The 3 Best Smart Sprinkler Timers of 2025

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, Google Home

A well-designed app, an unrivaled list of features, and versatile hardware make the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller the easy favorite of the models we tested.

The Rachio app is simple to use right from the initial configuration. In addition to receiving prompt, reliable alerts from the app, you can easily start and stop the sprinklers, share access with others, and set Schedules—or let the app design a Schedule for you via its Flex Daily mode.

You can set up a variety of watering options based on your needs. I especially like how the app offers the choice of Fixed, Flex Monthly, or Flex Daily watering. Fixed watering, according to Rachio, is best for gardens, newly planted grass, and other needs that call for a set routine; the Fixed option sticks to a specific Schedule without modifying anything based on the weather or the time of year.

Rachio’s Flex Monthly mode automatically adjusts how often and how long your sprinklers run based on the time of year. It’s the middle-of-the-road option, as it best balances a reliable watering frequency with savings of both water and money.

Flex Daily adjusts the Schedule for you according to the weather and changes on a daily basis. This option, the mode most customized to your yard and local weather, gives you the best possible chance of savings. When using Flex Daily during testing, I noticed that the Rachio 3 controller skipped watering on a rainy day without any additional input on my part.

In addition to automatically skipping cycles, as necessary, based on the local forecast, this smart sprinkler timer worked consistently with Amazon Alexa and Google Home in my tests. You can control things manually on the device itself if you don’t have your phone.

If you experience a Wi-Fi outage, this sprinkler timer will continue to run Schedules; without that connection, however, it won’t be able to adjust your watering, including during rain or a heat wave.

Sold in four-, eight- and 16-zone configurations, this Rachio controller works just as well on small lawns with a handful of zones as it does on properties with more ground to cover. Install it inside or buy the optional weatherproof housing separately for use outside.

The app is best-in-class. The Rachio app takes its software-design cues from modern, minimal smart-home apps. It holds a ton of information and options for customizability but never feels cluttered or difficult to navigate.

Given that most of your interactions with the Rachio 3 are bound to happen in the app, this is a pretty significant positive in the Rachio app’s favor, especially stacked up against Orbit’s comparatively cluttered B-hyve app (more on that below).

After you download the app and create an account, the initial configuration starts when you tap the plus sign at the bottom-right corner of the home screen; you then select Sprinkler Controller from the list of options and follow the steps to get your controller online. I took screenshots as I went through this process, and I can confirm that only three minutes elapsed from when I tapped the plus sign to when the app confirmed that my Rachio 3 was online.

From there, the app asks you to name your controller and set up your zones. Depending on how many zones you have, the time this process takes will vary, but it’s simple. It asks you questions about the type of vegetation, sprinklers, and soil you have, as well as the amount of sun or shade the area gets and how flat or hilly it is.

That simplicity thankfully continues once you start using your controller to start and stop the sprinklers, set Schedules, share account access with others, and receive alerts.

It comes in multiple versions to accommodate a wide range of system and yard sizes. Available in four-, eight-, and 16-zone configurations, the Rachio 3 suits a lot of different yards and watering needs. Only our upgrade pick, the Hunter Hydrawise HPC-400 Outdoor Irrigation Controller, offers a wider range of options.

Though Rachio sells the controller as an indoor-only device, you can buy an optional weatherproof housing for an additional $40. If you’re installing your timer in the garage, you don’t have to pay extra for a weatherproof case. This accessory gets the controller mostly, but not entirely, ready for outside use, as Rachio says that you also need an “electrical pigtail” for the housing, so keep that in mind if you plan to install your smart sprinkler timer outside. Again, hire an electrician to handle this step if you have questions or concerns.

Privacy and security snapshot

• Two-factor authentication is not available.
• Information collected includes your name, email address, username, password, details on your irrigation system and zones, and your location (required for local weather data).
• Rachio may share select information with third parties.

Review Rachio’s privacy statement and a related support article for more information.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s pricey. The Rachio 3 typically costs $150 for a four-zone system, $200 for an eight-zone model, and $250 for a 16-zone version. The Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Timer usually costs $30 less for an eight-zone system and $50 less for a 16-zone system, while the Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller saves you $70 on a four-zone system or $100 on an eight-zone system. However, the Rachio 3’s performance, features, and ease of use make it worth the extra investment.