Crop Water vs iBand
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Crop Water
Estimate soil water status using Watermark sensor readings. Track water usage and availability for Nebraska soils. View historical sensor data and graphs.
- Estimate soil water status
- Use Watermark sensor readings
- Track water usage
- Monitor water availability
- View historic sensor readings
- Graph sensor data
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The Crop Water App was developed at the request of Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network (NAWMN) participants. This app provides an easy way to estimate soil water status based on Watermark sensors installed at depths of 1, 2, and 3 feet. With these sensor readings, the Crop Water app will estimate the water used as well as what is still available for Nebraska soils. You can also see historic sensor readings and graph. Check out the NAWMN at: water.unl.edu/NAWMN.
iBand
This app provides in-depth monitoring for agricultural baling equipment, tracking bale counts, performance metrics, and operational status. It offers controls to customize equipment settings and a GPS mapping system to analyze field productivity. The app also includes maintenance alerts and a comprehensive learning center with troubleshooting guides.
- Bale and bundle count tracking
- Bales per hour monitoring
- Baler stroke gauge
- Band-It operation status
- GPS field production mapping
- Maintenance alerts
- Built-in learning center and manual
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Bale Band-It Monitor app for iPad®! iBand-It brings a new level to the Bale Band-It’s operation featuring an in-depth monitoring structure that informs the operator on bale and bundle counts, bales per hour, baler stroke gauge, Band-It operation status, busted bale alert, tie cycle, and bundle unloading. Features also include controls to manipulate the Band-It to tailor to your needs as well as a GPS mapping system that allows operators to see how well each field produces. iBand-It also provides performance information in key areas to prevent downtime, alerts of any maintenance needs, has a built in Band-It learning center and manual, in-depth step by step troubleshooting system! The iBand-it app connects to the Bale Band-It via Bluetooth. Important Note: This app will only work with the Bale Band-It equipment that has the new Bluetooth LE module. In order to utilize the stroke counter features, the GFC Baler Stroke Counter module is also needed.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: iBand at 5.0 against Crop Water's 4.2. Crop Water's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
iBand holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crop Water has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Crop Water ships an update every 6 weeks, iBand every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Crop Water | iBand |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 88 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | University of Nebraska - Lincoln | GFC |
Customer experience
Crop Water
iBand
In-app purchases
Crop Water
No in-app purchases
iBand
No in-app purchases









