Best Rowing Apps for Concept2

Quick Answer

The best Concept2 app depends on what you need. ErgData is best for live PM5 data and Logbook uploads. Watta is best for post-workout analytics and Effort Score. The Concept2 Logbook is best for rankings and milestones. Strava is best for social sharing. Most serious Concept2 rowers use ErgData plus Watta.

What a Concept2 App Should Do

A great Concept2 app should capture your PM5 workout data accurately, display it in a useful format, and help you track progress over time. The PM5 monitor already records splits, watts, stroke rate, heart rate, and distance; the app decides how that data becomes actionable. Some apps focus on official rankings, others on real-time metrics, and others on post-workout analysis.

ErgData — Best for Real-Time PM5 Connection

ErgData is Concept2's official free app. It pairs with the PM5 over Bluetooth to show live pace, rate, heart rate, and force curve during a workout. Afterward, it uploads the session to the Concept2 Logbook. ErgData is the best choice if you want live feedback and verified records in one step.

Watta — Best for Post-Workout Analytics

Watta is designed for rowers who want deeper analysis without Bluetooth pairing. Snap a photo of the PM5 summary screen and Watta calculates a 0-100 Effort Score, breaks down heart rate zones, and tracks trends over time. It is ideal for athletes who train on shared gym ergs or simply want faster capture than Bluetooth allows.

Concept2 Logbook — Best for Rankings and Milestones

The Logbook is the official online record for all Concept2 workouts. It powers the global rankings, seasonal challenges, and lifetime metre milestones. If you care about seeing your name on a leaderboard or earning a million-metre pin, the Logbook is essential. It is free but offers limited analytics.

Strava — Best for Sharing Concept2 Workouts

Strava is not rowing-specific, but it is the largest fitness social network. Many Concept2 rowers sync workouts to Strava to share with friends and coaches. Strava supports manual entry and third-party sync, though it does not natively display splits or watts without an integration.

The Ideal Concept2 App Stack

Most serious Concept2 rowers use a combination: ErgData to capture and upload workouts, the Logbook for official records and rankings, and Watta for analytics and motivation. Strava is added if social sharing matters. Each app does one thing well; together they cover the full training workflow.

Tips

• +Use ErgData during workouts if you want live metrics and force curve feedback.
• +Upload every test piece to the Concept2 Logbook for official rankings.
• +Use Watta after workouts to track Effort Score and heart rate zone trends.
• +Sync Watta to Strava so your Concept2 workouts appear in your social feed with rowing context.
• +Keep your PM5 firmware updated for the best Bluetooth and memory upload performance.

Further Reading

• Concept2 Training Resources — Official training guides and workout of the day from Concept2.
• British Rowing — Indoor Rowing — Training plans and resources from the national governing body.
• Concept2 Rankings — Global erg rankings by distance, age, and weight category.

Rowing Communities