# SkyBell vs Hydrawise

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.

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. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyBell | Hydrawise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skybell/id1565214486/reviews) | [4.7 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrawise/id1618847331/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10K | **64K** |
| Positive reviews | **40.6% of reviews** | 38.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 70 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SkyBell Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/778872211) | [Hunter Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/710090127) |

## What reviewers say

### SkyBell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skybell/id1565214486)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved stability
- 💡 New features like motion zones
- 👍 Easy migration from old app
- 🚀 Faster video loading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Live view issues and crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable motion detection
- 🐛 Connectivity and login problems
- 🐛 Downgrade from old app features

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not saving or available
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inability to reconnect device after migration

**Requested features**

- Bring back old app's notification sounds
- Allow multiple users to control the device
- Improve video quality and zoom capabilities


### 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 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 and Hydrawise are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10K and 64K ratings respectively.

### 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 September 24, 2026 and Hydrawise on September 25, 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.*