The 3 Best Smart Hose Timers of 2023

If you want to simplify your lawn or garden care, a smart hose timer will help you keep your yard or garden thriving with little effort on your part.

We like the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer because its comprehensive app allows you to easily set up customizable Schedules, and a built-in water-flow meter lets you monitor usage. This model is smart enough to skip waterings based on the weather in your area, as well, so you aren’t the local dope soaking your lawn during a downpour.

Smart hose timers screw on to standard outdoor hose bibs and can connect to one or several above-ground sprinklers. Using an app, you create Schedules for your timer to go on and off, and because it connects to Wi-Fi, you can control it remotely. Many models consult forecasts and can automatically cancel or delay watering if rain is on the way. Some can pair with additional timers if you need to cover more ground.

Some timers support only Bluetooth wireless. Get a model that integrates with a Wi-Fi hub to ensure that its smart features work.

To support remote control and to access forecasts, your timer needs reliable Wi-Fi. Plug in the Wi-Fi hub within range of your router and the timer itself.

Smart timers thread directly onto a standard hose bib, and a standard 0.75-inch garden hose threads onto the timer. Many models include adapters to use with 0.5-inch irrigation hosing.

Most timers have a single water port, though some have two or as many as four, which lets you easily create irrigation zones. You can add multiple hose timers, too.

This timer offers easy customization, a built-in flow meter, and a wide range of features, including automated delays based on rain.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

We recommend the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer for its wide range of features and easy customization.

The app, which we found simple to set up though somewhat clunky to use after the initial configuration, provides access to remote on/off control, notifications, an activity log, scheduling, and family sharing. If you don’t have your phone handy, you can directly turn the timer on or off by pressing a physical button. A hub to connect the B-hyve to your home Wi-Fi network is included.

The B-hyve also offers a built-in flow meter, which keeps track of how much water you are using. And because the timer connects to a local forecast, you can set it to automatically skip a scheduled watering if rain is coming.

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A dial and a digital display give you the option to schedule watering directly on the device when your phone isn’t nearby.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

The Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer doesn’t have a flow meter like our top pick, but it does offer more advanced on-device manual controls for anyone who is less interested in relying on a smartphone app. Not only can you start and stop the B-hyve XD directly on the timer, as on our other picks, but you also have the option of programming it using a small digital display and a dial. We prefer the ability to use an app, but for some households with less smartphone-savvy members, a model that offers both manual and digital controls may be a better choice. Otherwise, the B-hyve XD works almost identically to our top pick.

The B-hyve XD is available with a single hose port (the model we tested), as well as in two- and four-port versions. To enable smart functions, the B-hyve XD requires the Orbit B-hyve Gen 2 Wi-Fi Hub, which is included in the package.

This affordable model allows for easy on/off control, scheduling, and family sharing in the app.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

The Diivoo Smart Water Timer with WiFi Hub is easy to set up, integrates well with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and comes with a Wi-Fi hub, yet it typically costs just $50. It offers all of the same basic features as our top pick but lacks a water-flow meter.

It can’t automatically skip scheduled runs based on whether rain is in the forecast, but you can toggle on a rain delay in the app for a set amount of time to skip any watering cycles, so you don’t have to run outside in the rain to shut off the hose.

This Diivoo timer is available in one- and two-port versions.

This timer offers easy customization, a built-in flow meter, and a wide range of features, including automated delays based on rain.

A dial and a digital display give you the option to schedule watering directly on the device when your phone isn’t nearby.

This affordable model allows for easy on/off control, scheduling, and family sharing in the app.

For a decade I covered smart-home technology at CNET. I’ve wrangled robot vacuums, jumped inside washing machines, hated on smart displays, and appeared in videos as a creepy electrician and Santa—for science.

Smart hose timers connect your hose and above-ground sprinklers to Wi-Fi. Unlike traditional hose timers, smart models allow you to easily set up and adjust custom watering Schedules, turn your hose on and off from a companion app or with a voice command to a smartphone or speaker, share access with others, and receive notifications when the system is running. With just a regular hose, a battery-powered gizmo, and a plug-in Wi-Fi hub, it’s as close as you can get to having a fancy, programmable in-ground irrigation system.

Many hose timers, including our top pick, also automatically cancel a scheduled watering if it’s going to rain, so you don’t end up double-watering your yard.

If you don’t have your phone handy, you can still perform basic on/off functions using a button on the timer. And when you have a Wi-Fi or power outage, most smart hose timers default to existing watering Schedules and continue to operate.

Smart hose timers are Bluetooth-enabled, but many also come with a small plug-in hub (either bundled in the box or as an optional additional purchase) that acts as a relay to connect the timer to your Wi-Fi network. For our test group, we selected only hose timers that have a companion Wi-Fi hub (see How we picked and tested); you can still use these models locally within Bluetooth range where it makes sense.

Out of the box, smart hose timers are compatible with standard 0.75-inch garden hoses, but often they come with 0.5-inch adapters to give you the option to use them with irrigation-style hosing. Most hose timers work with water pressure from 10 to 100 pounds per square inch, or psi. Depending on the model, smart hose timers can work with various types of above-ground sprinklers.

Typically a small amount of plumber’s tape is also included in the box to help prevent leaks, since your water spigot must always sit in the “on” position for the hose timer to work properly. The handle on my water spigot is leaky, and during my tests the included tape was never enough to fully stop the water from flowing. This had nothing to do with the hose timers themselves, but if you also encounter this issue, you should repair your spigot or invest in extra plumber’s tape to avoid wasting water.

Another important step is to check the quality of your Wi-Fi connection wherever you plan to install your Wi-Fi hub and to check where that location is in relation to your hose timer. If the connection isn’t reliable, you need to try a different location, or your hose timer may not function as intended.

Like many smart-home devices, the majority of the hose timers I tested work only with typical 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi is a mix of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, as in a mesh network, note that initial setup issues are not uncommon, and you may need to temporarily pause your 5 GHz network until you’ve successfully added your timer to your network.

One Wi-Fi hub can support multiple hose timers. This is a nice option if you have several areas you want to water, though the specific number of supported timers per hub depends on the company and the model. Some brands sell hose timers with more than one valve so that you can water two or more zones with one timer. We focused on single-valve units for this guide.

Any hose timer should be removed during the colder months. The exact operating temperature ranges vary by model, but generally you should remove your timer before the temperature reaches freezing.

Every model I tested needed two or four AA batteries to work, and annoyingly, none came with them in the box, so check your junk drawer ahead of time to confirm that you’re stocked up. Battery longevity differs depending on usage and outside temperatures. Most companies claim that their timers will last at least a year or a full “season” of watering on a set of batteries.

Five of the seven hose timers I tested had easy-open battery compartments, and two required a 0.125-inch screwdriver. The LinkTap G2S Wireless Water Timer actually came with a screwdriver, which I ended up using to open the battery compartment of the Rachio Smart Hose Timer Starter Kit.

There truly is a better garden hose for you. We found a great reel, too.

Instead of testing all of the smart hose timers that were currently available, we came up with criteria to narrow down the list. Any model we decided to test had to offer the following:

Along with that list of requirements, we also looked for models with attractive features, such as:

During testing, we paid special attention to the following characteristics and experiences:

To test smart hose timers, I connected each model individually at the same water spigot to ensure as close to the same baseline conditions from model to model as possible. I noted how well the timers connected—and stayed connected—to Wi-Fi, sent notifications, logged activity, and ran Schedules.

When a model had special features such as an integrated flow meter, I spent extra time in the app to see what, if any, additional benefits they offered. Due to a period of little to no rain during my testing, I was unable to fully confirm how reliably each automatic rain-skip feature worked for the models that offered it. This is something I’ll test over the long term; I’ll report back if I notice any inconsistencies.

This timer offers easy customization, a built-in flow meter, and a wide range of features, including automated delays based on rain.

The Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer provides the best combination of capabilities and performance of all the models we tested. Its app lets you easily customize watering Schedules, it can automatically skip watering if rain is in the forecast, it has a built-in flow meter to track water usage, and it offers painless integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. If your power or Wi-Fi goes out, or the device loses connection for any reason, it will continue to run the programs you’ve created in the app.

It has features found on more advanced irrigation controllers. For instance, the Orbit B-hyve can optimize watering based on your soil type, sun exposure, grade, and other environmental features (more on that below).

Orbit also says that all of its hose timers are rated IPX5, which means each one is “protected against water jets,” according to the International Electrotechnical Commission. In practice, that means it’s fine to leave the B-hyve exposed to the elements.

The B-hyve app is highly customizable. Not only does this hose timer skip watering cycles if it’s going to rain, but the Smart Watering feature in the B-hyve app also takes into account tons of information about the area you’re watering. The B-hyve app then uses this information to further optimize your watering program.

When you’re setting up the Smart Watering feature, you answer a number of detailed questions about the type of soil, the sorts of landscaping and sprinkler heads you plan to use (the number as well as their intended coverage area and angle), how much sunlight and rainfall the area typically gets, and whether the area is flat or hilly.

The app even presents an Advanced Zone Settings option for each question to provide more detail. For example, when the app asked, “What is the average grade of Zone 1?” I could choose between “Mostly Flat” or “On a Slope.” After selecting one of those options, though, in the advanced settings I could also note the specific grade, ranging from 0–3% to 13% or more.

The integrated flow meter gives you even more information. A flow meter estimates how much water you use whenever you turn on your hose, and not all smart hose timers have one. Whether you need to save money and water or simply want to get a better understanding of how much water is reaching your prize roses every week, a flow meter can make a big difference.

After I set up the B-hyve timer, the app prompted me to run a 30-second calibration test for the flow meter. Once I created my first Schedule in the app, it estimated that running a single oscillating sprinkler for 10 minutes would use 71.1 gallons of water based on the flow rate from the calibration test.

Review Orbit’s privacy statement for more information.

The app is confusing. I found the B-hyve app a little tricky to navigate. That’s partly due to the large number of features available, but the app could be better designed and easier to use, too.

For instance, the app’s main screen has five tabs at the bottom: Calendar, Program, Home, Zones, and My B-hyve (where you access additional settings). In theory, these tabs should give you quick and easy access to specific options, but instead many of the same settings live in more than one tab, which is confusing.

For instance, the Calendar lists your watering Schedule, but so does the Program tab, which is where you can view and make changes to active Schedules and also create new ones. The Home screen lists the hose timers that you have in use and also displays the upcoming watering Schedule. And then the Zones tab repeats the list of hose timers, as well as the next device that will trigger in your Schedule. Meanwhile, your watering-history log is buried in the My B-hyve section. A revamp of the app would be welcome.

A dial and a digital display give you the option to schedule watering directly on the device when your phone isn’t nearby.

Of the seven models we tested, the Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer has the most on-device controls. Like the others, this model allows you to turn it on and off manually from the timer itself, but you can also program it without your phone via a digital display and a little dial.

The B-hyve XD isn’t equipped with a flow meter, and it typically costs $15 more than our top pick, but anyone who wants to have additional functionality directly on their timer so that they don’t need to futz with an app is likely to find this model particularly useful.

Everything else about this smart hose timer matches what you get from the standard Orbit B-hyve. It works well with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, it uses the same robust but slightly clunky B-hyve app, it automatically skips scheduled watering cycles if rain is on the way, and it has the same IPX5 waterproof rating.

It also offers all of the same basic features, namely on/off controls in the app (and on the device), notifications, account sharing, scheduling, and an activity log.

You have the option to use an app or manual controls. The B-hyve XD is an excellent hybrid device, blending a traditional manual hose timer with a smart one. You can use the mobile app to program it, but if you or someone else in your household prefers not to poke at a smartphone, a twist of the dial turns the hose on and off or adds a new program. Your options on the timer include Set Clock, Start Time, How Long, How Often, Auto/Manual, and Off.

I created a Schedule directly on the timer to water every two days for 10 minutes starting at 6:30 a.m., and it worked just as reliably as when I made a program in the B-hyve app. You can adjust the frequency to anything from one to 12 hours and up to 32 days, running for as briefly as one minute or as long as four hours.

You can still view and modify existing Schedules in the app, as well as add new ones.

But those manual controls are a little fiddly. Whereas the other smart timers we tested have only on/off buttons on the device for basic use without a phone, this particular Orbit model provides a variety of manual options. Unfortunately, they can be a little confusing to use—you have to do a lot of scrolling and button presses to create programs on this model. That said, the process does get easier after you’ve spent some time with it.

It’s more expensive than our other picks. While our top-pick Orbit hose timer usually costs $80, this one will set you back about $15 more. Our budget pick is almost half the price.

Because the B-hyve XD is made by the same company and uses the same app as the standard B-hyve, the security and privacy criteria are the same for this model as for our top pick.

This affordable model allows for easy on/off control, scheduling, and family sharing in the app.

The Diivoo Smart Water Timer with WiFi Hub doesn’t have a built-in flow meter and doesn’t automatically adjust the watering Schedule based on the weather, but it nails most of the basics and comes with a tiny Wi-Fi hub, yet it typically costs a modest $50.

The companion HomGar app provides on/off control, the ability to create Schedules and manage notifications, an activity log, and account sharing. You can instead opt to use the Smart Life app, which is a “universal” smart-home app compatible with dozens of third-party devices. (Another tester ran into issues using Smart Life, which we’ll get into below, so we suggest sticking with the HomGar app.)

Like the Orbit timers, this Diivoo timer continues to run scheduled watering cycles even if the power goes out. And if you want to control the unit directly, you can turn it on and off via a button on the timer itself.

This model is rated IPX4, or one level less protective than the Orbit models. (IPX4 means it’s “protected against splashing water,” according to the International Electrotechnical Commission standard.) Judging from my experience testing this Diivoo timer, I expect that it would fare fine with extended exposure to rainfall, though I would have to try it over the long term to know for sure.

If you’re looking for a simpler Wi-Fi–enabled hose timer that does the job for less money, the Diivoo Smart Water Timer with WiFi Hub is a solid choice.

The app is easy to navigate. Unlike Orbit’s B-hyve app, which inundates you with information in a series of cluttered tabs, Diivoo’s HomGar app is comparatively easy to use.

The HomGar app condenses everything into four tabs: Home, Plan, Event, and Me. The Home tab houses your devices and tells you what’s connected. You can view, modify and make new Schedules in the Plan tab. The Event tab shows a detailed activity log of everything, including when a Schedule runs, when a voice command is used, and more. The Me tab houses the rest of the app settings.

The HomeGar app doesn’t provide the same level of detail as the B-hyve app does, but for anyone who simply wants to be confident that their plants will get watered while they’re on vacation, it’s a solid, simple option.

It works seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Whereas some other smart hose timers have limited integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant or none at all (ahem, Rachio), the Diivoo timer supports both, and in my tests it connected to them effortlessly.

With an Amazon Echo Show 8 and a Google Nest Hub Max, I asked Alexa and Google Assistant, respectively, to turn the backyard hose on and off, and I experienced no issues whatsoever. Other available commands include setting a rain delay and watering a specific zone for a set length of time (if you have more than one unit or a unit with multiple valves).

The optional Smart Life app sends baffling notifications. A tester using the Smart Life app got bombarded with alerts whenever they entered or left Bluetooth range of the Diivoo hose timer. I didn’t experience this issue with the HomeGar app.

To avoid getting too many alerts from the Smart Life app, you can opt out of notifications. Under the Me tab, tap the settings icon on the top right of the screen and then tap App Notification. You can toggle off alerts entirely or schedule a recurring do-not-disturb period. Unfortunately, doing so means that you might miss other potentially important alerts, since you can’t customize which ones you receive in the app.

Review Diivoo’s privacy statement for more information.

If you want a solid app-enabled timer with no voice integrations: The Rachio Smart Hose Timer Starter Kit (Valve + WiFi Hub) has a lot going for it—except, critically, actual smart-home smarts. Unlike our sprinkler controller pick, the Rachio3 smart sprinkler controller, which supports Alexa and Google Assistant, this Rachio timer doesn’t integrate with any other smart devices.

This list includes the additional smart hose timers we tested for this guide but do not recommend.

Both the RainPoint Smart WiFi Sprinkler Timer and the Linex WiFi Smart Water Timer LX-SGW03W were unreasonably difficult to set up, and the Linex model in particular went offline regularly. And despite both timer companies’ claims of their respective units’ compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, in our tests neither worked well in that regard.

The LinkTap G2S Wireless Water Timer offers many of the same features and performance as our top pick but is usually about $60 more expensive—and it doesn’t support Google Assistant.

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.

Megan Wollerton

Megan Wollerton is a product tester and an award-winning feature writer. Previously she spent a decade at CNET reviewing all manner of gear and writing long stories about nature. Before that, she blogged for NBC’s SYFY Channel. In her spare time, she tries to convince her family to move to a remote cabin in the woods, and she eats much more dessert than is socially acceptable.

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