Comparison

Holman Home vs BirdScribe

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Holman Home

Control your garden watering and lighting systems remotely from anywhere in the world. Schedule watering, adjust settings, and monitor weather conditions with smart sensors for optimal garden care. Easy DIY installation for a connected outdoor space.

Highlights
  • Remote garden product control
  • Schedule watering cycles
  • Manual zone control
  • Smart sensor integration
  • Garden lighting scene customization
  • Weather monitoring and data graphs
Features
Read full description

With the Holman Home app you can use your smartphone to control all the programming and interface functions of a continually increasing range of Holman and K-Rain garden products via a permanent internet (and Wi-Fi) connection, you can then control the device remotely from anywhere in the world (using mobile data or Wi-Fi). These products are designed for easy DIY installation. You can control the following products with the Holman Home app: 1 | GARDEN WATERING • WX8 Irrigation Controller – 8 Zones • WX1 Tap Timer – 1 Zone • WX2 Tap Timer – 2 Zones • K-Rain KRX6 - 6 Zones • K-Rain KRX8 - 8 Zones • K-Rain K Connect Tap Timer (Bluetooth only - can only connect to tap timer when within Bluetooth range) • K-Rain K Connect Tap Timer connected to K-Rain K Connect Wi-Fi Hub Features • You have remote control access to your device to change any setting at any time via the app (excluding K Connect Tap Timer - Bluetooth only) • Schedule three Starts to run on the days of your choice (KRX8 has four Starts and K Connect Tap Timer has eight Starts) • Manually run any zone or Start from anywhere in the world (excluding K Connect Tap Timer - Bluetooth only) • Set your run time in hours and minutes • WX8s with the Holman Rain Sensor “Evie” or other third party rain sensors are able to automatically disable watering during wet weather • WX1s and WX2s with Moisture Sensors are able to automatically disable watering when the soil moisture is above the set threshold • KRX6s and KRX8s with a third party sensor is able disable watering using Scene Automations • It is easy to share your device with other family members or users 2 | Garden Lighting • RGB Garden Light • WW (Warm White) Garden Light Features • Easy 2-Pin (WW) or 4-Pin (RGB) Plug + Socket System. No Electrician required • Scene automations and custom scene options allow you to light up your garden, however you want 3 | WEATHER MONITORING • Helios Weather Station Features • Compatible with other Holman Home products • Accurate weather readings for your property • Includes 10” Indoor LCD Display Panel • Daily, Weekly and Monthly graphs of key weather data

About

BirdScribe

Features
Read full description

Eyes up, birds in. BirdScribe is a voice-first field companion for birders. Tap the mic and say what you see (“five rainbow lorikeets flying over”). BirdScribe writes down your words, matches them to the right species, tags your location and builds your eBird checklist as you walk. When it isn’t sure, it asks you instead of guessing. Keep your eyes on the bird, not your phone. And when speaking isn’t an option, type it the eBird way: count first, then a few letters of the name. HOW IT WORKS Tap Record and speak naturally. Multiple species in one breath is fine BirdScribe matches your words against bird taxonomy, tuned for accuracy You confirm every identification. Nothing is logged without your say-so End your session to review, merge duplicates, and export BUILT FOR REAL FIELD USE Observations save to your device the instant you stop talking Heard-only detection, counts, age, sex, breeding codes, all from your voice Voice notes for everything that isn't a bird ("call Mrs Farmer back") Session recovery if your phone dies mid-walk eBird CSV export, import-tested and format-exact YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS No account. No sign-up. Your observations live on your device. Free, from the team at Kingfisher Birding in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland. Built by birders who got tired of typing.

Screenshots

Holman Home4 screens
BirdScribe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: BirdScribe at every 8 days against Holman Home's every 5 months. Holman Home's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Holman Home ships an update every 5 months, BirdScribe every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Holman Home versus BirdScribe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHolman HomeBirdScribe
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews26.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size205 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBookleaf PTY LtdDavid Lyons

Bugs and requests

Holman Home

Reported bugs

41 issues
  • Constantly deletes data
  • Requires restart/re-linking
  • Frequent data dropout
  • Rain delay feature does not save
  • Schedule watering does not start
Show 36 more
  • Device/hub goes offline
  • Software UI unresponsive and buggy
  • Cannot view past weather trends accurately
  • Daily totals reset at 9 am, no numerical readout
  • Automation doesn't work, watering doesn't happen
  • Constantly resetting password
  • App deletes all devices
  • Hub never connected
  • Settings do not save
  • Updated app refuses to initiate start times
  • Cannot set location for weather
  • Preset stations wiped after updates
  • Logging out of app
  • WX1 cannot connect to Wi-Fi hub
  • AM setup only, PM times not available
  • Status shows watering when moisture is above limit
  • Changes to schedules not saved
  • Cannot set time for manual watering
  • Next watering time shows as in the past
  • Wi-Fi socket deleted, cannot reconnect
  • Need to reset all the time, especially after power outage
  • Missing activity history
  • Keeps showing network error
  • WX is limited to only three schedules
  • Time settings change randomly
  • Cannot pair with controller after updates
  • App won't open
  • New app not compatible with older iPad
  • Security cameras don't show sprinklers running
  • Hub wouldn't connect to Wi-Fi
  • Location Services not showing app
  • Location shows incorrect distance
  • No HomeKit compatibility
  • Odd/even day interval selection missing
  • False advertising regarding interval watering
  • Previous app not compatible with new hardware

Requested features

22 requests
  • HomeKit support
  • Desktop access/web interface
  • Improved rainfall data visualization (bar chart, cumulative totals)
  • Hourly rainfall totals
  • Cumulative rainfall display
Show 17 more
  • Clearer rainfall totals (since midnight/9 am)
  • Dark mode
  • Apple Watch app integration for weather station
  • More scene options for lighting
  • Automatic sunset/sunrise lighting
  • Interval watering settings
  • Misting function in scenes
  • Notifications for timer start/stop
  • Calendar watering history
  • Activity/event log
  • More than 3 schedules per tap timer
  • Ability to stop scheduled watering after it has started
  • Status showing why watering is skipped (e.g., moisture level)
  • Option to program misting in manual watering mode
  • Face ID/Biometric login
  • Allow PM times for setup
  • Alert for spikes in water usage

BirdScribe

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Holman Home

No in-app purchases

None

BirdScribe

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Holman Home free?
Holman Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BirdScribe free?
BirdScribe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Holman Home or BirdScribe have ads?
Neither Holman Home nor BirdScribe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Holman Home or BirdScribe?
Holman Home ships an update every 5 months, and BirdScribe every 8 days. Most recently, Holman Home was updated on October 25, 2026 and BirdScribe on October 25, 2026.

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