The 3 Best Smart Sprinkler Timers of 2024
If you’ve ever found yourself dashing through a rainstorm to stop your in-ground irrigation system from running needlessly, consider a smart sprinkler timer. It can save you that hassle—and a ton of wasted water—while keeping your greenery and gardens thriving. (Note that these devices are variously referred to as smart sprinkler timers as well as irrigation controllers and any combination of those.)
A smart timer also puts all of the standard features of a regular irrigation system on a smartphone app, and it automatically optimizes the frequency of waterings and the volume of water used based on your local weather conditions.
The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is the best of the models we’ve tested. It offers an impressive variety of useful features, and its app is a delight to use. Because the Rachio 3 offers a wide range of zone options, it’s compatible with most residential yard sizes.
Our pick
The most full-featured sprinkler controller is smart enough for a pro but great for beginners thanks to its especially easy-to-use app.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, Google Home
The versatile Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller combines all of the most appealing connected-irrigation features into one easy-to-recommend device. It has by far the best-designed and easiest-to-use app of all the models we tested. And if your home has a Wi-Fi outage, the Rachio 3 will continue to run existing Schedules.
This smart timer is available in four-, eight- and 16-zone versions to accommodate yards of all sizes. It is meant to be installed indoors, but you can buy an optional weatherproof housing for outdoor use.
It works seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Siri Shortcuts, so you can enlist your voice assistant of choice to water the lawn for you.
Runner-up
This model is a full-featured timer with especially customizable zone controls, but its app can be finicky and confusing.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Timer offers dependable on/off control, scheduling, account sharing, and notifications through Orbit’s B-hyve app. Like the Rachio 3, the B-hyve XR relies on local weather data, as well as detailed information about your yard, to customize and optimize your watering routine.
The B-hyve XR has a weatherproof design, so it can work indoors or outdoors—no need to buy additional accessories. Because it comes only in versions for eight or 16 watering zones, this model is intended for medium to large yards with a more extensive irrigation system.
In our testing, the B-hyve XR worked well with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home. We also liked the ability to use on-device buttons to handle the basics when a phone wasn’t nearby, such as pausing watering when people were in the yard.
Budget pick
This value-packed model doesn’t skimp on features but is suited for smaller yards or irrigation systems.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller is a fraction of the cost of our top pick, yet it provides the same solid feature set as the B-hyve XR does, and it uses the same app (which we don’t love). It also has a physical on/off button to start or stop watering and supports integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It is intended for smaller yards, as it is available only in four- and eight-zone versions.
Unlike the B-hyve XR, this B-hyve controller is designed for indoor-only installation. And since the optional outdoor-protection case typically costs about half the price of the controller itself, you might consider the B-hyve XR instead if outdoor access is essential to you.
Upgrade pick
This timer controls up to four zones out of the box, but it can be expanded up to 32 zones with plug-in modules, sold separately.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa
The Hunter Hydrawise HPC-400 Outdoor Irrigation Controller is the only model we’ve tested that can be expanded using an add-on module to cover more zones, from four to as many as 32. That makes it a good option for anyone who may want to expand their irrigation system in the future.
The Hydrawise is notably hefty, which we think suggests it may last especially well over the years (we’ll need to test it long-term to confirm that). Its weatherproof housing is even equipped with a built-in lock for extra security. The extensive on-device controls mean you can access most of the same settings directly from the controller.
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