What's the difference between a hose timer and a sprinkler controller?

A hose timer screws onto an outdoor faucet (hose bib) and controls one or more hoses or drip lines. A sprinkler controller, like the Rachio 16-zone or Orbit B-hyve XR, wires into an in-ground irrigation system and manages multiple buried zones. Sprinkler controllers cost more and require existing irrigation wiring; hose timers are plug-and-play for gardens, drip kits, and container plants.