The Best Affordable Rowing Machines
You do not need to spend big to row at home. We scored the most affordable rowing machines on feel, build, noise and value, kept every pick under $200, and these five stretch a small budget the furthest.
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The short version
The Merach Magnetic Rower is the one to buy if you want to spend as little as possible, a quiet 350 lb magnetic frame for under $150 and the cheapest pick here. Want it to fold flat between sessions, the Merach Foldable Magnetic costs only a little more. Want the highest owner rating on the page, the NICEDAY Magnetic earns it.
Fast answers
Our picks at a glance
Merach Magnetic Rowing Machine
The most rower for the least money
This is the one to buy if you want to spend the least and still get a real rower. It pairs quiet magnetic resistance with a 350 lb steel frame, the same frame class as Merach rowers that cost far more, for under $150. No frills and no monthly fees, just a solid daily rower at the lowest price on this page.
What we liked
- Lowest price here, under $150
- Quiet magnetic resistance
- Sturdy 350 lb frame
- No subscription or hidden fees
Worth knowing
- Basic LCD monitor
- Simple seat padding
Price and availability update on Amazon
Merach Foldable Magnetic Rowing Machine
Folds flat when you are done
Almost the same quiet magnetic rower as our top pick, with one trick that matters in a small home. It folds flat and leans against a wall, so a 350 lb rower disappears between sessions. For only a few dollars more than the cheapest pick, it is the easy choice when floor space is tight and your budget is not.
What we liked
- Folds flat for storage
- Quiet magnetic resistance
- 350 lb frame
- Still well under $200
Worth knowing
- Compact rail suits shorter rowers better
- Best for light to moderate use
Price and availability update on Amazon
Merach Magnetic Rowing Machine (16 Levels)
The most features for the money
Spend a little more and this Merach gives you the most for it. You get 16 magnetic resistance levels, an app that logs your sessions, and more than 2,000 owner reviews behind it. It is still under $200, so you step up on features without leaving the budget bracket.
What we liked
- 16 magnetic resistance levels
- App tracks your sessions
- Over 2,000 owner reviews
- Quiet and apartment friendly
Worth knowing
- Costs more than the cheapest picks
- Lighter frame than gym rowers
Price and availability update on Amazon
NICEDAY Magnetic Rowing Machine
The best owner rating on this page
If you want the budget rower owners are happiest with, this is it. The NICEDAY carries the highest rating on the page at 4.5 stars across more than 1,000 reviews, with quiet magnetic resistance and a 350 lb frame. It sits at the top of our price range but still lands under $200.
What we liked
- Highest owner rating here, 4.5 stars
- Over 1,000 owner reviews
- Quiet magnetic resistance
- 350 lb frame
Worth knowing
- Priciest pick on this page
- Console is basic
Price and availability update on Amazon
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050
The most proven, and the most basic
No rower here has been bought and reviewed more, close to 7,000 times. It is a simple hydraulic glider rather than a flywheel rower, so it suits light, low impact sessions instead of hard training. As the lowest risk way to try rowing at home, it is hard to argue with.
What we liked
- Nearly 7,000 owner reviews
- Low impact on the joints
- Compact and light
- Very low cost
Worth knowing
- Hydraulic feel, not a flywheel
- Not built for hard training
- No app or console
Price and availability update on Amazon
Side by side
How they compare
| Rower | Score | Resistance | Capacity | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merach Magnetic Rower Best Overall | 92 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.3 (473) | $149 | Amazon › |
Merach Foldable Magnetic Best Foldable | 90 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.3 (474) | $159 | Amazon › |
Merach Magnetic (16-level) Most Features | 89 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.4 (2,131) | $189 | Amazon › |
NICEDAY Magnetic Highest Rated | 88 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.5 (1,107) | $199 | Amazon › |
Stamina Body Trac Glider Most Reviewed | 86 | Hydraulic | Standard | 4.3 (6,997) | $169 | Amazon › |
No guesswork
How we score a rowing machine
Every rower runs through the same scorecard, so the numbers mean the same thing across brands and across our guides. We weight the things owners feel day to day, then roll them into one score out of 100. Resistance feel and build carry the most weight, because a rower that feels cheap or wobbles is one you stop using.
Before you buy
How to choose a budget rower worth owning
Affordable does not have to mean flimsy. The cheap end of the rowing market is full of quiet, sturdy magnetic rowers, and the trick is knowing which corners are fine to cut and which are not.
Magnetic is the budget sweet spot
Almost every good rower under $200 uses magnetic resistance, and that is a good thing. A magnet sets the resistance without touching the flywheel, so it runs near silent, needs no upkeep, and stays consistent however hard you pull. It is the cheapest resistance type to build well, which is why it fills this list. For the full set, see the best magnetic rowing machines.
What you give up under $200, and what you do not
At this price you get a plain LCD monitor instead of a touchscreen, a lighter frame than a gym rower, and simpler seat padding. What you keep is the part that matters, quiet resistance, a frame rated to 350 lb on most picks, and a smooth enough stroke for daily training. You are paying less, not buying a worse workout.
Watch for the subscription trap
Some cheap rowers look like a bargain until a monthly app fee turns up. Every pick here works fully on its own, with no membership required. If that matters to you, we keep a separate list of the best rowers without a subscription.
How little can you really spend?
Around $150 to $200 buys a quiet magnetic rower with a sturdy frame, which is where most people should land. Drop below that and you are mostly looking at hydraulic gliders like the Stamina, fine for light, low impact rowing but not for hard training. If you can stretch a little, our picks under $300 add a nicer feel, and the full best rowing machines guide ranks every type. Short on floor space, the best foldable rowers tuck away between sessions.
Quick questions
FAQ
Are cheap rowing machines any good?
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