Aviron vs. Hydrow: A Detailed Comparison for Rowers

If you’ve been looking for a rowing machine to achieve your health goals, there’s a chance you’ve come across both the Aviron and Hydrow throughout your research. These two are popular choices when shopping for the best rowing machine for home and pop up in many different buying guides. 

This Aviron vs. Hydrow rower guide will give you an overview of everything you need to know about these machines. Let’s take a closer look at the Hydrow and Aviron Strong Rower, so you can buy the best rowing machine for you.

Hydrow vs. Aviron: Quick reference

Aviron vs. Hydrow: A full comparison

The Aviron and Hydrow are both impressive pieces of equipment, and either would make a great addition to any home gym. 

Let’s explore the differences between these two machines to determine which is best. Both Aviron and Hydrow have multiple indoor rower models, so let’s focus on the Aviron Impact Series rower and the Hydrow Arc rower for this review.

Hydrow vs. Aviron: Quality and materials

The Hydrow and Aviron are made of similar materials, with steel and aluminum monorail frames. Aviron looks more like a traditional rowing machine with a large fan visible at the front, while the Hydrow is designed to look less like traditional fitness equipment and more like a racing boat (scull), with clean lines and rounded edges. 

The Hydrow rowing machine is a solid piece of equipment, weighing 145 pounds compared to the Aviron's lower weight of 114 pounds. Both come equipped with adjustable footplates and ergonomic seats, though many users find the Hydrow seat more comfortable. The Aviron rower seat has cutouts in the seat cushioning, which some users do not love.

Aviron vs. Hydrow: Resistance mechanism 

The kind of resistance an indoor rower has will greatly affect your rowing experience.

The Hydrow rower uses a form of patented electromagnetic resistance that closely mimics the feel of real water rowing. It promises a smooth, quiet pull and is nearly silent in its operation. 

In comparison, the Aviron uses a more common combination of air resistance and magnetic resistance. The use of air to generate resistance is much louder than magnetic resistance alone. 

While both resistance mechanisms promise a good rowing workout, many users prefer the Hydrow to the Aviron. Its ability to mimic a real water feel while creating a quieter, more pleasant experience, can’t be compared to the more traditional mechanisms found on the Aviron.

Hydrow vs. Aviron: Content

The factor that truly sets these professional rowers apart from their competitors is the content they offer.  

The Aviron rower has a membership option that gives users access to a content library to guide them through workouts. Many Aviron users praise it for its video game-style workout options with live leaderboards and scenic waterway views. 

Regarding rowing workouts, Aviron offers in-studio, instructor-led workouts with Austin from Training Tall, as well as some instructor-free workout program options.  

The Hydrow also has a content library, with more guided programs available than the Aviron. Where Aviron has limited workout content from one instructor, the Hydrow library includes over 5,000 workouts filmed outdoors around the world. Each workout is led by a Hydrow Athlete, including world-renowned rowers and medaled Olympians. 

Hydrow also has a library of additional on-the-mat workouts such as circuit training, yoga, and Pilates, live classes, a live leaderboard for competition, and scenic waterway views from around the globe. 

For both these machines, an Aviron membership or a Hydrow membership is required to access this content. If we had to choose between them, the Hydrow remains on top here. 

With a larger library of content and better instructors, you’re getting much more out of a Hydrow membership. 

Hydrow vs. Aviron: Progress tracking

Both Hydrow and Aviron offer real-time metrics tracking, including meters rowed, splits, watts, calories, strokes per minute, and heart rate (if you’re wearing a monitor and connected to your machine via Bluetooth). 

With the Hydrow Arc (and Hydrow Wave), users also unlock access to HydroMetrics, our intelligent training system that gives you a clear picture of your progress while offering real-time tips to help you improve your performance. 

At the end of every workout, HydroMetrics provides three key scores—precision, power, and endurance—which come together to create your HydroMetrics Index (HMI), a simple way to track your progress over time:

• Precision: Tracks your highest burst of force over seven consecutive strokes. 

• Power: Analyzes your rowing form in each workout against the ideal stroke. 

• Endurance: Scores the peak five-minute effort for any row of that duration or longer.

Whether your goal is burning fat, building strength, or creating lasting fitness habits, HydroMetrics delivers personalized feedback that helps shape your next workout so you can keep moving forward with purpose.

Aviron vs. Hydrow: Storage

Both Aviron and Hydrow rowers offer convenient storage options to fit your space. The Aviron Strong Rower stores upright with a compact footprint of 35"L x 27"W x 83"H, while the Hydrow Arc can also be stored vertically using Hydrow’s Upright Storage Kit (sold separately), requiring just 25"W x 33"D x 86"H.

While the Hydrow requires additional gear to store vertically, it does provide a much smaller footprint than the Aviron when stored.

Hydrow vs. Aviron: Price

To purchase the Aviron Impact Series rower outright, expect to pay around $2,499. By comparison, the Hydrow Arc is priced at about $2,295, while other Hydrow options—the Origin ($2,195) and Wave ($1,995)—come in at slightly lower price points.

It’s also important to factor in ongoing membership fees for access to each platform’s content library. Aviron’s membership runs $24 per month, whereas a Hydrow membership costs $44 per month.

Which indoor rower should you buy? 

When it comes down to Aviron vs. Hydrow, the real difference lies in the experience beyond the machine. Aviron stands out with its game-style workouts and streaming options, but Hydrow’s expansive content library—featuring 5,000+ instructor-led workouts, scenic waterways, and a wide variety of off-rower classes—offers a more complete fitness ecosystem. 

Add in HydroMetrics, Hydrow’s proprietary progress-tracking system that delivers personalized feedback on precision, endurance, and power, and you get a tool that not only entertains but also helps you measurably improve over time. 

While the membership costs for Hydrow are higher, Hydrow provides deeper training insights and a more comprehensive fitness journey, making it the stronger long-term investment for most rowers.

Want to learn more about Hydrow? Explore our machines today!