# U vs Hydrawise

The clearest difference is rating: Hydrawise at 4.7 against U's 3.0. Hydrawise also leads on ratings volume (64K vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). U's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 39%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrawise has 64K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of U'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.

U ships an update every 2 months, Hydrawise every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | U | Hydrawise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-sync/id1485733488/reviews) | **[4.7 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrawise/id1618847331/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **64K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 38.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 49 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Universal Lighting System](https://appshunter.io/developer/1485568087) | [Hunter Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/710090127) |

## What reviewers say

### U

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-sync/id1485733488)

Control your smart lighting system with this app. Set custom schedules for different zones, turn lights on/off manually, and name your zones for easy management. It's a convenient interface for Universal Lighting Systems' Zone Control transformers.

**Highlights:** Set zone schedules, Manual zone control, Name custom zones, Individual zone timing, System on/off control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 U free?

U 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, U or Hydrawise?

Hydrawise is rated higher. U averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Hydrawise averages 4.7 from 64K ratings.

### Do U or Hydrawise have ads?

Neither U nor Hydrawise shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, U or Hydrawise?

U ships an update every 2 months, and Hydrawise every 3 weeks. Most recently, U was updated on June 1, 2026 and Hydrawise on September 27, 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.*