Mars Legacy vs HydroponicsCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mars Legacy
Control and configure your indoor grow lights remotely. Automate growth cycles with custom timers, simulate sunrise and sunset, and manage multiple lights independently from a single device. Compatible with the Mars Hydro Smart Grow System.
- Remote LED light control
- Adjustable light intensity
- Automatic growth cycle programming
- Sunrise/sunset simulation
- Wireless multi-light control
- Independent lighting group management
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The Mars Hydro app is launched to build a smart, simplified, frontier a ccess for growers to a more manageable grow project, supporting m obile control and growth programs configuration, compatible with Ma rs Hydro Smart Grow System at: www.mars-hydro.com *Easily turn ON/OFF your LED grow lights and adjust the intensity with j ust a few clicks. *Precisely arrange time triggers to achieve automatic growth cycles an d simulation of sunrise and sunset. *Wireless control of multiple LED grow lights via one device at the sam e time. *Different lighting groups are available for independent management, which enables simultaneous monitor on paralleled grows. ...More to be launched
HydroponicsCalc
Manage your hydroponic garden with this comprehensive tool. Track reservoir levels, mix nutrients precisely, calculate pH and VPD, and document your grow with a journal and harvest log. Supports both US and metric units.
- Reservoir management dashboard
- Concentrate and EC mixing calculators
- pH and VPD calculators
- Grow journal with photo timeline
- Harvest log and ROI dashboard
- Light schedule tracker
- US & Metric unit support
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HydroponicsCalc is the complete grow-management companion for hydroponic gardeners — from beginners mixing their first concentrate bottles to experienced growers running multiple systems. RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT — FRONT AND CENTRE Your grow systems live on the home screen where you need them. See EC, pH, temperature, volume, and grow stage at a glance. Tap Log to record a reading or journal entry without digging through menus. Get change-due warnings before problems develop. CONCENTRATE MIXER Two modes for every workflow: • Bottle → EC: Enter bottle size and coverage target — get exact gram weights per component, dose rate (mL per gallon), and a live EC estimate. • Target EC → Dose: Enter your desired EC — get the mL-per-gallon dose you need. Supports MasterBlend 4-18-38, Jack's 321, General Hydroponics Flora Series, and more. Save your favourite configurations as reusable recipes. EC CALCULATOR Dial in nutrient strength with confidence. Input dose → see estimated EC. Input target EC → get required dose. An EC reference strip shows typical ranges from seedling to aggressive feeding, accounting for your source water baseline. pH CALCULATOR Enter current pH, target pH, and reservoir volume — get the exact mL of adjuster needed. Supports White Vinegar, Phosphoric Acid (pH Down), Potassium Hydroxide (pH Up), and custom adjusters with calibration mode. VPD CALCULATOR Vapour pressure deficit tracking with colour-coded zone feedback. Input air temperature, relative humidity, and leaf temperature offset — instantly see whether you're in the Too Humid, Seedling, Vegetative, Flowering, or Too Dry zone. GROW JOURNAL WITH PHOTO TIMELINE Document your grows with a date-sorted photo diary. Log observations, deficiencies, feedings, milestones, and harvests — with camera or photo library support. Export a full PDF archive of any journal. HARVEST LOG & ROI DASHBOARD Record wet weight, dry weight, and crop name for every harvest. Track cost-per-gram from your nutrient spend. See yield trends over time. Calculate energy costs from your light wattage and schedule. LIGHT SCHEDULE TRACKER Set your light schedule (18/6, 20/4, 12/12, or custom), log your flip date, and get an estimated harvest date with a countdown. US & METRIC Every calculator works in gallons/°F or litres/°C. One tap to switch — all values update instantly. NO SUBSCRIPTIONS. NO ADS. HydroponicsCalc is a one-time purchase. Everything is included. By HackerHomeLab.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Mars Legacy at Free against HydroponicsCalc's $1.99. Mars Legacy also leads on ratings volume (71 vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). HydroponicsCalc's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 1.3). On 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
Mars Legacy is free to download; HydroponicsCalc costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HydroponicsCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mars Legacy has 71 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Mars Legacy ships an update monthly, HydroponicsCalc every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Mars Legacy | HydroponicsCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 1.3 (71 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 12.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 71 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MARS TRADING RCC, INC. | Douglas Stieber |
Customer experience
Mars Legacy
HydroponicsCalc
Bugs and requests
Mars Legacy
Reported bugs
20 issues- App cannot detect Bluetooth despite phone detecting it
- Timer settings do not execute at scheduled times
- Scenes and automation groups fail to work
- WiFi connection drops frequently and reconnection fails
- Light brightness changes unexpectedly without user input
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- Humidity readings display unrealistic fantasy values
- App crashes and loses all device/account data
- Login verification codes not received
- Sunrise/sunset mode ignores brightness settings and forces 100%
- Time selection interface is confusing and unreliable
- Fan disconnects from app during use
- PPFD settings reset unexpectedly
- App update broke existing functionality
- Device not detected during initial setup
- Password signup validation error
- Bluetooth icon shows as disabled after update
- Light turns off mid-cycle without reason
- Temperature unit cannot be changed to Celsius
- Scenes override manual timer settings
- App fails to save time settings correctly
Requested features
12 requests- Multiple on/off cycles per day for automation
- Daylight saving time adjustment option
- Sunrise/sunset mode with adjustable brightness levels
- Better WiFi stability and range
- Improved app interface and user experience
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- Comprehensive help documentation
- Account recovery and data persistence
- Multi-language support with accurate translations
- System time picker instead of custom control
- Ability to set different brightness levels for different scenes
- More reliable remote control functionality
- Better error messages and troubleshooting guidance
HydroponicsCalc
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Mars Legacy
No in-app purchases
HydroponicsCalc
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Mars Legacy free?
Is HydroponicsCalc free?
Which has better reviews, Mars Legacy or HydroponicsCalc?
Do Mars Legacy or HydroponicsCalc have ads?
Which is updated more often, Mars Legacy or HydroponicsCalc?
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