The Best Online Rowing Classes to Help You Get Toned

Hydrow’s library of rowing classes is both massive and diverse. And since its classes are filmed outdoors, you never know what you’re going to find. (You might spot a stunning swan one day and have a chance encounter with a motorboat the next.)

You may be familiar with Hydrow’s best-in-class rowing machine (about $2,500), a splurge-worthy machine designed to mimic the feel of rowing outdoors. But Hydrow also offers an online membership program you can use—even if you don’t own a Hydrow rowing machine. 

Subscribe to Hydrow’s Digital Basic Membership program for roughly $20 per month, and you’ll gain access to tons of different fitness classes. Hydrow offers live rowing workouts, as well as on-demand rowing classes. And they also offer several unguided courses, which allow you to (virtually) row through a scenic route at your own pace.

Since all of Hydrow’s classes are filmed outdoors, you’ll have plenty of pretty visuals to look at. And if you’re in the mood to cross-train, you can take advantage of the other fitness sessions Hydrow offers (yoga, Pilates classes, strength-training routines, and more).

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced rower—you’ll find something to love about Dark Horse Rowing. It's perfect for rowers at any level.

Dark Horse Rowing makes it easy to find a rowing program that works for you with three different membership plans. And if you’re a beginner, Dark Horse Rowing will walk you through all the fundamentals.

The platform’s beginner- and budget-friendly ($5 per month) will start by teaching you how to use your rowing machine before giving you a handful of beginner-friendly workouts to tackle. Once you’re ready to level up, you can spring for Dark Horse Rowing’s intermediate membership, known as The Crew—which, at $19 per month, is still pretty affordable. 

However, as you work your way to Dark Horse Rowing’s more premium features, the platform starts feeling more like a luxury—and less like a budget-friendly buy. For about $145 per month, you’ll get all the classes you already had—plus a customized training plan and direct access to coaches. But if you take full advantage of the personal training features, this is still a pretty good deal.

If you prefer your fitness routine with a side of variety, Regatta Fitness is an excellent choice. The platform offers a massive library of live and on-demand classes, tailored to a variety of different skill levels. Even better: The platform offers a range of cross-training classes, which take place on and off the rower to help you build strength (or simply work up a sweat) in a well-rounded way. 

If you’re the kind of person who can’t handle doing the same routine every single day, Regatta Fitness might just be the program for you.

For about $13 to $20 per month, the platform boasts a massive library of on-demand rowing classes tailored to different skill levels. And since it offers new live courses every week, that library is constantly growing. Switch up your schedule by tuning into live ones or catch the recordings once they’re done. Even better? Challenge yourself to tackle a class that falls just outside your experience level.

If you’re craving even more variety, you can also take advantage of Regatta Fitness’ cross-training classes. Though crafted with rowing in mind, some of these courses take place entirely off the rower—giving you that change of pace you’re looking for. These lessons are alternately designed to help you build strength, work up a sweat, or enhance your mobility, strengthening your rowing skills, while also helping you accomplish your broader fitness goals.

Scullhouse Rowing’s specialty is live studio classes. Every week, the platform offers 10 different classes, which each run 45 to 75 minutes long.

Scullhouse Rowing is about as close as you can come to live studio classes—without actually showing up to a studio in-person.

Splurge on a monthly membership (about $100 per month), and you’ll get access to upwards of 10 new classes every single week. These courses are broadcast live, straight from Scullhouse’s studio. And since they tend to take place in the mornings and evenings, it shouldn’t be terribly hard to fit them into your schedule.

While Scullhouse Rowing offers some beginner-friendly rowing lessons, most of its classes are tailored to avid athletes. They also incorporate other kinds of exercise, like Vinyasa yoga, shadow boxing, and HIIT. Sift through the service's weekly schedules, and you’ll find lessons that combine rowing with a range of different disciplines including yoga, boxing, HIIT, strength-training, and more.

If you’re training for a rowing race, Scullhouse’s 2K Training Group can help you get there. And if you’re simply looking to build endurance for a marathon or triathlon, Scullhouse’s 75-minute Enduro Row classes are a must.

Asensei is no average fitness program. Each time you work out, Asensei will track your progress—measuring your workouts against your goals, and giving you feedback to keep you on track. Think of the platform like a (virtual) personal rowing coach who's there to cheer you on every step of the way. 

Asensei is an online rowing program that doubles as a personal trainer since you’ll also get a personalized learning path that’s customized based on your goals and past experience.

Like other membership programs, Asensei offers tons of on-demand rowing courses. But the platform’s real strength lies in its personal coaching program. Asensei will create a customized training plan for you. And every time you work out, Asensei will track your progress, helping you stay on track as you work toward your goals.

Asensei offers an incredibly useful service at a surprisingly budget-friendly price point (about $20 per month, or $150 Annually).

Asensei only works when paired with a Concept2 rowing machine (about $900 to $1,100). Luckily, these rowers are less expensive than some other app-connected options. But still, this exclusivity is a big limitation. And it’s also a huge bummer because most of the people who’ve tried Asensei swear by the app.