# RainMachine vs Hunter NODE

The clearest difference is rating: Hunter NODE at 3.1 against RainMachine's 1.8. Hunter NODE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (23% vs 14%). RainMachine's advantage is ratings volume (613 vs 59) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RainMachine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. Hunter NODE asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hunter NODE holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 613 ratings behind it against 59, 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 23% of Hunter NODE's.

RainMachine ships an update monthly, Hunter NODE fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RainMachine | Hunter NODE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (613 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rainmachine/id647589286/reviews) | **[3.1 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hunter-node-bt/id1438535498/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **613** | 59 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **22.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 33 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RainMachine](https://appshunter.io/developer/647589469) | [Hunter Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/710090127) |

## What reviewers say

### RainMachine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rainmachine/id647589286)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RainMachine Premium | $29.99 | per year |


### Hunter NODE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hunter-node-bt/id1438535498)

Control your landscape irrigation system remotely via Bluetooth. This app allows for easy programming, scheduling, and monitoring of watering cycles without needing to access the valve box. Manage multiple controllers, set custom schedules, and receive important status updates directly on your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Remote controller management, Custom watering schedules, Manual irrigation control, Sensor activation, Controller status monitoring, Offline schedule editing, Controller event logs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RainMachine free?

RainMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hunter NODE free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RainMachine or Hunter NODE?

Hunter NODE is rated higher. RainMachine averages 1.8 out of 5 from 613 ratings, while Hunter NODE averages 3.1 from 59 ratings.

### Do RainMachine or Hunter NODE have ads?

Neither RainMachine nor Hunter NODE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RainMachine or Hunter NODE?

RainMachine ships an update monthly, and Hunter NODE fortnightly. Most recently, RainMachine was updated on September 19, 2026 and Hunter NODE on September 21, 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.*