RainMachine vs OpenSprinkler
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.
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.
- Device status monitoring
- Program modification
- Instant program launch
- Manual testing mode
- Multi-device support
- Weather and forecast integration
- Log data visualization
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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 (617 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
Both are free to download. RainMachine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. OpenSprinkler asks for nothing beyond the download.
OpenSprinkler holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RainMachine has 617 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.
RainMachine ships an update monthly, OpenSprinkler every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | RainMachine | OpenSprinkler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (617 ratings) | 3.9 (29 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 64.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 617 — better | 29 |
| 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 | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainMachine | OpenThings |
Customer experience
RainMachine
OpenSprinkler
Bugs and requests
RainMachine
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
OpenSprinkler
Reported bugs
20 issues- No network connectivity after update
- Constantly crashes and fails to connect
- App refreshes and updates super slow
- Incompatible with VoiceOver, cannot edit/create programs
- App cannot connect or discover OpenSprinkler 1.8.3 after update
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Update deleted OS sites and required new login
- Loses settings on app updates
- Won't connect to controller, but works in browser
- Requires VPN to log in remotely
- Screen doesn't refresh after changes, requires app restart
- App crashes when taking a picture to assign to a zone
- Resume after phone lock causes freeze, requires app restart
- Weather location always displays as '11, Tottori-ken'
- Hardware unit loses power randomly and reboots
- App adds additional programs to the end of the list
- Clock/GMT feature crashes app and reverts to default
- Latest update broke connection with early build units (FW 1.8.3)
- Update crashed OpenSprinkler, router can't find units
- Firmware update wipes out config
- Resume on iPhone 7 doesn't work, requires force quit
Requested features
9 requests- Add Apple Watch support
- Indicate % water level with weather forecasts
- Fix VoiceOver compatibility for editing/creating programs
- Improve UI, follow iPhone standards
- Add logging support to the app
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Support for older firmware versions (1.8.3)
- Fix DHCP/static IP bug
- Add temperature display to home screen
- Fix resume issue on iPhone
In-app purchases
RainMachine
- RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
OpenSprinkler
No in-app purchases









