A connected rower or bike is two purchases: the machine, and the monthly membership that runs the classes and screen. Budget for both before comparing screens.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Lowest cost bike
Echelon Smart Connect EX-15 bike
32 resistance levels
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Rower with a big screen
Echelon Row-S smart rower
22 in rotating screen rower
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Compact rower, 375 lb rating
Hydrow Wave rowing machine
16 in touchscreen rower
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Rowers work the legs, core, back and arms in one stroke; Hydrow says 86 percent of your muscles. Bikes are mainly legs, take less floor space, and are easier to use while watching a class.
For the lowest cost of entry, the Echelon EX-15 bike streams classes from your own tablet. For a rower with a built-in screen at a lower price, the Echelon Row-S has a 22 in rotating screen. The Hydrow Wave is the most compact connected rower here and holds the heaviest users.
Top picks, and why
Echelon Smart Connect EX-15 bike
- Bluetooth
- Bring your own screen
- Adjustable toe cages
- Cushioned seat
32 resistance levels, Bluetooth, small footprint, uses your own phone or tablet. $500 to $1,000.
- 32 resistance levels
- Small footprint for apartments
- One membership covers up to 5 users
- No built-in screen listed, uses your own device
- Toe cages only, no clip-in pedals listed
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Echelon Row-S smart rower
- Magnetic resistance
- Foldable
- 81 x 24 x 48 in
- 300 lb max user
+1 moreFewer
- Soundbar
22 in rotating HD screen, magnetic resistance, folds and rolls away. $500 to $1,000.
- 22 in rotating HD screen for off-rower classes
- Folds and rolls on built-in wheels
- Resistance buttons on the handlebar
- 300 lb user limit, lower than Hydrow Wave
- Classes need an Echelon membership after 30 days
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Hydrow Wave rowing machine
- Wi-Fi
- Electromagnetic drag
- 80 x 19 x 43 in
- 375 lb max user
+2 moreFewer
- Wi-Fi required
- 1-year warranty
19 in wide, 102 lb, electromagnetic drag, 16 in touchscreen, users up to 375 lb. $1,000 to $2,000.
- 19 in wide, 80 in long, 102 lb
- Supports users up to 375 lb
- Electromagnetic drag, Bluetooth heart-rate pairing
- Screen and classes need the 50 dollar a month plan
- Upright storage kit sold separately
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
Smart rowers
A rower needs about 7 ft of length plus room to sit down. Both rowers here store upright or folded, which frees most of that floor space between workouts.
Hydrow Wave rowing machine
- Wi-Fi
- Electromagnetic drag
- 80 x 19 x 43 in
- 375 lb max user
+2 moreFewer
- Wi-Fi required
- 1-year warranty
80 x 19 x 43 in, 102 lb, 375 lb user limit, rows without a membership but without the screen features. $1,000 to $2,000.
- 19 in wide, 80 in long, 102 lb
- Supports users up to 375 lb
- Electromagnetic drag, Bluetooth heart-rate pairing
- Screen and classes need the 50 dollar a month plan
- Upright storage kit sold separately
$1,000 to $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Echelon Row-S smart rower
- Magnetic resistance
- Foldable
- 81 x 24 x 48 in
- 300 lb max user
+1 moreFewer
- Soundbar
81 x 24 x 48 in, 22 in screen rotates for off-rower classes, 300 lb user limit. $500 to $1,000.
- 22 in rotating HD screen for off-rower classes
- Folds and rolls on built-in wheels
- Resistance buttons on the handlebar
- 300 lb user limit, lower than Hydrow Wave
- Classes need an Echelon membership after 30 days
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Smart bikes
A bike takes about half the floor length of a rower. Built-in screens add cost; a bring-your-own-device bike gets you the same classes on a tablet.
Echelon Smart Connect EX-15 bike
- Bluetooth
- Bring your own screen
- Adjustable toe cages
- Cushioned seat
32 magnetic resistance levels, one membership covers up to 5 users. $500 to $1,000.
- 32 resistance levels
- Small footprint for apartments
- One membership covers up to 5 users
- No built-in screen listed, uses your own device
- Toe cages only, no clip-in pedals listed
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Peloton Bike+
- Wi-Fi
- Auto resistance
- Built-in fan
- Movement tracking camera
+2 moreFewer
- Riders 4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 5 in
- Wi-Fi required
23.8 in swivel screen, resistance follows the instructor, built-in fan, riders 4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 5 in. over $2,000.
- 23.8 in HD screen swivels 360 degrees
- Auto resistance follows class cues
- Integrated fan with 3 settings
- Most features need the 49.99 dollar a month plan
- 297 lb rider limit, 54 x 22 in footprint
Over $2,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Lowest cost bike
Echelon Smart Connect EX-15 bike
32 resistance levels
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Rower with a big screen
Echelon Row-S smart rower
22 in rotating screen rower
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Compact rower, 375 lb rating
Hydrow Wave rowing machine
16 in touchscreen rower
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
Rower or exercise bike: which is better for home?
A rower works more muscle per stroke, legs, core, back and arms, and Hydrow cites 86 percent of your muscles. A bike takes less floor space, about 54 x 22 in for the Peloton Bike+ versus 80 x 19 in for the Hydrow Wave, and is easier on the lower back. Pick the rower for full-body work and the bike for space and simplicity.
How much is a Hydrow or Peloton membership?
Hydrow lists its membership at 50 dollars a month after a 30-day free trial. Peloton lists its All-Access Membership at 49.99 dollars a month. That is about 600 dollars a year on top of the machine.
Can you use a Hydrow without a membership?
Yes. Hydrow says you can still row without a membership, but the touchscreen, stats and workout library need an active plan. Without one, it works as a plain magnetic rower.
How much space does a rowing machine need?
The Hydrow Wave is 80 in long and 19 in wide, and the Echelon Row-S is 81 in long and 24 in wide. Add about 2 ft on each side to get on and off. Both store upright or folded when not in use.
What is the weight limit on a smart rower or bike?
The Hydrow Wave is rated for users up to 375 lb, the Echelon Row-S up to 300 lb, and the Peloton Bike+ up to 297 lb. The Peloton fits riders from 4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 5 in. Check the rating before you buy if you are near a limit.
Do rowing and cycling burn the same calories?
At moderate effort they are close. The Compendium of Physical Activities rates moderate stationary rowing and moderate stationary cycling at about 7 METs each, so a 155 lb person burns roughly 245 calories in 30 minutes on either. Harder effort burns more on both.
Does a smart bike need Wi-Fi?
Machines with built-in screens do. Peloton and Hydrow both list Wi-Fi as required for streaming classes. A bring-your-own-device bike like the Echelon EX-15 connects to your phone or tablet over Bluetooth, and the device handles the internet.
How much electricity does a Peloton use?
Very little. Peloton lists the Bike+ at 1.7 A maximum, which is at most about 204 W at 120 V, so a 45 minute ride uses at most about 0.15 kWh. That is under 3 cents at the 2025 U.S. average of 17.3 cents per kWh.
Can one membership cover the whole family?
Usually yes. Echelon says one membership supports up to 5 users, and Hydrow includes unlimited family profiles. That makes the monthly fee cheaper per person in a busy household.
Is a smart rower or bike worth it?
It is worth it if the classes get you to use it at least 3 times a week. Over a year at that pace you get about 150 workouts, so add the machine price to 12 months of membership and divide. If you will not keep paying the membership, a non-connected machine costs less.
7 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
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