# Rachio vs Light Stream

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rachio | Light Stream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098/reviews)** | [3.2 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-stream-remote-lights/id1276283823/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | **57.4% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 163 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RACHIO, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864325101) | [Village Lighting](https://appshunter.io/developer/1276283822) |

## 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


### Light Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-stream-remote-lights/id1276283823)

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.

**Highlights:** Customizable light colors, Up to six colors per theme, Indoor and outdoor use, Works with existing E12 wire, Create custom light patterns

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rachio free?

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

### Is Light Stream free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Rachio or Light Stream?

Rachio is rated higher. Rachio averages 4.9 out of 5 from 159K ratings, while Light Stream averages 3.2 from 26 ratings.

### Do Rachio or Light Stream have ads?

Rachio shows ads; Light Stream does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rachio or Light Stream?

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, and Light Stream monthly. Most recently, Rachio was updated on October 23, 2026 and Light Stream on October 16, 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.*