Updated October 1, 2026 · ThriveCue Editorial Team
Concept2 vs WaterRower
Where Concept2 and WaterRower differ
| Compare |  Concept2 |  WaterRower |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $990 | £899 |
| Membership per month | $0 | £0 |
| Warranty | 2 to 5 years | 5 years |
| Foldable models | No | YesHas it |
| Markets | US, CA | GB |
| Maximum user weight (kg) | 227 | Not confirmed |
| Screen size (in) | Not confirmed | 19.5 |
Same on both: Membership required (No), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Concept2 scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Foldable models: only WaterRower.
- Support channels: only Concept2 offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Concept2: 1976 vs 1988.
- Concept2 is available in 1 more country.
- Products: only WaterRower offers Treadmill, Recovery.
- Markets: only Concept2 offers US, CA.
- Markets: only WaterRower offers GB.
Our verdict on each
Concept2
Concept2 suits anyone buying a rowing machine and sticking with it for years, since the 2 to 5 years warranty and US and CA coverage outlast most rivals. Paying a $990 entry price is a bigger stretch than Academy, and the machine is not foldable.
WaterRower
WaterRower suits anyone buying a durable machine outright rather than paying monthly for access, and its 5 years warranty is longer than the site median of 2. You pay £899 at the point of purchase and nothing afterwards, which is the trade for an entry price that ranks high among rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Concept2 | WaterRower |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherMembership month is $0 and no membership is required, though entry hardware sits at $990. | 9.0A membership is not required and the monthly cost is free, though £899 ranks 53 of 71. |
| Offer | 9.1Range covers rower, exercise bike and strength with a 2 to 5 years warranty and 30 days money back days. | 9.1Foldable frames, a 19.5 inch display and 30 days of money back soften the upfront outlay. |
| Trust | 9.9HigherA US maker founded in 1976, selling into US and CA with support across email, phone and help centre. | 9.6WaterRower (UK) Ltd operates from GB, supports customers on email, phone and help centre and backs machines with 5 years of cover. |
Which one suits you
Pick Concept2 if trust matter most.
Pick WaterRower if foldable models matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Concept2 | WaterRower |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
Additional countries for Concept2: 2. Additional countries for WaterRower: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Concept2 | WaterRower |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise bikes and rowers | 24 of 50 | 28 of 50 |
| Home gym and strength equipment | 58 of 90 | 63 of 90 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Concept2 | WaterRower |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Rower, Exercise bike, Strength | Rower, Exercise bike, Treadmill, Strength, RecoveryCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | WaterRower (UK) Ltd |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1976Lower | 1988 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Concept2 | WaterRower | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 2 to 5 yearsabove the median | 5 yearsabove the median | 3 |
| Maximum user weight (kg) | 227highest quarter | Not confirmed | 170 |
| Screen size (in) | Not confirmed | 19.5above the median | 9 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 54 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Concept2
Pros
- The rower, exercise bike and strength range covers cardio and strength without splitting the range into separate brands.
- A $0 membership charge means the machine carries no ongoing subscription.
- A 2 to 5 years warranty outlasts the home gym and strength category median, where coverage is often shorter.
Cons
- The 227 kg maximum user weight is a hard ceiling, and a heavier buyer gets nothing from the 2 to 5 years warranty.
- At $990 the entry price ranks 49 of 71 brands, so a cheaper first machine is easy to find.
- The machine is not foldable, so it stays assembled in the room instead of stowing away flat.
WaterRower
Pros
- No subscription drag: a membership is not required and the monthly cost is £0, so the machine is yours from the first payment.
- 5 years of warranty, well past the 2 median across the brands on the site.
- Foldable frames and a 19.5 inch display on the WaterRower Original, which suits flats and small rooms.
Cons
- Entry price: £899 ranks 53 of 71, so this is not the cheapest way into the category.
- The range is listed for GB only, so buyers elsewhere get no local pricing or UK delivery terms.
- A narrower spread than Academy, whose treadmill, exercise bike and rower reaches categories outside WaterRower's rower, exercise bike and treadmill.
Who each suits
Concept2
Who it suits
- Rowers who want a rower, exercise bike and strength setup from one maker and plan to keep it for years.
- Anyone who refuses a recurring fee, given a $0 membership charge and no membership requirement.
- Buyers in US and CA who want phone and help centre support, not just email.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for tight budgets. At $990 the entry price ranks 49 of 71, and Academy spreads treadmill, exercise bike and rower more widely from a lower entry point.
- Not for small flats. The machine is not foldable, so Teeter's cross trainer, rower and strength lineup suits buyers who need equipment to stow away.
- Not for buyers outside US and CA, where the 2 to 5 years warranty terms and support reach are less clear.
WaterRower
Who it suits
- DeerRun shoppers who want rowing and strength kit in the same place: treadmill, exercise bike and rower leans on treadmills and home gyms, while WaterRower's rower, exercise bike and treadmill puts the rower first and adds recovery.
- LifeFitness buyers who want a large console and a foldable frame: 19.5 inches of display and foldable frames, where treadmill, exercise bike and rower is weighted to cross-trainers, strength and home gyms.
- Academy shoppers who do not want a monthly fee: treadmill, exercise bike and rower covers a wide spread, and a membership is not required at WaterRower with a monthly cost of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- DeerRun buyers focused on treadmills and home gyms: treadmill, exercise bike and rower is centred on that pair, and WaterRower's rower, exercise bike and treadmill is spread across rowing, bikes, treadmills, strength and recovery instead.
- LifeFitness buyers who want cross-trainers: treadmill, exercise bike and rower lists them, and WaterRower's rower, exercise bike and treadmill does not include that type.
- Buyers outside GB, where the range and its terms are set up for a single market and no other country is covered.
Country by country
| Country | Concept2 | WaterRower |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Concept2
How much is a Concept2 rower?+
The range starts at $990. That figure covers the entry machine rather than a mid range model, and buyers paying above it are stepping up in frame and monitor rather than in subscription features. Nothing recurs on top, since a membership is not required.
Is there a monthly membership or subscription?+
No membership is required, and the membership charge is $0 per month. Ranked on that figure, Concept2 sits at 1 of 59 brands, so there is no recurring fee to budget for after the purchase.
WaterRower
How much is the cheapest WaterRower machine?+
Rowing machines open at £899, which is the starting figure for the range rather than a promotional rate. Nothing has to be added to reach it, and no membership sits on top, since a membership is not required and the monthly cost is £0. Pay that and the machine is yours.
Do you need a membership to use a WaterRower machine?+
A membership is not required, and the monthly membership cost is £0, so the machine works on its own once it is delivered. That sets WaterRower apart from the 11.5% of sites that put a paid plan in front of the equipment. Cover comes through the 5 years warranty instead, with 30 days of money back to change your mind.