Click & Grow vs. Gardyn (I Tried Both): Who's Better In 2024?

If you've ever wanted to grow your own vegetables but don't have the space or time for a typical garden, smart gardening may be the answer.

I've been looking into two popular options: Click and Grow and Gardyn. Both promise to make indoor gardening simple, but each has its own distinct features and benefits.

Click & Grow vs. Gardyn: Who’s The Winner?

Winner

Gardyn and Click & Grow occupy different sub-niches in the smart garden market, so each is better for different purposes. Gardyn is larger, has a much bigger plant capacity, and employs more technology to deliver a faster yield.

Click & Grow, on the other hand, is a lot more traditional in its approach. The most popular models offer cost-effective and space-effective solutions for having a small garden on your tabletop, where you can harvest spices and perhaps a couple of leafy greens.

If you want a diverse garden with a bigger and faster yield, and you are ready to pay the price and spend a bit more time with your plants, Gardyn is the best option available.

Click & Grow is perfect for those on a budget and those looking for a more hands-off gardening experience.

What Is Click & Grow?

Click & Grow is a smart garden system designed for those who want to grow their own veggies, herbs, and flowers without the hassle of traditional gardening.

With its sleek design and user-friendly technology, it aims to make gardening accessible to everyone, even if they live in small apartments or don't have a green thumb.

The core of Click & Grow's system is its smart soil technology. This soil is pre-loaded with essential nutrients, so you don't have to worry about adding fertilizers or constantly monitoring the pH levels.

The smart soil automatically adjusts the release of nutrients to suit the plant's growth stage, ensuring optimal growth conditions at all times.

In terms of design, Click & Grow gardens are minimalist and stylish, fitting seamlessly into modern home decor.

They come in different sizes, so whether you have a small countertop or a larger space, there's a model that suits your needs.

You can read my in-depth Click and Grow review here.

What Is Gardyn?

Gardyn is a sophisticated indoor gardening system designed for individuals who want to grow fresh produce effortlessly at home. It’s perfect for those with busy lifestyles or limited outdoor space.

The core of Gardyn is its vertical hydroponic system, which allows you to grow up to 30 plants at once without soil.

Instead, it uses a water-based system that delivers nutrients directly to the plant roots. This method not only saves space but also promotes faster growth and higher yields compared to traditional gardening.

Its advanced features and capacity to grow more plants at once justify the cost. For those who want a high-tech, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing indoor garden, Gardyn provides excellent quality and innovation.

You can read my in-depth Gardyn review here.

Click & Grow vs. Gardyn Main Differences

Size

In terms of size, Click & Grow offers a more compact solution. Their Smart Garden models vary from the small three-pod version up to the nine-pod garden. This makes them ideal for countertops or small spaces.

On the other hand, Gardyn features a vertical garden system that takes up more vertical space but can grow a larger number of plants in a smaller horizontal footprint. It’s great if you have more height than floor space to spare.

Click $ Grow also offers a bigger version of their best-seller, the Smart Garden 25, which houses up to 25 plants, which is more comparable to Gardyn.

However, the Smart Garden 25 has a modular design, which has a larger footprint than Gardyn, but it's also a lot lower.

Amount Of Plants

Click & Grow can be bought in versions with space for 3 plans or 9. Both are tabletop models, but the Smart Garden 9 is the more practical solution, in my opinion.

There is also the Smart Garden 25, which, as the name suggests, has space for 25 plants, but it is a distinctly different model from the much more popular tabletop versions.

Gardyn excels in this category. Its vertical system can grow up to 30 plants simultaneously, which is one of the most economical solutions in terms of footprint and space in the smart garden market.

This makes it a better choice if you have a big family or simply want a variety of herbs, greens, and vegetables at your fingertips.

Plant Pod Selection

Click & Grow offers over 75 different plant pods, including herbs, flowers, and mini vegetables. Their pods use patented smart soil technology to ensure plants get the right amount of nutrients and water.

Gardyn also offers a diverse selection but leans heavily into greens and herbs. They use a hydroponic system that allows for faster growth and more control over the nutrients.

Membership

When it comes to memberships, Click & Grow offers a subscription service for regular delivery of plant pods. This is convenient if you don’t want to keep track of when to reorder.

Gardyn offers a membership too, which not only includes monthly pod deliveries but also personalized advice from their AI assistant Kelby. This can be very helpful if you're a novice gardener.

On the other hand, some of the important features of the AI assistant are hidden behind the membership paywall, which is not small and will further increase the already substantial investment.

Setup

Setting up Click & Grow gardens is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes. You just need to insert the pods, fill the water reservoir, and plug it in.

Due to its size and hydroponic system, Gardyn's setup is a bit more complex; it typically takes around an hour to fully assemble. However, detailed instructions and online tutorials are available to guide you through the process.

App

Click & Grow’s app is pretty basic. It offers reminders for watering and basic tips. There is also a Pro version of the Smart Garden 9, where the light features and schedule can be controlled through the app, but the whole unit is more expensive than the standard version.

Gardyn's app, on the other hand, is much more sophisticated. It syncs with Kelby to provide real-time advice, monitors water levels, and even remotely adjust the LED lights. If you're tech-savvy or want more support, Gardyn's app is the better choice.

Maintenance

Maintenance for Click & Grow is minimal. You refill the water reservoir about once a month and trim your plants as needed.

Gardyn requires a bit more upkeep. Since it's a hydroponic system, you'll need to monitor water levels more closely and occasionally clean the water tank and pump. But the app does most of the monitoring for you.

Growing And Harvesting

Both systems are effective in growing fresh produce. Click & Grow's passive hydroponic system is practically foolproof and great for beginners. You can expect to start harvesting within a few weeks.

Gardyn's active hydroponic system promotes faster growth and higher yields. It is the ideal choice for more serious gardeners or those wanting a larger harvest.

Price

Click & Grow is generally more affordable. You can start with the 3-plant model for around $100 or choose the 9-plant version and pay $249. The big Smart Garden 25 retails for $799.

Gardyn is more of an investment, starting at around $800, but considering its advanced features and capacity, it might justify the higher price for serious gardeners.

When compared with the Click & Grow 25 plant model, which sells for $800, Gardyn has much better value.

However, the membership price is around $400 per year, so you need to keep this in mind if you want the product's full functionality.

My Experiences With Click & Grow And Gardyn

Click & Grow

Starting with Click and Grow, the setup was a breeze. I followed the straightforward instructions and had everything ready within minutes.

The compact design fits perfectly on my kitchen counter, which was a huge plus since I don't have much space in my apartment.

I started with their variety pack, including basil, tomatoes, and lettuce. Watching those pods sprout and flourish was quite rewarding.

One of the main features I appreciated was the self-watering system. I didn't have to worry about over or under-watering my plants.

The app was handy but minimalistic. It provided timely notifications like when to add water or insert new pods, but that was about it.

What I liked:

• Super easy setup and maintenance
• Compact design suitable for small spaces
• Self-watering system and timely app notifications

What could be better:

• Limited plant variety
• Basic app functionality

Gardyn

Switching to Gardyn was like stepping into a more advanced gardening world. Although the vertical design certainly took up more space, it also allowed me to grow a large number of plants—up to 30!

The setup, although more complex, wasn’t overwhelming. It took about an hour to assemble the system and get everything in place.

Gardyn's AI assistant, Kelby, was a game-changer. It provided personalized gardening tips and reminders, which made the whole experience feel almost professional. The LED grow lights ensured that my plants thrived regardless of the natural light in my apartment.

I started with a mix of herbs, leafy greens, and even some strawberries. The yield and growth rate were impressive. The robust app offered detailed insights, plant care tips, and growth tracking.

What I liked:

• High plant capacity and vertical design
• AI assistance and advanced app features
• LED grow lights for optimal plant growth

What could be better:

• Higher initial cost
• More complex setup and maintenance

Both systems excelled in their own ways when it came to performance. Click and Grow is fantastic for beginners or anyone with limited space and time. It's affordable, easy to use, and requires minimal intervention.

On the other hand, Gardyn is ideal for those willing to invest more time and money in a greater yield. Its high-tech features and larger capacity make it suitable for serious gardeners.

Durability-wise, both systems seemed built to last. Click and Grow's minimalist design and sturdy build felt reliable and hassle-free.

Gardyn’s system, though more intricate, also exuded durability with materials that seemed designed to withstand wear and tear.

In terms of ease of use, Click and Grow wins for simplicity. Its plug-and-play nature was extremely convenient.

Gardyn, while more feature-rich, demanded a bit more time and attention, which can be a drawback for someone looking for a low-maintenance solution.

Should You Get A Click & Grow Or Gardyn?

Choosing between Click and Grow and Gardyn boils down to what you're looking for in an indoor garden. If you're a beginner or just want something low-maintenance and budget-friendly, Click and Grow is a fantastic option. It's super easy to set up and fits perfectly in small spaces.

On the other hand, if you're more experienced or want to jump into a more advanced gardening experience, Gardyn is worth the investment. Its vertical design, AI assistance, and LED grow lights make it a powerhouse for serious gardeners.

Both systems are durable and perform well, so you can’t go wrong with either. It all depends on your needs and how much you're willing to spend.

I find Gardyn to be the more suitable choice for me because the capacity lets me have a diverse garden at home, the yield is much faster, and I enjoy fiddling with techy stuff, so the AI assistant is a welcome bonus.