Hydrow Reviews 10.044

Thoroughly enjoy my Hydrow Origin.

The instructors are informative, positive and motivating without being over the top.

It’s a great full body workout and also great cardio.

I purchased the intelligent display and it’s everything you would expect for a 2026 piece of technology. Very responsive, crystal clear, display, easy connectivity etc.

The workouts themselves are all tailored to your needs, and I appreciate the easy filtering e.g. plethora of locations, difficulty level levels, athletes, etc. For the rows that are on the water you truly feel like you’re immersed in that particular waterway and when you get done, it’s not only a great feeling from a workout perspective, but also refreshing having seen all of the beautiful places.

I would highly recommend this investment in your health as you will not regret it.

PS It’s also been great working with their support team e.g. Jesus and Michael did a great job helping me out.

We really enjoy our Hydrow Wave. The workout videos are very well done—they strike a nice balance of being educational and fun, and it’s a great perk getting to see all the different locations on the water.
Recently, after about 18 months of low-to-moderate use, the primary belt started to fray. Things break; it happens. What matters is the response, and I’m currently working with their customer support team, who has been exceptionally responsive so far. It’s good to see a company standing behind their product. I’m still in the middle of the process and will update this review once everything is finalized.
As a side note, I do like the new design of the Hydrow ARC. If I were buying a machine today, the larger articulating screen would be a really nice feature for the off-rower yoga and Pilates videos included in the subscription.

Peter

Horrible customer service. We only had a rower for a couple of years and used it a couple of times a week. Then the monitor stoped working. Obviously once the monitor dies, the whole machine is pretty much useless. We called the customer service and they were initially very not helpful - constant confirmation on whether we followed the reset instruction and etc. Then the asked us a $500 for technician to come out and replace. We said no thank you and will never buy this again.

I've had the Hydrow Pro rower for 4 years and I'm just clocking up 5M meters. I love the rower, I love the online rows, the beautiful locations and the Hydrow team rowers are fantastic, all of them, they get 5M*
I dislike the following, which deducted 2*:
1. Cost - this rose from £44 to £50 a month in January with no advance warning, it's not like I can go elsewhere now so this seems grossly unfair
2. Rewards - after 4M the rewards stopped completely, come on Hydrow, don't stop rewarding those of us still continuing the journey. Although since you started charging astronomical postage to the UK the rewards have to be good to be worth it (not socks!)
3. App - glitchy, a recent update stopped it working altogether and support are useless in getting you back online.
4. Device compatability - needs to be extended to Fitbit or Google Pixel watches, we don't all use Apple & Strava!!!
5. Store - there's no longer an apparel store in the UK, have you completely abandoned the UK market???
This rower is a huge investment but absolutely 100% worth it despite these downsides, if Hydrow can pay more attention to the UK market and offer better service to long-standing customers, it would be 5*
I

Company purchased speede fitness to produce this that company had a kickstarter that many ordered there machine 3 to 4 years ago and Hydrow apparently is so inept at customer service that they didn’t bother prioritizing those that were part of there buyout.

Just adding on to my review the reply from Hydrow was ridiculous. Hydrow purchased a majority stake in Speede making it the parent company to suggest theta they are not responsible for making sure Speede kickstarter purchases are treated is absolutely wild.

The quality of the machine is excellent - it is quiet and feels very solid. The workout content is also excellent!

Good morning 🌄
How are you

Absolutely love my Hydrow Arc. The atheletes and workouts are awesome. I’ve only had it for 2 weeks and I look forward to each and every row. I enjoy that it gives me feed back on my progress and gives pointers about having correct form. I highley recommend the Hydrow to anyone that is considering buying one.

We ordered the hydrow machine on a black Friday special, expecting to have it by Christmas. The accessories (the special) arrived quickly and we were surprised that the tracking for the rower said we would be contacted for a delivery appointment by December 9! Well, that was misleading and we didn't actually receive it until January 2, almost a month later.

So why is this 5 stars? The customer service at Hydrow is outsourced and the shipping is outsourced. Nevertheless, The Hydrow support team worked to get the shipping delay resolved and basically gave me a dedicated person who proactively touched base with me regularly until the machine was delivered.

The machine itself is perfect: looks great, feels sturdy, works like a rower!

The workouts are fun and more variety than you would expect for a rower, plus lots of off-rower workouts. Most are around 10 minutes so you can mix and match to create what you want.

So, the shipping was aggravating AF - I nearly cancelled the order. But now that I have it, the labor is fading away. #iykyk

Love the equipment and programming - guides are excellent! Cost is very (!!) high. For that cost, Support should be 10X better. They are very friendly and helpful. Or at least promising to help. But everything is incredibly, incredibly slow. Especially considering you're paying $1.50 a day for the service. Replacing a foot pedal with a stuck slider took a month, including sending the wrong part. A question about a discount for a renewal plan - which was promised by the rep on Black Friday - is still open 3 calls and 5 weeks later, always with a promise of "we'll get back to you soon." Which they don't. Now apparently rates have gone up, more than negating any discount they would have given me... by the time they get to it in 2040 (:-). Definitely has the feeling of "thank you for your money, we're not in a rush to do anything in return."

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Hydrow got back to me shortly after this message, and very quickly addressed both problems, with instant responses and ensuring their solutions addressed the issues. Apparently they were overwhelmed during the holiday season and mis-routed the case (per their reply). While they do need to invest more in their Support people, systems, and processes, by eventually addressing the issues professionally, responsively, and in a caring way, they've earned back my trust and recommendation. I've upgraded them to 4 stars on hopes they'll continue to improve Support. And of course the equipment and programming is excellent!

Hydrow seems deaf to customer feedback re their subscription cost. I purchased my Hydrow in 2022 and have not renewed beyond the free subscription period. Back in 2022 the subscription was expensive at about £36 / month, since then it has increased 22% to £44 / month, a massive £528 per year. There are plenty of comments/ feedback suggesting a tiered subscription, giving customers different options. But Hydrow seems completely deaf to what their customers think. My Hydrow is a small part of a fitness regime and can in no way justify £500+ per annum. So as things stand each time I use it I stare at a large blue screen with a few miserable metrics at the bottom and I am reminded how much I hate Hydrow as a company for their short sited way of milking their clients with such high subscription charges. Just give us a subscription at £15 per month with a limited number of rows and you win back the goodwill of disgruntled customers and increase your revenue!

Absolutely love my Hydrow rower. Great training for newbies like me, and the workouts can be intense or casual- whatever you pick. My only complaint is the seat is small and somewhat hard for those of us that are overweight and just starting our weight loss / fitness journey.

My Question was answered and taken care of within a few hours.

First off, the strap was put on backwards. They sent us a few free t shirts to make up for it. They said that was a common issue. It is fraying on both sides already and we have barely used it. Second, the foot straps and positioning are terrible. Third, they are raising the fee to $50/mo. I wish we had never invested in this. It is not worth it.

The rower is great. The options for putting a membership on hold are deceptive. The only option is a three month hold, then it automatically restarts the membership, with no apparent way to put it on hold again. Customer service was totally unhelpful.

Bought 4 yrs ago and so glad I bought it! The Hydrow team is such am amazing benefit to this system !

I have been wanting a Hydro for. A few years , and now that I finally got one, I was finally able to pick up an enjoyable exercise routine, after 11 days, I am feeling more energized, and I know in time I will trim out and be able to lower my BP and Cholesterol meds . Another win.

Consumer Warning: Hydrow Rower Owners Say It’s a “$1,800 Machine With No Free Classes”
Date: Nov 11 2025

Summary
Buyers are sounding the alarm about Hydrow, the high-end connected rowing machine company. Many customers claim the company fails to clearly disclose that all classes and interactive content require a paid monthly membership, leaving the $1,800+ device nearly useless without ongoing payments.

Frustrated Customers Say They Were Misled
Hydrow markets its sleek rowing machines as “the feel of rowing on water—at home.” The company’s ads highlight world-class athletes, scenic rivers, and guided workouts filmed around the globe.
But once buyers unpack and power up their rowers, they quickly discover that none of those classes are available without a paid Hydrow Membership, which costs about $44 per month.
“It’s unbelievable,” said one frustrated customer. “I spent over $1,800, and the machine doesn’t include even one free class. Everything is locked behind a paywall. It feels like a scam.”
Without the membership, users can only access a basic “Just Row” mode, which tracks distance and time—but offers no video guidance, no classes, and no scenic routes.

Hydrow’s Premium Price Comes With Recurring Costs
Hydrow’s rowers, founded by Bruce Smith, a former U.S. National Rowing Team coach, are marketed as a fusion of technology and sport. Smith often promotes the company’s mission of “bringing the connection of on-water rowing into every home.”
However, critics argue that the company is selling subscriptions, not fitness equipment, and that its marketing glosses over this crucial detail.
“Hydrow looks premium, but the pricing model feels predatory,” one buyer wrote on Reddit. “The rower is just a shell without the membership.”

Customer Reviews Reflect Growing Discontent
Across review platforms like Trustpilot, Reddit, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), users have voiced the same complaint: Hydrow doesn’t clearly disclose how limited the machine is without a membership.
A typical complaint reads:
“The product videos show beautiful classes and coaches, but that’s all paywalled. You basically buy a screen and a handle that can’t do much unless you keep paying monthly.”
Some users have also reported difficulty returning the machine after realizing its limitations, noting that Hydrow’s return process can be restrictive once the product has been used or assembled.

The Bigger Picture: Fitness Tech’s “Hardware-as-a-Service” Problem
Hydrow isn’t the only company facing backlash for this business model. The entire connected fitness industry—including Peloton, Tonal, and NordicTrack—has shifted toward selling expensive hardware that requires ongoing digital subscriptions.
While this approach can make sense for companies offering live content, many consumers believe they’re being misled when basic features are disabled or locked without a membership.
Consumer advocates are calling for clearer disclosures on product pages and packaging to ensure buyers understand exactly what they’re purchasing.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also emphasized that companies must prominently disclose recurring costs and feature limitations before purchase—not just in fine print.

What Buyers Can Do If They Feel Misled
If you’ve purchased a Hydrow and believe you weren’t properly informed about the membership requirement, consider taking the following steps:
1. Contact Hydrow Support and request a refund, citing the lack of clear disclosure.
2. Dispute the charge through your credit card provider if you believe the advertising was misleading.
3. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or FTC.gov about unclear marketing or hidden fees.
4. Share your experience on review sites to help inform other potential buyers.

Final Takeaway
Hydrow may produce a well-built rowing machine, but without a paid membership, it’s little more than a $1,800 digital display.
Until Hydrow and similar companies make membership requirements and limitations unmissably clear, consumers are urged to read all product details carefully and treat “connected” fitness products with caution.
“Hydrow isn’t really selling a rowing machine,” one buyer summarized. “They’re selling access—and once you stop paying, you lose it all.”

I have had my Wave for two weeks, and my experience has been amazing! This is my first experience with a rower, and I ADORE the trainers/rowers, the locations. It reminds me of swimming, where you get into a meditative space, and I feel so good and yet peaceful when I get done- even with a heart pumping row!

Love, love, love this rower and the classes offered! Only downfall compared to other companies, like Peloton, equipment was left in my garage vs in my house. Peloton sets up equipment and takes packaging materials. Not the end of the world but was not aware of this when I ordered, still, no regrets.