# Hydrawise vs Merced County

The clearest difference is rating: Hydrawise at 4.7 against Merced County's 4.0. Hydrawise also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hydrawise has 65K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Hydrawise's written reviews are positive against 0% of Merced County's.

Hydrawise ships an update every 3 weeks, Merced County every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydrawise | Merced County |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrawise/id1618847331/reviews)** | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merced-county/id6444776251/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **65K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **38.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 86 MB | 141 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hunter Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/710090127) | [MERCED COUNTY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1627784748) |

## 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


### Merced County

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merced-county/id6444776251)

Access county government services and information directly from your mobile device. Report issues, view agendas, and stay updated on county events and notifications.

**Highlights:** Read agendas, Report issues, Sign up for notifications, Access county calendars, County government accessibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hydrawise free?

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

### Is Merced County free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hydrawise or Merced County?

Hydrawise is rated higher. Hydrawise averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65K ratings, while Merced County averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Hydrawise or Merced County have ads?

Neither Hydrawise nor Merced County shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hydrawise or Merced County?

Hydrawise ships an update every 3 weeks, and Merced County every 9 months. Most recently, Hydrawise was updated on October 16, 2026 and Merced County 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.*