Comparison

Rinnai Central vs PlumBuddy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Rinnai Central

This app connects Rinnai tankless water heater owners to their devices for temperature control and scheduling. Professional installers can use it to register appliances, perform service, access documentation, and order parts.

Highlights
  • Adjust water temperature
  • Schedule hot water
  • Activate recirculation
  • Register appliances
  • Perform remote service
  • Access documentation
  • Order replacement parts
Features
Read full description

Rinnai Central helps professionals support customers and gives homeowners convenient control of compatible Rinnai water heating systems from anywhere. For Rinnai PROs and installers, Rinnai Central makes it easier to register products, set up compatible customer devices, access service tools, and stay connected to Rinnai resources. For Rinnai tankless water heater owners, Rinnai Central provides convenient access to temperature control, recirculation settings, scheduling, system status, and maintenance alerts when supported by the connected product. PROFESSIONALS Use Rinnai Central to: ∙ Set parameters and perform service on compatible Rinnai tankless water heaters and boilers. ∙ Register eligible Rinnai products after installation. ∙ Set up and configure compatible customer Wi-Fi modules. ∙ Access product documentation, troubleshooting tools, training, rebates, news, and service resources. ∙ Find the right Rinnai product for your customer's needs. ∙ Access the Rinnai parts webstore. ∙ Manage your professional account and company relationship. ∙ Participate in eligible Rinnai PRO Tech programs when available. HOMEOWNERS Use Rinnai Central to: ∙ Adjust compatible water heating system temperature settings. ∙ Activate recirculation when supported by the product. ∙ Create daily schedules so hot water is ready when needed. ∙ Set vacation mode to help save energy when hot water is not needed. ∙ View real-time system status and maintenance alerts. ∙ Find experienced Rinnai PROs and installers near you. COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS Rinnai Central supports select Rinnai residential and commercial tankless water heaters and compatible accessories. Some features require a supported Rinnai Wi-Fi module or compatible connected product. Product availability, supported features, and access permissions may vary by model. - BLE setup is not available on all Rinnai products. Some products may require the RWM200 Wi-Fi Module accessory, sold separately. - For safety and product support reasons, some device setup and service permissions may be restricted to Rinnai professionals. Read our Data Use and Privacy Policy, Terms, and other important information in the legal section of our App Store description or at the web addresses below. TERMS OF SERVICE https://www.rinnai.us/terms-of-use PRIVACY POLICY https://www.rinnai.us/privacy-policy

About

PlumBuddy

Monitor and control your home's water system remotely. Receive real-time alerts for leaks and track water usage to prevent damage and identify issues. Manage multiple properties from a single account.

Highlights
  • Real-time water data monitoring
  • Remote water shut-off
  • Automatic leak detection
  • Customizable alerts (email, SMS, push)
  • Multi-property management
  • Live water usage tracking
Features
Read full description

The PlumBuddy App is the mobile companion to our Ecosystem of Total Plumbing Protection. Get access to real-time data based on intelligent monitoring by our PlumBuddy valves and PlumSense sensors. Whether you're at home or away, the PlumBuddy app provides full visibility and control over your property's water usage. PlumBuddy helps protect your properties from water damage with these key features: - Email, SMS, and push notifications with customizable settings - Turn your water on or off remotely from the app - Automatic water leak location & identification with the PlumAssist sensor. - Live water flow, pressure, temperature, and usage tracking - Insights that help homeowners and plumbers identify hidden problems - Manage multiple properties from one account - PlumBuddy delivers the dependability and features that plumbers want and what you need. Learn more at www.plumbuddy.co.

Screenshots

Rinnai Central4 screens
PlumBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PlumBuddy at 100% against Rinnai Central's 9%. PlumBuddy also leads on rating (4.4 vs 1.6) and update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). Rinnai Central's advantage is ratings volume (396 vs 5). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PlumBuddy holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rinnai Central has 396 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Rinnai Central's written reviews are positive against 100% of PlumBuddy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rinnai Central ships an update monthly, PlumBuddy every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Rinnai Central versus PlumBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRinnai CentralPlumBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.6 (396 ratings)4.4 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews9.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings396 — better5
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.4.115.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRinnai America CorpPlumBuddy Inc

Customer experience

Rinnai Central

All ratings341 ratings
Positive12.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative83.9%
Written reviews223 reviews
Positive9.0%
Neutral4.5%
Negative86.5%

PlumBuddy

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Rinnai Central

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Control failed is still happening in latest version
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add device through Bluetooth missing
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard

PlumBuddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Rinnai Central

No in-app purchases

None

PlumBuddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rinnai Central free?
Rinnai Central is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PlumBuddy free?
PlumBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Rinnai Central or PlumBuddy?
PlumBuddy is rated higher. Rinnai Central averages 1.6 out of 5 from 396 ratings, while PlumBuddy averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.
Do Rinnai Central or PlumBuddy have ads?
Neither Rinnai Central nor PlumBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rinnai Central or PlumBuddy?
Rinnai Central ships an update monthly, and PlumBuddy every 11 days. Most recently, Rinnai Central was updated on October 27, 2026 and PlumBuddy on October 18, 2026.

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