About RowingBuddy

RowingBuddy is a rowing game for the rowing machine you already have. Connect it over Bluetooth, put the picture on your TV, and every stroke moves your boat through a world worth rowing in, against pacers, your own best row and, if you like, other rowers on the leaderboards.

Rowing at home is honest work, but half an hour facing a wall feels long. RowingBuddy turns it into a race you want to win, and shows the numbers that matter, pace, stroke rate and power, big enough to read mid-stroke.

Who makes it

RowingBuddy is made by Michel Rossier in Switzerland. It’s independent: SmartRow and WaterRower are trademarks of their owners, and RowingBuddy isn’t made or endorsed by them.

How it works

• Free to row. No account needed.
• Your own gear. No new hardware or subscription: a supported rower, a computer or Android phone, and any TV.
• Your data stays yours. RowingBuddy reads only distance, pace, power and stroke rate from your rower, never heart rate or other health data. Backup and the leaderboards are opt-in, and anonymous usage numbers can be switched off. The privacy policy has the details.

Get in touch

Ideas, bugs, a rower that won’t connect: write to hello@mail.rowingbuddy.com, or use Feedback in the game. See what’s coming and what’s new.