Best Sprinkler Controllers of 2024

The best sprinkler controllers enable you to automate irrigation, saving you time, effort, and, most importantly, money. You can even operate your system using a smartphone or home assistant. We've tested the top sprinkler controllers on the market and have in-depth reviews. Keep reading for a comprehensive rundown of the best sprinkler controllers.

• Best overall: NxEco Smart Irrigation Sprinkler Controller 

• Best premium choice: Rachio 8ZULW-C 3rd Generation 

• Best purchased product: Netro Smart Sprinkler Controller 

• Best value product: Orbit 57950 B-Hyve 12-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller

• Best cheap product: Hunter Sprinkler XC600i X-Core Indoor Controller Timer 

1. NxEco Smart Irrigation Sprinkler Controller 

The NxEco Smart Irrigation Controller is a great option if you need to water a huge area. With this model, you can control up to 36 separate zones from a single central hub. Compared to others, it could take a little longer to install. However, it has a far wider coverage area and allows you to adjust it to meet your particular requirements.

This one has a lot of high-tech features and is EPA-WaterSense certified and suited for smart homes. Besides, you can choose to operate it manually by turning the distinctive NxEco Knob. You have full control over your lawn thanks to the scheduling, manual watering, rain-delay, and override-smart-watering choices.

Read more: Best Lawn Sprinklers to Maintain a Hydrated Lawn

Pros:

• Features NxEco Smart Controller

• Includes weather detection and is EPA WaterSense certified

• Simple display and manual knob for precision-point watering

Cons:

• Takes more time to install

• The casing is not entirely waterproof

2. Rachio 8ZULW-C 3rd Generation 

The Rachio 3 8ZULW-Creliable is a sprinkler controller with a simple WiFi connection and excellent response to local forecasts. This Rachio includes manual controls on the device itself, app and voice control via Amazon Alexa, Apple Home (formerly HomeKit), Google Home/Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings, in addition to app controls. Up to 8 sprinkler zones can be used with this model; a 16-zone variant is also offered.

It lost several points due to imprecise wiring instructions, the absence of a backup battery, and a weatherproof shell. (A waterproof enclosure costs $29).

Read more: The Best Sprinklers for Low Water Pressure of 2022

Pros:

• Exclusive Weather Technology - Exclusive Weather Intelligence plus automatically skips unnecessary watering with features like rain skip, wind skip, freeze skip, and more.

• Control From Anywhere: Run sprinklers, view upcoming schedules and observe your estimated outdoor water usage.

• Fast & Easy Installation in 30 minutes or less

• Disable during freezing weather

Cons:

• A little bit hard to connect WiFi

3. Netro Smart Sprinkler Controller 

With an improved 2.4G antenna, you can quickly connect the Netro Smart Sprinkler Controller to your home WiFi network. The self-learning cloud-based controller can automatically schedule itself by continuously adjusting to local weather conditions and seasonal changes. The Netro is applied with cutting-edge water-saving technology, which helps save water by up to 50%. To make sure that enough water is applied to your garden, it uses sophisticated watering algorithms, historical data, or connections with weather predicting stations.

Netro also reduces the frequency of watering, which increases the amount of oxygen that reaches the roots to encourage the development of deep roots. It also stops night watering and overwatering under improper temperatures. With the Netro App and universal WiFi, you can remotely view and also adjust your irrigation system anywhere.  

Read more: Best Above Ground Sprinklers of 2022

Pros:

• Fully automatic

• Simple, clean, and also modern design

• Water sprinkler control up to 12 zones

• Eco-friendly: Save up to 50% on outdoor water usage

• High-accuracy weather data

• Remote access

• Compatible with iOS(8.3+) and Android(5.0+) devices

• Easy to set up and also configure

• Works with all sprinkler systems

Cons:

• Multiple zones do not always operate concurrently

4. Orbit 57950 B-Hyve 12-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller

The Orbit is simple to install and takes about 20 minutes to operate. The controller may be mounted indoors or outside without fear of weather damage because of the unit's weather-resistant shell, which is proudly built in the US from components from throughout the world. Through Orbit's B-hyve App, which is completely functional for Android and iOS, you can stay in sync with your gardening watering programs from anywhere using a fully WiFi and timer-enabled device.

You can use the app to access your programs or the controller itself to enable the weather-based software to design a customized watering schedule that perfectly suits your needs. It has access to real-time weather information and has a rain-shutoff feature. Then recalculate your watering schedule to ensure that your plants and grass are receiving the proper amount of water.

Read more: Best Cordless Trimmers for Your Garden in 2022

Pros:

• Affordable price

• Powerful WiFi

• Global remote access

• Can install it indoors or outdoors

• Real-time updates and monitoring

• Automatic rain delay

• Customize watering schedules with "catch cup" technology

• Certified to save 50% more water and energy

Cons:

• Orbit App is not very user-friendly with some WiFi systems

• Hard to set up Alexa

5. Hunter Sprinkler XC600i X-Core Indoor Controller Timer 

It is relatively simple to install, use, and maintain a Hunter Sprinkler. You may access 6 stations or zones, 3 programs, as well as 4 start times, a runtime button, or seasonal settings using an intuitive control panel. Through a % scale, this seasonal setting tool enables rapid adjustments to irrigation run times. You can utilize water on specific days by using the Water Days button. In addition to saving water, the system will automatically switch back to its regularly scheduled irrigation so that you don't have to continually check the controller.

The Hunter controller offers a sensor programmability feature that allows you to program a sensor alarm for specific programs to assist with any problems. This notifies you when something goes wrong while allowing any unaffected apps to continue functioning normally. The Hunter Sprinkler has a 6-foot power wire and sturdy plastic housing.

Read more: The Best Leaf Blower You Should Buy for Your Garden

Pros:

• Easy to install, operate, and also maintain

• Very good level of programming flexibility

• Easy Retrieve™ reliable memory and backup utility

• Programmable rain delay

• Seasonal adjustment

• Automatic weather updated with Solar Synch and X-Core

• Sensor alarm programmability function

• Automatic short circuit protection

Cons:

• Short 6-foot power cord

• Cannot install it outdoors

1. How challenging is the sprinkler controller installation?

Tech device installation might sometimes be intimidating. However, all of the sprinkler controllers we've tested are simple to set up. Installation typically takes 10 to 20 minutes, and set up kits are now included with the majority of modern devices. You will find everything you need in these mounting kits to put inside or outside your home. To find out if a weather-resistant encasement is available, make sure to read the product description.

2. Will my settings be lost in case of a power outage?

The most updated and most complex sprinkler controllers, like the ones we evaluated, are built with smart technology, which enables it to make adjustments via an internet connection. This enables the controller to access local weather forecasts and make real-time adjustments to changing conditions. As a result, if you have a watering schedule set up for each day of the week and it is predicted to rain over the following several days, the controller won't set the sprinklers to run.