, and near-silent resistance, and you'll pay for its membership.
- Does the Echelon Smart Row need a subscription?
- Effectively yes - its connected, class-based experience depends on a membership of around $40/month to be worthwhile. The Concept2 has no required subscription; its monitor, app, and logbook are free.
- Does the Concept2 fold like the Echelon?
- No. The Concept2 separates into two pieces without tools and the front stands upright, but it doesn't fold flat. The Echelon Smart Row folds for storage, which is an advantage in a tight space.
Jordan Lockwood (BSc, CPT)
Certified personal trainer (CPT), sports-science graduate, and lifelong rower. Jordan writes and reviews every guide on Rowing Machine Nerd.