Link | GreenIQ | hydrawise | Rachio | Blossom | Skydrop | Lono | BlueSpray | RainMachine | Irrigation Caddy | hydroFLASH | EtherRain | Cyber Rain | OpenSprinkler | Netro | Spruce | Orbit B-Hyve | Rainbird ST80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $ 249 | $ 299 | $ 249 | $ 199 | $ 299 | $ 300 | $ 230 | $ 249 | $ 249 | $ 269.99 | $ 159 | $ 499 | $ 150 | $ 150 | $ 200 | $ 99 | $ 210 |
| Price (Advertised) | $ 198 | $ 199 | $ 190 | ||||||||||||||
| Image | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Website | greeniq.co | hydrawise.com | rach.io | myblossom.com | skydrop.com | lono.io | bluespray.net | rainmachine.com | irrigationcaddy.com | hydroflash.net | quicksmart.com | cyber-rain.com | opensprinkler.com | netrohome.com | spruceirrigation.com | orbitonline.com | rainbird.com |
| Features | |||||||||||||||||
| Built-In Zones | 6 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 6 | |
| Max Zones | 16 (next model) | 36 (180 stations with multiple controllers) | 16 | 12 | 16 | 20 (per main unit) | 24 | 12 | 43 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 48 | 12 | 16 | 12 | |
| Weather Enabled | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Full Calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet (LAN, RJ45) | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes w/ RF bridge | Yes | No | No | ||
| WiFi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - Optional | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular Model | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ET Algorithm | Yes | Yes WaterSmart Approved | Yes WaterSmart Approved | Yes WaterSmart Approved | - Future | Yes WaterSmart Approved | No | No | Yes WaterSmart Approved | Yes | Yes | Yes WaterSmart Approved | |||||
| Soil Sensor(s) | 3 (optional) | 1 | 1 (optional) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 optional | 0 | ||||||||
| Rain Sensor | Yes 1 (optional) | Yes (optional) | Yes 1 (optional) | Yes (optional) | - w/ Expansion | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - w/ Expansion | Yes (optional) | Yes optional | ||
| Flow Sensor | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) | No | - w/ Expansion | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No (optional) | Yes optional | ||
| Lightning Control Option | Yes With Relay (optional) | Yes With Relay (optional) | No | No | No | No | |||||||||||
| Smart Home Connectivity | Yes Amazon echo, Crestron, IFTTT and more | Yes Amazon echo, Crestron, IFTTT and more | Yes Amazon echo, Crestron, IFTTT and more | Yes Amazon echo, Creston, IFTTT and more | No | Yes Amazon echo, Crestron, IFTTT and more | Yes Amazon echo, Crestron, IFTTT and more | ||||||||||
| Local API | Yes | No | No | No | No | - Undocumented | Yes | - Undocumented | - Undocumented | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | ||
| Cloud API | Yes | Yes | Yes | - Undocumented | - Announced | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Remote Access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - Manual Setup | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | - Optional | - Port Forwarding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local Interface | No Control via Smart Phone in June 2017 | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | - Display | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
| Touchscreen | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Color LCD | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Outdoor Installation | Yes | - Optional | - w/ User Supplied Enclosure | Yes | - w/ Optional Enclosure | - w/ User Supplied Enclosure | - Optional | No | No | - w/ User Supplied Enclosure | - w/ User Supplied Enclosure | - Optional | - Optional | - Optional | - w / User Supplied Enclosure | - Outdoor Installation | - Outdoor installation |
| IFTTT | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Weather report | NOAA | NOAA/ Hyper-Local | NOAA / Hyper-Local |
User reviews and comments
One of the most frustrating problems with old fashioned timers from the traditional suppliers is complex programming due to a too-small interface and small buttons. Many of EtherRain's competitors have the same problem: forcing complex programming into an LCD screen or small smartphone app. Or they offer very unsophisticated scheduling. To overcome this issue and to make programming simple while still offering sophisticated control, EtherRain separates the scheduler from the valve controller. With EtherRain you get a choice of schedulers that offer simple browser-based setup with sophisticated control options. EtherRain, in combination with our browser-based schedulers, provides simplicity, sophistication, security, and control.
In additional to the full-featured schedulers that offer weather based irrigation, EtherRain also has Android (ZonePopper) and iPhone (Sprinkler Ace) smartphone apps available for conveniently running manual cycles and valve tests via Wifi. If you have a large irrigation project you can combine multiple controllers for 8, 16, 24 (and more) zone applications - scheduled through one interface! EtherRain provides simplicity along with sophisticated control.
EtherRain is built upon a different model than the old fashioned timer - it was not designed to be a silo'd device - it is a IoT device. Their are sophisticated free schedulers available that work with EtherRain to give the user a simple yet sophisticated scheduling experience including weather controlled irrigation. EtherRain also works with popular home automation packages. In order to get the full benefits from EtherRain please also look at LawnCheck.com or OptiRain Open.
No info on wire conditioning/diagnostics. ie: open/short, distance from unit, etc?
Not sure why we have RS232 and RS485 none of the controllers support either one.
Not sure who did the hydrawise but it is obviously biased. I nearly bought hydrawise based on the features but found out local API is not supported. Also, local interface is not available - it relies on cloud service and when it is down (Wi-Fi, internet, or cloud server) you can't do much via controller even though it has touchscreen.
Very helpful. Thanks!