Seated Cable Row vs Seated Row
Which one fits your Back workout plan?
Contents
Seated Cable Row uses a machine, Seated Row uses bodyweight only — same Back target, different setup and load path.
Compare the benefits of Seated Cable Row and Seated Row and pick the one that fits your Back workout.
Seated Cable Row vs Seated Row: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Seated Cable Row more often — 52,786 sessions compared to 296 for Seated Row.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Seated Cable Row and Seated Row differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Seated Cable Row and Seated Row Differ
| What differs | Seated Cable Row | Seated Row |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a machine | bodyweight only |
| Difficulty | 2 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 52,786 sessions | 296 sessions |
How to Do Seated Cable Row
Seated Cable Row Muscles Worked: Back
Form
- 1. Pull your arms back naturally while gathering your shoulder blades.
- 2. Pull until your elbows are vertical.
- 3. Return to the starting position by fully extending your elbows while keeping your back straight.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please keep your chest open to avoid bending your back.
- 3. Please stabilize your back so it doesn't move back and forth.
For a full Seated Cable Row guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Seated Cable Row exercise guide.
How to Do Seated Row
Seated Row Muscles Worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull your elbow to brush past your side.
- 2. Please return to the starting position while maintaining strength in your back.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please keep your chest open so that your shoulders do not hunch forward.
- 2. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.
For a full Seated Row guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Seated Row exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Seated Cable Row or Seated Row?
Planfit users log Seated Cable Row more often — 52,786 sessions against 296 for Seated Row. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Seated Cable Row and Seated Row need?
Seated Cable Row needs a machine, and Seated Row needs bodyweight only.
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