# Rachio vs HWPL Library

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HWPL Library at none against Rachio's 5. HWPL Library also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, HWPL Library monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rachio | HWPL Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 163 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [RACHIO, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864325101) | [City of Huntington Woods](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807487959) |

## 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


### HWPL Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hwpl-library/id6744398011)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rachio free?

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

### Is HWPL Library free?

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

### Do Rachio or HWPL Library have ads?

Rachio shows ads; HWPL Library does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rachio or HWPL Library?

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, and HWPL Library monthly. Most recently, Rachio was updated on November 1, 2026 and HWPL Library on October 28, 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.*