Rain Bird vs TP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rain Bird
Control your sprinklers remotely from your mobile device. Automate watering schedules and adjust for weather conditions to conserve water and reduce costs. Compatible with various Rain Bird controller models.
- Remote sprinkler control
- Customizable watering schedules
- Automated weather adjustments
- Water and money saving
- Controller model compatibility
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Smart Watering Made Simple. Connect your Rain Bird controller to your mobile device to turn on sprinklers, set up customized watering schedules, and automate weather adjustments, saving you water and money. Compatible with the following Rain Bird controller models: ST8-WIFI ESP-TM2 ESP-RZXe ESP-Me ESP-ME3 RC2 ARC8 For more information: http://wifi.rainbird.com 1-800-RAINBIRD
TP
Easily set up and manage your mesh WiFi system with step-by-step guidance for optimal home coverage. Control connected devices, manage online activity, and enhance your network security from your smartphone.
- Easy setup with step-by-step instructions
- Optimal placement suggestions for mesh units
- Device connection management
- Parental controls and content blocking
- Guest network creation
- Network performance testing
- Smart home device integration
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Welcome to the Deco App — the perfect way to set up your mesh WiFi in minutes and control your whole network. Our simple-to-follow guide walks you through the setup process and even gives you suggestions for whole home coverage. Once connected, you’ll have instant access to check every connected device, manage your kids’ online activity, and control your home network effortlessly. All from the palm of your hand. - EASY TO SET UP AND MANAGE • Quickly set up with step-by-step instructions • Find the best spots to place additional Deco units for maximum coverage • Control your WiFi network without turning on your computer • Check your connection status and network speed at a glance • Find out who or what is connecting to your network • Instantly block unwanted devices with a tap - PROTECT YOUR WIFI • Detect potential threats and receive warnings before things get serious • Create a guest network to give friends internet access while shielding your private network • Block unauthorized access and inappropriate content • Run network performance tests - FIND FAMILY TIME WITH PARENTAL CONTROLS • Set a time restriction and pause the WiFi on kids’ devices • Control when specific devices have WiFi access • Make room for more family time with Schedules - PRIORITIZE YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES QoS lets you choose which devices always have the fastest connections. Set a schedule to assign device priority for different times of the day. - KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR NETWORK Detailed reports help you understand your home WiFi and everything connected. - CREATE YOUR SMART HOME Connect, control, and check the status of your smart cameras, plugs, and lights – all from the Deco app. Features available in Deco may vary by model and software version. Stay tuned for updates as we add new features and products to the Deco family! Privacy Policy: http://www.tp-link.com/en/privacy?app=deco#sec_a\ Term of Use: http://www.tp-link.com/en/privacy?app=deco#sec_b\ HomeShield Subscription Service Agreement: https://www.tp-link.com/homeshield/service-agreement/?app=deco Auto-Renewal Service Agreement: https://www.tp-link.com/homeshield/auto-renewal-service-agreement/?app=deco For more information about Deco, visit www.tp-link.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: TP at 92% against Rain Bird's 31%. TP also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and chart position (#106 vs unranked). Rain Bird's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. TP sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Rain Bird asks for nothing beyond the download.
TP holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70K and 86K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Rain Bird's written reviews are positive against 92% of TP's.
Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, TP every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.
| Parameter | Rain Bird | TP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (70K ratings) | 4.9 (86K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 31.2% of reviews | 92.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 70K | 86K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #106 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 497 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rain Bird Corporation | TP-Link Systems Inc. |
Customer experience
Rain Bird
TP
User reviews
Rain Bird
From 70K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to program
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Versatile
- 👍 Must have
- 👍 Ease of mind
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Slow and clunky app
- 🐛 Date/time not updating
- 🐛 Unreliable system
- 🐛 Limited functionality
TP
From 86K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy setup
- 🚀 Excellent coverage
- 🚀 Reliable connection
- 👍 Intuitive app
- 👍 Useful features (parental controls, guest network, etc.)
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues (devices disconnecting, app not finding network)
- 🐛 Unreliable app performance (slow, crashes, bugs)
- 🔒 Security concerns (lack of password protection, device authentication)
- 💡 Limited customization options (channel selection, device prioritization)
Bugs and requests
Rain Bird
Reported bugs
5 issues- Constant connection errors
- App crashes frequently
- Date/time not syncing correctly
- Seasonal adjustment not working as expected
- Manual controls not functioning properly
Requested features
6 requests- Add water usage history and analytics
- Allow pausing of individual zones
- Improve manual control options
- Add weather integration and smart scheduling
- Improve notification system
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Add ability to turn off entire system remotely
TP
Reported bugs
3 issues- App frequently fails to find or connect to network
- Devices not showing up correctly in app
- Inconsistent performance after firmware updates
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to manually select Wi-Fi channels
- Option to force device connection to specific frequency band
- Scheduled reboots and automatic firmware updates
- More detailed network analytics and diagnostics
- Improved parental controls with content-based time limits
In-app purchases
Rain Bird
No in-app purchases
TP
- Adv Parental Controls Monthly1 Month trial$2.991 Month
- Security+ Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- HomeShield Pro Monthly1 Month trial$5.991 Month
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Adv Parental Controls Yearly1 Month trial2 variants$17.991 Year
- Security+1 Month trial$35.991 Year
- HomeShield Pro Yearly1 Month trial$54.991 Year
- Total Security Package1 Year trial5 variants$129.991 Year
- Total Security Yearly1 Year trial$159.991 Year









