# Rachio vs Bronze Buffalo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bronze Buffalo at none against Rachio's 5. Bronze Buffalo also leads on ads (none vs shown). Rachio's advantage is ratings volume (159K vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Rachio against 5.0 for Bronze Buffalo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rachio has 159K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, Bronze Buffalo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rachio | Bronze Buffalo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bronze-buffalo/id1562487575/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 163 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [RACHIO, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864325101) | [Bronze Buffalo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562487937) |

## 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


### Bronze Buffalo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bronze-buffalo/id1562487575)

This app provides exclusive access for members to manage club activities. Members can monitor statements, view directories, stay informed about events, and make reservations. It offers a streamlined and enjoyable club experience.

**Highlights:** Monitor statements, Explore directory, Stay updated on events, Make reservations, Exclusive member access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rachio free?

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

### Is Bronze Buffalo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Rachio or Bronze Buffalo?

Bronze Buffalo is rated higher. Rachio averages 4.9 out of 5 from 159K ratings, while Bronze Buffalo averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Rachio or Bronze Buffalo have ads?

Rachio shows ads; Bronze Buffalo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rachio or Bronze Buffalo?

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, and Bronze Buffalo every 2 months. Most recently, Rachio was updated on November 6, 2026 and Bronze Buffalo on November 3, 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.*