The 5 Best Rowing Machines for Home
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- Best overall: Sunny SF-RW522067 MotionMax — 16 magnetic levels, 330 lb capacity, full-motion handlebars, $599.99 at sunnyhealthfitness.com.
- Budget: Sunny SF-RW523043 Corezy — compact, 16 magnetic levels, $299.99 at sunnyhealthfitness.com.
- Best water rower: Sunny SF-RW522017 Hydro + Dual — water + magnetic resistance, $529.99 at sunnyhealthfitness.com.
- Best connected: Echelon Row Smart Home Rower — 32 electronic levels, Bluetooth handlebar controls, $749.99 at echelonfit.com.
- Premium (clearance): NordicTrack RW700 — 26 levels, 10″ HD touchscreen with iFIT, $1,039.99 at Best Buy.
At a glance
| Pick | Model | Resistance | Max user weight | Console |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Sunny SF-RW522067 MotionMax | 16 magnetic levels | 330 lb | LCD + SunnyFit app |
| Budget | Sunny SF-RW523043 Corezy | 16 magnetic levels | 300 lb | LCD + SunnyFit app |
| Best water rower | Sunny SF-RW522017 Hydro + Dual | Water + magnetic, 16 tension levels | — | LCD + SunnyFit app |
| Best connected | Echelon Row Smart Home Rower | 32 electronic magnetic levels | 300 lb | Bluetooth to Echelon Fit app |
| Premium (clearance) | NordicTrack RW700 (NTRW15125) | 26 digital levels | 300 lb | 10″ HD tilting touchscreen (iFIT) |
1. Best overall — Sunny SF-RW522067 MotionMax Full Motion Magnetic Rowing Machine
Price: $599.99 · sunnyhealthfitness.com
Spec tiles
| Resistance | Max user weight | Rail | Console |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 magnetic levels | 330 lb | 51.3″ slide rail (45.7″ inseam) | LCD + SunnyFit app via Bluetooth |
Details: 360° dual-cord handlebars; 78.6″L×30.5″W×39.3″H; upright storage; transport wheels.
Pros
- 330 lb capacity — the highest published capacity among the Sunny picks here
- Full-motion dual-cord handlebars engage more of the upper body than a fixed handle
- 16 magnetic levels and app connectivity at a mid-range price
Cons
- No touchscreen — metrics live on the LCD and your phone
- Longest footprint here at 78.6″
Good fit: Taller or heavier rowers who want magnetic quiet with a real capacity margin.
Skip if: You want a built-in screen — look at the Echelon or NordicTrack picks.
Verdict: The most rower for the money: top specs in the Sunny line without the touchscreen tax.
2. Budget — Sunny SF-RW523043 Corezy Compact Magnetic Rowing Machine
Price: $299.99 · sunnyhealthfitness.com
Spec tiles
| Resistance | Max user weight | Frame | Console |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 magnetic levels | 300 lb | Compact, upright storage | LCD + SunnyFit app |
Details: Stainless steel rail cover; bottle holder; transport wheels; LCD monitor (HR200-compatible).
Pros
- Half the price of the MotionMax with the same 16 magnetic levels
- Compact frame that stores upright — genuinely apartment-friendly
- SunnyFit app connectivity usually costs more
Cons
- Shorter, simpler rail than the MotionMax — less room for tall rowers
- Fewer published dimensions to plan around
Good fit: Small spaces and first rowers who want quiet magnetic resistance on a budget.
Skip if: You’re over ~6’2″ or need the 330 lb capacity — the MotionMax earns its premium.
Verdict: The honest budget pick: real magnetic resistance and app tracking at $299.99.
3. Best water rower — Sunny SF-RW522017 Hydro + Dual Resistance Smart Magnetic Water Rowing Machine
Price: $529.99 · sunnyhealthfitness.com
Spec tiles
| Resistance | Rail | Console | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water + magnetic dual, 16 tension levels | 48.8″ slide rail | Large LCD + SunnyFit app | Padded seat, device holder |
Details: Large LCD shows calories/distance/SPM/strokes/time/500m/watts; transport wheels; pivoting foot pads on the water model; upright storage.
Pros
- Dual water + magnetic resistance — water feel with fine magnetic control
- The most complete console readout of any Sunny pick here (watts, 500m splits)
- Padded seat and device holder included
Cons
- No published max user weight on the product data we read
- Water tank means refilling and occasional maintenance magnetic-only rowers skip
Good fit: Rowers who want the water-rowing feel plus adjustable resistance control.
Skip if: You want zero maintenance — the magnetic-only MotionMax or Corezy need none.
Verdict: The water rower’s pick with a tech edge: real water dynamics plus 16 magnetic levels.
4. Best connected — Echelon Row Smart Home Rower
Price: $749.99 · echelonfit.com
Spec tiles
| Resistance | Max user weight | Footprint | App |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 electronic magnetic levels | 300 lb | 84″L×21″W×45″H; folds to 40″L | Echelon Fit via Bluetooth |
Details: Patent-pending Bluetooth handlebar controller; device holder with 90° swivel (tablet not included); 106.5 lbs.
Pros
- 32 electronic resistance levels — double the Sunny picks, adjusted from the handlebar
- Handlebar-mounted Bluetooth controller: change intensity without breaking form
- Folds to 40″ long for storage
Cons
- No built-in screen — you supply the tablet for classes
- costs more than the MotionMax for a similar 300 lb capacity
Good fit: Class-takers who want instructor-led rowing and mid-workout resistance changes.
Skip if: You don’t want a subscription-driven experience — the Sunny picks work fine without one.
Verdict: The connected pick: electronic resistance you control from the handle, priced below the touchscreen tier.
5. Premium (clearance) — NordicTrack RW700 Rower (NTRW15125)
Price: $1,039.99 · Best Buy
Spec tiles
| Resistance | Max user weight | Screen | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 digital levels | 300 lb | 10″ tilting HD touchscreen (iFIT) | 10-yr frame |
Details: Silent Magnetic Resistance; USB-C; oversized pivoting pedals; transport wheels; sold & shipped by iFIT Inc at Best Buy.
Pros
- Built-in 10″ HD touchscreen with iFIT — the only true screen rower here
- 10-year frame warranty, longest in this guide
- Clearance pricing undercuts its comparison price
Cons
- At $1,039.99 it’s the most expensive pick here — and iFIT membership is extra
- Clearance stock can vanish; the price may not hold
Good fit: Rowers who want the full iFIT studio experience built into the machine.
Skip if: The budget matters more than the screen — the Echelon Row gives electronic resistance for less.
Verdict: The premium screen pick, made palatable by clearance pricing — buy it for the 10″ iFIT display, not the resistance count.
How we picked
We read manufacturer and retailer product pages directly and compared published specifications — resistance type and levels, max user weight, console/app, folding and storage — plus the actual checkout price. No hands-on testing, no lab scores. The Peloton Row was excluded from picks because its $3,295.00 price plus a separate $44/mo membership serves a different buyer than this guide’s audience. We never estimate or fill gaps: any spec a page didn’t publish is left blank. Read our full method.