Comparison
Loamio vs. WaterMaster
Sources are linked below. Confirm current features and pricing with each vendor.
Which one is right for your district?
WaterMaster describes a modular system for billing, water orders, and water-right records. Loamio brings water orders, ditch rider runs, and assessments into one app with published monthly plans. Compare each product using your district's actual work.
Loamio vs. WaterMaster, capability by capability
| Capability | Loamio | WaterMaster |
|---|---|---|
| Public pricing | $99.00 / $299.00 / Custom per month | Contact the vendor for current pricing. |
| Offline ditch rider data entry | Open your route before heading out. Record delivery activity when signal drops, then sync when you're connected again. | Yes, syncs when back on cell or WiFi |
| Field app platform | Web app for phones and computers; can be added to the home screen. | iPad (RideKick) and an Irrigator app on iOS and Android (mywatermaster.com) |
| Share-based water rights ledger | Built in | Tracked via the Water Rights & Certificates module |
| Assessment billing | Assessments use per-acre or per-acre-foot billing. | Billing handled via BillTrack and District Groups modules |
| Patron payments | Stripe-hosted invoices on your district's connected Stripe account, with payment status returned to Loamio. Stripe processing fees apply. | Ask the vendor to demonstrate this workflow for your district. |
| Modules | One product, three plans | Modules: BillTrack, DitchRider, RideKick, Water Rights, District Groups (mywatermaster.com) |
| Customer references in published materials | None published | Farmer's Irrigation District (Hood River, OR), Vale Oregon Irrigation District, SMRID |
| Drought curtailment reporting | Published caps with OK / Near / Over bands, plus CSV | Ask the vendor to demonstrate this workflow for your district. |
| Delivery efficiency benchmarks | Anonymized acre-feet per acre by irrigation method | Ask the vendor to demonstrate this workflow for your district. |
| System schematic | Headgates, laterals, and active deliveries from the district's network and orders. Branch figures are order rates, not measured flow. | Ask the vendor to demonstrate this workflow for your district. |
The WaterMaster column describes WaterMaster as the sources linked on this page published it; confirm current features and pricing with the vendor. The Loamio column reflects Loamio's current offering across its plans (see pricing).
Where WaterMaster is the better pick
- You want named peer districts you can call. WaterMaster's published materials name districts that used it. Loamio is earlier in its customer journey.
- You need the modular flexibility. WaterMaster sells BillTrack, DitchRider, RideKick, Water Rights, and District Groups as separate modules. If you only want one or two of those and not a full system, WaterMaster's modular pricing may fit better — though you'll need to ask for a quote.
- You're already on an iPad-only workflow you're happy with. RideKick was built iPad-first; if your ditch riders are already on iPads and the workflow is working, the cost of switching may exceed the gain.
Where Loamio is the better pick
- You want to know the price before the call. Loamio publishes flat plans — $99.00/month for small mutual companies, $299.00/month for established districts, and a discussion for larger operations — with no per-user or per-patron fees. For WaterMaster, contact the vendor for current pricing.
- You want assessments and patron invoicing in one app. Assessments use per-acre or per-acre-foot billing. Stripe-hosted invoices on your district's connected Stripe account, with payment status returned to Loamio. Stripe processing fees apply. For WaterMaster: ask the vendor to demonstrate this workflow for your district.
Loamio pricing
Lateral $99.00/month · District $299.00/month · Basin by discussion. No per-user or per-patron charges. See plans and pricing.
Switching from WaterMaster to Loamio
If your board is considering a move, the practical questions are:
- Data export. WaterMaster's District Groups module supports Excel export. The import tool accepts CSV or Excel files for patrons, parcels, shares, water rights, and infrastructure.
- Patron communications. Plan a single combined notice explaining the switch and the new invoices, so patrons only hear from you once.
- Timing. Migrate between the end of one assessment cycle and the start of the next water-order season.
Sources
mywatermaster.com, Advanced Control Systems article in Irrigation Leader Magazine, May 2016, SMRID's WaterMaster rollout notes, WaterMaster Irrigator app on Google Play.
Other comparisons: Loamio vs. Watervize · Loamio vs. CVSS Storm · Loamio vs. spreadsheets
If we've stated something inaccurate about WaterMaster, please tell us and we'll update this page.
See Loamio at work
See it with your district in mind.
Bring a water order, a run sheet, or an assessment question to a 20-minute walk-through.