Hydrow Rower vs Echelon Row-s Connected Rower
Hydrow Rower (#2, best premium) vs Echelon Row-s Connected Rower (#4, best value): in our Rowing Machines scoring the Hydrow Rower totals 9/10 and the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower 7.7/10, the Hydrow Rower leading on Row Feel and Build Quality and the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower on Value.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Hydrow Rower | Echelon Row-s Connected Rower | |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | Electromagnetic | Magnetic (32 levels) |
| Screen | 22" HD touchscreen | 21.5" HD touchscreen |
| Length | 86" | — |
| Storage | Upright kit available | — |
| Max User | 375 lbs | 300 lbs |
| Folded Length | — | 43" |
| Monitor | — | Built-in |
| Price | Check price → | Check price → |
How they differ in real use
Built from our rowing machines scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Hydrow Rower and the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower made our Top 5 Rowing Machines, at #2 (best premium) and #4 (best value). The Peloton of rowing: a 22" HD screen streams on-water classes with whisper-quiet electromagnetic resistance. Beautiful design for living spaces. Connected rowing on a budget: live classes and a 21.5" HD screen at roughly half the Hydrow price. Folds compact for storage.
We score rowing machines on Row Feel (35%), Resistance Type (25%), Build Quality (20%), Features (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Hydrow Rower totals 9 out of 10 and the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower 7.7. The widest gap is Row Feel, where the Hydrow Rower scores 9 against 7 for the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower: stroke smoothness. Build Quality also separates them: 10 for the Hydrow Rower versus 7 for the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower. The Echelon Row-s Connected Rower claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Resistance: Electromagnetic on the Hydrow Rower versus Magnetic (32 levels) on the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower; Screen: 22" HD touchscreen on the Hydrow Rower versus 21.5" HD touchscreen on the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower; Max User: 375 lbs on the Hydrow Rower versus 300 lbs on the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower.
Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the Hydrow Rower for 22" HD touchscreen and on-water filmed classes; the most common complaint is $44/mo membership required. Owners praise the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower for live and on-demand classes and much cheaper than Hydrow; the most common complaint is $39.99/mo membership.
Hydrow Rower
- 22" HD touchscreen
- On-water filmed classes
- Whisper quiet
- Electromagnetic resistance
- $44/mo membership required
- Very expensive
- Heavy (145 lbs)
Echelon Row-s Connected Rower
- Live and on-demand classes
- Much cheaper than Hydrow
- 21.5" HD touchscreen
- Magnetic resistance
- $39.99/mo membership
- Less polished than Hydrow
- Resistance feel not as smooth
Which should you buy?
The Hydrow Rower is the better fit for connected fitness enthusiasts and quiet home gyms; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Row Feel and Build Quality. The Echelon Row-s Connected Rower is the better fit for budget connected fitness and streaming workout fans, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. The Hydrow Rower is a poor fit for budget shoppers; the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower is a poor fit for premium experience seekers.
Choose the Hydrow Rower if
- Connected fitness enthusiasts
- Quiet home gyms
- Premium experience seekers
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Subscription avoiders
Choose the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower if
- Budget connected fitness
- Streaming workout fans
- Space-conscious users
Skip it if
- Premium experience seekers
- Subscription avoiders
Common questions
Is the Hydrow Rower better than the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower?
In our Rowing Machines ranking the Hydrow Rower scores higher overall, 9 to 7.7, with the biggest advantage in Row Feel. The Echelon Row-s Connected Rower is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
What is the main difference between the Hydrow Rower and the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower?
The headline spec difference is Resistance: Electromagnetic on the Hydrow Rower versus Magnetic (32 levels) on the Echelon Row-s Connected Rower. In use, the gap that matters most is Row Feel (9 vs 7 in our scoring): stroke smoothness.