# Rachio vs VOLT SMART

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VOLT SMART at none against Rachio's 5. VOLT SMART also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). Rachio's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price there is nothing between them.

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

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, VOLT SMART every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rachio | VOLT SMART |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rachio/id864325098/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 163 MB | 245 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RACHIO, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/864325101) | [LLW Enterprise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546091884) |

## 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


### VOLT SMART

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/volt-smart/id6759403974)

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rachio free?

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

### Is VOLT SMART free?

VOLT SMART is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Rachio or VOLT SMART have ads?

Rachio shows ads; VOLT SMART does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rachio or VOLT SMART?

Rachio ships an update every 3 weeks, and VOLT SMART every 2 months. Most recently, Rachio was updated on October 22, 2026 and VOLT SMART on October 1, 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.*