For example, I have mine set on "Flex Monthly". It adjusts everything about my sprinklers based on the season and predicted weather. It picks the days to water, how long, in what order, and in what rotation if needed.

Some of my zones require longer run-times. The Rachio will break up that runtime into multiple runs so the water has time to sink in and not just roll off (cycle-and-soak). It also places logic into the order the sprinklers run (its not always zone 1,2,3,4).

You pay extra for the 'smarts' and its ease of use (its app is always rated the easiest to use).

My water bill has never been lower and my lawn has never been greener.

The extra ~$50 is worth it 🙂