Rachio vs Light Stream
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rachio
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.
- Automated watering schedules
- Remote sprinkler control
- Water and money saving
- Weather-based adjustments
- Smart home integration
- Mobile app access
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The Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller changes the way you water. It makes running your sprinklers easy and convenient while saving you water and money. Rachio automatically creates a watering schedule that lowers your water bill and ensures the beautiful yard you want, while the mobile app gives you access to your sprinkler system from anywhere. Plus, Rachio is compatible with nearly any sized yard and smart home platform. This is the companion app to the industry-leading Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller.
Light Stream
Control your wireless Christmas lights with custom color themes and patterns. This app allows you to set up to six different bulb colors simultaneously, offering flexibility for indoor and outdoor decoration.
- Customizable light colors
- Up to six colors per theme
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Works with existing E12 wire
- Create custom light patterns
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Harness the power of infinite possibilities with Light Stream™. Using the exclusive Light Stream™ app for iPhone, you can have up to six different light bulb colors at any given time. You decide whether you want all the bulbs to be the same color, or create your own custom themes, such as red, white, and green. Light Stream™ will give you the freedom you’ve been looking for in a Christmas light. Use it on your roof lines, tree, bushes, or even indoors! Innovative lighting for infinite possibilities of colors and patterns. Unlike competitors wireless lights, our design allows for you to use your existing E12 Christmas wire. Saving you time and money, simply swap your bulbs and pair your devices. FOR USE WITH LIGHT STREAM™ COMPONENTS ONLY - V-20586: Remote LED Bulbs ( Required ) - V-20587: Controller ( Required ) - V-20588: Switch ( Optional but recommended ) Thank you for reading all about the all-new, innovative wireless lighting solution that is Light Stream™. To purchase Light Stream components, please visit Villagelighting.com or Villagelightingwholesale.com for more information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Rachio at 4.9 against Light Stream's 3.2. Rachio also leads on ratings volume (159K vs 26) and review sentiment (57% vs 33%). Light Stream's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence 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. Rachio sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Light Stream asks for nothing beyond the download.
Rachio holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rachio has 159K ratings behind it against 26, 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 33% of Light Stream's.
Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, Light Stream monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rachio | Light Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (159K ratings) — better | 3.2 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 57.4% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 159K — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 8.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 163 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RACHIO, INC. | Village Lighting |
Customer experience
Rachio
Light Stream
Bugs and requests
Rachio
Reported bugs
4 issues- Zones running at unexpected times
- Schedules not working as programmed
- App crashing during setup and use
- Syncing issues between app and controller
Requested features
4 requests- 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
Light Stream
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Rachio
- Tempest Integration$29.99
- AirLink Integration$29.99
- Heat Wave Boost$29.99
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- Wire Status$29.99
- Valve & Heat Monitoring Bundle$49.99
Light Stream
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Rachio free?
Is Light Stream free?
Which has better reviews, Rachio or Light Stream?
Do Rachio or Light Stream have ads?
Which is updated more often, Rachio or Light Stream?
Other comparisons
