# Hydrawise vs Hinkley

The clearest difference is rating: Hydrawise at 4.7 against Hinkley's 2.5. Hydrawise also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). Hinkley's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 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 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrawise has 64K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Hydrawise's written reviews are positive against 0% of Hinkley's.

Hydrawise ships an update every 3 weeks, Hinkley every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydrawise | Hinkley |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrawise/id1618847331/reviews)** | [2.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hinkley/id1645555784/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **64K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **38.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 86 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hunter Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/710090127) | [Hinkley Lighting, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1145550391) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Hinkley

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hinkley/id1645555784)

Effortlessly manage your smart home lighting and fans with intuitive controls. Schedule lights, adjust brightness, and control fan settings from your smartphone, whether you're home or away.

**Highlights:** Home automation, Lighting control, Fan control, Scheduling and timers, Zone control, Brightness adjustment, Remote access

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hydrawise free?

Hydrawise is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hinkley free?

Hinkley is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hydrawise or Hinkley?

Hydrawise is rated higher. Hydrawise averages 4.7 out of 5 from 64K ratings, while Hinkley averages 2.5 from 13 ratings.

### Do Hydrawise or Hinkley have ads?

Neither Hydrawise nor Hinkley shows ads.

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

Hydrawise ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hinkley every 8 months. Most recently, Hydrawise was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hinkley on August 10, 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.*