Apple Watch and Rowing: Which Apps Track HR and Concept2 Splits

By the Watta Team · Updated

Apple Watch is one of the easiest ways to record heart rate during a rowing workout, but it cannot see the Concept2 monitor, and not every rowing app reads the watch. This guide covers what the watch tracks, which apps use it, and how to get heart rate onto the PM5 screen so the erg record and the heart rate end up in one place.

Quick Answer

The best Apple Watch rowing app depends on your goal. Watta is best for rowing analytics because it reads the Concept2 PM5 screen from a photo, which the watch cannot see. It does not import Apple Watch heart rate: wear a chest strap paired to the PM5, or a Watch app that broadcasts heart rate to it, so the number is on the screen and in the photo. Apple Fitness is best for closing your activity rings. Strava is best for sharing workouts socially. Whoop is best for recovery tracking.

What Apple Watch Can Track While Rowing

Apple Watch can record heart rate, calories, duration, and active energy during a rowing workout. The built-in Workout app has a "Rowing" option that works fine for basic sessions. For Concept2 rowers, the key limitation is that Apple Watch cannot read the PM5 screen, so it does not capture splits, watts, stroke rate, or distance directly. To get the full picture, you need heart rate on the PM5 screen (from a strap or a broadcasting watch app) and an app that reads the screen.

Watta — Best for Rowing Analytics alongside Apple Watch

Watta reads your Concept2 PM5 screen with the camera. It does not read heart rate from the Apple Watch or Apple Health — heart rate reaches Watta when a strap (or a watch broadcasting as a strap) is paired to the PM5 so it appears on the screen. Used together, the watch closes your rings while Watta keeps the erg record. The result is a rowing-specific Effort Score, heart rate zone analysis using the Karvonen method, and trend tracking. Watta pushes every logged workout to Strava; it does not write to Apple Health, so the watch, not Watta, closes your rings.

Apple Fitness — Best for Closing Your Rings

The built-in Workout app is the simplest option. It tracks active calories, heart rate, and workout time, and contributes to your Apple Watch activity rings. However, it has no rowing-specific metrics like split or watts. Use it if you only care about daily activity, not training analysis.

Strava — Best for Social Sharing from Apple Watch

Strava can record a rowing workout directly from Apple Watch and upload it to your Strava feed. The Apple Watch app handles heart rate and GPS where relevant. Strava is great for community and kudos, but it treats rowing as generic cardio and does not display Concept2 metrics.

Whoop — Best for Recovery and Strain

Whoop does not run on Apple Watch, but it integrates with Apple Health. It uses heart rate data to calculate strain and recovery scores. For rowers who prioritise load management and sleep tracking, Whoop is a useful complement to Watta and Apple Fitness.

How to Get Apple Watch Heart Rate into Your Erg Log

The PM5 accepts heart rate from a Bluetooth or ANT+ strap, and from third-party Watch apps that rebroadcast the watch's heart rate over Bluetooth (search the App Store for "heart rate broadcast"). Once the number is on the monitor, it is in the summary screen. After your Concept2 session, photograph that screen in Watta: it captures splits, watts, stroke rate and the heart rate shown, labels the piece by zone and scores its Cardiac Load. Start the Apple Watch Rowing workout as well if you want the session in your rings.

Tips

  • +Wear your Apple Watch slightly higher on the wrist during rowing to improve heart rate accuracy.
  • +Use Watta to capture Concept2 screen data that Apple Watch cannot see.
  • +Connect Watta to Strava so the erg record appears where your friends train; the watch keeps the Apple Health side.
  • +Use Apple Fitness for ring closure and Watta for training insight.
  • +Whoop users should allow Apple Health access for the most complete recovery data.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Apple Watch track rowing workouts?
Yes. Apple Watch has a built-in Rowing workout that tracks heart rate, calories, and duration. For more advanced metrics like split and watts, pair it with a rowing app such as Watta.
What is the best rowing app for Apple Watch?
For the erg record itself, Watta — it reads the Concept2 PM5 screen from a photo, which the watch cannot see. It does not import Apple Watch heart rate; pair a strap to the PM5 if you want heart rate in Watta. Apple Fitness is best for ring closure, and Strava is best for social sharing.
Does Apple Watch work with Concept2?
Apple Watch does not connect directly to the Concept2 PM5. It can record heart rate during a row, but you need an app like Watta or ErgData to capture PM5 metrics such as split, watts, and distance.
Can Apple Watch measure heart rate while rowing?
Yes, although wrist-based heart rate can be less accurate during rowing because of wrist flexion. Tightening the band or wearing the watch higher on the forearm improves accuracy.

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Whoop vs Strava vs Watta for RowersBest Rowing Apps for Concept2Heart Rate Zones (Rowing)Heart rate zones in rowing are five intensity bands based on resting and max heart rate, used to target different training adaptations.Split TimeSplit time is the pace expressed as the time it takes to row 500 metres on an ergometer, displayed in minutes and seconds (e.g. 2:00.0/500m).Stroke RateStroke rate, or strokes per minute (SPM), is the number of complete rowing strokes you take in one minute on the ergometer.Effort ScoreThe Effort Score is Watta's proprietary 0-100 metric that quantifies the total physiological effort of a rowing workout by combining cardiac load, work output, pacing, and economy.HR Zone CalculatorSplit to Watts ConverterRowing Pace CalculatorFor RowersFor Indoor RowingFor Home GymWatta vs Apple FitnessWatta vs StravaWatta vs WHOOP

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