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Fitness · head to head

Hydrow vs StrongLifts

Hydrow logo

Hydrow

Fitness

The live outdoor reality rower

From
$44/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StrongLifts logo

StrongLifts

Fitness

5x5 barbell strength training app built around a fixed beginner programme, sold as a subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only StrongLifts has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; StrongLifts it is built around one specific programme, so once a lifter progresses beyond what 5x5 is designed for and stalls, the app's core structure no longer fits their needs and they typically need a different programme entirely.
  • They diverge on capability: Hydrow covers Live outdoor reality rowing, StrongLifts covers 5x5 programme tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hydrow and StrongLifts actually diverge.

Attributes where Hydrow and StrongLifts differ
AttributeHydrowStrongLifts
Starting price$44/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree tier plus subscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, HardwareiOS, Android
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Hydrow

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

Only in StrongLifts

  • 5x5 programme tracking
  • Automatic progression
  • Plate calculator
  • Rest timer
  • Form videos
  • Workout history

What people use each for

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

Hydrow

  • Workout trackingnot StrongLifts
  • Nutrition managementnot StrongLifts
  • Health monitoringnot StrongLifts
  • Fitness coachingnot StrongLifts
  • Wellness improvementnot StrongLifts

StrongLifts

  • A beginner lifter wanting a structured, proven barbell programme rather than designing their ownnot Hydrow
  • Someone wanting automatic weight progression calculated for them rather than manually tracking increasesnot Hydrow
  • A lifter wanting a plate calculator to avoid mental maths loading a barbellnot Hydrow
  • Someone following 5x5 specifically who wants form videos built into the tracking appnot Hydrow

Where each one falls short

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

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

StrongLifts

  • It is built around one specific programme, so once a lifter progresses beyond what 5x5 is designed for and stalls, the app's core structure no longer fits their needs and they typically need a different programme entirely.
  • Full functionality requires a paid subscription, and the free tier is limited enough that serious use of the programme effectively requires paying.
  • It offers little flexibility for customising exercises or set schemes compared with general-purpose workout loggers, since flexibility is not the point of the product.
  • 5x5 as a method is not suited to every body or goal, for example it is not designed for hypertrophy-focused or advanced lifters, and the app does not steer users away from it once it stops being appropriate.
  • Subscription billing continues after a user has outgrown the programme unless actively cancelled, which is a common pattern across fitness app subscriptions generally.

Pricing, plan by plan

Hydrow

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

StrongLifts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited programme access and logging
  • StrongLifts Premium$undefined/month
    • Full 5x5 programme access
    • Custom plate settings
    • Expanded workout history and stats

Which should you pick?

Choose Hydrow if

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

Choose StrongLifts if

  • You need 5x5 programme tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want automatic progression.
StrongLifts review

Questions people ask

Is Hydrow or StrongLifts better?
Neither clearly leads. Hydrow starts at $44/month and StrongLifts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hydrow or StrongLifts?
StrongLifts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $44/month for Hydrow and Free for StrongLifts.
Does Hydrow or StrongLifts run on more platforms?
Hydrow runs on Ios, Android, Hardware. StrongLifts runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use StrongLifts for free?
Yes. StrongLifts has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hydrow starts at $44/month.
What is Hydrow best used for?
Hydrow is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching. Of those, workout tracking and nutrition management are not what StrongLifts is typically brought in for.
What can Hydrow do that StrongLifts cannot?
Hydrow covers Live outdoor reality rowing, On-water filming, Athlete-led workouts, Performance metrics. StrongLifts covers 5x5 programme tracking, Automatic progression, Plate calculator, Rest timer.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

StrongLifts: Is StrongLifts free?

There is a free tier with limited access; full programme features require a paid subscription.

StrongLifts: Is this the same as the Strong app?

No, Strong is a general-purpose workout logger for any routine; StrongLifts is built specifically around the 5x5 programme.

StrongLifts: Who is 5x5 suited for?

Primarily beginner to early-intermediate lifters building a strength base; it is not designed as a long-term or advanced programme.

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