# Rachio vs Netro

The clearest difference is rating: Rachio at 4.9 against Netro's 2.6. Rachio also leads on ratings volume (159K vs 17) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Netro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Rachio sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Netro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rachio holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rachio has 159K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Rachio's written reviews are positive against 38% of Netro's.

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, Netro every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rachio | Netro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098/reviews)** | [2.6 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netro/id1207556450/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **57.4% of reviews** | 37.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 163 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RACHIO, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864325101) | [Netro Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1207241825) |

## What reviewers say

### Rachio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098)

This app allows you to control your sprinkler system remotely, creating custom watering schedules. It helps save water and money by optimizing irrigation based on weather and yard needs. Access your system from anywhere for convenient lawn care.

**Highlights:** Automated watering schedules, Remote sprinkler control, Water and money saving, Weather-based adjustments, Smart home integration, Mobile app access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tempest Integration | $29.99 | one-time |
| AirLink Integration | $29.99 | one-time |
| Heat Wave Boost | $29.99 | one-time |
| Wire Status | $29.99 | one-time |
| Valve & Heat Monitoring Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🌱 Saves water and money
- 🌳 Helps maintain healthy lawn and plants

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💸 Aggressive upselling
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🌧️ Inaccurate weather-based scheduling

**Reported bugs**

- Zones running at unexpected times
- Schedules not working as programmed
- App crashing during setup and use
- Syncing issues between app and controller

**Requested features**

- Ability to skip multiple upcoming watering cycles
- Customizable notifications for low battery and offline status
- Better integration with smart home platforms like HomeKit
- More granular control over watering schedules and durations


### Netro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netro/id1207556450)

This app manages your home irrigation system remotely. It creates intelligent watering schedules based on local weather to conserve water and maintain a healthy garden. Monitor your garden's status and adjust settings from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Dynamic weather-based watering schedules, Remote sprinkler monitoring and control, Garden health status indicators, Adjustable watering preferences, Schedule manager

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy setup and installation
- 👍 Good overall functionality
- 👍 Flexible programming options
- 👍 Supports remote access
- 👍 Good for dry climates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Unreliable weather data
- 🐛 Login required every time
- 🐛 Limited historical data storage
- 🐛 Difficulty with manual control

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on opening
- App crashes when renaming zones
- App crashes when moving between screens
- App crashes when attempting to open
- App crashes when logging in

**Requested features**

- Allow 1.5 minute watering intervals
- Allow simultaneous watering of multiple zones
- Alter order of watering zones with drag and drop
- Add more weather providers (e.g., Apple's API)
- Improve user interface for iOS users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rachio free?

Rachio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Netro free?

Netro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Rachio or Netro?

Rachio is rated higher. Rachio averages 4.9 out of 5 from 159K ratings, while Netro averages 2.6 from 17 ratings.

### Do Rachio or Netro have ads?

Rachio shows ads; Netro does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rachio or Netro?

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, and Netro every 4 months. Most recently, Rachio was updated on October 26, 2026 and Netro on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*