# eKeypad Alarm vs Rain Bird

The clearest difference is price: Rain Bird at Free against eKeypad Alarm's $39.99. Rain Bird also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). eKeypad Alarm's advantage is review sentiment (60% vs 31%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Rain Bird is free to download; eKeypad Alarm costs $39.99 up front. eKeypad Alarm sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Rain Bird asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rain Bird holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rain Bird has 79K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of eKeypad Alarm's written reviews are positive against 31% of Rain Bird's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

eKeypad Alarm ships an update every 3 weeks, Rain Bird every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | eKeypad Alarm | Rain Bird |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.3 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ekeypad-alarm/id293689032/reviews) | **[4.7 (79K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **79K** |
| Positive reviews | **60.0% of reviews** | 31.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 32 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [eKeypad Mobile Solutions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/293689035) | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) |

## What reviewers say

### eKeypad Alarm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ekeypad-alarm/id293689032)

Control your Elk M1 or Ness M1 alarm system remotely. Arm, disarm, and bypass your security system from your Apple devices. Offers secure, anywhere access without third-party services.

**Highlights:** Simplified arming and disarming, Bypass functions, Remote access from Apple devices, Easy setup, Secure access, Multi-system control (optional)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enables Multi-device support | $19.99 | one-time |


### Rain Bird

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082)

Control your sprinklers remotely from your mobile device. Automate watering schedules and adjust for weather conditions to conserve water and reduce costs. Compatible with various Rain Bird controller models.

**Highlights:** Remote sprinkler control, Customizable watering schedules, Automated weather adjustments, Water and money saving, Controller model compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to program
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Versatile
- 👍 Must have
- 👍 Ease of mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Slow and clunky app
- 🐛 Date/time not updating
- 🐛 Unreliable system
- 🐛 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Constant connection errors
- App crashes frequently
- Date/time not syncing correctly
- Seasonal adjustment not working as expected
- Manual controls not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add water usage history and analytics
- Allow pausing of individual zones
- Improve manual control options
- Add weather integration and smart scheduling
- Improve notification system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is eKeypad Alarm free?

eKeypad Alarm costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Rain Bird free?

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

### Which has better reviews, eKeypad Alarm or Rain Bird?

Rain Bird is rated higher. eKeypad Alarm averages 3.3 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Rain Bird averages 4.7 from 79K ratings.

### Do eKeypad Alarm or Rain Bird have ads?

Neither eKeypad Alarm nor Rain Bird shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, eKeypad Alarm or Rain Bird?

eKeypad Alarm ships an update every 3 weeks, and Rain Bird every 2 months. Most recently, eKeypad Alarm was updated on October 27, 2026 and Rain Bird on October 28, 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.*