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Fitness · head to head

Apple Fitness+ vs Hydrow

Apple Fitness+ logo

Apple Fitness+

Fitness

Guided workouts powered by Apple Watch

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hydrow logo

Hydrow

Fitness

The live outdoor reality rower

From
$44/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Fitness+ restricted to Apple ecosystem, not compatible with Android devices or non-Apple platforms; Hydrow the vendor's own homepage as captured by the Internet Archive on 31 December 2021 priced the Hydrow rowing machine starting at $56 per month via 0% APR Klarna financing with $0 down, alongside a 30 day risk-free trial and a 1 year hardware warranty
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Fitness+ covers Studio-style workouts, Hydrow covers Live outdoor reality rowing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Fitness+ and Hydrow actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Fitness+ and Hydrow differ
AttributeApple Fitness+Hydrow
Starting price$9.99/month$44/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, tvOSIos, Android, Hardware
Founded19762017

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Fitness).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Fitness+

  • Studio-style workouts
  • Real-time Apple Watch metrics
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Time to Walk
  • Meditation sessions
  • Apple Music
  • Health app
  • SharePlay

Only in Hydrow

  • Live outdoor reality rowing
  • On-water filming
  • Athlete-led workouts
  • Performance metrics
  • Community racing
  • Bluetooth heart rate
  • Android support
  • Hardware support

Both cover

  • Apple Watch
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Fitness+

  • Workout tracking
  • Nutrition management
  • Health monitoring
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvement

Hydrow

  • Workout tracking
  • Nutrition management
  • Health monitoring
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvement

Both are used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching, wellness improvement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Fitness+

  • Restricted to Apple ecosystem, not compatible with Android devices or non-Apple platforms
  • Apple Watch is required for optimal functionality and metrics tracking
  • No live sessions available, only prerecorded on-demand videos
  • Limited Mac support with streaming from iPhone or iPad required
  • Simplified approach puts limitations compared to specialized or comprehensive fitness apps

Hydrow

  • The vendor's own homepage as captured by the Internet Archive on 31 December 2021 priced the Hydrow rowing machine starting at $56 per month via 0% APR Klarna financing with $0 down, alongside a 30 day risk-free trial and a 1 year hardware warranty

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Fitness+

$9.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Apple Fitness+ review.

Hydrow

$44/month
  • All-Access$44/month
    • Live workouts
    • On-demand library
    • Family profiles

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Fitness+ if

  • You need studio-style workouts.
  • You work on iOS, iPadOS, tvOS.
  • You also want real-time apple watch metrics.
Apple Fitness+ review

Choose Hydrow if

  • You need live outdoor reality rowing.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want on-water filming.
Hydrow review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Fitness+ or Hydrow better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Fitness+ starts at $9.99/month and Hydrow at $44/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Fitness+ or Hydrow?
Apple Fitness+ starts at $9.99/month and Hydrow at $44/month.
Does Apple Fitness+ or Hydrow run on more platforms?
Apple Fitness+ runs on iOS, iPadOS, tvOS. Hydrow runs on Ios, Android, Hardware.
What is Apple Fitness+ best used for?
Apple Fitness+ is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching.
What can Apple Fitness+ do that Hydrow cannot?
Apple Fitness+ covers Studio-style workouts, Real-time Apple Watch metrics, Personalized recommendations, Time to Walk. Hydrow covers Live outdoor reality rowing, On-water filming, Athlete-led workouts, Performance metrics. Both handle Apple Watch, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Fitness+: How much does Apple Fitness Plus cost?

Apple Fitness Plus costs $9.99/month or $79.99/year in the US. New subscribers may be eligible for a free trial with the purchase of select Apple devices.

Source
Apple Fitness+: Can you share Apple Fitness Plus with family?

Yes, Apple Fitness Plus features Family Sharing compatibility, allowing you to share your subscription with up to five family members at no additional cost.

Source
Apple Fitness+: What workout types does Apple Fitness Plus offer?

Apple Fitness Plus supports a wide range of workout types including strength training, yoga, HIIT, cycling, dance, and mindful cooldowns with curated music playlists.

Source
Apple Fitness+: Does Apple Fitness Plus integrate with Apple Music?

Yes, one of the strongest features is Apple Music integration, with workouts synced to curated playlists that match pace and intensity.

Source
Apple Fitness+: What devices are required to use Apple Fitness Plus?

Apple Fitness Plus requires an Apple device such as iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. An Apple Watch is more or less mandatory for optimal use and metrics tracking.

Source
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