SkyBell vs Hydrawise
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SkyBell
Monitor your home's entry points with HD video and two-way audio. Receive instant alerts for visitors or motion, and integrate with other smart home devices for enhanced security and control.
- HD video monitoring
- Two-way audio communication
- Instant motion and visitor alerts
- Smart home device integration
- AI-powered body and facial recognition
- Customizable motion zones
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Peace of mind starts at the front door. SkyBell pioneered the Video Doorbell category and now offers a variety of Video Doorbells, Security Cameras, Chimes, and other integrated smart home security solutions. Get instant alerts on smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches when someone is at your door or motion is detected in HD video with two-way talk on any of SkyBell’s Video Doorbells or Cameras. SkyBell sends a live video feed to your devices so you can hear and speak to the person at your door or in the house, whether at home, at work, or on the go - day or night. The SkyBell Gen5 App lets you integrate compatible smart home devices like smart locks and others into your SkyBell system, offering more home control than ever. The integrated AI provides body and facial recognition, with the ability to set custom motion zones to reduce false triggers by up to 95%. SkyBell keeps you connected to your home and those you love most. We aim to make homes and neighborhoods safer, one front door at a time!
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 update cadence: Hydrawise at every 3 weeks against SkyBell's every 2 months. Hydrawise also leads on ratings volume (64K vs 10K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for SkyBell against 4.7 for Hydrawise. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrawise has 64K ratings behind it against 10K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of SkyBell's written reviews are positive against 38% of Hydrawise's.
SkyBell ships an update every 2 months, Hydrawise every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | SkyBell | Hydrawise |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (10K ratings) | 4.7 (64K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.6% of reviews — better | 38.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 10K | 64K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 70 MB | 86 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SkyBell Technologies, Inc. | Hunter Industries |
Customer experience
SkyBell
Hydrawise
User reviews
SkyBell
From 10K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Improved stability
- 💡 New features like motion zones
- 👍 Easy migration from old app
- 🚀 Faster video loading
Room to improve
- 🐛 Live view issues and crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable motion detection
- 🐛 Connectivity and login problems
- 🐛 Downgrade from old app features
Hydrawise
From 64K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Improved performance
- 💡 Useful features like weather-based watering
- 🔒 Secure system
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 👎 Confusing user interface
- 🔍 Difficult to find/access certain features
- 📉 Lack of important functionality from previous app
Bugs and requests
SkyBell
Reported bugs
3 issues- Videos not saving or available
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inability to reconnect device after migration
Requested features
3 requests- Bring back old app's notification sounds
- Allow multiple users to control the device
- Improve video quality and zoom capabilities
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
SkyBell
No in-app purchases
Hydrawise
No in-app purchases
