Comparison

RainMachine vs Hunter WVL

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read 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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Wireless valve monitoring
  • Setup and configuration
  • Diagnostics of field devices
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • LoRa radio communication
  • Supports HCC, ICC2, and MCC controllers
Features
Read full description

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

RainMachine4 screens
Hunter WVL4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RainMachine ships an update monthly, Hunter WVL every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RainMachine versus Hunter WVL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRainMachineHunter WVL
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (613 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings613 — better3
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB121 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRainMachineHunter Industries

Customer experience

RainMachine

All ratings613 ratings
Positive18.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative79.0%
Written reviews154 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral6.5%
Negative79.2%

Hunter WVL

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RainMachine

Subscriptions1
  • RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
None

Hunter WVL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RainMachine free?
RainMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hunter WVL free?
Hunter WVL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RainMachine or Hunter WVL?
Hunter WVL is rated higher. RainMachine averages 1.8 out of 5 from 613 ratings, while Hunter WVL averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do RainMachine or Hunter WVL have ads?
Neither RainMachine nor Hunter WVL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RainMachine or Hunter WVL?
RainMachine ships an update monthly, and Hunter WVL every 5 weeks. Most recently, RainMachine was updated on September 19, 2026 and Hunter WVL on September 3, 2026.

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