If you have an inground sprinkler system operated mechanically, your sprinklers could end up watering at the same time it’s raining. With a smart sprinkler controller, also known as a weather-based controller, you won’t have this issue. They are much easier to program—some will let you set it and forget it and reduce water use by using moisture data and real-time weather data to adjust watering schedules to ensure the right amount of water is used for each watering.
From our perspective and saving money on your water bills—smart controllers are critical. Even the EPA says a WaterSense controller could save the average home 8,800 gallons of water a year (PDF). All of the models we reviewed are WaterSense-certified. While some water utilities offer rebates if you install WaterSense irrigation controllers, rebates can cover a large portion of the device’s cost. It’s a win-win if you decide to get a smart sprinkler controller.
Below you’ll find the best smart sprinkler controller from IoT Worlds
Best for ease of use: Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller
The Rachio 3 is an eight or 16 zones sprinkler controller that connects to your phone or desktop PC and offers the newest weather-based scheduling engineering and works with lots of other smart home automation, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. It is installed quickly and performed amazingly, and its Weather Intelligence does an excellent job of rescheduling watering cycles when significant rainfall is in the forecast.
The Rachio 3 provides easy plug-and-play functionality for a beginner, though it can be adjusted with advanced to satisfy a master gardener also. It allows for hyperlocal forecasting, internet-delivered weather info, which can discover by itself when, where, and for how long to water the garden. Furthermore, it can let you run the show while automatically adjusting to save you water if rain base on forecasts and rainfall.
The Rachio 3e also a great choice, and it will save you $80, but it doesn’t include the Weather Intelligence Plus (WIP); it is only available on the Rachio 3. The (WIP) service produces a hyperlocal forecast based on local weather data, radar, satellite, and atmospheric flight information, along with other weather sources, and it is very effective. But in case you do not need this hyperlocal forecasting, more than 8 zones, HomeKit, the Rachio 3e is a fantastic option.
Pros:
- Intuitive App
- Easy to mount and install
- Amazing list of smart features
- Better Weather-based watering
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and much more
Cons:
- Quite expensive.
- Designed for use with the App only
Best flexible sprinkler: RainMachine Touch HD-12
RainMachine gives the Rachio 3 a run for its money — the significant differences come down to the fact that RainMachine doesn’t need to connect to the cloud to function. It merely depends on the web for weather updates using several data sources, plus it downloads weather info every 6 hours. Updating you with more data than the Rachio 3’s. It also works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
RainMachine offers a massive variety of weather services and features deep, granular command over your irrigation. RainMachine’s app is much less intuitive than our top pick plus it does not automatically schedule, which makes it much more challenging for novice gardeners to work with.
Nevertheless, it provides more local weather info from far more sources than other smart sprinkler controllers, and it features an open API system, which gives more integration flexibility. RainMachine is the right choice if you do not mind paying a little more and want your controller mounted indoors.
Pros:
- Up to 16 zones
- Customizable programming
- Good customer support
- Easy indoor wall-mounted installation
- Automatically adapt to weather conditions.
- Work with Nest, Amazon Echo, Wink, SmartThings, and more.
Cons:
- Expensive
- Indoor use only
- Several complaints about the iOS app not working, so time.
Best for smart irrigation system: Netro Sprite Smart 12-Zone Wi-Fi Sprinkler Controller
The Netro Smart Sprinkler Controller is perfect for anyone looking to take a vacation without worrying that your plants could dry out. The Netro makes important gardening activity, seamless irrigation! It has a life cloud program, and you can access the data via your smartphones or from your internet browser. Based on your lawn’s water needs, the smart controller will adjust watering schedules to guarantee a rich, healthy yard.
As with most smart sprinkler controllers we review, Netro Sprite collects local weather information from sources like Weather Channel, Weather Underground, and NOAA and asks for unique info like soil type, plant, and level of shade and sun. However, these data and the local weather info make it the best sensible controller that creates a customized routine based on recent rain and forecast precipitation. While it also helps you save up to 50 percent of your water bill.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Water technologies saving up to 50%
- Personalized schedule for your garden
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google voice
Cons:
- Average Wi-Fi connectivity
- multiple zones do not operate concurrently
Best on a budget: Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller
The 8-zone Orbit B-hyve Smart WiFi Sprinkler Timer Indoor Irrigation Controller is an affordable controller you can program and control using your phone. A good-looking, able controller, the Orbit B-hyve can automatically create a smart watering routine or adapt your chosen way according to the weather and your soil type. It’s also the smallest controller we reviewed, able to fit nicely in your palm.
However, the schedule calendar is confusing, as opposed to the detailed forecasts of the Rachio 3. The app lacks several alerts, too, including no warning when watering is intending to start. It supports Alexa voice commands or Google Assistant to control your sprinklers with voice, but it doesn’t work with HomeKit.
The Orbit B-hyve 8-zone is not weatherproof, but the Orbit B-hyve 12-zone smart controller is weatherproof and has full on-device controls. Unless you want additional zones, we suggest getting the indoor model since it is easier to use and less expensive, and well design.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
- Scheduling and weather-based watering
- Real-time monitoring of the sprinkler system
- WeatherSense technology adjusts for local weather conditions and forecasts.
Cons:
- No HomeKit integration
- Not weatherproof
- The schedule calendar is a bit confusing.
Best automatic: Sprinkl Control Smart 16 Zone WiFi Smart Irrigation Controller
Your yard will benefit from this smart sprinkler from Sprinkl Control, which handles 16 watering zones. The controller comes with weather intelligence to adjust the watering schedule based on rainfall totals, temperature, and sun intensity. It will also sync with optional Sense soil moisture sensors (sold separately) using internet-based weather data to determine the various zones’ exact moisture needs.
This smart sprinkler controller works with Alexa using voice command to turn it on or off. While the intuitive app allows you to store 7 days of water usage. But while we like the ease of use and set-it-and-forget-it approach of the Sprinkl Control, it requires a fair amount of trust since you cannot adjust the automatic scheduling.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Weather-controlled
- Wireless moisture sensors
- Excellent range
- Works only with Alexa and Siri Shortcuts
Cons:
- Pricey
- No on-device controls
- Other Smart Sprinkler Controllers We Reviewed
Spruce Irrigation Controller 2nd Gen (16 zones)
The idea behind the Spruce Irrigation Controller 2nd Gen (16 zones) is similar to the other products we reviewed: It’s simple to set up because it uses weather forecasts, moisture data, with an automatic scheduling system to ensure the right amount of water is used for each watering, saving as much as 60% of your watering cost as a result.
WaterSense-certified has simple on-device controls and is also designed with the presently common, modern-minimalist touch. You can now connect Spruce smart sprinkler via WiFi rather than ZigBee. Therefore, range would not be a problem for most users, and there’s no hub to deal with
Although you still cannot select a weather station, Spruce uses darksky.net or allow you to share access. We also look at the company’s soil-moisture sensors, but two of the three don’t work as expected. But it still works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- The app is easy to navigate.
- Manual control capability
- Seamless integration with ZigBee
- Seasonal and timed-restriction automatic scheduling
Cons:
- Can’t choose a weather station
- Zigbee connection dropped offline frequently
Aeon Matrix Yardian Smart Sprinkler Controller with HD Security Camera
The Yardian Smart Sprinkler Controller features a built-in HD security cam with motion detection and twenty-four hours of free cloud recording. It’s much cheaper compared with most competitors with even fewer features. We observed Aeon Matrix devices; Within the last 15 weeks, they continuously improved their hardware and software substantially.
Yardian uses heating, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, and other weather condition to determine just the right amount of water. We also like the Conditional Program feature, which may trigger automatic Scheduling based on temperature (excellent for chickens). Though we still think it is lacking because you’ll find no alerts for starting and stopping a schedule, and the past log is difficult to understand, making it confusing to know if it works or not.
You may also want to consider the Yardian Pro, a less expensive model of the Yardian. However, the Pro does not have a camera and can only be installed indoors. It works with HomeKit and has simple on-device controls and connects via Ethernet or 4G connectivity.
Pros:
- Easy installation
- WaterSense-certified controller
- Streamlined, modern design
- Weather-Based Scheduling is better than most competitors
- works with Alexa, Google, Apple Homekit, and IFTTT
Cons:
- The app is a bit of a mess.
- Onboard hardware controls are not intuitive.
- Run each zone for only four minutes every day
How we choose these smart controllers
For this guide, we researched and went through numerous feedbacks and technical specs. After discovering more about this device, the best smart sprinkler controller allows easy installation, a user-friendly interface, and intelligent scheduling. But additionally lets you set it and forget it while adapting and tailoring evapotranspiration and schedules (ET) settings to your specific needs.
They are some of the features we focused on:
Number of Zones:
The zone is each individual section of your yard the sprinkler can control independently. Because the different areas of your garden requiring an additional amount of water, you should set the yard into different zones. Also, if you have a larger garden, it’s recommended to put a larger number of zones.
Smart Scheduling:
This neat little feature lets you set it and forget it-your smart sprinkler controller to do all the hard work adjusting watering schedules to ensure the right amount of water is used for each watering. It can set automatic scheduling based on the local weather, and it’s also the best bet to save money on watering using Spruce.
Voice-Control:
Smart sprinkler controllers are convenient to use, the device has become more intelligent, and they are now compatible with voice control like Amazon Alexa voice command Google Home, or Apple’s Siri. These let you turn the sprinklers on and off or start a zone for a certain number of minutes with your voice—a handy feature when your hands are covered in mud.
