You may have thought that simple sprinkler controllers were the best thing to ever happen to you, your lawn, and your garden. Turns out they were only the best thing to happen SO FAR. Years have passed, innovation has occurred, and now the wonderful world of sprinklers has a new gizmo that requires even less work on your part and is even better for your yard: the WiFi sprinkler smart controller.
This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about WiFi sprinkler smart controllers, including in-depth reviews on the best WiFi sprinkler controllers available.
Backyard Boss Top 5 WiFi Sprinkler Controllers for 2021
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Why You Can Trust Us
If there's anyone who knows sprinklers, it's Backyard Boss. Sprinkled throughout our website are tons of guides that cover every sprinkler-related topic under the sun.
We wrote a guide on the best lawn sprinklers for homeowners who have large yards. We published a guide on the best sprinkler pumps for people interested in conserving water for environmental reasons or to save money. We discussed the importance of sprinkler valves along with reviewing the top options available on the market for water regulation. And we published an informative guide on the best sprinkler heads available, including premium, budget, and versatile options.
Our team knows sprinklers, through our own experiences with them and the countless hours of research we've poured into learning about them. Our content is never watered down, it includes only the facts, helpful tidbits, and a few groan-worthy puns here and there. Read on to learn about the best sprinkler controllers with WiFi available in 2021. Your yard and garden will thank you.
Best All-Around WiFi Sprinkler Controller
This top-rated sprinkler controller includes loads of innovative features and is beyond easy to use.
- Customized watering schedule
- Takes about 20 minutes to install
- Still waters according to schedule even if WiFi is down
- Alexa doesn’t recognize personalized area names
- Tech support hard to reach by phone
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Why We Like It: This sprinkler controller is regarded as one of the best on the market for a reason, with incredible features and easy to use technology.
This smart device allows you to water your lawn or garden using a convenient app, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa. Using Weather Intelligence, this WiFi sprinkler controller automatically adjusts watering schedules based on the forecasted weather. As long as you enter data such as soil type, sun exposure, or plant type, the app can calculate how and when to start watering. The best part of it all: the system will still work according to schedule even if your WiFi is down.
Who Should Buy It: This is a great option for people who want the best WiFi irrigation controller and don't mind paying a premium price for it.
Best WiFi Sprinkler Controller With Weather Data
This incredible sprinkler system is completely tuned into weather forecasts, a feature that is sure to reduce your water usage.
- Quick installation
- Intuitive dashboard
- Takes weather data from multiple sources
- Users reported faulty screens
- Sometimes app can become non-responsive
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Why We Like It: This top-of-the-line WiFi sprinkler controller is completely tuned into local weather data and adjusts your watering schedule accordingly.
It takes its weather forecast information from several sources, multiple times a day to provide the most accurate watering plans for your lawn and garden. This smart device will not only work when WiFi is down, but it can switch to historical weather statistics if there is no forecast available. According to the manufacturer, the device will pay for itself in about two years, by saving you up to 80% in water bills. You can control the system from an app on your phone or computer, or through Alexa.
Who Should Buy It: If you want a sprinkler system that will save you time and money, then this is an excellent option for you.
Best WiFi Sprinkler Controller That Links to Alexa
This hassle-free WiFi sprinkler controller allows you to create customized watering schedules and operate it from an app, Alexa, or the control box.
- Weather-resistant casing locked with a key
- Customized schedules for different areas of the garden
- Rain delay can cause futile canceling of the watering schedule
- Only compatible with Amazon’s Alexa
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Why We Like It: You can control this device from anywhere in the world through its app, Alexa, or its weather-proof control box.
As long as your home wireless system is up and running, you can control the timer from any location in the world, via the iOS and Android app. The weather sense technology included in the system will water your garden based on factors such as live weather forecasts, slope and soil type, and even the presence of sun or shade. The device comes with a swing panel which allows for easy access to the wiring terminals. The panel has a lock which is a great feature if you have kids.
Who Should Buy It: If you have an Amazon Alexa and want a model with loads of convenient features, this is an excellent WiFi sprinkler controller for you.
Best Easy to Use WiFi Sprinkler Controller
With all of the standard functions of WiFi sprinkler controllers, easy installation, and a lower price, there's a lot to love about this model.
- Easy installation
- Customizable names for each watering zone
- Factors in weather data
- App takes a long time to load while switching between watering zones
- Buggy WiFi connection
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Why We Like It: While this WiFi sprinkler controller may look a bit clunky, it includes all of the incredible features other high-quality WiFi sprinkler controllers have; for a more affordable price.
With weather intelligence, the ability to create your own watering schedules based on different areas of your lawn and garden, and to delay watering for up to 14 days, this WiFi Sprinkler controller is supremely easy to use. The installation is pretty smooth, but it would be helpful to take a picture of the existing wiring for the process to be even easier. Once installed, you can control it using your mobile device or the timer panel.
Who Should Buy It: If you're looking for a high-quality sprinkler system that costs a little less than premium models, you'll love this product.
Best Affordable WiFi Sprinkler Controller
Although its price is low, the quality of this innovative, new WiFi sprinkler controller is high.
- Easy installation
- Affordable price
- Intuitive and responsive app
- The display has narrow viewing angles
- Watering reports are daily, not monthly
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Why We Like It: This tiny device will have a big impact on your life, making watering your lawn and garden as easy as pie.
It adjusts your watering schedule using information from local weather data to determine information such as solar radiation, slope, wind, temperature, and humidity. Since it’s a smart home device, it can go in-depth and even calculate your soil's moisture and the amount of water that specific areas are losing. It provides monitoring of up to eight zones, allowing you to water each area according to precise specifications. Connect it to any home devices including Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Nest.
Who Should Buy It: This WiFi watering system is great for people who want a hassle-free, high-quality WiFi sprinkler remote for an affordable price.
Is a Smart Sprinkler Worth It?
The short answer is: Yes! As you've probably been able to tell, I'm a huge fan of WiFi sprinkler remotes and think everyone should have one of these life-changing tools.
What it really comes down to, though, is your personal situation and priorities. For example, if you're dealing with a small sprinkler system, you can probably go without purchasing one of these remotes.
To see if a smart sprinkler remote would be a great product for you to buy, check out the WiFi sprinkler remote advantages described below.
A WiFi Sprinkler Can Save Money and Water
A WiFi sprinkler controller will help you save money. I know, that seems like a bold claim considering how expensive these remotes can be, but it's true!
By using weather intelligence, these remotes only water your lawn and garden when they truly need it, saving you up to 80% off your water bill. They also allow you to remotely turn them off, which comes in handy when you're on vacation.
Picture the following scenario: You're away on vacation and your sprinkler system is set to water the garden every day. Suddenly, heavy rain starts pouring down and the considerable amounts of water from both your sprinkles and Mother Nature are drowning your plants. Thankfully, you have a mobile app connected to your sprinklers, and you can now turn them off, thus saving you money, saving your plants, and saving water. Keep in mind, using less water isn't only good for your wallet it's also good for the planet.
Smart WiFi Sprinklers Are Convenient
What really sets WiFi sprinkler controllers apart from more traditional models is how convenient they are to use. With them, you can spend a minimal amount of time worrying about and working on your yard, but it will look better than ever.
You can literally control your watering system through a mobile app, your computer, or even voice command if you have a Google Home, Alexa, or Nest. With the push of a button, you can let the automatic sprinkler system do the work while you're binging your favorite Netflix show.
Smart Sprinklers Simplify Watering
Without a smart remote, before each manual watering, you have to check the local weather forecast, calculate how much water your garden needs depending on humidity and sunshine, and even when you do this math, there are chances of human error.
These smart sprinkling controllers will do the math for you and calculate how much water your garden needs and when. Even more, some devices provide detailed charts, statistics, and a history of your garden watering cycles, and are able to make future watering suggestions and predictions based on that information.
WiFi Sprinkler Installation Is Easy
Although they may seem complicated to install because they do so much, in reality, it's super easy to install smart sprinkler systems. Each device comes with an installation guide and contains all of the elements you need to install it.
Even the trickiest of devices should be up and running in 30 minutes. The REAL time-consuming activity occurs after you install them when you have to customize watering schedules for each particular area of your yard.
What to Know Before Installing a WiFi Sprinkler Controller
One important thing to know is that there are two types of controllers on the market: smart and regular. Regular controllers have the basic functions that the system needs: like turning it on and off and setting up a timer.
Smart controllers, on the other hand, have a whole array of features. They factor weather data into watering schedules, can be controlled through an app or voice command, and some smart controllers can even determine the current amount of water in the soil, the outside temperature, and humidity levels. You should carefully assess the difference between the controllers that are currently available on the market before making your choice.
Why? Because a non-reliable watering system can lead to problems such as over or under-watering your precious plants and lawn, jeopardizing their health. We take yards seriously at Backyard Boss, which is precisely why we decided to make this guide.
How Long Do Sprinkler Controllers Last?
The answer is: it depends. Sprinkler controllers tend to last between five to ten years, but it really depends on the quality of the sprinkler controller and brand. Every option reviewed in this guide had at least a 2-year warranty, so you're guaranteed that long, although its life should definitely surpass a couple of years.
How Do You Install a Wireless Sprinkler Controller?
Wireless sprinkler controllers are not difficult to install at all! All of the models reviewed in this guide take only 15-30 minutes to install. They each come with a helpful installation guide and everything you need to install them.
For some tips on how to install a wireless sprinkler controller check out the video below:
How We Picked
To find these five incredible products, we weeded through all of the best sprinkler controllers available on the market. We looked for top-rated, high-quality sprinkler controllers that met all of our extensive criteria.
The main factors we looked for were sprinkler controllers that would save users time with convenient features, sprinkler controllers that would save users money, sprinkler controllers that would intuitively lessen water usage, and sprinkler controllers that operated well on WiFi. We picked sprinkler controllers that would fit a variety of needs and situations, including premium sprinkler controller options, affordable sprinkler controller options, sprinkler controllers that were compatible with different smart home devices, and so on.
Every option we reviewed was a winner, but only one can be the best of the best.
What Is the Best WiFi Sprinkler Controller?
The Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller is, by far, our number one choice. It genuinely does save customers time and money, has an incredibly easy-to-use system, is compatible with a variety of smart home devices, and allows you to fully customize your watering schedule based on areas.
Of course, if you were a fan of one of the other sprinkler controllers that we reviewed, feel free to choose that one. Every option on this list is high-quality, so you're guaranteed to be happy with your choice.