Rowing machines have become a rather popular method of exercising at home in recent times. They exercise up to 85% of the body, all the while you don’t have to leave your home. This is perfect in the days of the recent pandemic, where gyms are much more limited in what they can offer. These indoor rowing machines mean that you will be able to get a number of dynamic workouts, as they get your core worked on and the heart rate going.
There are a number of different types of rowers commonly available on the market. While many people might instantly think of those that have water tubs or fans to power them, there is a third method of offering resistance on these machines. The power of magnetism. Magnetic resistance rowing machines have been all the rage in recent times thanks to their ability to offer smooth and effective workouts while also limiting the noise that is traditionally associated with these machines.
But the only problem is that there are tons of magnetic rowers. So, you would be easily overwhelmed with the options which can be both frustrating and time-consuming. Especially, if it is your first indoor rower, because you need to educate yourself on what’s important and what’s not. The good news is our expert team at FitNosia has already narrowed down your options by reviewing the the top 10 magnetic rowing machines under $1000. And to make it extra easy for those who don’t want to go through the whole list, we pick the top 2 rowers and featured them in the “Editor’s Choice” section down below. So, now you don’t need to waste your precious time, buy from the list of best magnetic rowers under 1000 now and start burning those calories. They don’t go anywhere unless you workout and burn them!
| Number | Name | Resistance | Folding | Bluetooth | Capacity | Frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fitness Reality 4000MR | Magnetic | Yes | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 2 | Women’s/Men’s Health Rower | Magnetic | Yes | Yes | 250 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 3 | XTERRA Fitness ERG220 Rower | Magnetic | Yes | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 4 | JOROTO Magnetic Rower | Magnetic | Yes | No | 250 LBs | High-Rise |
| 5 | HouseFit Rowing Machine | Magnetic | No | No | 300 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 6 | Schwinn Crewmaster Rower | Magnetic | No | No | 300 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 7 | Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine | Magnetic | No | No | 340 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 8 | ShareVgo Smart Rowing Machine | Magnetic | Yes | Yes | 300 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 9 | Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 | Magnetic | Yes | No | 250 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 10 | Fitness Reality Magnetic Rower | Magnetic | Yes | Yes | 250 LBs | Low-Rise |
Up first on our list of the best magnetic rowers under 1000 is the Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower. This is one of the most unique rowing machines we’ve seen in recent times thanks to the independent handles it has on each side (as opposed to the traditional single handlebar in the middle). The rower can be folded in order to lessen the space that it takes up when not in use. Which is fair, because the normal dimensions of the 4000MR are 72 inches (183 cm) long, 25 inches (63.5 cm) wide and 51.5 inches (130 cm) tall. When folded, it measures to be 45 inches (183 cm) long, 25 inches (63.5 cm) wide and 59 inches (150 cm) tall.
The resistance of the 4000MR, rather obviously due to this list’s subject, is magnetic. It has 16 levels of dual transmission magnetic tension. This allows for much more varied workouts for whoever decides to hop on this rower. There are 4 adjustable floor stabilizers in order to prevent any sort of movement or rocking that might otherwise occur on the more intense workouts.
The monitor on the 4000MR plays an important role too. It comes with 15 preset workout programs to allow for different types of workouts in different scenarios. The monitor also tracks statistics like distance, time, count, calories burned, RPM, watts, and tension levels.
The 4000MR costs around $700. It comes with a generous warranty of 5 years on the frame, 3 years on the parts and 2 years on the wearables and electronics. Certainly not a bad package.
Conclusion
The Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower offers quiet and comfortable workouts thanks to the fluid magnetic resistance system it comes with. While the handlebar method might take some getting used to, it doesn’t prove to be too big of an issue. The monitor offers preset programs and shows you how you are doing during the workout itself. The price is a bit steep, but the warranty that comes with it is a definite plus.
Pros
Cons
In second place of our top best magnetic rowers under 1000 is the Women’s Health Men’s Health Magnetic Rower. A mouthful, but this rower still does the trick in terms of giving you that fitness boost. It is a more barebones looking rower, made of steel and with a max load weight of 250 lbs. The dimensions measure out to be 80 inches (203 cm) long, 23 inches (58 cm) wide and 28.5 inches (72 cm) tall. It can be folded, bringing those dimensions to 41.5 inches (105 cm) long, 23 inches (58 cm) wide and 57.5 inches (146 cm) tall.
The resistance of this magnetic rower has 14 different levels to choose from. Whether you are a novice at rowing or an experienced veteran of the game, you should be able to find a level that suits you. It’s a smooth and steady experience pulling the bar, which is a definite boon.
The technology is where this rower stands out. The monitor that comes with the rower monitors stats like watts, calories, time and distance. But the real plus is the Bluetooth connection to the MyCloudFitness App. This app on your phone will provide activity reports and can offer a premium service for live workouts, scenic routes and other content.
The price for this rower is right around $550 normally, but has been known to drop to prices like $500. The premium service on the fitness app does cost $15 a month. It comes with a 1 year limited warranty.
Conclusion
The Women’s Health Men’s Health Magnetic Rower is a minimalistic rower that seeks to use it’s Bluetooth connection to the MyCloudFitness App as it’s main boon. It mostly succeeds, with even the base monitor and resistance serving as a fully capable rowing machine. The premium price of the app is a bit unfortunate, but it is also totally optional.
Pros
Cons
Rounding out the top three of the best magnetic rowers under 1000 is the XTERRA Fitness ERG220 Rower. This is a futuristic looking rowing machine that has a similar minimalist aesthetic to the previous one. It has dual full-length aluminum rails to slide along on. At full extension, the dimensions of the ERG220 are 81.1 inches (206 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 29 inches (73 cm) tall. The rower is also foldable for storage purposes. These folded dimensions are 47.2 inches (120 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 57 inches (145 cm).
The resistance of the ERG220 is fairly straightforward. It is magnetic and includes 8 different levels. Not as many as some others, but still a decent variety for the user. It has adjustable foot rests and padded handles for comfort during exercise. The cushion on the seat is raised to 9.5 inches off the ground in order to make for easy mounting and dismounting.
There’s not a whole to say about the monitor on the ERG220. It has a 3.5 inch LCD monitor that will show time, stroke count per minute, distance, total stroke count and calories as you cycle through the various options.
The price is quite reasonable, only being around $364 as of this writing. The fact that it comes with a 1 year warranty on the frame and a 1 year warranty on the parts is definitely another boon in this regard.
Conclusion
The XTERRA Fitness ERG220 Rower is a good combination of value for money, minimalist design and comfortable workout. For such a cheap price, you wouldn’t expect to get all of the elements above. You are comfortable while working out and get a warranty to guarantee that comfort lasts for at least a year.
Pros
Cons
The JOROTO Magnetic Rower is next up on our list. This is a slick and almost futuristic looking rowing machine, that will be sure to allow users of varying sizes to get their workouts in. It is a quiet machine thanks to the aluminum build of the flywheel and slide rail. In addition to the magnetic resistance, you won’t have an issue with noise here. The JOROTO rower can also be stored vertically when not in use, which is good for those who live in smaller homes. There’s also an adjustable entertainment holder for tablets attached, keeping your focus while you row.
The magnetic tension of this rower has 10 different resistance levels, allowing for a good amount of variation regardless of the user. Whether it is a more experienced rower or a newer one, they should be able to find a comfortable and challenging resistance setting on this rower. Speaking of comfort, the seat on the rower should certainly tick that box thanks to its ergonomic design.
The JOROTO rower does come with a digital monitor, but it doesn’t do anything particularly special. It will cycle through statistics like the time, count, calories and total count. There really isn’t too much else to say here. Just a monitor that will show you how much you’ve done.
The price is one of the more appealing parts about the JOROTO rower. It costs about $320, with a 1 year parts warranty coming with that price.
Conclusion
The JOROTO Magnetic Rower is a good rower for the price. It doesn’t promise too much and it delivers what it does. There’s a decent variety of resistance levels, it’s comfortable to exercise on and is so very quiet. Yes, the monitor is a bit basic, but you wouldn’t expect much more for the price.
Pros
Cons
Up next is the HouseFit Rowing Machine. This machine is a solid design that keeps everything straightforward and simple. It has a max user weight of 300 lbs and can be stored vertically to save space. The aluminum slide rail moves back and forth with ease, while the shock absorbers on the bottom of the rower makes sure that the workout is as stable as possible. The handlebars are adjustable, as are the pedals.
The resistance of the HouseFit Rowing Machine is quite adaptable. There are 15 different levels of resistance available for the user. With a simple twist, you can switch through the various levels to give a higher challenge or a little break. You’ll be pretty comfortable at first, as the seat is ergonomically designed. However, after a while it can get a little bit old and you might seek to cut a session short because of it.
There is an LCD monitor that comes on the HouseFit rower. While easy to operate, the screen is a tad small. You will be able to switch through statistics like the time, speed, calories and distance. Like the JOROTO monitor, it isn’t anything special.
In terms of the cost associated with the HouseFit rower, it typically falls around $370. This is a decent price. However, there is no listed warranty attached to the rower, which is always a concern.
Conclusion
The HouseFit Rowing Machine is a decent pick for someone looking for a cheaper rowing machine. It offers a good variety of resistance and adjustability for whoever is using it. It’s comfortable enough at first, but can get old after a while. The monitor does a good enough job, but no more. The lack of warranty is concerning, and the price might be slightly higher than the value provided.
Pros
Cons
The Schwinn Crewmaster Rowing Machine is a piece of fitness equipment from one of the best manufacturers in the game. The rower is foldable, with the rail being stored vertically when you are putting it away for storage. The seat of the rower is purposefully oversized in order to be most comfortable and easier to clean (an important, yet often forgotten part of these rowers). The pedals and their straps are adjustable, making it more accessible to all.
The magnetic resistance that the Crewmaster offers is a quiet and powerful one. There are 10 different levels of preset resistance, which is a decent variety. The nylon transmission of the Crewmaster adds to the power available, raising the ceiling of challenges it can provide.
There isn’t a whole lot to write about with the Crewmaster’s monitor. It will track your time, count, distance, stroke, calories, recovery and pulse. The console can be adjusted in height, which is always a nice feature to have.
The price is on the higher side of this list. The Schwinn Crewmaster costs around $760. It does come with some great warranties; 10 years on the frame, 3 years on the parts and a 1 year warranty on the labour.
Conclusion
The Schwinn Crewmaster is a very good rower for the category it’s in. It delivers a solid workout, adjustable resistance levels and a comfortable design that you would expect from a manufacturer as good as Schwinn. However, the cost for value here is somewhat questionable. While the warranty is fantastic, you are still getting a basic monitor and a rower that doesn’t do a whole lot outside of the ordinary. If not for such a high price, the Crewmaster would be much higher on this list.
Pros
Cons
The Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine does a solid job of providing the workout that people are seeking. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do too much beyond that. Starting with the max user weight, this machine can hold up to 330 lbs. It can be folded in order to save space in the home. The pedals are non-slip and adjustable, making sure you can stay in place during the workouts.
There are 8 different levels of resistance available for the Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine. This means that there’s less fine-tuning available in your choices, but you still can get a good workout in at the higher levels. There are different modes available, like sport or cardio challenge. There isn’t a whole lot that they offer differently compared to normal rowing, but it’s an experience that can be had.
The monitor on the Merax rower is nothing spectacular. It will show the basic statistics like time, distance, calorie count and such. Otherwise, it will not do much else
The price is a bit of an issue with this rower. It normally costs around $500, which is way too much for what this rowing machine offers. However, it has been known to dip down in price to around $400. There’s no listed warranty, which is also a concern.
Conclusion
The Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine is a rowing machine that provides good workouts without many of the other aspects that make the others on this list great. The monitor is fine in that it displays the necessary stats, while the resistance has enough levels to provide a challenge (if not enough for more nuanced workouts). The rower itself is comfortable enough and has enough aspects that are adjustable that there are no complaints. However, for $500 (or even $400) and no warranty, this all just seems like it isn’t worth such a price.
Pros
Cons
Approaching the end of our list is the ShareVgo Smart Rowing Machine. Now this rower is a bit different to the others here thanks to its focus on technology. But that doesn’t necessarily reduce the weight capacity it has, as it can hold 300 lbs by default. The rail of the Smart Rower is foldable, once again allowing for easier storage. There’s a large tablet holder for those who want some entertainment while they row.
The magnetic resistance system is different to many of the others. There are 6 distance-based workouts and 6 challenges, each with their own preset settings. You can also use the console to make an open goal.
Speaking of the console, it is the most notable aspect of the ShareVgo rower. It offers the basic ability to track your time, distance, calories, average split (time/500m), total stroke, average stroke per minute, and BMI. Meanwhile, it can also make those workouts important by showing different graphs and displays on just how you did. Finally, it can connect you with friends and family to challenge and encourage one another one the both other best magnetic rowers under 1000 or even the same one. Unfortunately, it is not an interactive display. There won’t be any video locations or tours here.
The ShareVgo is also fairly cheap, coming in at $325. There’s a basic, 90 day warranty, which is better than nothing.
Conclusion
The ShareVgo is an interesting change from the normal design of rowers in this price range. However, it doesn’t quite pull it all off. The assembly process is difficult, as there’s no instructions. The rowing is rather loud and the foot pads feel somewhat cheap. But it’s not all bad. It can be folded, has Bluetooth connections and has a good variety of challenging modes.
Pros
Cons
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 is a decent rower for the price. It has a max user weight of 250 lbs, while also being foldable to make storage much easier. There are floor stabilizers in order to keep workouts under control.
There are 8 different levels of resistance. This is an OK amount, but the upper limits can be found wanting. Meanwhile the lower levels are just a bit too easy. For beginners or those who aren’t trying to be too intense, this should be fine though.
The monitor of the SF-RW5515 is extremely basic. It will show the time, distance, calories, total count, and scan. Nothing more, nothing less.
The boost of this rather bare rower is the price. While the retail price is about $400, it has been known to drop down as low as $250. It also comes with the Sunny Health & Fitness warranty of 3 years on the frame and 180 days on the parts.
Conclusion
This is a rower that is for those who are simply trying out rowing or want to get it as cheap as possible. It does all the most basic functions well enough, but you should not expect anything more than that. According to many user reviews, it also is not terribly long-lasting, which is not ideal.
Pros
Cons
Finally, we have the Fitness Reality Magnetic Rower on our list of the best magnetic rowers under 1000. This rower is foldable with a max weight limit of 250 lbs. The handlebars and seat are comfortable enough, though the seat can become a source of soreness after long sessions.
There are 16 levels of resistance, though the upper levels still aren’t particularly challenging. However, it does the job for the most part. Thanks to the magnetic design, it ends up being quieter than other types.
The only real technology here is the monitor that tracks count, total count, reps/min, time, and calories. Nothing spectacular, but it does the trick. This is the cheapest rower here, with a default price of $234. There is no listed warranty, which is concerning.
Conclusion
This is a rower for those who want to expend the bare minimum amount of money to try out one of these pieces of equipment. Yes, it’ll help with fitness, but it really won’t do anything else. There have been complaints with the durability of various components, which is obviously a concern with no stated warranty attached.
Pros
Cons
Foldability
With our list at its end, we’re now going to point out some elements of these rowers that you should take into account and examine when searching for one of these magnetic rowers under $1000. Rowing machines can take up quite a bit of room, especially in smaller homes. That’s why many of them prefer to implement foldability into their design, in order to help with storage when they aren’t in use.
Magnetic Resistance Types
Just about all of these rowing machines with magnetic resistance types are quieter and smoother than other rower types of rowers under $1000. So if you are looking for a rower that doesn’t make a ton of noise and doesn’t require maintenance, these are your choice. They are slightly less dynamic than other types, but that is a sacrifice many are willing to make.
Monitor
The monitors on these rowers can really help with the fitness aspect attached with them. After all, knowing exactly the calories burned, distance and time can help you track just how well your exercises are going. Not all rowers come with these, however, so keep an eye out for those and be aware of them.
Our final verdict on which of these magnetic rowing machines is the best has to be the Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower. It simply has everything you could want from a rowing machine in this price range, with the only possible downside being how it is slightly close to the top price limit. Otherwise there’s very little else that one can complain about it, and much more that can be praised. You can also check my answers to major FAQs about magnetic rowing machines.
