Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller: 16 Zone | Simple Auto Schedules, Quick Run, Local Weather Intelligence. (Save Water w/Rain, Freeze & Wind Skip)

Best money I've spent in a long time. Replaced 2 older Hunter 8 station electronic controllers with one 16 station Rachio. (Hunter units were quite good for their day but Rachio was better recommended online and also doesn't seem 'dealer' oriented, a business model I preferred to avoid.) Software takes a while to get used to and we're not using too much of the weather station stuff yet, but just the smartphone access and overall flexibility makes it easily worth the money IMO. Not perfect, but really good. Super glad I did this. Dead simple to install too, with no network or connectivity issues and programming only took a few minutes.

After several years with a RainMachine HD-16, I decided it was time for an upgrade, and the Rachio 3 has exceeded my expectations. The setup was straightforward, and I had my existing zones migrated and running much faster than I anticipated. The biggest improvement is the software. The app is modern, intuitive, and responsive, making it easy to adjust schedules, run individual zones, or make changes from anywhere. I also appreciate how well the weather intelligence works. Instead of watering on a fixed schedule, the Rachio automatically skips watering when rain is expected and adjusts based on local conditions, which should save both water and money over time. The integration with my smart home ecosystem was another plus. Everything connected quickly, and I like being able to manage my irrigation system without having to think about it. If you’re coming from an older smart controller like the RainMachine, the Rachio 3 feels like a significant step forward in both hardware and software. It’s one of those upgrades that simply works, and I wish I had made the switch sooner.

Excellent product! Bought and installed two units of 16 zones. Easy to program and Excellent app. Love the smart cycles feature. Love the fact you can categorize the zones according to the group of either Lawn, Flower Beds, Gardens, Water Fountain refill, etc. When you have over150 heads and big coverage to water, you will appreciate Rachio for its full smart home automation feature. Brilliant innovation, and great job Rachio!

I replaced an existing controller with two 16 zone Rachio 3 units. The old controller handled all 20 zones but an expensive monthly subscription service and additional module are required to achieve remote access and weather data for the controller to use in modifying the watering schedule. It would have been nice if Rachio offered a 20+ zone option or a 12 zone option, but it is nice to know I can add up to 6 zones per controller in the future without upgrading the hardware. I'm very happy with the Rachio controllers and discovered I can operate two zones simultaneously (one on each controller) which reduces the total time required for watering. Initially I wished the app did not treat each controller separately, but this actually is a nice feature. Admittedly this might not work well in areas that don't have necessary water pressure. I located the Rachio units outside so I also purchased the weatherproof outdoor enclosures. The need for two controllers located outside complicated the installation, but once I had the wiring sorted and the outside enclosures mounted, the remaining installation was very easy. Connecting the zone wiring to the controller could not be easier and was completed in about five minutes for each controller. I don't doubt that replacement of an existing indoor controller or installation of a new indoor controller is as easy as Rachio and the many positive reviews indicate. The controllers fit perfectly in the outside enclosures and the provided holes in the enclosures worked perfectly with the 1" PVC that protects the zone wiring and the flexible conduit I used for the AC wiring. The enclosures are very sturdy and appear to be designed to properly block moisture. We haven't had any rain since the installation to confirm their effectiveness. The Rachio app is great and is reason enough to go with the Rachio product if everything else is equal. It is intuitive and very easy to use. Rachio also offers browser access to the controllers and I found it was a bit easier to set up the zones that way. One can use the default wide-area sourcing of relevant weather data, select a nearby weather reporting station or use a personal weather station. The nearest reporting station is nearly two miles from my home so I've ordered a Tempest unit to maximize the accuracy of the data used by the Rachio system to determine the watering requirements for each zone.

I was concerned re the installation from the old system it was really easy The app works well and is easy to understand Very pleased with the product