AeroGarden and Click & Grow offer some of the best indoor garden appliances on the market today. Because of their unique features, figuring out which of the two is best for you can be tricky.
To help you decide, we’ve put together this AeroGarden vs Click and Grow comparison review to see what each brand has to offer.
We’ll be using the two most similar products from both brands: the Click & Grow 3 and the AeroGarden Harvest. These 2 models have a similar price point and style, so we thought they would make a good case study for our comparison of the two popular brands.
Let’s begin!
My AeroGarden vs Click and Grow Comparison
First, we’ll start with a comparison table and look at a few basic facts about each system.
| AeroGarden Harvest | Click and Grow 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| # Pods | 6 | 3 |
| Light | 20 Watts | 8 Watts |
| Plant Height | 12" with Adjustable Arm | 10.2" Modular - 2 Settings |
| Dimensions | 11 x 8 x 15 in | 11.8 x 4.7 x 18.5 in |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs | 2.6 lbs |
| Colors | Sage, Black, White | White |
Next, we’ve chosen 13 of the important features of both systems to see how each compares. These features are a little more subjective, so we’ll go into detail for each one.
1. System Cost
At the time of this article, the Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 and the AeroGarden Harvest (in white) are evenly matched in price. Interestingly, there are AeroGarden Harvest has three color options: white, sage, and black. The sage is about 30% more expensive (probably because it’s a new color), and the black AeroGarden is about 10% less.
So, for this comparison point, we will call it a draw.
2. Pod Cost
This is another comparison point where the two manufacturers are evenly matched – at least for the smaller seed pod kits. At the time of this article, a set of 3 replacement pods for either system will run you about $10. However, when you step up to the 9 pod replacement kits, Aerogarden comes out ahead pretty significantly.
That means, in the long run, if you buy in bulk, AeroGarden is cheaper. However, manufacturers change their prices all the time, running sales or promotions, so it’s always best to check directly on their websites.
3. LED Lighting System
Watts: The Smart Garden uses adjustable 8-watt LED lighting, and the AeroGarden Harvest 20-watt LED grow lights
Height: The Smart Garden’s LED lights have a modular setup, which is nice since you can add a second extension when your plants grow slightly taller. With the 2 extensions in place, you will get 10.2 inches of plant height.
The Harvest, on the other hand, has an adjustable arm that can be raised to a maximum height of 12 inches.
Combined with the stronger grow light, the Aerogarden Harvest is our winner for the best LED lighting system.
Automation: The lights of both appliances switch on and off automatically.
So, for this comparison, the AeroGarden is slightly better, with a stronger light source and a variable height that can be raised to the exact level your plants need.
4. Yield
The Smart Garden 3 can hold three plants at a time. This is fine for adding a few herbs to your meals or to enjoy some microgreens.
The AeroGarden Harvest can hold up to six different plants at once, which is twice the amount.
So, you get a bigger yield at approximately the same price point.
You can grow a larger number of herbs in the Aerogarden harvest.
5. Ease of Use
The AeroGarden Harvest and the Click & Grow 3 both have an easy-to-use design and interface. The Click & Grow 3 is so simple to use that all you need to do is add the pods, fill the tank, plug in the system, and let the smart garden do the rest.
The AeroGarden Harvest has more customizable controls, and while it is also easy to use, more options can make it a little more complicated for beginners.
So, while this point is a little debatable if I had to pick a winner, I’d say the Click and Grow Smart Garden is simpler overall.
6. Types of Plants Available
Both companies have a wide selection of plants that can be grown in either system. They both carry herbs, vegetables, salad greens, and flowers well suited to growing indoors.
What I like about the Click and Grow plant pods is that they have both dwarf basil and dwarf peas available. There is also a wide selection of edibles—44 in total—and a handful of flowers such as coleus, pansies, petunias, marigolds, and moss rose (which I love!).
The AeroGarden Harvest also has a wide variety of seed pods with over 50 types of herbs, vegetables, salad greens, and flowers.
One cool option is their themed herb garden kits. You can choose from a Salsa Mix, Pizza Herbs. Salad Bar and a few others.
For the selection of plants – I’d say it’s a pretty even match.
7. Noise
The Click and Grow smart garden wins the noise comparison. It is mostly silent, so you don’t have to worry about distracting noises.
The AeroGarden Harvest’s hydroponic system can be slightly louder due to the water pump’s motor.
8. Light Output
The lights on both systems are quite bright, which is good for the plants but may not be so great for you at night. You can resolve this issue by keeping the garden in a room that’s out of view from where you sleep or relax in the evening.
But when it comes to power and wattage, AeroGarden has stronger LED grow lights at 20 watts compared to the Click and Grow’s 8 watts. Even the smallest of the AeroGarden models, the sprout, has 10 watts.
9. Watering System
AeroGarden’s watering system includes a reservoir and water pump to circulate the water in the base of the unit and feed the plant by the roots. The pump runs automatically for 5 minutes every 25 minutes to oxygenate the water and ensure it never becomes stagnant. It can also be manually initiated. The water indicator will turn red when it’s time to refill.
The Click & Grow also has a large water tank that it uses to water your plants automatically. The seed pods have a wicking system at the bottom to draw water up to your plants. The water is controlled with a floating indicator that rises and falls with the level of the water. There is no pump inside the base, so it’s quieter than the AeroGarden model. The floating water indicator lets you know when it’s time to refill the base.
The Aerogarden’s water pump is more advanced and does a better job of circulating water in the tank and keeping it fresh.
10. Soil
The AeroGarden’s hydroponic system uses sponges that are filled with Sphagnum Peat Moss, while the Click & Grow uses a special soil called Smart Soil. Both mediums are designed to provide the right amount of oxygen, nutrients, and water that the plant needs to grow. So this one is a tie.
11. Control Panel
The Click and Grow control panel is more simplistic with just a red light indicator when you need to add water or refill the nutrients. The AeroGarden has a touchscreen panel with illuminated buttons to adjust the light or let you know when it’s time for a refill of water or nutrients.
While the Harvest is one of the simpler models, AeroGarden’s larger models offer even more customization options.
This point comes down to personal preference, if you like it super simple or a few additional options.
12. Style
Both gardens have sturdy plastic bodies, are aesthetically pleasing, and will fit easily on your kitchen counter or tabletop. However, Click and Grow has a more streamlined appearance that many find more attractive.
When it comes to design options, the AeroGarden is available in a much wider variety of shapes and sizes. You can choose from white, black, sage green, red, and stainless steel combinations. Click and Grow smart gardens keep it simple and are available in white.
So again, this comes down to your personal preference.
13. Overall User Impressions/Comments
Customers are generally pleased with both AeroGarden and Click & Grow, but the AeroGarden Harvest has a higher percentage of positive reviews overall than its competitor.
Who Wins the Click and Grow vs AeroGarden Comparison?
Let’s summarize with the pros and cons of each, then we’ll get to my recommendations.
Click & Grow Smart Garden
Pros
- Attractive and portable design
- Very user-friendly and requires minimal work
- Energy-efficient
- Delivers healthy plants
Cons
- Refill pods can be more expensive
- Fewer overall options for the experienced grower
AeroGarden Harvest
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Customizable settings
- Delivers healthy plants
- Stronger grow lights
- Variable Height Adjustments
- Accommodates taller plants
Cons
- Louder water pump
Based on our above Aerogarden vs Smart Garden comparison, both products are great. Each will do the job and help you grow a kitchen garden year-round.
However, in my opinion, the Click and Grow Indoor Smart Garden is a better choice for beginners. It’s a super simple way to get started growing plants indoors and a fun way to share the concepts of farm-to-table living with the family. Read our detailed review of the Click and Grow 3.
The AeroGarden is better for experienced growers or anyone who enjoys having a wider range of options to choose from. It can produce a larger harvest, and for the US market, we always seem to like things bigger and better with many different choices. See our AeroGarden reviews to compare the different models and see which suits your growing needs best.
Either way, you really can’t go wrong with your choice. If you are undecided, take a look at our comparison table above one more time to explore how the features stack up.