# Rain Bird vs Paxton Key

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rain Bird at 31% against Paxton Key's 4%. Rain Bird also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (70K vs 735). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Rain Bird holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rain Bird has 70K ratings behind it against 735, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Rain Bird's written reviews are positive against 4% of Paxton Key's.

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, Paxton Key every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rain Bird | Paxton Key |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews)** | [4.4 (735 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paxton-key/id1510947334/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **70K** | 735 |
| Positive reviews | **31.3% of reviews** | 3.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 48 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) | [Paxton Access Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/363711041) |

## 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


### Paxton Key

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paxton-key/id1510947334)

Transform your iPhone into a virtual key for building and car park access. Control your Paxton10 system to grant entry and perform predefined actions like setting alarms. This app eliminates the need for physical access cards.

**Highlights:** Use iPhone as a virtual access key, Gain access to buildings and car parks, Control Paxton10 system, Perform predefined system actions, Receive virtual keys remotely

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rain Bird free?

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

### Is Paxton Key free?

Paxton Key is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Rain Bird or Paxton Key?

Rain Bird is rated higher. Rain Bird averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while Paxton Key averages 4.4 from 735 ratings.

### Do Rain Bird or Paxton Key have ads?

Neither Rain Bird nor Paxton Key shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rain Bird or Paxton Key?

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, and Paxton Key every 9 months. Most recently, Rain Bird was updated on September 25, 2026 and Paxton Key on September 22, 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.*