# Reolink vs Rain Bird

The clearest difference is rating: Rain Bird at 4.7 against Reolink's 4.0. Rain Bird also leads on ratings volume (79K vs 9.7K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Reolink's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#170 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Rain Bird holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rain Bird has 79K ratings behind it against 9.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Reolink's written reviews are positive against 31% of Rain Bird's.

Reolink ships an update fortnightly, Rain Bird every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reolink | Rain Bird |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reolink/id995927563/reviews) | **[4.7 (79K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.7K | **79K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.3% of reviews | **31.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#170** | — |
| Size | 473 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Reolink Digital Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/995927562) | [Rain Bird Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/958281909) |

## What reviewers say

### Reolink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reolink/id995927563)

**Currently charting:** #170 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Easily access and monitor your security cameras and NVRs from anywhere. Watch live streams, playback recordings, and receive real-time motion detection alerts. Enjoy peace of mind with a user-friendly interface for home and business surveillance.

**Highlights:** Remote camera and NVR access, Live streaming, Video recording playback, Motion detection alerts, Multi-channel viewing, PTZ camera control

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well when connected
- 📸 Good camera quality
- 💰 Affordable price
- 🔒 Secure system
- 🔌 Wired and wireless options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues, especially remotely
- 🔋 Battery drain and charging problems
- 🕰️ Slow motion detection and playback
- 🔍 Unreliable motion detection
- 📱 Subpar app experience

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after updates
- Inability to change passwords
- Cameras disconnecting randomly
- Playback issues and failures
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to pause/snooze notifications
- Customizable notification sounds
- Landscape mode support on tablets
- Consolidated event history across cameras
- Faster/smoother video playback controls


### Rain Bird

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rain-bird/id1060727082)

Control your sprinklers remotely from your mobile device. Automate watering schedules and adjust for weather conditions to conserve water and reduce costs. Compatible with various Rain Bird controller models.

**Highlights:** Remote sprinkler control, Customizable watering schedules, Automated weather adjustments, Water and money saving, Controller model compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to program
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Versatile
- 👍 Must have
- 👍 Ease of mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Slow and clunky app
- 🐛 Date/time not updating
- 🐛 Unreliable system
- 🐛 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Constant connection errors
- App crashes frequently
- Date/time not syncing correctly
- Seasonal adjustment not working as expected
- Manual controls not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add water usage history and analytics
- Allow pausing of individual zones
- Improve manual control options
- Add weather integration and smart scheduling
- Improve notification system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reolink free?

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

### Is Rain Bird free?

Rain Bird is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Reolink or Rain Bird?

Rain Bird is rated higher. Reolink averages 4.0 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while Rain Bird averages 4.7 from 79K ratings.

### Do Reolink or Rain Bird have ads?

Neither Reolink nor Rain Bird shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reolink or Rain Bird?

Reolink ships an update fortnightly, and Rain Bird every 2 months. Most recently, Reolink was updated on October 31, 2026 and Rain Bird on October 31, 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.*