Beyond the traditional aesthetic appeal and smooth operation of the WaterRower lies a modern realm of digital enhancement through specialized apps. Whether you’re a seasoned rower looking to optimize performance or a fitness enthusiast seeking engaging workouts, this guide explores the best WaterRower apps that will enhance your training, ensuring every stroke counts towards achieving your fitness goals.
What are the Best WaterRower Apps?
Here are my top picks for the best WaterRower apps to use with your WaterRower.
WaterRower App Hardware Requirements
The apps compatible with your WaterRower depend on what hardware you are using with your WaterRower. Below is the commonly most used hardware setups and supported apps.
S4 monitor + USB OTG: CoxSwain, WaterRower Connect
S4 monitor + Bluetooth ComModule: WaterRower Connect, WaterRower Challenge, EXR, KinoMap, CityRow Go, Asensei
WaterRower + SmartRow: SmartRow, EXR, KinoMap
WaterRower + Ergatta: Ergatta
1. CoxSwain
CoxSwain is a simple little Android app and great if you are mainly focused on having the ability to easily track your rowing workouts and access a range of rowing metrics.
2. WaterRower Connect
The free official WaterRower app designed to enhance your rowing experience by providing a comprehensive platform for tracking and analyzing your workouts, offering features such as:
- Workout Tracking: Records your rowing sessions by capturing metrics like distance, time, stroke rate, and calories burned.
- Performance Metrics: Displays real-time data during your workout, allowing you to monitor your progress and adjust and improve your technique for optimal performance.
- Historical Data: Review past workouts to track your fitness progress over time, identifying trends and improvements.
- Training Programs: Offers various training programs and challenges tailored to different fitness levels and goals, helping you stay motivated and achieve targets.
- Compatibility: Syncs with other fitness apps and devices like Apple health and Strava, making it easy to integrate your rowing data with your overall fitness regimen.
WaterRower connect also offers paid premium features such as daily workouts, training programs, scenery videos, specialty session screens like zone training with even more detailed progress tracking with insights and visualizations.
3. WaterRower Challenge
WaterRower Challenge adds a competitive edge and motivation to your rowing workouts by offering competitive challenges and fostering community engagement. Join and create public or private challenges and track your performance with your workout data being saved on the WaterRower Nohrd platform.
4. EXR
Known as the ‘Zwift’ for Rowing, EXR enhances your rowing experience through providing a fun engaging 3D virtual rowing experience catering for both recreational rowers and those training for competitive events.
Features include:
- Training Programs: EXR offers structured training programs tailored to different skill levels and goals, helping you improve your rowing technique and fitness.
- Data Tracking: Tracks your rowing metrics, including distance, speed, stroke rate, and calories burned, providing insights into your performance over time.
- Virtual Races and Challenges: Participate in virtual races and challenges, competing with others globally or setting personal goals to help you stay motivated.
- Community and Social Features: EXR includes a community aspect where users can connect, share their achievements, and support each other in their fitness journeys.
- Personalized Feedback: Provides feedback on your technique and progress, helping you refine your rowing skills and achieve better results.
EXR is available across MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS/iPadOS and Apple TV and has gained a lot of popularity as well as new features in recent years making it one of the best WaterRower apps available.
5. Kinomap
Kinomap enriches the indoor rowing experience by offering immersive virtual environments, real-time performance tracking, community engagement and tailored training options. It offers a variety of interactive videos filmed on real-world tracks, allowing users to engage in activities such as cycling, running, rowing, and more from the comfort of their homes.
You can join live sessions or choose from a library of pre-recorded videos. Real-time performance is tracked and compared to others. Kinomap aims to make indoor training more engaging by simulating outdoor experiences through interactive, video-based fitness content.
6. CityRow
The CityRow app makes rowing workouts more accessible, structured, and engaging by offering a wide variety of instructor led classes across all fitness levels for both on and off the WaterRower.
Features include:
- Workout Programs: Guided sessions with different intensities and duration, tailored to different fitness levels and goals.
- On-Demand Classes: Access a large library of on-demand classes led by experienced instructors
- Performance Tracking: Track workout metrics such as distance, time, calories burned and view insights into performance trends over time.
- Interactive Features: The CityRow app syncs with your WaterRower to offer features like real-time feedback with your rowing metrics and leader boards to add a competitive edge and keep users motivated.
7. Asensei
Asensei aims to make rowing more engaging and effective by combining coaching expertise with technology-driven insights and performance tracking. It’s designed to cater to both recreational rowers looking to improve their skills and competitive athletes seeking performance gains.
Key features:
- Personalized Coaching: real-time coaching and feedback tailored to your individual rowing technique and goals. Uses advanced technology to analyze your performance and provide actionable insights.
- Workout Programs: Structured workout programs designed by expert coaches to improve your rowing technique, endurance, and overall performance. Catered to different skill levels, from beginners to advanced rowers.
- Performance Tracking: Tracks your performance metrics such as stroke rate, split times, distance, and more. Monitor your progress over time and set goals to improve your rowing abilities.
- Video Analysis: The app may include features for video analysis, allowing you to record your rowing sessions and receive feedback on your technique from coaches or through AI-powered analysis.
- Integration with Devices: Integrates directly with WaterRower to sync performance data directly from your workouts, providing a seamless experience.
- Community and Challenges: Some apps like Asensei offer community features where users can connect with fellow rowers, participate in challenges, and share their achievements.
8. SmartRow
SmartRow app pairs with the SmartRow performance powermeter hardware for WaterRower and gives access to detailed metrics and options including force curve as well as historical tracking and the ability to race other SmartRow users. The SmartRow power meter is considered the most accurate way to monitor the performance output of a WaterRower and is potentially the future for performance analysis and tracking.
9. Ergatta
This ‘best WaterRower apps’ article would have been incomplete without a quick mention of the Ergatta upgrade for WaterRower.
Ergatta brings a whole extra world of training options for the WaterRower and utilizes gamification, where users can participate in challenges and track their performance against others. Ergatta makes fitness engaging and motivational by integrating competition and progress tracking into the workout experience.
Ergatta aims to combine the benefits of rowing with modern technology to create a comprehensive and enjoyable fitness experience and now has also recently partnered with CityRow to include classes for those that also enjoy instructor led training. So if you are looking for the ultimate guided and complete training system, Ergatta is definitely one to check out!
Conclusion:
WaterRower apps not only elevate your rowing sessions but also provide invaluable metrics, training programs, and interactive experiences that transform your workout routine.
Using the best WaterRower apps greatly enhances your indoor rowing experience and can keep your workouts engaging and effective. Whether tracking your progress, following guided workouts, or connecting with a rowing community, the right app can offer valuable support and motivation and help you work towards achieving all of your goals.