RainMachine vs SMRTscape Lighting
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RainMachine
Control your smart sprinkler system from your iPhone or iPad. Dynamically adjust watering schedules based on local weather data to save water and maintain a healthy garden. Manage zones, set restrictions, and snooze or pause watering remotely.
- Cloud independent smart sprinkler control
- Dynamic weather-based watering schedules
- Remote access and control
- Water saving technology
- Zone and program management
- Snooze and pause watering
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Say hello to the RainMachine - the Cloud Independent Smart Wi-Fi Forecast Sprinkler. There are no fees associated with using the RainMachine device or the RainMachine iOS app. RainMachine Premium Services is an entirely optional service that improves the experience of accessing the device remotely through our RainMachine Cloud Servers. The same features are available without Premium Services subscription and remote access can be configured through Direct-Access (Port Forwarding). The RainMachine iOS app connects your iPhone/iPad to your RainMachine hardware and allows you to control and adjust your watering cycles, change zones and program properties, set restriction, enable weather services, snooze device or pause watering. RainMachine app allows you to interact with your garden when at home and remotely from anywhere. SAVES WATER You bet. Allow billion dollar weather satellites to dynamically adjust your watering schedule, while maintaining a healthy garden. Free, accurate and local weather data using technology already paid for. Your tax money at work! REMOTE ACCESS Control, adjust and supervise all your garden irrigation from the palm of your hand. Intuitive user interface allows you to change all watering properties. Remote Access through the RainMachine Cloud Servers requires yearly Premium Services subscription, but remote access through your own internet router Direct Access (Port Forwarding) feature is free and does not require cloud servers access or any subscription. REQUIREMENTS: RainMachine iOS app requires the RainMachine sprinkler controller device available at rainmachine.com Note: Some features may be available only for RainMachine devices sold starting 2015.
SMRTscape Lighting
Control your low voltage landscape lighting and features remotely. This app, when paired with an internet gateway, allows for automation and management of outdoor elements from any mobile device.
- Cloud-based control
- Automate landscape lighting
- Control from any mobile device
- Works with internet gateway
- Manage outdoor features
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The SMRTscape™ Lighting app, formerly the Light Logic PLUS app, is the cloud-based control you've been waiting for. When used in combination with the Light Logic PLUS or SMRT Logic™ internet gateway, it offers a convenient way to automate your low voltage lighting and other landscape features from any mobile device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMRTscape Lighting at none against RainMachine's 1. SMRTscape Lighting also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 14%) and rating (2.1 vs 1.8). RainMachine's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (617 vs 14). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. RainMachine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. SMRTscape Lighting asks for nothing beyond the download.
SMRTscape Lighting holds the better App Store score, 2.1 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 617 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of RainMachine's written reviews are positive against 40% of SMRTscape Lighting's.
RainMachine ships an update monthly, SMRTscape Lighting every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RainMachine | SMRTscape Lighting |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (617 ratings) | 2.1 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 617 — better | 14 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainMachine | The Toro Company |
Customer experience
RainMachine
SMRTscape Lighting
In-app purchases
RainMachine
- RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
SMRTscape Lighting
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RainMachine free?
Is SMRTscape Lighting free?
Which has better reviews, RainMachine or SMRTscape Lighting?
Do RainMachine or SMRTscape Lighting have ads?
Which is updated more often, RainMachine or SMRTscape Lighting?
Other comparisons
