So, what are the differences between the Rachio vs. Netro?
The big differences are Netro’s Plant Library function, and its ability to detect watering regulations.
While Rachio offers impressive smart home integration capabilities as it works with the majority of the popular smart home control systems.
However, our top choice would have to be Netro due to its functionality and convenience.
The Short Version
Rachio = 8-zone model, no 12-zone model, compatible w/ 16-zone model, rain & soil sensor supported, wired flow sensors, compatible w/ a wireless rachio flow meter, on-unit manual control, cloud sync available, no local connect, advanced weather intelligence, works w/ Alexa, Google, SmartThing, Wink, Nest & IFTTT, 2.4 or 5 GHz WiFi connection, -4°F to 140°F temperature range, outdoor enclosure available, warranty available for 2 years.
Netro = 6-zone & 12-zone model, rain & soil sensor available, no wired flow sensors or wireless rachio flow meter, no manual control, cloud sync available, no local connect available, compatible w/ weather intelligence, works w/ Alexa, IFTTT & Google assistant, not compatible w/ SmartThings, Wink nor Nest, supports a 2.4GHz WiFi connection, -4° to 122°F temperature range, non-brand outdoor enclosure.
Which one are you getting?
Last update on 2023-12-05 at 16:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rachio vs. Netro — Easy Comparison Chart
| Rachio | Netro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 5.5” x 1.4” | 5.7″ x 5.7″ x 1.2″ |
| Weight | 1.05 Lbs. | 0.5 Lbs. |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
| Rain Sensor | Supported | Supported |
| 12-zone model | No | Yes |
| 8-zone model | Yes | 6-zone |
| 16-zone model | Yes | No |
| Soil Sensor | Supported | Supported |
| Wired Flow Sensors | Supported | No |
| Wireless Rachio Flow Meter | Supported | No |
| Cloud Sync | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Control | On-unit | No |
| Local Connect | No | No |
| Weather Intelligence | Advanced | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Wink | Yes | No |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| SmartThings | Yes | No |
| Nest | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi Connection | 2.4 or 5 GHz 802.11 b/g/n | 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n |
| IFTTT | Yes | Late 2018 |
| App | iOS 10.3+ and Android 4.4+ | iOS 8.3+ or Android 5.0+ |
| Temperature Range | -4°F to 140°F | -4° to 122°F |
| Outdoor Enclosure | Available | Non-brand |
Rachio vs. Netro — What’s Different?
Rebates – If you opt for a Rachio model, you could enjoy some rewards for making the decision to upgrade, so you could be potentially saving money whenever you switch to more efficient technology.
Zone Control – Zone control is a pretty important feature, while both models support zone control there are a few differences.
The main one being that Rachio comes in 8 and 16 zone variants whereas. the Netro Sprite comes in 6 and 12.
Plant Library – While Rachio includes the Plant Library addition, the Netro system also provides a more improved version.
This feature shows you the way the plants should be watered correctly based on the type of flora you’re watering.
Wi-Fi Connection – When it comes to the WiFi connection, Rachio is the more flexible of the two systems, with support for 2.4 as well as 5 GHz connections vs. the Netro which only supports 2.4GHz.
Dimensions & Design – In terms of the design, Rachio definitely comes with slightly larger dimensions of 9.1” x 5.5” x 1.4”, while Nettro supports a more compact design measuring at 5.7″ x 5.7″ x 1.2″.
Android & iOS Version Support – While both devices offer Android and iOS support, Netro offers a more upgraded iOS 10.3+ support, compared to Rachio’s iOS 8.3+.
However, for Android, you might be better off with Rachio’s 4.4+ support instead of Netro which only works with Android 5.0+.
Wired Flow Sensors & Flow Meter – Rachio also comes out ahead with its support for wired flow sensors & flow meter which Netro lacks.
This allows Rachio to easily detect any potential leaks.
Third-party IoT Platform Support – Additionally, Rachio also offers more flexibility when it comes to its integrations since it can work with SmartThings, Nest, Wink, and IFTTT, while Netro offers no support for SmartThings, Nest, or Wink.
Watering Regulation Detection – A handy feature that Netro includes is its ability to detect weather and adjust watering schedules accordingly using its watering regulation detection feature.
While Rachio doesn’t include this feature.
Manual Control – Lastly, in terms of manual control, Rachio allows you to have full on-device manual control, while with Netro you won’t have any on-unit control, so you will have to either use the app or voice assistants for Netro.
Last update on 2023-12-05 at 16:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API