Gardyn vs. Rise Garden (I Tried Both): Who's Better In 2024?

I've always been fascinated by the idea of growing my own fresh produce right at home. With so many indoor gardening systems available, it can be tough to choose the right one. Two popular options that often come up are Gardyn and Rise Garden.

Both promise to turn your living space into a lush, green oasis, but they each have unique features and benefits.

Gardyn vs. Rise Garden: Who’s The Winner?

Winner

Gardyn is a more sophisticated home garden that employs more cutting-edge tech to help you maintain your plants' health. Its sleek and modern design and functions make it the winner in my book.

Rise Garden, on the other hand, provides a slightly more traditional gardening experience due to its horizontal design and simpler mobile app.

The long-term costs are also lower. If you want to have more plants, only Rise Garden offers expansion options for up to 108 plants.

So, while I picked Gardyn as the winner, Rise Garden is a great choice, depending on the customer.

What Is Gardyn?

Gardyn is an innovative indoor gardening system designed to make growing fresh produce at home more accessible and more efficient.

The system uses a sleek, vertical hydroponic setup that allows you to grow up to 30 plants at once in a compact space.

Gardyn comes packed with several unique features that make it stand out in the indoor gardening market. For starters, it has a built-in camera and sensors that monitor plant growth, light conditions, and water levels.

These sensors work with an AI-powered assistant named "Kelby," which is available through a smartphone app. Kelby provides real-time advice on how to manage your garden, reminding you when to add water or nutrients.

Another major feature is the use of “yCubes,” which are pre-seeded plant pods that contain everything a plant needs to grow. This makes setting up and maintaining your Gardyn incredibly straightforward and hassle-free.

Gardyn isn’t the cheapest option on the market, but you get a lot of value for your money. The convenience of the yCubes, the high efficiency of the LED lights, and the smart AI assistance all contribute to making it a worthwhile investment.

You can read my in-depth breakdown in my Gardyn review.

What Is Rise Garden?

Rise Garden is an indoor gardening system designed to make growing fresh, healthy produce at home convenient and accessible.

The Rise Garden system utilizes a hydroponic setup, which means plants grow in nutrient-rich water rather than soil.

This method allows for faster growth cycles and less mess, which is perfect for busy lifestyles or those living in urban environments where traditional gardening might not be feasible.

One of Rise Garden's standout features is its modularity. If you enjoy indoor gardening, you can start with a single unit and expand later by adding more levels.

The garden itself includes LED grow lights calibrated to provide the optimal light spectrum for various stages of plant growth. It also comes with pre-seeded plant pods, making it easy for beginners to start their gardening journey.

Rise Garden delivers impressive performance. The hydroponic system ensures that your plants receive the right amount of nutrients directly to their roots.

While Gardyn incorporates an AI assistant to help manage plant care, Rise Garden keeps it straightforward with an intuitive app that guides you through each step.

Both systems provide excellent results, but your choice will depend on your specific needs and space constraints.

Considering its modularity, sleek design, and superior performance, Rise Garden offers excellent value for money.

It may be a bit of an initial investment, but the benefits of having fresh produce year-round and the system’s longevity make it worth the cost.

Plus, you have the option to expand your garden as your interest and needs grow, which adds to its overall value.

You can read my in-depth breakdown in my Rise Garden review.

Gardyn vs. Rise Garden Main Differences

Size

Gardyn's vertical design is pretty space-efficient, making it ideal if you're tight on space.

It measures about 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep but extends upwards to 5 feet. This means you can have a robust indoor garden without losing much floor space.

Rise Garden follows a similar route, with a set footprint and multiple height options.

The base is 43 x 21 x 20 inches for all three versions, which are 1 level, 2 levels, and 3 levels in height. Thanks to the modular design, expansion is super easy.

Amount Of Plants

Gardyn lets you grow up to 30 plants simultaneously, thanks to its vertical stacking system. The plants are arranged in columns, making it easy to manage and optimize the use of LED grow lights.

Rise Garden offers different plant capacities based on the selected size. The one-level version holds 36 plants, and the two larger models multiply this number to 72 and 108, respectively, so you can have a much bigger garden.

Plant Pod Selection

Gardyn provides pre-seeded plant pods that include a decent variety of vegetables, herbs, and even flowers. The selection is extensive, with options like lettuce, basil, tomatoes, and more.

Rise Garden also offers pre-seeded pods but with an emphasis on customization. You can find an array of options that cater to both beginners and advanced growers.

The availability of nutrient packs and different growing mediums further enriches this experience.

Membership

Gardyn has an optional membership. Members have access to an AI assistant named Kelby, which provides real-time advice on plant care. The membership also offers discounts on plant pods and other accessories.

Rise Garden also offers a membership plan, but it's cheaper and does not unlock any more smart functionalities.

Instead, you get a seasonal customized box every three months, 15% off additional supplies, and free shipping.

Setup

Setting up Gardyn is relatively straightforward. The system comes in parts that need to be assembled, but the instructions are clear and manageable, even for non-DIY enthusiasts.

Rise Garden offers a modular setup, which means you can start small and expand as needed.

The assembly is intuitive, with most components clicking into place without much hassle. This makes it ideal if you prefer a less permanent solution that can be adjusted as your gardening ambitions grow.

App

Gardyn’s app integrates seamlessly with their AI assistant. It tracks plant health, adjusts light schedules, and sends alerts for water and nutrient levels.

The app is user-friendly and quite comprehensive, adding a smart touch to your gardening experience.

Rise Garden's app is also robust. It provides detailed plant tracking, including growth stages and nutrient requirements.

While it may not have an AI assistant, the app's overall guidance is excellent, making it easy to manage your garden effectively.

Maintenance

Gardyn's system is designed to be low-maintenance, with automated watering and lighting schedules. Occasional checks and minor adjustments are usually all that's needed. If you subscribe to Kelby, everything becomes even more accessible and more automated.

Rise Garden also emphasizes low-maintenance operation. The horizontal layout makes it easier to access each plant, and the app offers timely reminders for watering, adding nutrients, and other essential tasks.

Its modular design further simplifies maintenance as you can manage individual sections without disrupting the whole system.

Growing And Harvesting

Growing with Gardyn feels like having a mini farm inside your apartment. The plants grow vigorously thanks to the efficient hydroponic system and optimized light exposure. Harvesting is a bit trickier due to the vertical layout.

Rise Garden's horizontal setup provides a more traditional gardening experience. Plants grow well and are easily accessible. Thanks to the expansive layout, the harvesting process is straightforward and can be done without much hassle.

Price

Gardyn tends to be on the pricier side, especially if you opt for the Gardyn Plus membership. The initial cost may seem high, but you’re investing in a high-tech system with extensive features like AI assistance.

The home kit's price is $849, which is a very reasonable price for what it offers and, in my opinion, provides more value than its competitors.

However, the membership is $408 and $686 for one and two years, respectively, which is a bit steep. At least the Kelby AI assistant is a real gardening guru in your pocket.

Rise Garden is not much cheaper. A one-level Rise Garden with 36 plant spots costs $799, which is the version most comparable to Gardyn since the number of plants is nearly the same. The Level 2 and 3 versions go for $1149 and $1449, respectively.

There are fewer recurring costs since the membership fee is lower, and it doesn’t have any additional functionalities, so skipping it will not alter your experience at all.

My Experiences With Gardyn And Rise Garden

The setup process for Gardyn was pretty straightforward but did require some patience. The vertical design meant I needed to ensure stability, especially given its capacity to hold up to 30 plants.

It took me about an hour to get everything in place. The pre-seeded plant pods were a big advantage, saving me the hassle of manually planting seeds. The AI assistant integrated seamlessly, guiding me through the first few days.

On the other hand, setting up Rise Garden was a breeze. Its modular design allowed me to choose a setup that fit my space perfectly.

No balancing acts were required. The horizontal layout made the assembly seem like a breeze compared to Gardyn.

The pre-seeded pods were consistent in their quality and easy to install. I had my garden up and running within 45 minutes.

When it came to growing, Gardyn felt like it had a bit of a learning curve. The AI assistant is very helpful and ensures you keep all of your plants thriving. I noticed that some plants needed more attention than others.

Maintaining the Rise Garden was a different story. The horizontal design made it easier to access each plant for watering and pruning.

The app provided timely notifications and tips, much like Gardyn's AI. I also appreciated the ability to customize my garden's layout, which allowed for a more tailored approach to each plant's needs.

Gardyn’s AI assistant is a fascinating feature. It’s like having a gardening buddy who’s always ready to help.

I admit the app can sometimes overwhelm you a bit with notifications, but if you are into techy stuff, this is a good thing. You always feel you are on top of the whole process and have no chance of doing anything wrong.

Rise Garden’s app is less sophisticated, which can be a pro or a con depending on who you are.

It wasn't too intrusive but provided the necessary information and support on time. It allowed me to track the progress of each plant easily and adjust care routines based on real-time data.

For some this is enough, for others the AI features of Gardyn are better.

Cost and Value

Price-wise, Gardyn is a bit more expensive, even without the membership options, and it has a little less plant capacity.

However, the AI features, cameras, and sensors, in addition to the more futuristic design, somewhat compensate for this.

The base price of Rise Garden is roughly the same as that of Gardyn, and the recurring costs are lower, so this can be a determining factor in your choice.

Spread over 2 years, Rise Garden definitely is the more cost-efficient option, but the value of both is more of an individual thing.

Should You Get A Gardyn Or Rise Garden?

Choosing between Gardyn and Rise Garden really boils down to what you value most in an indoor gardening system.

If you're all about maximizing space and don't mind a bit more maintenance, Gardyn's vertical design and tech features might be your jam.

On the other hand, if you prefer something modular and easy to manage, Rise Garden's simplicity and customization options could be a better fit.

Another bonus is the option to expand the modules and grow your garden to 72 or 108 plants, which is impossible with Gardyn.

I found both systems to have their unique perks and challenges. Gardyn's AI assistant is pretty cool, and the design is undoubtedly more eye-catching. I felt it contributed a lot to the aesthetic and cozyness of the room.

Meanwhile, Rise Garden's straightforward setup made my gardening experience a breeze.

I feel like Gardyn is a more innovative product and I learned to like and trust the AI, so if I have to choose between the two again, I would pick Gardyn, despite the slightly higher price.