VLC Light Stream vs Hydrawise
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VLC Light Stream
Control your holiday lights with custom color themes and patterns. This system allows you to use your existing Christmas light wires by simply swapping out the bulbs and pairing the components.
- Customizable bulb colors
- Create color themes
- Use with existing wires
- Control holiday lighting
- Indoor and outdoor use
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Harness the power of infinite possibilities with Light Stream™. Using the Light Stream™ app and Light Stream™ components, you can unleash the magic of the holidays with the click of a button. Have up to six different bulb colors at any given time. You decide whether you want all the bulbs to be the same color or create your own custom color themes. Light Stream™ will give you the freedom you’ve been looking for in a Christmas light. Use it on your roof lines, tree, bushes, or even indoors! Innovative lighting for infinite possibilities of colors and patterns. Unlike competitors wireless lights, our design allows for you to use your existing E12 Christmas wire. Saving you time and money, simply swap your bulbs, pair the components and go! - V-20670 & V-20770: Remote LED Bulbs ( Required - Cannot mix bulbs on the same system ) - V-20671: Controller ( Required ) - V-20672: Switch ( Recommended for larger projects ) Thank you for reading all about the all-new, innovative wireless lighting solution that is Light Stream™. To purchase Light Stream components, please visit Villagelighting.com or VLCWholesale.com for more information.
Hydrawise
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.
- Predictive Watering™
- Local weather insights
- Water savings optimization
- Lush landscape creation
- Remote irrigation management
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Elevate Your Irrigation Experience with Hydrawise! Discover the ultimate in irrigation control with the Hydrawise App. Harness the power of Predictive Watering™, fueled by local weather data, to optimise water usage and enhance your landscape's vitality. Key Features: Predictive Watering: Let advanced algorithms adjust schedules based on local weather forecasts, saving water and promoting a thriving landscape. Improved Local Weather Insights: Dive into weather data with enhanced icons and descriptors that make it easier to understand the forecast's impact on your irrigation schedule. Maximise Water Savings: Hydrawise intelligently adapts watering schedules, conserving water without compromising landscape health. Lush Landscapes: Create an environment of beauty and sustainability by tailoring irrigation to your landscape's unique needs. Stay Connected: Never lose touch with your irrigation system — manage it remotely and with ease. Experience the Future of Irrigation: Hydrawise empowers you to take command of your irrigation system like never before. • Embrace the power of Predictive Watering, seamlessly integrating local weather data to optimise water usage. • Cultivate a landscape that flourishes while saving water and effort. • Stay in touch with your irrigation, from anywhere, anytime. Download the app now and embark on a journey to transform your landscape into a masterpiece of efficiency and beauty!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hydrawise at 4.7 against VLC Light Stream's 3.1. Hydrawise also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (66K vs 8). VLC Light Stream's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Hydrawise holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrawise has 66K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of VLC Light Stream's written reviews are positive against 39% of Hydrawise's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
VLC Light Stream ships an update every 5 months, Hydrawise every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VLC Light Stream | Hydrawise |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (8 ratings) | 4.7 (66K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better | 38.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 66K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 141 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Village Lighting | Hunter Industries |
Customer experience
VLC Light Stream
Hydrawise
Bugs and requests
VLC Light Stream
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Hydrawise
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes on launch
- Zones not starting as scheduled
- Incorrect flow rate and water usage data
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to pause/resume programs
- Customizable watering schedules
- Improved reporting and historical data
- Easier manual zone control
In-app purchases
VLC Light Stream
No in-app purchases
Hydrawise
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VLC Light Stream free?
Is Hydrawise free?
Which has better reviews, VLC Light Stream or Hydrawise?
Do VLC Light Stream or Hydrawise have ads?
Which is updated more often, VLC Light Stream or Hydrawise?
Other comparisons
