![\"Rachio](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Sprinkler-Controller-Infographic-compressor-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSmart 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.<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/p>
Affiliate Disclosure<\/a>: This page contains affiliate links, which earn us commission from Amazon at no cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n All devices include detailed watering reports to see how much you watered and when, along with custom watering options for each zone.<\/p>\n Rachio<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/i>\u00a0Offers kits for 8 or 16 zones<\/p>\n<\/i>\u00a0Manual buttons available for physical controls<\/p>\n RainMachine<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> Offers kits for 8, 12, or 16 zones<\/p>\n <\/i> Schedule directly on screen with the HD touchscreen models, or using the app<\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0LED illuminated touch keys for easy scheduling on the device<\/p>\n Skydrop<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> Offers kits for 8 or 16 zones<\/p>\n<\/i> LCD screen available on the device<\/p>\n<\/i> Schedule directly on the device with a spinning jog dial<\/p>\n Winner:\u00a0RainMachine Touch HD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Rachio<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0EPA WaterSense certified<\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> Claims 50% savings<\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> Checks with NOAA and several other weather services to know when to water based on forecasts, lets you select a nearby weather station<\/p>\n <\/i> Flex scheduling automatically adjusts your watering based on the weather. However, it can be buggy and lead to over-consuming water if not monitored<\/span><\/p>\n RainMachine<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i>\n<\/i> EPA WaterSense certified<\/p>\n<\/i>\u00a0Claims 80% savings<\/p>\n<\/i> Integrates with Netatmo Personal Weather Stations<\/a> for extremely accurate weather data. You can track the weather in your own backyard, and adjust watering schedules accordingly.<\/p>\n<\/i> Works with WUnderground weather API for hyperlocal, accurate forecasts<\/p>\n<\/i> Connects with NOAA weather service and others several times per day to keep your system accurately watered.<\/p>\n<\/i> Adjustable sensitivity for schedule changes based on weather<\/p>\n Skydrop<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i>\n<\/i> EPA WaterSense certified\u00a0(makes it easier to get rebates)<\/p>\n<\/i> Customize your watering based on how much you want to save<\/p>\n <\/i> Hyper-local, real-time weathering data<\/p>\n <\/i> 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<\/span><\/p>\n<\/i> Claims 35% savings<\/p>\n Winner: Tie between\u00a0RainMachine and Rachio<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n All devices in Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop fall under the Works with Nest platform to\u00a0send reports to Nest. If Nest Protect<\/a> detects a fire, each controller will turn on the sprinklers. This will water your property to\u00a0prevent the fire from spreading.<\/p>\n Rachio<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> “Most connected sprinkler controller”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/i> Works with Alexa and Google Home for voice control<\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0Has IFTTT integration, allowing you to automate your sprinklers with certain rules<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0Also works with: SmartThings, Control4, Wink, Crestron, Nexia. We tested it with SmartThings<\/a> and found it easy to setup and use with our other SmartThings devices.<\/span><\/p>\n RainMachine<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/i> Works with Alexa<\/p>\n <\/i> IFTTT integration<\/span><\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0Also works with: Netatmo, Wink, SmartThings<\/span><\/p>\n Skydrop<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> IFTTT integration\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/i> No integration other devices, except those that connect through IFTTT (i.e. Philips Hue, Nest, and others)<\/p>\n Winner:\u00a0Rachio<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Each company is known for strong customer service, offering live phone support\u00a06 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Rachio<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/i> Data is stored in the cloud using Amazon Web Services (AWS)<\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0Improved set up with 2nd generation, just hold your smart phone near the device and enter the serial number to link up<\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> Allows you to share access with irrigation professionals or family<\/p>\n <\/i> Made in the USA<\/p>\n <\/i> Doesn’t come with set up tools<\/p>\n RainMachine<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/i>\u00a0Cloud independent – this allows you to store your data locally and not depend on another company’s servers<\/p>\n<\/i> Open source code,\u00a0allowing for more and more functionality down the road. If you’re a developer, you can write your own Python code for RainMachine.<\/p>\n<\/i> Offers location-specific water savings calculator on their website<\/a> based on the past 365 days of weather and water usage. In other words: you can find out how much you would have saved for the past year if you had RainMachine.<\/p>\n<\/i> Comes with a template and small screwdriver for easy set up<\/p>\n<\/i> Bigger learning curve for software, not as easy to use<\/p>\n<\/i> Made in China<\/p>\n Skydrop <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/i> Allows you to share access with irrigation professionals or family members<\/p>\n <\/i> Made in the USA<\/p>\n<\/i> App offers basic features and is glitchy<\/p>\n Winner:\u00a0RainMachine Touch HD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But RainMachine\u00a0functions 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.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0if you need one for your controllers:<\/p>\n Similarly, each device for Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop works with compatible rain sensors. These serve as a back-up if\u00a0Mother Nature has a surprise downpour that isn’t part of the forecast. For more information, head to these three links:<\/p>\n Well, it’s a tough choice, but we have to choose a favorite. And the overall winner of Rachio vs RainMachine vs Skydrop is…<\/p>\n RainMachine<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u00a0on the device to help you save cash.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>\u00a0tool to see which devices work with Alexa, Google Home, and more.<\/p>\nScheduling<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\nWater Savings<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u00a0![\"Rachio](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/rachio_gen-2_unboxing-compressor.jpg\")
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\nSmart Features<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\nSoftware<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\nQuick Note about Outdoor Enclosures & Rain Sensors<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\nOverall Winner<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n![\"rachio](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/rachio_gen_1-compressor.jpg\")
Rachio is a very close second place!<\/strong> 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<\/a> 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\u00a0and you shouldn’t have any concerns purchasing their device for controlling your sprinklers for years to come.<\/p>\n