# Rachio vs Pentair Pool

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pentair Pool at none against Rachio's 5. Pentair Pool also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). Rachio's advantage is review sentiment (58% vs 30%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Rachio holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rachio has 159K ratings behind it against 25K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Rachio's written reviews are positive against 30% of Pentair Pool's.

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, Pentair Pool monthly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rachio | Pentair Pool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098/reviews)** | [4.7 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentair-pool/id1448665466/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | 25K |
| Positive reviews | **58.5% of reviews** | 30.0% 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 | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RACHIO, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864325101) | [Pentair, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/528391851) |

## 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


### Pentair Pool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentair-pool/id1448665466)

Manage your swimming pool system, monitor water chemistry, and receive instant status updates from a single dashboard. Control connected Pentair pool devices remotely for energy efficiency and peace of mind. Receive alerts for equipment or pool conditions to avoid costly service calls.

**Highlights:** Remote pool system control, Water chemistry monitoring, Instant status updates, 24/7 device monitoring, Equipment alerts, Energy-efficient solutions

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 📊 Good data and monitoring features
- 💡 Helpful customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔌 Connectivity issues
- 🔒 Limited user permissions and control
- 🤯 Frustrating setup and migration process

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate sensor readings
- Scheduling and automation issues
- Inability to delete or modify existing configurations

**Requested features**

- More scheduling and automation options
- Improved integration with other smart home devices
- Better data visualization and reporting
- Ability to create user profiles and access controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rachio free?

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

### Is Pentair Pool free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Rachio or Pentair Pool?

Rachio is rated higher. Rachio averages 4.9 out of 5 from 159K ratings, while Pentair Pool averages 4.7 from 25K ratings.

### Do Rachio or Pentair Pool have ads?

Rachio shows ads; Pentair Pool does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rachio or Pentair Pool?

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pentair Pool monthly. Most recently, Rachio was updated on November 2, 2026 and Pentair Pool on November 2, 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.*