The Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers (2024) for your yard

In regions grappling with stringent water regulations and grappling with prolonged drought conditions, maintaining a vibrant and thriving lawn can pose a formidable challenge. Thankfully, the ultimate remedy lies in the form of the Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers. These state-of-the-art gadgets leverage real-time meteorological data and connect to the internet to tailor irrigation schedules with precision and efficiency.

They do this in order to minimize overwatering during wet periods and to guarantee appropriate hydration during periods of extreme heat and dryness. It is now much simpler to create individualized watering schedules that are in accordance with municipal watering limitations thanks to smartphone apps that are easy to use.

In addition, the intelligent controllers can help you reduce the amount of water you use, which in turn will help you save money on your water bills. Based on the results of our in-depth testing, the following sections give our assessments and reviews of the best smart sprinkler controllers currently available. These extraordinary achievers are distinguished from the field in one essential respect by which they stand out.

Benefits of Using Smart Sprinkler Controllers

Smart sprinkler controllers can help you keep your yard healthy and full of life in many ways. Here are some key benefits of using smart sprinkler controllers:

• Water Conservation: Smart sprinkler controllers use sensors and real-time weather data to change watering schedules based on actual conditions. This saves water. They can be set to automatically skip watering sessions when it rains or after it rains. This keeps plants from getting too much water and saves water resources.
• Cost savings: Smart sprinkler controllers can help you save money on your water bills by optimizing watering plans and stopping water waste. They make sure your lawn gets the right amount of water at the right time, so you don’t waste water.
• Convenience and time savings: With smart sprinkler controllers, it’s easy to set up and change watering plans using mobile apps that are easy to use. They have easy-to-use interfaces that let you handle your sprinklers from a distance. This saves you time and effort compared to making changes by hand.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Smart Sprinkler Controller

There are a few things you should think about when choosing a smart sprinkler timer to make sure you get the right one for your needs. Here are the main things to think about:

• Number of Zones: Figure out how many different parts of your lawn need their own controls for watering. Choose a controller that can handle as many zones as your watering system needs.
• Compatibility: Make sure the smart sprinkler device works with the irrigation system you already have. Make sure it will work with your current wires, valves, and sensors so that you don’t have any problems installing it.
• Connectivity: Look for a controller that can connect to your Wi-Fi network in a stable way. You need a stable internet connection to get real-time weather reports and use a mobile app or web interface to access the controller from far away.

Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers Comparison Table

If your smart sprinkler controller is compatible, install rain sensors in your irrigation system. Rain sensors can detect rainfall and automatically suspend watering when sufficient rain has occurred. This prevents unnecessary watering and conserves water resources.

List of the Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers

Smart sprinkler controllers make it easy to rejuvenate your lawn or garden for warmer weather. A smart controller uses your sprinkler system to automatically water the lawn based on local weather conditions. Remote access via the device’s companion app and voice control with Alexa and Google add even more methods to grow your garden.

Best Overall: Orbit 57985 B-hyve XR Smart 8-Zone Sprinkler Controller #Top3

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Using the Orbit B-Hyve Smart 8-Zone Sprinkler Controller, you can adjust the amount of water that is delivered to each of your plants specifically. With the help of this dependable controller, you can program watering schedules and tailor your sprinklers to meet the requirements of a particular location using an app on your smartphone.

Make sure your grass gets all the water it needs by customizing the amount of water it gets based on the type of soil you have, the plants you have, the slope of your lot, the local live weather feeds, and the amount of solar exposure it gets throughout the day. The Orbit B-Hive is resistant to the elements and can be quickly installed either indoors or outdoors.

Rachio 8ZULW-C 3rd Generation Smart Sprinkler Controller #Top3

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Utilizing the Rachio Generation Smart Sprinkler Controller will allow you to maintain a verdant grass and a flowering garden throughout the spring and summer. With the Rachio Lawn Care app and this highly-rated smart sprinkler controller, you won’t have to lift a finger to keep your yard looking its best. The clever software prevents any loss of water by adjusting the amount of water you use based on the weather forecast in your area.

This ensures that your plants get the exact amount of hydration they require to grow, without receiving a single drop more. The clever controller will skip days based on weather conditions such as rain, wind, and freezing temperatures, which will result in cost savings for you. To put it another way, you won’t ever again feel sick to your stomach after looking at your water bill.

Rain Bird ESP-TM2 Smart Irrigation Controller #Top3

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Get the Rain Bird ESP-TNZ Irrigation Controller if your garden has more than eight zones and you can afford it. This high-end irrigation controller can handle up to 12 zones of watering. It is easy to set up, just like the Rachio 8ZULW-C smart sprinkler controller, and you can use it to replace an old or broken irrigation controller. It has a current user interface and is easy to program and use because it has Extra Simple Programming.

The Rain Bird ESP-TM2 smart sprinkler controller weighs 3.5 pounds and is WeatherSense-certified. It has three plans and four start times per program. These make it easy for you to keep your watering plan and water use in line with your area’s watering rules. The Rachio 8ZULW-C can only be used indoors. This unit, on the other hand, can be used both inside and outside thanks to its special weatherproof housing. It can also be turned into a Wi-Fi router by adding an LNK Wi-Fi module to it.

Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers iOS, Android

Take the time to learn what your smart water controller can do and how it works. Get to know the user manual, online tools, and other support materials that the manufacturer has made available. The more you know about how to use your controller to its fullest potential, the better you can use it to save water.

WYZE WSPRK1 Smart Sprinkler Controller

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The Rain Bird ESP-TM2 Smart Irrigation Controller costs hundreds of dollars, but the WYZE WSPRK1 Smart Sprinkler Controller is one of the best irrigation controllers you can get for a low price. This simple but powerful 8-zone Wi-Fi-compatible and WeatherSense-compliant sprinkler controller costs less than $60 and can compete with more expensive controllers while still following local water limits. It is 9.1 inches by 1.5 inches by 3.3 inches and weighs 7.6 ounces.

This indoor controller is also easy to set up and install. However, if you have rain or soil sensors installed, you will need extra setup directions, which are available on request. Its smart Weather-Based algorithm uses weather data from a very small area to figure out if, when, and how much to water your lawns and plants. It’s easy to use because it has only a few buttons and LED lights, and you can access, control, and handle it from afar with the app that comes with it.

Netro Sprite

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The Netro Sprite, a smart sprinkler device that works with Wi-Fi and is fully automatic, is at the top of our list. Most other systems require you to use one of the six or twelve points (control zones) for a master valve. This is not the case with the Sprite. If you use one of your stations for the master valve, you’ll have one less station for watering, so we’re glad you gave us an extra station for this. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can handle your sprinkler system with your voice instead of using your hands.

Like most of the controllers we tried, the Sprite gets local weather information from sources like Weather Underground, NOAA, and The Weather Channel. It also asks you for information about your lawn as you set up the app, such as the type of soil, plants, and amount of sun and shade. The information about the yard and the weather in the area make it a very smart little planner that will make a custom schedule based on rain that has already fallen and rain that is expected to fall.

Tips for Maximizing Efficiency and Water Savings with Smart Sprinkler Controllers

Consider the following tips to get the most out of your smart sprinkler device and save the most water:

• Customize Your Watering plan: Your smart sprinkler controller gives you a lot of freedom, so use it to make a custom watering plan. When figuring out how often and for how long to water each zone, think about things like the types of plants, the dirt, and how much sun they get.
• Use weather-based adjustments: On your controller, turn on the weather-based adjustments function. This lets it instantly change watering schedules based on real-time weather data, such as rainfall, temperature, and humidity. By letting your controller react to the weather, you can avoid watering too much when it’s raining and change how much you water when it’s hot and dry.
• Do System Regularly Check-ups: Make sure your watering system is working well by checking it often. Check for leaks, clogged nozzles, or spray heads that aren’t lined up right. All of these things can cause water to be wasted. Keeping up with repairs and cleaning will help make the best use of water.

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