Buying guide
Best Magnetic Rowers
The best magnetic-resistance rowing machines for quiet, low-impact home training, from premium connected models to fold-away budget picks for apartments.
Magnetic rowers use a brake that draws against a spinning flywheel without touching it, so the resistance is set by a dial or the console rather than by how hard you pull. The defining benefit is silence: there is no fan moving air and no water sloshing in a tank, which makes these the easiest rowers to live with in an apartment, a shared room, or next to a sleeping household.
The trade-off is feel. Because you select the level, a magnetic rower does not reward an explosive sprint with extra resistance the way an air machine does, so dedicated interval athletes chasing maximum watts may prefer a fan. For everyone else, the smooth, predictable, low-impact stroke is exactly the point, and most magnetic frames fold upright to reclaim floor space between sessions.
The picks below run from premium connected models with built-in screens down to honest fold-away budget options, so there is a fit for both serious living-room studios and first-time rowers on a tight budget.
- 1 Best Overall$2,495
Hydrow Pro
Hydrow
The Pro pairs a computer-controlled electromagnetic brake with a 22-inch swivel touchscreen, so the resistance stays whisper-quiet while an instructor adjusts the drag through filmed on-water classes. It is the most polished magnetic rower here, and the swivel screen lets it double as a strength and yoga station. The catch is a steep price and a recurring subscription you should factor in.
- 2 Best for Apartments$1,495
Hydrow Wave
Hydrow
The Wave keeps Hydrow's near-silent electromagnetic pull but trims the chassis weight by about a third and the screen to 16 inches, which suits smaller rooms and lighter budgets. It is genuinely easy to live with for early-morning or late-night rows in a shared home. You give up the swivel screen and still need the membership for most content.
- 3 Best Connected Value$1,599
Echelon Row-S
Echelon Fitness
The Row-S offers a 22-inch rotating touchscreen and 32 motorized magnetic levels at a friendlier price than the boutique names. Spin the display sideways and you can follow floor and strength sessions, broadening it well beyond cardio. The best classes sit behind Echelon's membership, and the magnetic stroke lacks air-style power feedback.
- 4 Best App-Compatible$799
Horizon Fitness Oxford 6 Rower
Horizon Fitness
The Oxford 6 skips a proprietary screen and instead streams its data over open Bluetooth FTMS to apps like Kinomap and Peloton, so you bring your own tablet and avoid a locked subscription. Ten quiet magnetic levels and a vertical-fold frame make it practical for small, shared spaces. The resistance ceiling and frame heft sit below commercial rowers.
- 5 Best Budget$249
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine
Sunny Health & Fitness
Sunny's SF-RW5515 covers the basics of a quiet magnetic row at a price that undercuts almost everything else, with eight knob-set tension levels and a simple battery LCD. It folds and rolls into a closet, making it an easy first rower for beginners or rehab work. The fixed levels cap intensity for strong rowers and the short rail favors smaller users.
Last updated June 2026.