# Rain Bird vs HBN Smart

The clearest difference is update cadence: Rain Bird at every 2 months against HBN Smart's every 8 months. Rain Bird also leads on ratings volume (70K vs 3.2K). HBN Smart's advantage is review sentiment (51% vs 31%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Rain Bird against 4.8 for HBN Smart. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rain Bird has 70K ratings behind it against 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of Rain Bird's written reviews are positive against 51% of HBN Smart's.

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, HBN Smart every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rain Bird | HBN Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hbn-smart/id1543674243/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **51.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 48 MB | 160 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) | [CENTURY PRODUCTS INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1543190289) |

## 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


### HBN Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hbn-smart/id1543674243)

Control your home appliances remotely from anywhere. Manage multiple devices simultaneously, set timers for automated functions, and easily share access with family members. The app offers quick and simple device connection.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Simultaneous device management, Automated timers, Family device sharing, Quick device connection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy setup and use
- 🚀 Reliable connection and performance
- 💡 Useful automation features
- 🔒 Secure remote control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues with certain networks
- 🤔 Limited functionality without WiFi
- 😕 Confusing app interface
- 🤷‍♀️ Lack of customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes on certain devices
- Scheduled timers not working as expected
- Devices disappearing from the app
- Firmware updates causing compatibility issues

**Requested features**

- Add support for more device types
- Improve scheduling and automation options
- Provide better in-app guidance and tutorials
- Integrate with smart home platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rain Bird free?

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

### Is HBN Smart free?

HBN Smart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Rain Bird or HBN Smart?

HBN Smart is rated higher. Rain Bird averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while HBN Smart averages 4.8 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do Rain Bird or HBN Smart have ads?

Neither Rain Bird nor HBN Smart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rain Bird or HBN Smart?

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, and HBN Smart every 8 months. Most recently, Rain Bird was updated on September 25, 2026 and HBN Smart on September 24, 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.*