NordicTrack RW900 and RW600 Rowers: Are They Worth Buying Used?

The NordicTrack RW900 lists at $1,999 new, and it's the rower in NordicTrack's lineup with the giant pivoting touchscreen. Used, it's a very different number. A recent RW900 sold on our platform for $750, and most used RW900 asking prices I see land between about $850 and $1,800. The RW600, its folding little brother, lists at $999 new. So whether a used NordicTrack rower is a good deal depends almost entirely on which model it is, what you pay, and whether you plan to keep paying for iFIT.

I help people buy and sell big fitness equipment for a living, and NordicTrack rowers come through our marketplace constantly. This guide covers what actually changes between the RW900, RW600, and RW500, what the RW900 does without an iFIT subscription, how it compares to a Concept2 or Hydrow, what I'd check before buying one used, and what you should pay.

NordicTrack RW900 vs RW600 vs RW500: What Actually Changes?

The NordicTrack RW900, RW600, and RW500 share the same basic idea (a quiet magnetic rower tied to iFIT), and the biggest difference is the screen. Resistance is close to identical across the line. Size, storage, and user weight limit are where the rest of the gap shows up.

	NordicTrack RW900	NordicTrack RW600	NordicTrack RW500
Screen	Large HD touchscreen (22 or 24 inches depending on the production run), swivels and tilts	10-inch HD touchscreen, height adjustable, limited swivel	Small backlit LCD, not a touchscreen
Resistance	26 levels, magnetic	26 levels (some sources list 25)	26 levels
Folds?	No. Stands upright on end for storage	Yes, folds in the middle	Yes
Max user weight	300 lb	250 lb	Check the manual
Weight	About 158 to 163 lb boxed	About 117 lb	Lighter
New price	$1,999 list	$999 list	No longer on NordicTrack's site

Warranty terms on the RW900 and RW600 are the same: 10 years on the frame, 2 years on parts, 1 year on labor. If you're buying used, ask the seller for the original purchase date and receipt, then check with NordicTrack whether any coverage left on the unit applies to you as a second owner.

My read: the RW900 is the one to buy if you want the big screen and you'll actually use iFIT classes. The RW600 is the better pick for small spaces, because it folds. The RW500 only makes sense if it's cheap and you just want a quiet rower with no screen ambitions.

Does the NordicTrack RW900 Work Without iFIT?

Yes, the NordicTrack RW900 works without iFIT, but you lose most of what makes it a $2,000 machine. Without a subscription you get manual rowing and a handful of built-in workouts. The trainer-led classes, the scenic global rows, and the auto-adjusting resistance that follows the instructor all need iFIT. So do the streaming apps.

On the RW600 it's tighter. Its touchscreen runs the iFIT app only, and reviewers report it's much harder to use the machine without a subscription. NordicTrack includes a 30-day trial when you buy new. After that, iFIT costs around $39 a month for a family plan at the time of writing, with cheaper individual and annual options. Check iFIT's site for current pricing, because it's changed more than once.

Here's how I think about it. If you're buying a used NordicTrack RW900 and don't plan to subscribe, you're paying extra for a screen you'll mostly use as a stopwatch. In that case a used Concept2 is the smarter buy. If you do plan to subscribe, the RW900's screen is genuinely the best part of the machine.

NordicTrack RW900 vs Concept2 vs Hydrow for Home Use

The NordicTrack RW900 is an entertainment-first rower, the Concept2 is a training tool, and the Hydrow sits in between. Which is better depends on whether you want classes or numbers.

• Concept2 RowErg. Air resistance, a small monitor, no subscription needed, and it holds its resale value better than almost anything in fitness. It's the rower clubs and CrossFit gyms use. It's louder than a magnetic rower and has no screen classes. Here's my used Concept2 buying guide.
• Hydrow. Quiet electromagnetic resistance, a big screen, and on-the-water classes. Like the RW900, it really wants a membership. I compare its models in my Hydrow rower buying guide.
• NordicTrack RW900. The biggest, most adjustable screen of the three, quiet magnetic resistance, and iFIT's large class library. Reviewers have flagged a few weak spots: the seat is small and firm, resistance changes happen on the screen, and stronger rowers may find the top levels on the light side.

The NordicTrack RW900 is built for people who want to be entertained while they row. The Concept2 is built for people who want to row faster. Neither is wrong. Know which one you are before you buy.

What Breaks on a Used NordicTrack Rower (and What to Check)

A used NordicTrack RW900 or RW600 is a good buy when the screen boots cleanly, the resistance steps up evenly through all 26 levels, and the seat glides quietly. Most problems on these machines show up in one of those three places.

This is the checklist I'd run before buying a used NordicTrack rower:

1. Boot the screen and sign out. It should power on, connect to Wi-Fi, and respond to touch across the whole panel. Have the seller sign out of their iFIT account so it's ready for yours.
2. Step through the resistance. Row a few strokes at level 1, then 10, then 20, then 26. Each jump should feel noticeably heavier. If the resistance doesn't change, or the screen throws an error, the resistance motor or its wiring may be the problem.
3. Listen to the stroke. These are quiet machines. Grinding, squeaking, or a slipping feel at the catch can point to the drive belt or a worn bearing.
4. Roll the seat by hand. It should glide smoothly with no flat spots or clicking. Seat rollers are a wear part, and the aluminum top of the rail shows scratches and grooves from bad rollers.
5. Check the footplates and straps. Straps fray. Footplates crack. Both are cheap fixes but good negotiating points.
6. Ask about the screen's pivot (RW900). Swivel and tilt it. It should hold its position without sagging.
7. Get the model year and receipt. Sellers often list the year. The receipt tells you whether any warranty might remain.

I won't quote repair prices I can't stand behind, because parts and labor costs vary a lot by region and by what iFIT support offers at the time. The rule I'd use: screen and electronics problems are the expensive ones, so don't buy a used RW900 with a dead or glitchy screen at anything near a working-unit price. Seat rollers and straps are the cheap ones.

On Commonplace, our drivers inspect the rower on-site at pickup and send the buyer photos and a functionality video before it ever leaves the seller's house. Then the buyer gets a 60-minute in-home test and only pays if they keep it. More on that on our how it works page.

What Do Used NordicTrack Rowers Sell For?

A used NordicTrack RW900 in good working condition should cost far less than its $1,999 list price. The one I saw sell recently went for $750, and my take is that anything above about $1,300 needs to be a like-new, late-model unit to make sense. Asking prices for a used RW900 on our platform mostly run from about $850 to $1,800, with the higher numbers on like-new, late-model units.

Used RW600 asks on our platform run from about $1,100 to $1,700. That's a red flag worth noticing. NordicTrack lists the RW600 at $999 new, so some used RW600 sellers are asking more than a new one costs on sale. Always check NordicTrack's current price before you pay for a used RW600. A fair used RW600 price should sit well under whatever new costs that week.

A few things move the price:

• Screen condition. A perfect screen is most of the RW900's value.
• Model year. Newer production runs may have the larger screen.
• Usage. "Used 6 hours" and "used daily for two years" are different machines.
• Delivery. A 160-pound rower that doesn't fold isn't a hatchback job. Factor in what it costs to move it.

Does the NordicTrack RW900 Fold? Space and Storage

No, the NordicTrack RW900 doesn't fold in half. It can stand upright on its end for storage, which one detailed review says needs roughly 7 feet of ceiling height, and it has front wheels for rolling it around. In use, that review measured it at about 80 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 53 inches tall to the top of the screen. Leave extra room behind the rail.

The RW600 does fold. It hinges in the middle and stores upright at roughly half its working length. In use it's about 87 inches long and 22 inches wide. If you're putting a rower in an apartment or a spare bedroom that has to stay a spare bedroom, the folding RW600 wins this one easily.

For a broader look at what fits in a small space, my best rowing machine for home guide compares folding and non-folding options side by side.

FAQ: NordicTrack RW900

Is the NordicTrack RW900 worth buying used?

Usually yes, if you'll use iFIT and the screen works perfectly. A used RW900 typically costs hundreds less than its $1,999 list price, and one recently sold on our platform for $750.

Does the NordicTrack RW900 need an iFIT subscription?

No, but most features do. Without iFIT you get manual rowing and a few built-in workouts. Classes, auto-adjusting resistance, and streaming apps need a subscription.

What's the difference between the RW900 and RW600?

Mostly the screen and storage. The RW900 has a much larger pivoting touchscreen and a 300 lb user limit. The RW600 has a 10-inch screen, a 250 lb limit, and it folds.

Does the NordicTrack RW900 fold?

It doesn't fold in half. It stands upright on its end for storage and has wheels for moving it. The RW600 folds.

How much is a used NordicTrack RW900 worth?

Based on our platform, used RW900 asks mostly run $850 to $1,800, and a recent one sold for $750. Screen condition and model year drive the price.

Is a NordicTrack rower better than a Concept2?

It depends on what you want. NordicTrack is better for screen classes and quiet rowing. Concept2 is better for training, needs no subscription, and holds resale value better.

Have a NordicTrack rower collecting dust? List it on Commonplace. Our drivers handle pickup, and you get paid when it's loaded.

Shopping instead? Browse used rowing machines, including NordicTrack. Every rower is inspected at pickup, delivered into your home, and you test it before you pay.