ProForm 750R Rower Review: A Smart, Foldable Rowing Machine Under $1,000

All types of rowers have pretty much the same rowing machine benefits: It’s low-impact, provides a full-body workout, and gets your heart rate up—all positive things on the journey to better health. 

If you’re trying to find the best rowing machine for your home gym, you may have come across the ProForm 750R in your research. In this ProForm 750R rower review, I’ll let you know if this piece of fitness equipment should stay on your radar.

More Than a Decade of Rowing Experience

Our team of expert product testers has completed its fair share of rowing machine workouts. From our own home gyms to CrossFit boxes and commercial gyms, GGR writers—who are also certified personal trainers and CrossFit coaches—have been sweating it out on rowing machines from all the major brands for more than 10 years. We know what to look for when it comes to rowing experience, durability, ergonomics, and more.

Smart Features at a Smart Price

ProForm 750R Rowing Machine

GGR Score: 4.6

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Product Highlights

• Magnetic rowing machine
• Powerful but quiet flywheel
• Sturdy aluminum and steel construction
• Device holder so you can stream live and on-demand rowing workouts with iFIT

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easily folds to save space when not in use
• Works with iFIT programming
• Easy assembly
• Costs less than $1,000

Cons

• No integrated display (must use your own device)
• Only a 250-lb weight capacity
• Relatively heavy (116 lbs)

Bottom Line

The ProForm 750R is a mid-tier magnetic rowing machine with a small display and a place to hold a device to stream workouts.

A Quick Look at the ProForm 750R Rower

ProForm is a big name in the conditioning space, and we’ve tried our fair share of cardio machines from this brand, including the Studio Bike Pro and the now-discontinued Hybrid Trainer. They offer solid mid-tier options across treads, exercise bikes, rowers, and ellipticals, and we were excited to test out the 750R. 

Before You Buy

• Come prepared to use your own smart device for programming to get the most out of this machine.
• Measure your space before you buy—this machine has a relatively large footprint, but it does fold when not in use.
• The weight capacity is only 250 pounds. If that doesn’t work for you, consider a rower with a higher weight capacity, like the Aviron Strong Series Rower.

Is the ProForm 750R Rower Worth It?

ProForm currently offers three rowers—the 750R, its bigger brother, the R10, and the Carbon Pro10.

At about $1,499, we feel confident that the 750R is a good value for the money. You get great smart features (like automatic adjustments from the iFIT trainers), and it folds.

RELATED: Best Budget Rowing Machines 

The R10 is much more expensive, with an original MSRP of around $2,700. The only sizable difference between it and the 750R is that you’ll get a built-in 10-inch touchscreen with the R10, as opposed to having to use your own device. If having an integrated screen is important to you and your workout experience, this may be worth the extra money. If not, we’d recommend putting your dollars toward the 750R.

ProForm 750R Rower Specs

Workout Experience on the ProForm 750R

We’ve tried the crème de la crème of smart rowers, including the CITYROW MAX, Aviron Tough Series, and Ergatta, and to be honest, we weren’t sure if the 750R would keep up. But we were pleasantly surprised—for one because this rower will only set you back $800, whereas the aforementioned rowers all cost upward of $2,000.

Hopping on the 750R, we immediately noticed that the seat was comfortable—great start. With a 250-pound weight capacity, we weren’t sure what the stability would feel like. It definitely felt sturdy and durable to former GGR staff writer and rower extraordinaire Amanda Capritto, who got up close and personal with this machine.

The flywheel and magnetic resistance system produce a quiet and smooth ride, particularly compared to an air rower, which is generally louder. Plus, you can change the digital resistance levels with a tap of a button, as opposed to a more traditional damper system. 

There are no extras like water bottle holders or fans on this rower, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker for us considering everything else it comes with.

Programming

The ProForm 750R rower is compatible with iFIT. iFIT will cost you $39 per month for the monthly family plan, $180 per year for the Yearly Individual Plan, or $396 per year for the Yearly Family Plan.

Here’s how the programming works: You’ll download the iFIT app on your smartphone or tablet, connect your device to the rower via Bluetooth, and set it up on the rower’s tablet holder. 

Then, you’ll pick your iFIT workout. There’s something for everyone, from Global Workouts, like the English Channel Endurance Series or the Zambia Beginner Series, to Studio Classes like Getting Started With Rowing and Shred & Burn. The personal trainers will automatically change your resistance as you row through each workout, taking the guesswork out of it.  

But don’t fret: If you don’t want to use iFIT, the 750R also comes with 20 built-in workouts that you can take advantage of as well. These range from simple time goals to more complex interval HIIT rowing workouts.

Ergonomics 

The 750R is comfortable to use, and we gave it a 4 out of 5 for ergonomics and adjustability. It’s outfitted with an ergonomic, molded seat and a steel seat rail. We couldn’t find the rail length anywhere, but it felt similar to the Concept2 RowErg, which has a 54-inch-long slide rail. Amanda, who is 5 feet 6 inches tall, was able to reach full leg extension with plenty of extra room left on the slide rail.

The handlebars are angled in a way that’s comfortable on the wrists, and the 5-inch display is vertically adjustable so tall and short rowers can have the same viewing angle. There are also adjustments for the foot cradles for different-sized feet and adjustable foot straps.  

This machine comes equipped with pivoting foot pedals, which means they move back and forth with your foot throughout the stroke. These are better than fixed pedals for people with poor ankle mobility, as they don’t require full dorsiflexion. However, for someone who’s used to fixed pedals, such as those on the Concept2 RowErg, the pivoting will take some getting used to.

Footprint and Portability 

For a foldable rower, the 750R is impressive from a size perspective. It still feels substantial, and it is 86.5 inches long by 22 inches wide by 45.5 inches high. The 750R folds up in a SpaceSaver Design for a smaller footprint when not in use, essentially halving the length of the machine. 

It weighs 116 pounds, so it’s a bit heavy, but it has front transport wheels to easily move it around. Amanda said she had no issues moving it and gave it a 3.75 out of 5 for portability.

Durability and Construction

Overall, this rower earned a 4 out of 5 for durability. 

“It’s not a tank like the Hydrow, Aviron, or NordicTrack rowers, but it’s very stable during use and has a lot of aluminum construction,” Amanda says. 

Frame

While the slide rail is steel, there is some plastic, like on the footing of the machine and the foot cradles. This isn’t excessive by any means, but may be something to keep an eye on in terms of wear. 

From a tech perspective, the 750R is actually less likely to break because it doesn’t have a big, fancy HD display. You can safely assume that the small LCD monitor is pretty trusty.

Handle

The ProForm 750r Rower has an ergonomic handlebar that’s comfortable on the wrist.

Seat

The ProForm 750r Rower has a 250-pound weight capacity, which is pretty good but not the best. Despite that, the seat was comfortable for testers of all sizes and we had no issues with it during our workouts.

Flywheel

We weren’t able to track down the weight of the ProForm 750R Rower’s flywheel, but the good news is it utilizes low-maintenance magnetic resistance and is super quiet.

Resistance

The ProForm 750r Rower has 24 digital levels of resistance, and while some reviews claim there’s a bit of slack at the higher end, it wasn’t something we noticed during testing.

Technology Benefits and Conveniences

You may see the small 5-inch high-contrast display on the 750R and think “basic,” but there are plenty of other tech features on this machine that earned it a 4 out of 4 for technology benefits and conveniences.

Let’s start with the monitor, though: It’s simple, and displays stats like time, distance, strokes per minute, and total strokes.

“Aside from the lack of an integrated display, this rower has all of the same tech features as the NordicTrack RW900, which I love,” Amanda says.  

Accessories

The 750R rower also features auto-adjust resistance, which means iFIT trainers can remotely control your resistance, and Bluetooth compatibility. The dual 2-inch speakers have a pretty standard sound quality.

Workouts and Programming

The ProForm 750r Rower has 20 built-in workouts that range from time goals to high-intensity interval training. If you don’t find one that works for you, you’ll probably like the iFIT programming, which we scored a 5 out of 5.

iFIT is one of the best online workout programs, in our opinion. You can choose from hundreds of live or on-demand workouts for everything from rowing classes to running workout programs.

ProForm 750R Rower vs. ProForm 440R Rower 

ProForm 440R Rower

ProForm 440R Rower

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Product Highlights

• Budget-friendly rower best suited for the casual rower
• Functions dually as a rower for cardio and strength system when using the low row pulley system
• Features oversized pivoting pedals with an adjustable nylon foot strap, 8 levels of magnetic resistance, large LCD monitor, and a one month free membership to iFit
• Compact and lightweight with transport wheels and a folding frame design
• Maximum user weight is 250 pounds which is less than seen on most rowers

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lightweight
• Quiet
• Portable
• Can be used for cardio or strength training
• Folding frame
• Oversized pedals are comfortable

Cons

• No padding on handles
• Highest level of resistance is not enough for some
• Several reports of the rowing cord/rope fraying and snapping
• No pre-programmed workouts
• User weight capacity is less than found on typical rowers
• Shorter rail length

Bottom Line

The ProForm 440R is on closeout, which likely means it’s being phased out of the line. However, comparing the two will show you if it’s worth trying to snag a 440R on an awesome sale.

As you can see, while the 750R is double the price, it offers three times the levels of resistance, plus a tablet holder to really get the most out of iFIT programming. And even though it’s quite a bit larger than the 440R, it does fold. 

If you’re a beginner, or just want a no-frills rower, the 440R is probably your best bet. Consider the 750R if you’re more interested in interactive programming and have the space to dedicate to a larger machine.

Customer Experience 

You can finance the machine through the ProForm website for $158 per month for 12 months if you qualify. If you’re not happy with your purchase, you can return the 750R within 30 days, but you’ll be out a $250 shipping fee plus a 10% restocking fee. Ouch.

Additionally, there is a 5-year warranty on the frame, plus 1 year on parts and one year on labor—this is a bit shy of industry standards, so we scored the customer experience a 4 out of 5. 

Ordering and Assembling the ProForm 750R

Purchasing and assembling our ProForm 750R rower was pretty seamless. There are a few things to note though. 

Because of COVID, the company suspended all white glove delivery services, so you’ll have to assemble this bad boy yourself. For this reason, we rated the rower a 3 out of 5 for delivery and setup.

Luckily, GGR Operations Manager Sam “asSAMbly” Presley, who is in charge of assembling all the equipment at GGR HQ, said the 750R was a pretty simple build. Here’s his take:

“This rower comes in a pretty compact box for its size. Although it’s not super heavy, some people may need a second person to help them move it to the location they want to build it at. We didn’t run into any problems when building the rower other than some of the screws not lining up with plastic pieces.”

Customer Reviews

The ProForm 750R rower has a 3.8 out of 5-star rating on Amazon as of this writing. There are no reviews on the manufacturer’s website. 

Fans of this piece of cardio equipment said it feels sturdy and love that it folds up for a smaller footprint when not in use. iFIT programming also wins points.

On the other hand, though, the biggest complaint about this rower was about the iFIT subscription. You can use the rower without iFIT, but the experience won’t be as immersive—just something to keep in your mind as you’re weighing the purchase.

Final Verdict of Our ProForm 750R Rower Review

If you’re looking for a smart rower on a budget, consider the ProForm 750R. It has some impressive smart features for just $800, and the folding capability is another huge plus. 

• Compatible with iFIT programming via your own smart device, the 750R allows trainers to automatically adjust your resistance during a workout.
• The folding mechanism essentially cuts the length of the rower in half, and front transport wheels make it fairly easy to move around despite its weight.

Full Rating of the ProForm 750R Rower

ProForm 750R Rower

The ProForm 750R Rower is a mid-tier smart rowing machine with a quiet magnetic flywheel, 24 levels of resistance, and plenty of interactive workouts thanks to iFIT.

Product Brand: ProForm

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 799

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.03

ProForm 750R Rower Review FAQs

Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC

Nicole is the head of content at GGR. She's been a journalist for the last 13 years and a CPT/group fitness instructor for the last 10 years. She grew up playing tennis, became an avid runner in college, competed in a bikini competition in her mid-twenties, and even completed a triathlon. Her workout of choice nowadays is strength training, plus logging her daily steps. After her first daughter was born six years ago, she became especially passionate about prenatal and postnatal fitness, teaching stroller bootcamp classes and working with expecting moms as clients. Post-journalism school, Nicole worked in print media as a magazine editor for eight years, then went freelance for a while, writing for fitness websites and manufacturers in the industry. Now, as the the head of content at GGR, she brings her expertise in fitness to writing and editing honest reviews on everything you might need for your home gym.

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All types of rowers have pretty much the same rowing machine benefits: It’s low-impact, provides a full-body workout, and gets your heart rate up—all positive things on the journey to better health. If you’re trying to find the best rowing machine for your home gym, you may have come across the ProForm 750R in your research. In this ProForm 750R rower review, I’ll let you know if this piece of fitness equipment should stay on your radar.  » Read more about: ProForm 750R Rower Review: A Smart, Foldable Rowing Machine Under $1,000  » Read more