# Rain Bird vs Hydrawise

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hydrawise at every 3 weeks against Rain Bird's every 2 months. Rain Bird's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 Hydrawise. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70K and 64K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of Rain Bird's written reviews are positive against 38% of Hydrawise's.

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, Hydrawise every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rain Bird | Hydrawise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews) | **[4.7 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrawise/id1618847331/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70K** | 64K |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **38.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 48 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) | [Hunter Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/710090127) |

## 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


### Hydrawise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrawise/id1618847331)

Optimize your irrigation with intelligent watering schedules based on local weather forecasts. This app helps conserve water while ensuring your landscape stays healthy and vibrant. Manage your irrigation system remotely for ultimate convenience.

**Highlights:** Predictive Watering™, Local weather insights, Water savings optimization, Lush landscape creation, Remote irrigation management

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Improved performance
- 💡 Useful features like weather-based watering
- 🔒 Secure system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 👎 Confusing user interface
- 🔍 Difficult to find/access certain features
- 📉 Lack of important functionality from previous app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Zones not starting as scheduled
- Incorrect flow rate and water usage data

**Requested features**

- Ability to pause/resume programs
- Customizable watering schedules
- Improved reporting and historical data
- Easier manual zone control


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rain Bird free?

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

### Is Hydrawise free?

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

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

Hydrawise is rated higher. Rain Bird averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while Hydrawise averages 4.7 from 64K ratings.

### Do Rain Bird or Hydrawise have ads?

Neither Rain Bird nor Hydrawise shows ads.

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

Rain Bird ships an update every 2 months, and Hydrawise every 3 weeks. Most recently, Rain Bird was updated on September 24, 2026 and Hydrawise 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.*