# Rain Bird vs TP

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 (#119 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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rain Bird | TP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews) | **[4.9 (86K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-deco/id1186159417/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 70K | **86K** |
| Positive reviews | 31.2% of reviews | **92.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#119** |
| Size | 48 MB | 497 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) | [TP-Link Systems Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713842892) |

## What reviewers say

### Rain Bird

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082)

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.

**Highlights:** Remote sprinkler control, Customizable watering schedules, Automated weather adjustments, Water and money saving, Controller model compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to program
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Versatile
- 👍 Must have
- 👍 Ease of mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Slow and clunky app
- 🐛 Date/time not updating
- 🐛 Unreliable system
- 🐛 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Constant connection errors
- App crashes frequently
- Date/time not syncing correctly
- Seasonal adjustment not working as expected
- Manual controls not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add water usage history and analytics
- Allow pausing of individual zones
- Improve manual control options
- Add weather integration and smart scheduling
- Improve notification system


### TP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tp-link-deco/id1186159417)

**Currently charting:** #119 Top Free · Utilities, #138 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adv Parental Controls Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Security+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| HomeShield Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Adv Parental Controls Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| Security+ | $35.99 | per year |
| HomeShield Pro Yearly | $54.99 | per year |
| Total Security Package | $129.99 | per year |
| Total Security Yearly | $159.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup
- 🚀 Excellent coverage
- 🚀 Reliable connection
- 👍 Intuitive app
- 👍 Useful features (parental controls, guest network, etc.)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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)

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently fails to find or connect to network
- Devices not showing up correctly in app
- Inconsistent performance after firmware updates

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rain Bird free?

Rain Bird is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is TP free?

TP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Rain Bird or TP?

TP is rated higher. Rain Bird averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while TP averages 4.9 from 86K ratings.

### Do Rain Bird or TP have ads?

Neither Rain Bird nor TP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rain Bird or TP?

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, and TP every 3 weeks. Most recently, Rain Bird was updated on October 18, 2026 and TP on October 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*