Rachio WiFi Smart Sprinkler Controller (16-Zone Irrigation Remote Control) – App-Based Scheduling, Local Weather Intelligence, Rain Skips, Easy DIY Install
€249
Price: $249.00
(as of Jul 27, 2025 20:58:08 UTC – Details)
Ditch the dial. Water smarter. The Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller replaces confusing dial timers with simple app-based control. Whether you install it yourself or hire a Pro, you’ll enjoy a clean install and smarter results. Intelligent adjustments, no guesswork Weather Intelligence automatically skips watering when nature provides it (rain, wind, freeze & saturation skips). Seasonal data automatically update watering throughout the year. Grow-in schedules help establish new grass. Quick Run lets you manually water any zone on demand. Works for most yards Supports 8 or 16-zone systems. Indoor rated (use weatherproof enclosure for outdoor installs). Dual-band WiFi (2.4/5 GHz) and app compatibility with iOS/Android. Works with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT & more. Controller includes Quick Run buttons; scheduling via app required. Note: Well systems may require a pump to maintain pressure.
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
Product Dimensions : 9.1 x 1.4 x 5.6 inches; 1.05 Pounds
Item model number : 16ZULW-C
Date First Available : June 26, 2018
Manufacturer : Rachio
ASIN : B07CZ5K355
Country of Origin : Mexico
Best Sellers Rank: #716 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden) #1 in Automatic Irrigation Controllers
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,993 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
DITCH THE DIAL – Upgrade to smart irrigation with the free Rachio app for precise, easy control.
AUTOMATIC WEATHER SKIPS – Patented Weather Intelligence skips watering for rain, wind, freeze & more.
SAVE WATER YEAR-ROUND – Adaptive schedules help your yard thrive in April showers & July heat.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING – Create your own schedule or let Weather Intelligence adjust automatically; includes grow-in options.
CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE – Manage watering, run zones, view schedules & track estimated usage in the Rachio App.
FAST DIY INSTALL – Install in 30 min or less, compatible with 99% of existing sprinkler systems.
Customers say
Customers find the sprinkler controller easy to install and appreciate its smart features, including automatic weather adjustments and local weather station connections. The app receives positive feedback for its interface, and customers praise its water-saving capabilities, particularly its ability to minimize runoff. While some customers report flawless Wi-Fi connectivity, others experience frequent disconnections. The functionality receives mixed reviews, with some saying it works well while others report it never works right.
8 reviews for Rachio WiFi Smart Sprinkler Controller (16-Zone Irrigation Remote Control) – App-Based Scheduling, Local Weather Intelligence, Rain Skips, Easy DIY Install
Add a review
Related Products
€249
Doug Testing –
The BEST Sprinkler Controller!
I have a Hunter sprinkler system that we had installed about a decade ago. It works great, but the controller had outlived its usefulness. I decided to upgrade. I wanted a controller that I could access from my iPhone. I wanted a controller that would be easy to program and easy to use. I wanted a controller that would take the guesswork out of when to water and for how long. My research led me to purchase the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller … and I am completely satisfied with my purchase!My purchase decision came down to the Rachio 3 and the Hunter HydraWise. I probably deliberated longer than I needed to … but that was because I have a Hunter sprinkler system and I had a bit of anxiety about buying a controller not made by Hunter. I was ultimately swayed by Rachio’s app capabilities … and professional reviews. The Rachio 3 seems like a sprinkler controller reinvented. The Hunter HydraWise seems like an old fashioned sprinkler controller with an app. 21st century technology (Rachio 3) vs. 20th century (Hunter HydraWise). I am a futurist … 21st century for me.The Rachio 3 is an app-based controller … there are no programming buttons or knobs on the controller itself. The app is easy to navigate and simple to program. I opted to let the Rachio 3 determine when and how long to water. The app uses weather data from several resources to determine when to water my lawn. The app sets the duration using a creative method of alternating the watering time per zone to maximize water retention in the soil. I’m a gadget guy, so I had to give this a try … though I was skeptical about the “intelligence” of this system. Well, I am convinced the app has the right approach. My grass looks fantastic! The soil is never dried out … no brown patches … no soggy soil from over-watering. The plants in our garden look great, too.The app set my sprinklers to come on overnight. In the morning I wake to a notice that the watering cycle is complete. If I want to see how long the sprinklers were active I merely have to look in the app … all the data is there … and I can access historical watering data, too. I have received alerts that the Rachio app is postponing watering due to rain and due to high winds. If I want to turn on the sprinklers all I have to do is open the app and tap the zone I want to water then set the duration. Simple. The Rachio app takes any manual watering per zone into account for future watering cycles. This app is so cool!The Rachio 3 was simple to install. It took me less than 30 minutes to disconnect my Hunter sprinkler controller and then install the Rachio 3. I powered up and connected to wifi without issue. Setting up the app took another 10 minutes … over which about 5 minutes was me just exploring the app. So easy and simple. I consider myself technically adept at installs like but by no means an expert. That means I am confident I can do it … but still need to follow the directions step-by-step. If I could install this controller, so can you.There is no charge for the Rachio 3 app. All that functionality is paid for upfront when you buy the controller. Seems like an incredible value to me.I am extremely pleased with my Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller … and highly recommend this unit to anyone with an in-ground sprinkler system. An enthusiastic five stars!
Del Aney –
If Steve Jobs made a controller, this would be it. OMG… the software (IOS) is fabulous.
UPDATE MAY19 2021:Still the best way to wet your plants 🙂 Rachio works the way my mind works. Visual, simple, yet complex under hood is there if you want to get into it deep. It has become my favorite automation tool for my home, and after years of cussing and swearing at my previous WiFi controller with a Bird in it’s name, I smile every day that Rachio “GETS IT”. Buy this now. You want WiFi controller for easy software and this is it. Not affiliated or endorsed or paid, just a fan of a fine product.Update 24SEP2020:I’ve been working with Rachio3 for an entire season and am MORE pleased than ever. Rachio delivers an entire watering system control for yards and lawns, instead of being just a switch box that turns water on at specific times. Intuitive, smart, works the way humans think, not the way engineers think (opposite of R___bird). If Steve Jobs were alive he would be impressed with this. Yes, the software is that good. The electronics themselves aI installed and have never looked at it again. My iPhone app does it all. IMHO– BUY THIS, at least try it first before you drop down to just timer/switches. Rachio was the BEST DECISION for my sanity and blood pressure, and my yard is green. I don’t work there, just a fan.What a breath of fresh air this Rachio SOFTWARE and controller is. AMAZING that I endured several years of suffering with Rainbird’s Wifi (ESP-ME) epic fail. This is night and day difference. Rachio box at first seemed light, and almost cheap compared to Rainbird’s heavy plastic, modular upgrades, and great name. But five minutes after installing Rachio I would NEVER EVER go back to Rainbird’s controller, no matter what they paid me.Rachio software is YEARS ahead in functionality. It drove me crazy to set up all the detail for my 16 zones (took a bout an hour) but when done… amazing. It works the way my head thinks, is simple, very visual, uncluttered and NICE. Love it.THIS product is a joy after enduring years of over complexity, zero product support, and frustration given Rainbird hiring the wrong person to write their software. It was difficult to toss my entire Rainbird controller and wifi module in the trash, but best decision ever.TRUST ME when I say this… We buy Wifi Controllers for the SOFTWARE. And Rachio software is what I really wanted to experience with any Wifi sprinkler controller. They get it, did it, and it works well. Bravo to them. The controller unit itself is light, clean, and just works. Nothing more to say. Easy install. Too easy which scared me. No screw lugs, modules or fancy options. It just is what it is.I cannot comment on whatever the Thrive stuff is or conditional watering, I just use the specific settings outright, and so far it has been a delight.Thank you Rachio engineering staff and management. My blood pressure is way down now. My lawn is green. I’m a happy boy.
Brandon –
Great controller! Huge upgrade.
Iâve only had this for a few weeks, but itâs been nothing but awesome so far. Iâve got the 16 zone 3rd gen unit. Installing was easy like most controllers, and the WiFi works perfectly (no issues at all going offline like my Hunter did). The app is very user friendly. Everything in the app is easy to find and use. Iâve had others that just didnât make sense the way they were laid out. Cant say enough about the app – itâs great. Love this thing so far – Iâll have to come back later to update on how the Flex Daily scheduling works.
Jason –
Works as intended, however setup is understandably difficult if you want to set advanced settings up.The garden/zone setup is limited 7 types of plants. With the smarts, app should be able to set zones to specific plant type ( blueberries, cherries, or any of the common fruit and vegetables )The flex schedules are problematic, often going 2-5 weeks between waterings. Rachio claims it will adjust significantly over first few weeks.
Amazon Customer –
Overall, I like the system and the app. Easy to install and operate. What bothers me is the added 45 cost they charge in the alp for valve monitoring, which is a feature included in the Orbit B-hyve system (albeit in a less robust manner) and should be a baseline feature in the Rachio app. The fact they don’t tell you of this added charge before you buy makes it more frustrating.
greg fleck –
I was concerned re the installation from the old system it was really easyThe app works well and is easy to understandVery pleased with the product
H Pham –
Delivery took a week since it is coming from California. Setup I had trouble to add my unit on to Rachio server. Rachio Service was quick, responsive and friendly. After installation is done, schedule setup is easy. Weather Intelligence Plus does not work well in my area (Mississauga, Ontario) as the weather forecast by the stations in Rachio database is mostly from the American network of Weather Underground and it is not accurate. I had to move around (trial and errors) with different stations in order to get a close reading of rain forecast and rainfall level as this will determine whether the unit will skip a scheduled water time.
Avg Internet Shopper –
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.