Rain Bird vs Yale Access
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
Yale Access
Control and secure your home with smart lock technology. Manage access for family and guests, receive activity alerts, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your property is protected. This app is compatible with specific Yale and August smart lock models in the US and Canada.
- Smart lock control
- Home security management
- Access for family and guests
- Activity alerts
- Peace of mind
- Compatible with Yale and August locks
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Yale locks using the Yale Access app are supported exclusively in the United States and Canada. Yale Access offers you everyday convenience and trusted security for your entire home through smart security solutions and the Yale Access app. We’re here to help you protect the things that matter the most. Peace of mind is only a tap away. This app is for products available in the U.S. and Canada only. Compatible products include: Yale Assure Locks - Yale Assure Lock with Wi-Fi (YRD2x6-WF1 , YRD2x6-CBA , YRD6x6-WF1 and YRD6x6-CBA) - Yale Assure Lever with Wi-Fi (YRL2x6-WF1 and YRL2x6-CBA) - Yale Assure Lock 2 - All Models (YRD4x0) - Yale Assure Lock for Andersen Doors with Wi-Fi Yale Smart Cabinet Lock Yale Smart Safe Yale Smart Delivery Box August Smart Locks August Smart Keypads Emtek EMPowered Smart Lock
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Rain Bird at none against Yale Access's shown. Rain Bird also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6.1). Yale Access's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Yale Access holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70K and 74K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Rain Bird's written reviews are positive against 41% of Yale Access's.
Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, Yale Access fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Rain Bird | Yale Access |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (70K ratings) | 4.9 (74K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | 41.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 70K | 74K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.6.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 304 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rain Bird Corporation | August Home, Inc. |
Customer experience
Rain Bird
Yale Access
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
Yale Access
From 74K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient keyless entry
- 🔒 Secure lock with fingerprint scanner
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 👍 Great for short-term rentals
- 👍 Responsive and reliable
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes and bugs
- 🔋 No battery level indicator
- 🔒 Cannot remove self as guest on others' locks
- 👎 Unreliable auto-lock/unlock feature
- 👎 Poor customer support
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
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- Add ability to turn off entire system remotely
Yale Access
Reported bugs
5 issues- App shows incorrect lock status
- Issues with adding/deleting users
- Connectivity problems between lock and app
- Firmware updates causing functionality issues
- Incompatibility with certain devices/networks
Requested features
5 requests- Add battery level indicator
- Allow users to remove themselves as guests
- Improve auto-lock/unlock functionality
- Provide better integration with smart home platforms
- Enhance app UI and UX
In-app purchases
Rain Bird
No in-app purchases
Yale Access
No in-app purchases
