Comparison

SkyBell vs Hydrawise

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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!

About

Hydrawise

Optimize your irrigation with intelligent, weather-based watering schedules. This app helps conserve water while ensuring your landscape stays lush and healthy. Manage your system remotely for ultimate convenience and efficiency.

Highlights
  • Predictive Watering based on weather
  • Optimized water usage
  • Remote irrigation system management
  • Enhanced local weather insights
  • Lush landscape maintenance
Read full description

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

SkyBell4 screens
Hydrawise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hydrawise at every 3 weeks against SkyBell's every 2 months. Hydrawise also leads on ratings volume (67K vs 12K). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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 67K ratings behind it against 12K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 42% of SkyBell's written reviews are positive against 39% of Hydrawise's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkyBell ships an update every 2 months, Hydrawise every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SkyBell versus Hydrawise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkyBellHydrawise
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (12K ratings) — better4.7 (67K ratings)
Positive reviews41.8% of reviews — better39.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12K67K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size70 MB143 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSkyBell Technologies, Inc.Hunter Industries

Customer experience

SkyBell

All ratings10,473 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews249 reviews
Positive41.8%
Neutral7.6%
Negative50.6%

Hydrawise

All ratings67,161 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews890 reviews
Positive39.0%
Neutral9.3%
Negative51.7%

User reviews

SkyBell

From 12K App Store ratings

What 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 67K App Store ratings

What 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

None

SkyBell

No in-app purchases

None

Hydrawise

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SkyBell free?
SkyBell 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, SkyBell or Hydrawise?
SkyBell is rated higher. SkyBell averages 4.7 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Hydrawise averages 4.7 from 67K ratings.
Do SkyBell or Hydrawise have ads?
Neither SkyBell nor Hydrawise shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SkyBell or Hydrawise?
SkyBell ships an update every 2 months, and Hydrawise every 3 weeks. Most recently, SkyBell was updated on November 9, 2026 and Hydrawise on November 9, 2026.

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