We compare dated manufacturer information and show our calculations. We have not physically tested these systems. Merchant links are ordinary links; no affiliate account or paid ranking is implied.
The short answer: choose the format first.
Shortlist Home 4 if you want a vertical format and its exact layout suits your room. Shortlist Rise Garden 3 if a horizontal shelf and possible expansion suit how you want to tend plants. We have not tested either, so this is a buying framework rather than a harvest or reliability ranking.
Do not decide from the largest plant count displayed on either website. A maximum after upgrades is a different purchase from the base system. Price the version you will order, including any additional levels, trays and lights.
Base models, side by side.
| System / shown configuration | Purchase price | Listed sites | Growing method | Manufacturer electricity estimate | Your costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardyn Home 4 | $899.00Advertised hardware price | 30 | Hydroponic | 47 kWh/month | Budget this model → |
| Rise Gardens Rise Garden 3 | $899.00advertised starting price | 16 | Hydroponic | 40 kWh/month | Budget this model → |
Both catalogue starting prices were $899 when checked October 17, 2026. Equal starting prices do not mean equal growing layouts or equal ownership costs. Check the delivered quote and current stock before treating either as ready to buy.
Rise’s product page, checked October 18, lists 16 standard sites per level and optional denser configurations. It also shows a sold-out notice; confirm your selected configuration with the merchant. We have not verified a restock date.
Running costs, side by side.
Home 4 has a manufacturer estimate of 47 kWh a month. Rise estimates about 40 kWh a month for a one-level garden, about 70 for two levels and about 100 for three (Rise Garden 3 FAQ ↗, checked October 18). At the US average rate of $0.1831/kWh, that is about $103.27 a year for Home 4 and about $87.89 for a one-level Rise Garden 3.
These are manufacturer estimates, not our measurements. Hours of operation and the number of levels you add change the figure, so compare the configuration you would actually buy.
Separate hardware from your optional plan and supply orders. Gardyn can operate without an active membership. Rise offers an a-la-carte supply route alongside prepaid Rise Plus: $299 for one year or $499 for two, paid once, with no automatic renewal when checked October 18. Enter only purchases not already covered by the plan you choose.
What would make one the better buy for you?
- Access: mark where you will refill, remove plants and clean components. Judge the maintained garden, not just its base footprint.
- Configuration: write down the exact level count and tray before comparing price and planting sites.
- Supplies: build your intended order, including freight. Do not use a merchant’s average spending claim as your own measured cost.
- Availability: confirm a delivery date before purchasing supplies for a system not yet in stock.
Neither listed capacity nor a promotional harvest image establishes weekly meals. If output is your deciding factor, seek crop-specific measured evidence from a comparable setup.
Compare these two models ↗ Budget Gardyn Home 4 ↗What do reviewers and owners say?
Read our sourced roundup for reported pros, cons, disagreements and practical questions before buying. This is research, not our own hands-on test.
Read the Rise Garden 3 review roundup →Sources and what remains unknown.
Product specifications and advertised prices were checked on October 17, 2026. Prices and packages can change. Monthly energy values are manufacturer estimates, not measurements by Indoor Garden Scout. Where facts are unknown, we leave them unknown.
- Gardyn model and package information ↗
- Gardyn electricity estimates ↗
- Gardyn without membership ↗
- Rise Garden 3 specifications, configurations and availability ↗
- Rise advertised starting price ↗
Calculations are our own arithmetic from the stated inputs. Hypothetical examples are labelled and exclude unentered costs, time and harvest value. Check the exact order, current policies and care instructions before buying.