Hunter NODE vs Rain Bird 2.0
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hunter NODE
Control your landscape irrigation system remotely via Bluetooth. This app allows for easy programming, scheduling, and monitoring of watering cycles without needing to access the valve box. Manage multiple controllers, set custom schedules, and receive important status updates directly on your smartphone.
- Remote controller management
- Custom watering schedules
- Manual irrigation control
- Sensor activation
- Controller status monitoring
- Offline schedule editing
- Controller event logs
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NODE-BT is a Bluetooth®-enabled, app-configured irrigation controller from Hunter Industries that lets you automatically irrigate any plant material lacking AC power and not having to open the valve box! NODE-BT is quick to install, and swift to program and operate. The app provides convenient features originally on NODE, now with new enhancements all accessed from a smartphone. This means no more crossing traffic to get to roadway medians, searching for controllers in overgrown bushes, and opening dirty and potentially dangerous valve boxes. This app allows you to: • Remotely manage unlimited NODE-BT controllers up to 50' (15 m) away • Manually start, stop, or suspend irrigation for up to 99 days • Configure watering schedules with 3 programs and 8 start times each • Activate rain or soil moisture sensors, and set monthly seasonal adjust • See controller status, total watering and next start times, watering calendar, and irrigation logs • View battery health and signal status • Set battery change reminders every 3, 6, 9, or 12 months • Pin controllers on a map for faster locating • Copy and paste schedules from controller to controller for faster setup • View and edit irrigation schedules offline • View controller event logs and share with other members • Assign images and rename stations and controllers • Add a passcode to each controller for additional security The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc. and any use of such marks by Hunter Industries is under license.
Rain Bird 2.0
Control your sprinklers remotely with this app. Set custom watering schedules, automate weather adjustments, and monitor your system's performance from your mobile device. Save water and money with smart irrigation.
- Remote sprinkler control
- Custom watering schedules
- Weather-based adjustments
- Device mapping
- Custom site photos
- Improved connection speed
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Smart Watering Made Simple. Connect your Rain Bird controller to your mobile device with the new Rain Bird 2.0 app to turn on sprinklers, set up customized watering schedules, and automate weather adjustments, saving you water and money. New with Rain Bird 2.0 app: Device mapping – see where your controllers are located on the map Search and filter -- quickly find the controller to which you want to connect using the search function or commonly used filters Custom photos – upload photos of your site location or stations New look -- updated user interface and user experience Fast connect -- improved controller connection speed Compatible with the following Rain Bird controller models: ESP-LXME2 (new!) ESP-TM2 TRU ESP-2WIRE ESP-ME3 BAT-BT RC2 ARC Series More controller models coming soon! For more information: https://www.rainbird.com/products/esp-bat-bt 1-800-RAINBIRD
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hunter NODE at 3.1 against Rain Bird 2.0's 1.9. Hunter NODE also leads on review sentiment (23% vs 12%). Rain Bird 2.0's advantage is ratings volume (609 vs 59). On price, update cadence, 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.
Hunter NODE holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rain Bird 2.0 has 609 ratings behind it against 59, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Hunter NODE's written reviews are positive against 12% of Rain Bird 2.0's.
Hunter NODE ships an update fortnightly, Rain Bird 2.0 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hunter NODE | Rain Bird 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (59 ratings) — better | 1.9 (609 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 22.9% of reviews — better | 12.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 59 | 609 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 127 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hunter Industries | Rain Bird Corporation |
Customer experience
Hunter NODE
Rain Bird 2.0
Bugs and requests
Hunter NODE
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Rain Bird 2.0
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to log in or reset credentials
- Zones renamed or disappearing
- Unexpected program start times
- Firmware update issues
Requested features
4 requests- History of system and station runtimes
- Ability to independently control/schedule programs
- Integration with smart home platforms
- Improved weather data accuracy and customization
In-app purchases
Hunter NODE
No in-app purchases
Rain Bird 2.0
No in-app purchases
