Smart home gym and rowing machine comparison
15 machines from 9 brands, read on their U.S. stores on November 14, 2026, with four picks chosen by written rules.
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Short answer: Concept2 RowErg (standard legs) at $990 (lowest cost per workout), Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym at $1,499 (Strength without a screen), or Speediance Gym Monster 2 (Basic) at $2,579 (Digital weight, plan optional). Prices checked Nov 14.
- Lowest cost per workoutCheck price at Concept2
- Strength without a screenCheck price at Bowflex
- Digital weight, plan optionalCheck price at Speediance
Our picks
Rule: within each need, the machine with the lowest cost per workout over 5 years at 3 workouts a week, each brand's plan kept [calc]. Commission is never a criterion.
1. Lowest cost per workout
Concept2 RowErg (standard legs)
$990 plus $55 shipping and no subscription: $1.34 a workout over 5 years [calc].
- Type
- Rower
- Subscription
- none
- Max load or resistance
- Air resistance, flywheel with damper (no figure published)
- Size in use (L x W x H)
- 96 x 24 in (height not published)
- Machine weight
- 57 lb
- Warranty
- Limited 2-year (moving parts, monitor) and 5-year (frame parts)
- No subscription
- 500 lb user rating (Concept2's own test)
- Splits in two for storage
- No screen classes
- Overall height not published
2. Strength without a screen
Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym
$1,499 plus $199 shipping, 210 lb of Power Rod resistance, no plan: $2.18 a workout [calc].
- Type
- Smart or home gym
- Subscription
- none
- Max load or resistance
- 210 lb
- Size in use (L x W x H)
- 76 x 78 x 83.25 in
- Machine weight
- 174 lb
- Warranty
- 7 years machine, 5 years Power Rods
- No subscription
- Upgradable to 410 lb
- 7-year machine warranty
- 112 x 150 in workout area
- Sale price of $899 ended Nov 14
$1,499
Check price at Bowflex
3. Digital weight, plan optional
Speediance Gym Monster 2 (Basic)
$2,579 for 220 lb of motor resistance; $4.84 a workout with Wellness Plus, $3.31 without [calc].
- Type
- Smart or home gym
- Subscription
- $19.99/mo, optional
- Max load or resistance
- 220 lb
- Size in use (L x W x H)
- 48.03 x 27.16 x 72.83 in
- Machine weight
- 171.96 lb
- Warranty
- 2 years (main unit)
- Folds to 14.56 in deep
- No wall mounting
- 2-year main unit warranty
- 171.96 lb
$2,579 $3,849
4. Connected rower, plan optional
Aviron Strong Series Rower (16 in screen)
$1,799 with free shipping; $4.54 a workout with the $29 plan, $2.31 without [calc].
- Type
- Rower
- Subscription
- $29/mo, optional
- Max load or resistance
- Air plus magnetic resistance, "1 to 100 lbs" as published
- Size in use (L x W x H)
- 84 x 27 x 48 in
- Machine weight
- 114 lb
- Warranty
- 20 years parts and frame while the first membership stays active and bought direct; otherwise 10 years frame, 1 year parts
- Stands upright with no wall mount
- 507 lb user rating
- 20-year warranty needs the first membership kept
$1,799 $2,499
Prices checked Nov 14. How we chose, and where each number comes from
Contents
The cheapest machine to own in our list is the Concept2 RowErg at $1.34 a workout over 5 years, because it costs $1,045 delivered and has no subscription. For strength, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE comes to $2.18; for digital weight, the Speediance Gym Monster 2 to $3.31 without its optional plan [calc, prices of Nov 14, 2026].
All 15 machines
| Machine | Price | Subscription | Max load or resistance | Size in use (L x W x H) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speediance Gym Monster 2 (Basic) Strength | $2,579 | optional ($19.99/mo) | 220 lb | 48.03 x 27.16 x 72.83 in | See it |
 | Speediance Gym Pal (Pro Max) Strength | $1,599 sold out on Nov 14, 2026 | optional ($19.99/mo) | 220 lb | 32 x 23 x 6 in | See it |
 | Tonal 2 Strength | $3,295 | $59.95/mo required, 12 months min. | 250 lb | 21.5 x 5.5 x 50.9 in | See it |
 | Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Strength | $2,999 | none | 220 lb | 112 x 62 x 72 in | See it |
| Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym Strength | $1,499 | none | 210 lb | 76 x 78 x 83.25 in | See it |
 | Ergatta Luxe Rower Rower | $1,999 | optional ($39/mo) | Water resistance, "naturally-adjusting" | 86 x 23 x 41 in | See it |
 | Ergatta Lite Rower Rower | $1,399 | optional ($39/mo) | Water resistance | 82 x 23 x 38 in | See it |
 | Echelon Row-s Rower | $799.99 | $39.99/mo picked at checkout, cancel anytime | 32 magnetic resistance levels | 85 x 24 x 45 in | See it |
 | Echelon Row-4s-10 Rower | $649.99 | $39.99/mo picked at checkout, cancel anytime | Magnetic resistance (levels not stated on the page) | not published | See it |
| Concept2 RowErg (standard legs) Rower | $990 | none | Air resistance, flywheel with damper (no figure published) | 96 x 24 in (height not published) | See it | |
| Hydrow Wave Rower | not checked | optional ($50/mo) | Electromagnetic (no figure published) | not published | See it | |
| Hydrow Origin (formerly Pro) Rower | not checked | optional ($50/mo) | Electromagnetic (no figure published) | not published | See it | |
| Aviron Strong Series Rower (16 in screen) Rower | $1,799 | optional ($29/mo) | Air plus magnetic resistance, "1 to 100 lbs" as published | 84 x 27 x 48 in | See it |
 | NordicTrack RW900 Rower Rower | $1,999 | optional ($39/mo) | 26 levels of Silent Magnetic Resistance | 80.1 x 21.8 x 52.7 in | See it |
| NordicTrack RW700 Rower Rower | $1,499 | optional ($39/mo) | 26 levels of Silent Magnetic Resistance | 81.5 x 21 x 49 in | See it |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Hydrow's prices and sizes are not checked: hydrow.com blocked our reader on November 14, 2026.
What does each one cost per workout?
Five years, 3 workouts a week, each brand's plan kept, delivery added when the store publishes a price [calc]:
| Machine | Up front | 5-year total | Per workout | Without optional plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg | $1,045 | $1,045 | $1.34 | $1.34 |
| Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE | $1,698 | $1,698 | $2.18 | $2.18 |
| Speediance Gym Pal (sold out) | $1,599 | $2,798.40 | $3.59 | $2.05 |
| Echelon Row-4s-10 | $649.99 | $3,049.39 | $3.91 | $0.88 (1 month) |
| Bowflex Revolution | $3,198 | $3,198 | $4.10 | $4.10 |
| Echelon Row-s | $799.99 | $3,199.39 | $4.10 | $1.08 (1 month) |
| Aviron Strong Series | $1,799 | $3,539 | $4.54 | $2.31 |
| Ergatta Lite | $1,399 | $3,739 | $4.79 | $1.79 |
| Speediance Gym Monster 2 | $2,579 | $3,778.40 | $4.84 | $3.31 |
| NordicTrack RW700 | $1,499 | $3,839 | $4.92 | $1.92 |
| Ergatta Luxe | $1,999 | $4,339 | $5.56 | $2.56 |
| NordicTrack RW900 | $1,999 | $4,339 | $5.56 | $2.56 |
| Tonal 2 | $4,085 | $7,682 | $9.85 | $6.16 (12 required months) |
For comparison, a gym at $61 a month costs $3,660 over the same 5 years, or $4.69 a workout. The two Hydrow rowers are missing because we could not check their prices. Change the years, the sessions or the gym fee in the cost per workout calculator.
How to read the table
- Subscription: "required" means the brand makes it a condition (Tonal). "Picked at checkout" means a plan comes with the order but can be cancelled (Echelon). "Optional" means the machine works without it, with fewer features.
- Max load: digital machines publish pounds of resistance; rowers publish a resistance type or a number of levels, which do not compare across brands.
- Size in use: the footprint as published. Check your room with the space calculator; Tonal and Bowflex publish larger workout areas.
Duels: Speediance vs Tonal, Concept2 vs Hydrow, Ergatta vs Aviron, Gym Monster 2 vs Gym Pal, Tonal vs Vitruvian.
Frequently asked questions
How are the picks chosen?
By the rule written above each one, applied to the published figures: the lowest cost per workout over 5 years at 3 workouts a week with plans kept, within each need. Commission plays no part, and no program had accepted the site on November 14, 2026.
Why are some figures missing?
We only print what the brand publishes on its own U.S. store. Concept2 gives no overall height; NordicTrack gives the RW900's boxed weight but not its own; hydrow.com blocked our reader that day.
Related questions
- Ergatta vs AvironBoth sell rowers built around games, and both say the plan is not required. Aviron is $1,799 with a $29 plan billed yearly; the Ergatta Lite is $1,399 and the Luxe $1,999, with a $39 monthly plan.
- Gym Monster 2 vs Gym PalBoth reach 220 lb of digital resistance. The Gym Monster 2 is a 72.83 in tall station at $2,579; the Gym Pal is a 70 lb floor unit at $1,599 that was sold out on November 14, 2026.
- Speediance vs TonalThe Gym Monster 2 costs $2,579 with an optional plan; the Tonal 2 costs $3,295 plus a required $59.95 monthly membership for 12 months, $495 of accessories and a $295 installation.
- Concept2 vs HydrowThe RowErg is $990 with no subscription, 96 by 24 inches, and splits in two for storage. Hydrow's store could not be read on November 14, 2026, so its prices stay unchecked here.
- Tonal vs VitruvianOn November 14, 2026, Vitruvian's store showed a "STRONGER IS COMING. Stay tuned for the next update." page and sold only the $590 Pro Kit of accessories: the Trainer+ itself could not be ordered.