# Rain Bird vs SkyBell

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Rain Bird at 70K against SkyBell's 10K. Rain Bird also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). SkyBell's advantage is review sentiment (41% vs 31%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 4.7 for SkyBell. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rain Bird has 70K ratings behind it against 10K, 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 41% of SkyBell's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rain Bird | SkyBell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews) | **[4.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skybell/id1565214486/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70K** | 10K |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **40.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 48 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) | [SkyBell Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/778872211) |

## 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


### SkyBell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skybell/id1565214486)

Monitor your home's entry points with HD video and two-way audio. Receive instant alerts for visitors or motion, and integrate with other smart home devices for enhanced security and control.

**Highlights:** HD video monitoring, Two-way audio communication, Instant motion and visitor alerts, Smart home device integration, AI-powered body and facial recognition, Customizable motion zones

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved stability
- 💡 New features like motion zones
- 👍 Easy migration from old app
- 🚀 Faster video loading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Live view issues and crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable motion detection
- 🐛 Connectivity and login problems
- 🐛 Downgrade from old app features

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not saving or available
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inability to reconnect device after migration

**Requested features**

- Bring back old app's notification sounds
- Allow multiple users to control the device
- Improve video quality and zoom capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rain Bird free?

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

### Is SkyBell free?

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

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

SkyBell is rated higher. Rain Bird averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while SkyBell averages 4.7 from 10K ratings.

### Do Rain Bird or SkyBell have ads?

Neither Rain Bird nor SkyBell shows ads.

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

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