RainMachine vs Rain Bird Resources
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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.
Rain Bird Resources
Access comprehensive reference materials for landscape irrigation professionals. Browse product catalogs, download manuals, and view technical specifications. This app provides easy, on-the-go access to the latest irrigation information with features like search and favorites.
- Product catalog access
- Downloadable manuals
- Technical specifications
- Design guides
- Performance specifications
- Search functionality
- Favorites menu
Read full descriptionHide full description
Reference information for the landscape irrigation professional. Explore Rain Bird’s complete landscape turf product catalog. Find documents like user manuals, technical specifications, design guides, and performance specifications. The app makes it easy to access and share the latest irrigation information anywhere and anytime. The app includes convenient features like sharing, search, and a custom favorites menu.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rain Bird Resources at 67% against RainMachine's 14%. Rain Bird Resources also leads on rating (4.1 vs 1.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). RainMachine's advantage is ratings volume (613 vs 19) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Rain Bird Resources asks for nothing beyond the download.
Rain Bird Resources holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 613 ratings behind it against 19, 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 67% of Rain Bird Resources's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RainMachine | Rain Bird Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (613 ratings) | 4.1 (19 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 613 — better | 19 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainMachine | Rain Bird Corporation |
Customer experience
RainMachine
Rain Bird Resources
In-app purchases
RainMachine
- RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
Rain Bird Resources
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RainMachine free?
Is Rain Bird Resources free?
Which has better reviews, RainMachine or Rain Bird Resources?
Do RainMachine or Rain Bird Resources have ads?
Which is updated more often, RainMachine or Rain Bird Resources?
Other comparisons
