Smart sprinkler controllers can save you money on your water bill. But to find the best smart sprinkler controller, you’ll have to compare Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop.

Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which earn us commission from Amazon at no cost to you.

Scheduling

All devices include detailed watering reports to see how much you watered and when, along with custom watering options for each zone.

Rachio

RainMachine

Offers kits for 8, 12, or 16 zones

Schedule directly on screen with the HD touchscreen models, or using the app

 LED illuminated touch keys for easy scheduling on the device

Skydrop

Offers kits for 8 or 16 zones

Winner: RainMachine Touch HD

Sometimes things are just easier without your smart phone. Maybe your phone is charging upstairs and you just want to quickly adjust the sprinklers before you forget. On Rachio, that’s difficult since the controls are under the cover, with just a few buttons available. Skydrop has controls, but it’s also a little difficult to use since it requires a spinning dial.

RainMachine wins this one for their illuminated touch keys and HD touchscreen that makes it easy to schedule either on the device or on your phone.

Water Savings

All three controllers between Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop use weather data to automatically adjust your watering schedule. The controllers may also qualify for a rebate with your local water company, depending on where you live. All three controllers allow you to input soil, slope, and shade factors to improve watering.

Rachio

 EPA WaterSense certified

Claims 50% savings

Checks with NOAA and several other weather services to know when to water based on forecasts, lets you select a nearby weather station

Flex scheduling automatically adjusts your watering based on the weather. However, it can be buggy and lead to over-consuming water if not monitored

RainMachine

EPA WaterSense certified

Skydrop

EPA WaterSense certified (makes it easier to get rebates)

Hyper-local, real-time weathering data

Smart watering automatically adjusts your watering based on the weather. However, just like Rachio, it can be buggy and lead to over-consuming water if not monitored

Winner: Tie between RainMachine and Rachio

 

This category is too close to call, since both Rachio and RainMachine have great water savings. Rachio has the added benefit of Flex Scheduling, as long as it’s working correctly.. RainMachine’s big plus is that it works with Netatmo personal weather stations, and it also has a higher estimate of water savings.

Smart Features

All devices in Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop fall under the Works with Nest platform to send reports to Nest. If Nest Protect detects a fire, each controller will turn on the sprinklers. This will water your property to prevent the fire from spreading.

Rachio

“Most connected sprinkler controller”

 Has IFTTT integration, allowing you to automate your sprinklers with certain rules

 Also works with: SmartThings, Control4, Wink, Crestron, Nexia. We tested it with SmartThings and found it easy to setup and use with our other SmartThings devices.

RainMachine

IFTTT integration

 Also works with: Netatmo, Wink, SmartThings

Skydrop

IFTTT integration 

Winner: Rachio

Rachio calls itself the most connected smart sprinkler, and it’s not a lie. The device works with many smart home systems and can be automated with IFTTT triggers and Alexa or Google Home voice commands. It’s on the cutting edge for smart home integration, making it a great choice if you want to design a whole smart home system. RainMachine is a close second, but it still works with less devices than Rachio.

Software

The iOS and Android apps for Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop continue to be updated and enhanced. Almost all have had updates within the last month, the exception being Rachio’s iOS app.

Each company is known for strong customer service, offering live phone support 6 or 7 days per week. The controllers can be managed from within your web browser or smart phone apps, with real-time notifications of your yard’s watering patterns. You can also name zones within all of the apps, making it easier to tell them apart.

If the Internet goes down, all three controllers will still work even without WiFi. They either continue their previously established schedules or enter a backup schedule designed for Internet outages.

Rachio

 Improved set up with 2nd generation, just hold your smart phone near the device and enter the serial number to link up

Allows you to share access with irrigation professionals or family

Made in the USA

Doesn’t come with set up tools

RainMachine

Skydrop

Allows you to share access with irrigation professionals or family members

Made in the USA

Winner: RainMachine Touch HD

While Rachio does have some enticing features like offering access to other users, RainMachine just has to win this category. Here’s why: if Rachio goes out of business, your device is a very fancy looking brick, leaving you forced to go back to your old-school sprinkler controller.

But RainMachine functions even if the WiFi is down. It stores the information, including your password, locally, making it both secure and protected in case anything ever happens to RainMachine as a company. In other words, your device will always work. The open source code also sets RainMachine apart because it shows that more functionality will be coming.

Quick Note about Outdoor Enclosures & Rain Sensors

Each of these three smart sprinkler controllers in Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop have outdoor enclosures. These protect the electronics from rain, wind, and sun damage if you need to use them outdoors. Here are links to the enclosures if you need one for your controllers:

• Skydrop Outdoor Enclosure
• Rachio Outdoor Enclosure
• RainMachine Orbit Outdoor Enclosure– since this has a touchscreen, even within the box it still needs shelter from direct sunlight and needs to avoid moisture accumulation such as condensation. May not work in very humid environments

Similarly, each device for Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop works with compatible rain sensors. These serve as a back-up if Mother Nature has a surprise downpour that isn’t part of the forecast. For more information, head to these three links:

• Skydrop Sensor Installation
• Rachio Rain Sensors FAQ
• RainMachine Wiki for Hardwiring a Rain Sensor

Overall Winner

Well, it’s a tough choice, but we have to choose a favorite. And the overall winner of Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop is…

RainMachine

We can’t ignore RainMachine’s awesome features. It is completely independent from the cloud, so you know it will always work. Its open source code makes it super smart, and it integrates with (almost) everything you would need like IFTTT and Alexa. It’s also EPA WaterSense certified and can be scheduled manually on the device to help you save cash.

Rachio is a very close second place! Especially if you want a device that’s ultra easy to use and set up with other smart home gadgets. We tested Rachio hands-on and were very impressed with how reliable and easy to use it was. It is also a much better option for outdoor use. While it depends on the cloud, Rachio is a solid company and you shouldn’t have any concerns purchasing their device for controlling your sprinklers for years to come.

Skydrop has similar features to Rachio and works well for many customers. It also has the lowest price tag by far, while still offering most of the advanced features you need. As they add more smart home integration and continue to update their software, Skydrop will continue to capture budget-minded customers in this market.

There’s your roundup of Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop. For more details on devices that can work with your smart home, use our 30-second Smart Home Solver tool to see which devices work with Alexa, Google Home, and more.

Editor’s Note: We originally published this in June 2016. Our writers updated it to stay current and accurate.