RainMachine vs TexasET
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.
TexasET
This application calculates crop water needs based on growth stage and real-time weather data. It allows for daily or 14-day forecasts, automatically incorporating rainfall data. Users can also set weekly irrigation reminders.
- Crop water requirement calculation
- Growth stage selection
- Real-time weather data integration
- 14-day water requirement forecast
- Automatic rainfall inclusion
- Customizable rainfall data
- Weekly irrigation reminders
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The TexasET app calculates the water requirements for crops based upon the growth stage selected. It uses real-time weather data from stations on the TexasET Network (texasET.tamu.edu). Water requirements may be determined for one day or up to 14 days. Rainfall at the selected weather station is automatically included in the calculations, but can be modified if local amounts are different. Weekly reminders of irrigation recommendations may be set up.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TexasET at 3.0 against RainMachine's 1.8. TexasET also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 14%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). RainMachine's advantage is ratings volume (613 vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). 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. TexasET asks for nothing beyond the download.
TexasET holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 613 ratings behind it against 2, 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 50% of TexasET's.
RainMachine ships an update monthly, TexasET every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RainMachine | TexasET |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (613 ratings) | 3.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 613 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainMachine | Matrix Software, Inc. |
Customer experience
RainMachine
TexasET
In-app purchases
RainMachine
- RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
TexasET
No in-app purchases









