The Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers for a Lush, Water-Efficient Lawn
These high-tech irrigation systems take the guesswork out of watering your lawn and garden.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Americans use about 9 million gallons a year watering their yards, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Even more shocking is the fact that half of that water goes to waste — think sprinklers watering the sidewalk or in-ground irrigation systems running right before a rainstorm. Given the increasing cost of water in many regions, that’s dollars down the drain, along with all the fresh water.
Our experts in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute are always on the lookout for products that make homes more water-efficient. We’re big fans of smart home technology too. So, we couldn’t wait to get hands-on with the latest crop of smart sprinkler controllers. The WiFi-connected devices tie into a home’s irrigation system, leveraging local weather conditions and other data points to automatically deliver precise volumes of water to your lawn and garden. The best systems can slash irrigation needs in half.
For this report, we reviewed a dozen smart sprinklers, assessing them in our Lab and installing them in the homes of expert testers. After months of evaluation, the following five options landed on our winners list.
Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller
Pros
- Suited to yards of all sizes
- Extremely intuitive app
Cons
- Not weatherproof, so needs to be installed indoors
Capacity: 4, 8 or 16 zones | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, SmartThings | WaterSense-Certified: Yes | DIY or Professional: DIY
Why we love it: Rachio has been around for more than a decade, making it one of the more established brands in smart irrigation. We've been testing the third-generation system for two growing seasons now and have found it offers the best combination of value, ease-of-use and precision performance.
How it works: The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is a weather-based irrigation controller, meaning it uses local weather and landscape conditions to tailor watering schedules to your lawn and yard. This prevents the system from turning on when there's rain in the forecast or under-watering during a dry spell. It carries the WaterSense label, meaning it meets strict EPA criteria for efficiency and performance.
Ease of use: If you're into gadgets and smart home tech, there are easy-to-use settings on the companion Rachio app. Each sprinkler zone can be individually controlled, so an area of lawn in all sun can be watered more frequently than an area in the shade.
Smart home integration: Through extensive field tests of the controller, our testers confirmed the accuracy of its water delivery. The Rachio 3 integrated seamlessly via Wi-Fi with other smart home products, though that involved the usual complexities of downloading the app, connecting to the internet and pairing with other WiFi-enabled devices. But from there, testers had no trouble controlling the system from their smartphone or via an Alexa-enabled device, Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant.
Tester notes: "I love the simplicity of the app and variety of scheduling options," said Timothy Dahl, home expert and Good Housekeeping contributor. "My only quibble is it would be nice if it had a weatherproof housing so you had the option of exterior installation."
Orbit B-hyve Smart 12-Zone Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller
Pros
- Excellent price
- Easy, intuitive set up
Cons
- Not suited to larger yards
Capacity: 6 zone or 12 zone | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | WaterSense-Certified: Yes | DIY or Professional: DIY
Why we love it: The B-hyve was among the least expensive smart sprinkler controllers we tested, without much compromise in terms of feature set or performance. In fact, it has some benefits that pricier systems are missing, like a rugged, all-weather housing that makes it suitable for exterior installation.
How it works: The WaterSense-certified weather-based controller comes in a 6-zone or 12-zone configuration, so it's best for small to medium yards. There's a lock on the housing to prevent ne'er-do-wells from tampering with the system.
Ease of use: The B-hyve app made for easy setup during testing. The app allowed us to create watering schedules based on the specific needs of our yard — more frequent irrigation for zones that receive full sun, for example, and less water on sloping sections of the lawn.
Smart home integration: All B-hyve controllers are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, enabling voice control through smart speakers.
Tester notes: Our testers liked being able to program the timer manually on the device's LED screen. "The prompts are clear and intuitive," reported one tester, "and I liked knowing I could turn the water off without needing my phone, like if the system were to come on during a backyard barbecue."
Moen Smart Sprinkler Controller
Pros
- Combines soil-based and weather-based data
- Versatile configuration
- DIY-friendly set up
Cons
- Soil sensors are sold separately, increasing the upfront cost
Capacity: 8 zone or 16 zone | Compatibility: Amazon and Google | WaterSense-Certified: Yes | DIY or Professional: DIY
Why we love it: You probably know Moen as a manufacturer of kitchen and bath fixtures, but the brand has also invested heavily in water efficiency and smart home technology. In our annual Good Housekeeping Home Reno Awards, it took home top honors based on its intuitive design and exceptional water savings, which are good enough for WaterSense certification.
How it works: What differentiates the Moen from other solutions is its use of soil sensors that are inserted directly into your lawn and garden beds. That means the system is literally pulling data from the source, measuring soil hydration to determine precisely how much water is needed for nearby plants to thrive. Though at $70 a pop on top of the controller, the sensors add to the cost of the system.
As with other smart sprinkler controls, the Moen is designed to be integrated with an existing in-ground system. It comes in 8-zone and 16-zone configurations, depending on the size of your yard.
Ease of use: The controller retrofits easily to existing irrigation equipment. An outdoor enclosure is sold separately if you choose to install the device on an exterior wall using the mounting hardware provided.
Smart home integration: The controller is compatible with Amazon and Google. It can also be integrated with Moen's Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff, which allows you to track irrigation patterns in the context of your home's total water consumption. Flo will shut off the irrigation if it detects a leak in the system.
Tester notes: A GH Institute staffer installed the 16-zone system at her home on Long Island, New York, in a town with strict lawn irrigation regulations. “The controller was very easy to set up, as was placement of the soil sensors throughout the yard,” she said. The Moen app was intuitive, and it made it easy to pair the soil sensors with the main controller.
Irrigreen XP Precision Irrigation System
Pros
- Ideal for homeowners looking for a whole irrigation system
- Delivers extremely precise watering
Cons
- Installation best handled by a professional
Capacity: System sold in bundles with 1, 3, or 6 sprinkler heads | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa | WaterSense-Certified: Yes | DIY or Professional: DIY
Why we love it: While most smart sprinkler controllers are designed to integrate with an existing in-ground irrigation system, Irrigreen XP is geared toward homeowners who want to install an entire system from scratch. Based on the size of your yard, you purchase a bundle that includes a smart controller, between one and six sprinkler heads, and various wires and cables.
How it works: Irrigreen is one of the most innovative smart irrigation systems we’ve seen, leveraging artificial intelligence to digitally map a lawn and deliver water only where it's needed. Basically, instead of the overlapping arcs of water most in-ground irrigation systems use to cover a lawn, Irrigreen features multi-stream nozzles that apply an even volume of water across any shaped lawn.
Irrigreen does not yet have the WaterSense label. However, our engineers reviewed independent testing of the Irrigreen system and found that the Irrigreen system uses about 40% less water than traditional in-ground irrigation.
Ease of use: You need to purchase the PVC or poly piping that will transport water throughout the yard and dig all the trenches. Though Irrigreen provides detailed instructions for DIYers, our experts say the job will be best left to a professional in most circumstances; the Irrigreen website includes a network of qualified installers.
Smart home integration: Irrigreen is only compatible with Amazon Alexa, so its integration is more limited than most smart sprinkler controllers.
Tester notes: We sent the system to one of our lawn care experts in Nashville for a test run. “Very impressed with the overall functionality of the system,” he reported. “The app was extremely easy to use and allowed for quick and easy adjustments as needed.” Though installation still involves trenches throughout the yard, the fact that it uses fewer sprinkler heads means a lot less digging. Testers found the online Design Your Lawn tool helpful for determining how many sprinkler heads and pipes were required for their yard.
Orbit B-hyve XD 1-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer
Pros
- Low upfront cost
- Easy installation
Cons
- Not as well suited to large properties
Capacity: 1, 2 and 4 ports | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa and Google Home | WaterSense-Certified: Yes | DIY or Professional: DIY
Why we love it: After testing out several of these devices, our experts settled on the B-hyve Hose Faucet Timer as the best of its class, thanks to its durable design, simple setup and WaterSense certification.
How it works: This type of smart sprinkler uses a standard garden hose spigot with a regular sprinkler attached to the other end, making it cost-effective to bring automated watering to yards. While we tested the 1-port timer (meaning it works with just one hose), it also comes in 2- and 4-port configurations, so you can scale up the hose-based irrigation to cover a larger lawn or additional garden beds.
Ease of use: The timer can be programmed directly on the device, locally via Bluetooth and remotely through WiFi and the B-hyve app. We operated the B-hyve all three ways during testing. If you just want to program the sprinkler to water the lawn a few times a week, manual operation works just fine. For more advanced programming, including coordination with any local water restrictions, you're better off using the app, with its more robust feature set.
Smart home integration: This sprinkler's WiFi connectivity enables far greater control and intelligence than manual operation, for example, adjusting your irrigation schedule based on local weather data and even heeding local water restrictions during periods of extreme drought. Set up was simple and straightforward through the B-hyve app. Plus, it's compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google House smart speakers.
Tester notes: "It was so easy connecting the timer to my spigot and hose," said Dahl, who tested the device at his Las Vegas home. "I like a lot of the features in the app, including the ability to set drought settings, since water restrictions are common in my neighborhood."
How we choose the best smart sprinkler controllers
Smart sprinkler controllers are a newer product category, but it’s seen rapid growth in the last five years, with new players coming into the space all the time.
For this review, we focused on brands with a more established reputation and track record. In evaluating the systems, our testers focused on the following factors:
✔️ Ease of set up: This evaluation is two-fold. First, we assess how easy the system is to integrate with a home’s existing irrigation. Then we evaluate the process of setting up the system through the brand’s companion app. The best apps feature an intuitive design with clear prompts and instructions for creating an irrigation schedule for a lawn and garden.
✔️ Effectiveness: This is measured throughout the growing season. Though irrigation is just one of several factors that impact a landscape's health and vitality, our testers look for signs that the optimal amount of water is delivered to the lawn and other plants.
✔️ Efficiency: Testers also keep track of water consumption and compare it with how much water was used with traditional irrigation equipment. Most apps make this easy with tracking features that let you monitor water use over the course of days, weeks and months. We also looked for models with the EPA's WaterSense certification, meaning it meets certain criteria for performance and efficiency.
✔️ Smart home integration: The best WiFi-connected products are compatible across a wide range of smart home platforms, with the main options being Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Home. Widespread integration means the system will likely work with the rest of your smart home, for example, if you want to use voice control through your smart speaker to give the lawn an extra watering outside of its regular schedule.
What to look for when shopping for the best smart sprinkler controller
To find the best smart sprinkler controller for your needs, consider the following factors:
✔️ Capacity: Most smart sprinkler controllers are designed to work with an existing in-ground irrigation system, replacing the original analog controller. It's important that the new controller is the right size for your irrigation system, typically measured in zones or systems. The most common options are 8-zone and 16-zone controllers, but you might also see 4-zone options for smaller yards.
✔️ Installation: Upgrading to a smart sprinkler controller is about as difficult as swapping out a manual thermostat for a programmable smart thermostat. Experienced DIYers should be able to handle it, but hardwiring is involved, so if you're ever in doubt, call in a professional.
Another consideration related to installation is whether the controller has a weatherproof housing, meaning it can live outside. That can be more convenient, especially if you plan to use the manual controls often. You'll just need to ensure that your home's WiFi signal will reach the controller (adding a WiFi mesh system will help extend the signal).
✔️ Smart home integration: WiFi-connected controllers can be integrated into a smart home ecosystem, enabling you to do stuff like control your sprinklers by voice control through a smart speaker — nice if the sprinklers suddenly turn on when the yard is full of people.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dan DiClerico has tested and written about lawncare equipment for 25 years. In his role as Director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Dan oversees the testing of all lawn care equipment. He has personally reviewed more than a dozen leading brands in the category, including those featured in this report.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
The Best King Size Mattresses
The Best Luggage for International Travel
The Best Solar-Powered Generators
The 15 Best Natural and Organic Sunscreens
