RainMachine vs Amcrest Cloud
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.
Amcrest Cloud
This AI-powered cloud service provides advanced video monitoring for IP cameras. It offers cloud storage, motion detection alerts, and sophisticated object detection for enhanced security.
- AI-powered cloud service
- Cloud storage
- Motion detection alerts
- People, vehicle, animal detection
- Camera health checks
- 4K model support
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Amcrest Cloud is an AI-powered cloud service designed to work exclusively with the Amcrest line of IP cameras, including the latest 4K models. The service is a premium cloud video monitoring platform designed for the home and small business and includes cloud storage, advanced camera health checks, motion detection alerts and more! The Cloud AI module enables world class people, vehicle, animal and objection detection to power your cloud surveillance.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Amcrest Cloud at 4.2 against RainMachine's 1.8. Amcrest Cloud also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (6K vs 617). RainMachine's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and monetization model 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. Amcrest Cloud asks for nothing beyond the download.
Amcrest Cloud holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amcrest Cloud has 6K ratings behind it against 617, 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 20% of Amcrest Cloud's.
RainMachine ships an update monthly, Amcrest Cloud every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RainMachine | Amcrest Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (617 ratings) | 4.2 (6K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 20.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 617 | 6K — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 61 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainMachine | Amcrest |
Customer experience
RainMachine
Amcrest Cloud
Bugs and requests
RainMachine
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Amcrest Cloud
Reported bugs
6 issues- Camera firmware update bricking cameras
- Inability to connect cameras to WiFi
- Cameras disconnecting from cloud
- App login issues
- Inability to change detection zones
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Notifications not working
Requested features
2 requests- Multiple saved camera locations
- Ability to view more than 4 hours of recordings
In-app purchases
RainMachine
- RainMachine Premium$29.991 Year
Amcrest Cloud
No in-app purchases
