RainMachine vs Hunter WVL
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.
Hunter WVL
This app facilitates wireless valve monitoring for specific irrigation controllers. It allows for convenient setup, configuration, and diagnostics of field devices using Bluetooth technology and LoRa radio communication.
- Wireless valve monitoring
- Setup and configuration
- Diagnostics of field devices
- Bluetooth connectivity
- LoRa radio communication
- Supports HCC, ICC2, and MCC controllers
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Enable convenient wireless valve monitoring for HCC, ICC2, and MCC Controllers with the highly flexible and easy-to-install Wireless Valve Link. The Wireless Valve Output Module within the controller communicates with up to 54 wireless stations (HCC & ICC2) and up to 108 wireless stations with MCC via license-free LoRa® radio. Use this convenient Bluetooth™ app for setup, configuration and diagnostics of WVL field devices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hunter WVL at 5.0 against RainMachine's 1.8. Hunter WVL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). RainMachine's advantage is ratings volume (613 vs 3) 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. Hunter WVL asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hunter WVL holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 613 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
RainMachine ships an update monthly, Hunter WVL every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RainMachine | Hunter WVL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (613 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 613 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| 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 | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainMachine | Hunter Industries |
Customer experience
RainMachine
Hunter WVL
In-app purchases
RainMachine
- RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
Hunter WVL
No in-app purchases









