Rain Bird is a US irrigation company, headquartered in Azusa, California, that makes sprinkler hardware and smart irrigation controllers. Its Wi-Fi controllers, such as the ARC, RC2 and ST8-2.0 series, or older controllers fitted with the LNK2 WiFi module, are managed from the Rain Bird apps.
Rain Bird controllers connect to your home Wi-Fi, either built in or through the plug-in LNK2 module, and are run from one of two apps depending on the model. Rain Bird documents Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, and Home Assistant has a built-in integration that talks to the controller on the local network.
That suits a lawn or garden system where remote watering, schedules and weather-based adjustment matter more than a wide smart home ecosystem. It is weaker for Apple Home or SmartThings users, since we found no support for either, and for people who need Matter, which we did not find.
Connection
Wi-Fi, built in or through the LNK2 module; Bluetooth on one model
Voice assistants
Alexa and Google Assistant
Matter
Not found
Open platforms
Home Assistant; community Homey apps
What can be connected
Built-in Wi-Fi controllers ARC series, RC2 series and ST8-2.0 series
Controllers with the LNK2 WiFi module TRU, ESP-TM2, ESP-ME3, ESP-2WIRE, ESP-RZXe, ESP-LXIVM and ESP-LXME2 series
Accessories FG100 flow sensor, WR2 wireless rain and freeze sensor, and a Bluetooth ESP-BAT-BT controller
The older app, used by the ST8-2.0 series (including the ST8O), ESP-RZXe and ESP-LXIVM controllers according to Rain Bird's WiFi page. Its listing covers starting sprinklers, custom schedules and automatic weather adjustment, names ST8-WIFI, ESP-TM2, ESP-RZXe, ESP-Me, ESP-ME3, RC2 and ARC8, and mentions a Flume Smart Water Monitor integration. Published by Rain Bird Corporation. The Google Play link was found only through an app-tracking site and was not opened.
The newer app for ARC, RC2, TRU, ESP-TM2, ESP-ME3, ESP-2WIRE, ESP-LXME2 and the Bluetooth BAT-BT RC2. Its listing mentions weather automation, a controller map, site photos, programs saved without start times and a watering history calendar. Published by Rain Bird Corporation.
A free app that Rain Bird launched for landscape irrigation professionals rather than homeowners. We found it only through search results and did not open its listing.
Official supported by the brandCommunity built by someone elseNot found searched, nothing foundUnconfirmed sources conflict or could not be opened
Platform
Status
What it means
Sources
Connection
Wi-Fi
Yes
ARC, RC2 and ST8-2.0 controllers have Wi-Fi built in, and TRU, ESP-TM2, ESP-ME3, ESP-2WIRE, ESP-RZXe, ESP-LXIVM and ESP-LXME2 controllers need the LNK2 WiFi module. Rain Bird's ST8-2.0 product page also describes that timer as ready with the LNK2 module, so we could not reconcile how the ST8O is fitted. No Wi-Fi band is stated on the pages we read.
Rain Bird's WiFi page lists Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control in the US, Canada, India, Australia and the UK. We could not open a dedicated Google setup page, and neither app store listing mentions Google, so supported controllers and commands are unconfirmed.
Rain Bird documents an Alexa integration for its WiFi controllers, addressed as Rain Bird, such as asking Rain Bird to list zones. Commands cover running or stopping zones and programs, rain delays, status and default duration. The Alexa page says it is available in the United States and Canada only, which differs from the wider country list on Rain Bird's main WiFi page. It does not list supported controller models.
A built-in integration maintained by the Home Assistant project (@konikvranik and @allenporter), not by Rain Bird. It names the LNK WiFi Module, uses local polling and needs no cloud. Controllers updated to the Rain Bird 2.x app and newer firmware use HTTPS and need Home Assistant 2026.3.1 or later. The page does not mention LNK2 or ST8O by name. It exposes zone switches, run-program buttons, a rain delay number, a rain sensor and a schedule calendar. The LNK WiFi accepts one request at a time, so commands can fail while the Rain Bird app is in use.
Two community apps, neither by Athom nor Rain Bird. Wim Haanstra's app covers LNK WiFi controllers over LAN (ESP-Me, ESP-TM2, ESP-RZXe, ESP-ME3, RC2) and needs a Homey Bridge. Brian Monninkhof's app is a test version, lists the LNK2 under a local driver and has experimental cloud support for Rain Bird 2.0 controllers, and also needs a Homey Bridge. Neither listing mentions the ST8O.
We found no public Rain Bird developer API or documentation. Home Assistant's integration works by polling the controller on the local network with its password.
Checked 11 November 2026 against the brand's own pages, app store listings and each project's own page. “Not found” means we searched and found nothing, not that it is impossible. Compatibility changes often. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix it.
Common questions about Rain Bird
Does Rain Bird support Matter?
Not that we could find. No Matter or HomeKit mention on the Rain Bird pages we read, and our search for Apple Home or HomeKit support on the ST8O returned no Rain Bird page.
Does Rain Bird work with Alexa?
Yes, officially. Rain Bird documents an Alexa integration for its WiFi controllers, addressed as Rain Bird, such as asking Rain Bird to list zones. Commands cover running or stopping zones and programs, rain delays, status and default duration. The Alexa page says it is available in the United States and Canada only, which differs from the wider country list on Rain Bird's main WiFi page. It does not list supported controller models.
Does Rain Bird work with Google Home?
Yes, officially. Rain Bird's WiFi page lists Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control in the US, Canada, India, Australia and the UK. We could not open a dedicated Google setup page, and neither app store listing mentions Google, so supported controllers and commands are unconfirmed.
Does Rain Bird work with Apple Home (HomeKit)?
Not that we could find. No Apple Home or HomeKit support found on Rain Bird's pages, and our search for ST8O support returned none.
Does Rain Bird work with Home Assistant?
Yes. A built-in integration maintained by the Home Assistant project (@konikvranik and @allenporter), not by Rain Bird. It names the LNK WiFi Module, uses local polling and needs no cloud. Controllers updated to the Rain Bird 2.x app and newer firmware use HTTPS and need Home Assistant 2026.3.1 or later. The page does not mention LNK2 or ST8O by name. It exposes zone switches, run-program buttons, a rain delay number, a rain sensor and a schedule calendar. The LNK WiFi accepts one request at a time, so commands can fail while the Rain Bird app is in use.
Does Rain Bird work with SmartThings?
Not that we could find. No SmartThings integration found on Rain Bird's pages or in our search results.
Does Rain Bird work with Homey?
Yes, through a community-built integration. Two community apps, neither by Athom nor Rain Bird. Wim Haanstra's app covers LNK WiFi controllers over LAN (ESP-Me, ESP-TM2, ESP-RZXe, ESP-ME3, RC2) and needs a Homey Bridge. Brian Monninkhof's app is a test version, lists the LNK2 under a local driver and has experimental cloud support for Rain Bird 2.0 controllers, and also needs a Homey Bridge. Neither listing mentions the ST8O.
Does Rain Bird work with Hubitat?
Unconfirmed. We did not run a dedicated Hubitat search.
Answers come from the sourced table above. See how Rain Bird compares with all brands on the smart home brand statistics page.