Comparison

RainMachine vs OpenSprinkler

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

OpenSprinkler

Control your OpenSprinkler irrigation system remotely. Monitor device status, modify watering schedules, and launch programs instantly. Features manual testing, multi-device support, and weather integration.

Highlights
  • Device status monitoring
  • Program modification
  • Instant program launch
  • Manual testing mode
  • Multi-device support
  • Weather and forecast integration
  • Log data visualization
Features
Read full description

The application allows you to automatically detect and control your OpenSprinkler irrigation system(s). OpenSprinkler is an open-source Internet web-based sprinkler timer / controller built upon the Arduino platform. Features of the app include: * Easy to understand device status * Quick program modification * Launch ad-hoc or defined programs instantly * Manual mode for convenient testing * Multi-device support * View visual representation of upcoming scheduled programs * View graphical and tabulated representation of log data * View current weather and forecast status for the device location * Change and disable rain delay * Multiple supported languages (Afrikaans, Amharic, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Mongolian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and more) This application requires you to own an OpenSprinkler that is properly connected to your network. For more information please visit https://opensprinkler.com. You can control your device from outside the local network with proper port forwarding and use of the WAN IP within the application or by using a VPN. For further assistance please visit the forums: https://forums.opensprinkler.com This is open source software: source code for this application can be found at https://github.com/OpenSprinkler/OpenSprinkler-App

Screenshots

RainMachine4 screens
OpenSprinkler3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpenSprinkler at 65% against RainMachine's 14%. OpenSprinkler also leads on rating (3.9 vs 1.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). RainMachine's advantage is ratings volume (613 vs 29) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). 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. OpenSprinkler asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenSprinkler holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 613 ratings behind it against 29, 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 65% of OpenSprinkler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RainMachine ships an update monthly, OpenSprinkler every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
RainMachine versus OpenSprinkler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRainMachineOpenSprinkler
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (613 ratings)3.9 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews64.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings613 — better29
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRainMachineOpenThings

Customer experience

RainMachine

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

OpenSprinkler

All ratings29 ratings
Positive72.4%
Neutral10.3%
Negative17.2%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive64.8%
Neutral13.0%
Negative22.2%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RainMachine

Subscriptions1
  • RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
None

OpenSprinkler

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RainMachine free?
RainMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenSprinkler free?
OpenSprinkler is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RainMachine or OpenSprinkler?
OpenSprinkler is rated higher. RainMachine averages 1.8 out of 5 from 613 ratings, while OpenSprinkler averages 3.9 from 29 ratings.
Do RainMachine or OpenSprinkler have ads?
Neither RainMachine nor OpenSprinkler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RainMachine or OpenSprinkler?
RainMachine ships an update monthly, and OpenSprinkler every 2 months. Most recently, RainMachine was updated on September 19, 2026 and OpenSprinkler on September 24, 2026.

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