Which Concept2 app should I use?
If you have a Concept2 rower, SkiErg or BikeErg, you probably already found out there is no shortage of apps.
ErgData. ErgZone. EXR. Kinomap. And now Ergomi.
That sounds nice, until you just want to row and wonder which one you actually need.
Short version: these apps are not the same thing. Some are for logging. Some are for plans. Some are for entertainment. Ergomi is for being coached while you train.
ErgData: the official starting point
ErgData is the official Concept2 app. If you want clean Logbook sync, it is the obvious first install.
It connects well with the PM5, records workouts, and sends them to your Concept2 Logbook. For many rowers this is enough.
Use ErgData if you want:
- official Concept2 Logbook sync
- simple workout recording
- reliable basics
- no extra coaching layer
ErgData is not trying to be a character coach. It is more like the official notebook. A good one.
ErgZone: structured rowing plans
ErgZone is popular with people who like structured sessions and training plans.
It is strong when you already know what you want to do. Intervals, plans, targets, repeat sessions. That kind of stuff.
Use ErgZone if you want:
- structured workouts
- training plans
- interval sessions
- a more plan-based approach
If you like seeing the workout structure and following a plan on screen, ErgZone makes sense.
EXR: rowing as a game
EXR takes rowing into a virtual world. More visual. More game-like.
That can be great if you get bored staring at numbers. It gives your workout a place to be, not just a split and a timer.
Use EXR if you want:
- gamified rowing
- virtual routes
- more visual motivation
- something that feels like Zwift for rowing
For some people that is perfect. For others it is too much screen.
Kinomap: video routes and scenery
Kinomap is more about routes and videos. You row or ride along with real-world footage.
It works well if scenery helps you keep going. Less coaching, more environment.
Use Kinomap if you want:
- scenic sessions
- video routes
- something to watch while training
- less focus on pure rowing metrics
It is good for long steady workouts where you want your head somewhere else.
Ergomi: a coach that talks during the workout
Ergomi is different.
It is not trying to replace ErgData, ErgZone, EXR or Kinomap. Ergomi is built around live voice coaching.
The idea is simple: you train, and the app talks you through it.
Not just beeps. Not just charts. Actual coaching cues. Pace reminders. Effort checks. Little pushes when you start drifting. And different coach personas, because not everyone wants the same type of voice in their head during a hard interval.
Use Ergomi if you want:
- hands-free audio coaching
- a coach with character
- less staring at the screen
- guidance during easy rows and intervals
- a companion app next to your Concept2 workflow
This is especially useful when you want to keep your eyes up, or when you are tired and do not want to keep doing math in your head.
So which one should you use?
Here is the simple version.
If you want official logging: Use ErgData.
If you want structured plans: Use ErgZone.
If you want a game world: Use EXR.
If you want scenery: Use Kinomap.
If you want a coach talking you through the workout: Use Ergomi.
Can you use more than one?
Yes. And honestly, that is probably the best setup for many people.
You might use ErgData for your Concept2 Logbook habit, and Ergomi for the actual coached workout.
That is not weird. Runners do this all the time. One app for recording, another app for coaching, another app for analysis.
Rowing apps are moving that way too.
Where Ergomi fits
Ergomi is for the moment where the workout is happening.
When you are three minutes into an easy row and already going too hard.
When you are halfway through intervals and need a voice to keep you honest.
When you want rowing to feel less like staring at numbers and more like being coached.
That is the gap Ergomi is built for.
Not a replacement for every Concept2 app.
A coach layer on top of your training.
Want a coach that talks you through your row? Try Ergomi.