AeroGarden vs. Click and Grow: Which Garden Is Best? (2023)

If you are like me, you are a fan of simple products that make life better. Indoor gardens are fun and healthy and add a little greenery to your life. Best yet, they are effortless to use, so they check all of the boxes. In considering indoor hydroponic gardens, many start by comparing AeroGarden vs. Click and Grow.

They are two of the leading brands, and once you get set up, you will have beautiful plants growing within weeks. The instructions are simple to follow, and the plants require very little maintenance compared to an outdoor garden. Within a few short weeks, you will be harvesting your favorite herbs, leafy greens, vegetables, and even fruits.

An indoor hydroponic garden will change your life for the better.

How Do Indoor Gardens Work?

An indoor smart garden usually operates using hydroponics. You might be asking, “hydrowhat?” Hydroponics is simply growing plants with no soil. The roots sit in water, and a nutrient solution is added directly to the water. Hydroponics works well indoors because there are fewer variables to control and because the right amount of nutrients can be added as needed.

The indoor gardens reviewed here operate using seed pods, which sit at the top of a water basin and under controlled lighting. Each pod has a little soil to protect seeds, growing in perfect conditions under timed lights and plenty of water. Add in plant food as directed, and anyone can produce delicious herbs, vegetables, salad greens, and flowers.

It is easy to grow healthy plants because of the highly controlled environments. Some indoor hydroponic gardens combine the science of growing plants in water with aquaponics, which utilizes animals such as fish to provide nutrients to the plants above.

We love AeroGarden and Click And Grow because you don't have to worry about any fish to succeed with their systems. You simply add some of the company-branded plant food to the water for proper plant nutrition. Miracle-Gro also has some products that work well for an indoor smart garden.

AeroGarden vs. Click and Grow Comparison Table

While AeroGarden and Click & Grow are leading companies in the indoor garden space, each brand offers unique options. See the side-by-side comparison table, or read the detailed reviews below.

Which is Better? AeroGarden or Click And Grow?

In comparing AeroGarden vs. Click and Grow, Click & Grow's simplicity will be attractive for many. Growing tomatoes might be the one area AeroGarden shines brighter. AeroGarden has telescoping units with trellis-like attachments if you want to grow tomatoes upwards. Still, we prefer Click & Grow for ease of use for most people.

The LED lighting system on both the AeroGarden products and the Click and Grow Smart Gardens simulates natural sunlight. In some ways, it is even better because it provides light for an extended period of time. This and the nutrient-rich water are the main reasons that hydroponic gardens grow plants so much faster than even smart soil you might use outside.

AeroGarden Review

The AeroGarden team sells garden units in four primary categories, based on size. There is a little something for everyone, and the AeroGarden systems are easy enough for anyone to use. The company also offers a germination guarantee for its seed pods. If there are any defects in the pods, or if the seeds don't germinate, the AeroGrow team may send a replacement for any non-germinating seed pods.

So not only is the system easy to use, but it comes with peace of mind too. The light hood on most AeroGarden models features white, red, and blue lights, so your garden receives a full spectrum of light. In some ways, the lighting systems are better than natural light because they provide ample light regardless of the day’s season or length.

And by the way, plants that are grown correctly in the AeroGarden system grow up to 5X faster than the same seeds planted in the soil!

Which AeroGarden Should You Choose?

The AeroGarden hydroponic systems are very easy to use, regardless of how big you anticipate growing your indoor garden. Something is rewarding about growing healthy plants in your kitchen. The AeroGarden system provides automatic reminders when it is time to add plant food and either reminders or a gauge to see when it is time to add more water to the reservoir.

The silent water pumps improve oxygenation. It's all very straightforward in the best kind of way.

The first decision you need to make is how big you want your indoor garden to be. Once you decide on the size, you will want to consider the technological features.

AeroGarden Sprout

The newest member of the AeroGarden family is the Sprout series, which has room for three plants. The Sprout unit has a sleek design, so sleek that it would look good in an office or otherwise on display outside of the kitchen.

This is the perfect unit to grow your favorite fresh herbs on the kitchen counter. The plants or herbs can grow as high as 10 inches under the grow light, and with proper pruning, the plants can last year-round.

AeroGarden Harvest

The AeroGarden Harvest Series come in a few shapes, sizes, and colors, but all feature space for 6 pods. The Harvest Series features an adjustable lamp arm that can be raised as your plants grow. The built-in LED lights can be raised as high as 12 inches above the pods.

The AeroGarden Harvest Series is excellent if you would like an expanded herb garden or if you want to start experimenting with a few leafy greens alongside your herb garden.

Herbs and leafy greens grow nicely next to each other, and the AeroGarden Harvest is large enough that you could also experiment with mini tomatoes if you so choose.

AeroGarden Bounty

Things start to get serious with the AeroGarden Bounty family of indoor smart gardens. The Bounty models are larger, but they also pack serious technology, such as a high-resolution touch screen control panel and infinite dimming LED Grow lights.

Some of the Bounty models are WiFi-enabled to work with Amazon Alexa or the AeroGarden app, and also feature a vacation mode to help your plants thrive while you are out of town. Aside from the gadgetry, the Bounty Series has room for up to nine plants, which can grow as tall as 24 inches below the ultra-thin grow light hood.

AeroGarden Farm Family

Once you move beyond herb garden kits, the Bounty Series makes a lot of sense, with room for nine seed pods. That said, the AeroGarden Farm Family is the best option if you are ready to get serious about growing your food. The Farm Family Series is the perfect solution for people looking to grow a range of plants since it has as many as 24 pods.

There is enough room for a little herb garden and an indoor vegetable garden. However, we recommend using the Farm Family Series for a serious indoor vegetable garden at this investment level and perhaps adding the Sprout Series or Bounty Series to support an herb garden.

We are particularly fond of the Farm Family 24XL, which has separate controls for the garden’s left and right sides. Imagine growing your own herbs and lettuce on one side and tomatoes on the other side of your garden. It's your very own dinner salad waiting to happen.

The Farm Family 24XL features dual motorized LED grow light panels, allowing you to adjust the light’s height quickly depending on what you are growing on each respective side of the indoor garden. This unit allows growth as high as 36 inches to allow for tomatoes and taller plants.

The Farm Family Series features an interactive display touch-screen control panel and all other technology featured in the Bounty Series. The other thing worth mentioning is that the AeroGarden Farm Family Series is built with a modular design so that you can connect a series of units with stacking kits. If you are interested in generating a self-sustaining amount of food or just interested in growing a variety of plants, this is important to consider.

Is AeroGarden Worth The Money?

Some of us are blessed with more natural green thumbs than others. With that in mind, if you are considering whether to buy an indoor garden, then ease of use is probably top of mind. The AeroGarden hydroponic systems are exceedingly easy to use. The water level indicators make it easy to tell when the tank needs to be refilled. And Even the entry-level Sprout Series provides automatic reminders when it’s time to add more nutrient solutions.

And if you aren't exactly sure what to plant, AeroGarden sells seed pod kits with a germination guarantee to get you going in the right direction. Regardless of whether you are interested in a starter-sized herb garden or a full indoor vegetable garden, the AeroGarden systems are an excellent solution.

Is There Something Better than AeroGarden?

The Click and Grow Smart Garden is more distinctive than AeroGarden products, but that doesn't mean it is better. They work similarly. The Lettuce Grow system may be the best of the indoor smart gardens, but the Lettuce Grow sits on the ground, while most AeroGardens are countertop products.

In comparing AeroGarden vs. Click and Grow, the AeroGarden Bounty Elite stacks up well against the competition. The AeroGarden Bounty Elite grows up to nine plants, all of which will grow up to 5X faster than they would in a traditional soil setting.

With that said, we still prefer the look of the Click and Grow Smart Garden 9, which grows the same number of plants but has a more modern look. Both AeroGarden and Click and Grow are ideal for growing herbs, fruits, flowers, and vegetables year-round, but the AeroGarden looks a little more like a kitchen appliance, while the Click and Grow looks more unique.

Both will get the job done in terms of an indoor smart garden, but in comparing AeroGarden vs. Click and Grow, the final decision may come down to design and preference.

Click And Grow Smart Garden Review

Click & Grow is not too dissimilar from AeroGarden, though the company seems to have a little more focus on the mission, and of course, their products come in a slightly different form.

The Click & Grow team recognizes that a growing percentage of the population lives in urban areas and the company is out to improve health in urban and non-urban spaces by enabling customers to grow indoor gardens.

And this isn't just done through the health benefits of eating fresh plants. Indoor gardens can improve air quality and overall happiness by adding a little greenery where you might not otherwise see it. You won't have to worry about watering, lighting, or plant nutrition because they have designed a system that takes care of all of that for you.

Which Click and Grow Should You Choose?

Click & Grow has three primary options, which can be expanded using plant stands. An additional option called the Wall Farm is for those looking for a reliable, self-sustaining food source. While Click & Grow doesn't have quite as many options as AeroGarden, Click & Grow's options are a little more straightforward.

The brand likens them to coffee capsules as far as Click & Grow's pods, which makes sense. Naturally, they aren't filled with coffee, though, and instead are filled with seeds and smart soil. The smart soil is the perfect combination of nutrients and aeration to allow oxygen down to the plant roots as they start to grow.

Smart Garden Comparison

The entry-level Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 is perfect for getting your feet wet with indoor smart gardens. It is not very big, so it requires less oversight to ensure healthy plant growth. The Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 is perfect with themed herb garden kits.

The Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 is ideal for routinely providing fresh vegetables and greens for your dinner plates. The additional six pods add a great deal of versatility. Plus, the Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 PRO is actually app-controlled, which provides greater insight and ease of use.

The Wall Farm Indoor Vertical Garden is for next-level users that want to grow plant pods to put dinner on the table.

Click and Grow Smart Garden 3

The Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 is comparable to the AeroGarden Sprout Series, as it is big enough for 3 pods. It is the perfect size for dipping your toe in the water tank and would be great for a small herb garden.

The Smart Garden 3 comes with a complimentary set of three basil plant pods. If you feel a little more adventurous than basil, you can choose one of the other pre-chosen mixes or pick your own.

Both the Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 and the AeroGarden Sprout are entry-level size units. For Click and Grow, the next step up is the Click and Grow Smart Garden 9, which isn't huge, but it does require a little more planning and oversight than the smaller unit.

The AeroGarden Harvest family has space for six plant pods, so it fills the gap in between. In some ways, the fact there are more AeroGarden models than there are Click and Grow models is a nice option. Still, the AeroGarden Harvest sits a little bit in no man's land.

Most people don't have six herbs they want to grow, but the Harvest isn't big enough to grow all the plants you need for a frequent dinner salad.

You may not want to grow mini tomatoes in the Click and Grow Smart Garden 3, but that's not necessarily what it is intended to grow. Both the AeroGarden Sprout series and the Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 are best used for a few herbs or perhaps three pods of the same lettuce variety.

We recommend you skip the 6-pod AeroGarden Harvest and jump straight to the Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 PRO to grow more than that.

Click and Grow Smart Garden 9

If growing your own organic garden sounds good to you, then honestly, you probably need something bigger than the Smart Garden 3. As the name alludes to, the Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 features holes for up to nine seed pods, which allows for much more versatility in your home garden.

The entire Click & Grow setup is pretty incredible when you stop to think about it. It provides automatic watering, the perfect level of lighting administered by the built-in pro-grow lights, and smart soil pods with the ideal nutrition and aeration levels.

And if one Smart Garden 9 provides enough vegetation for your needs, it easily fits on a kitchen countertop. For those of you with a bit more budget and larger aspirations, you can also purchase the Click & Grow Smart Garden 27, which is essentially a specially designed stand that fits three of the Smart Garden 9s (Yep, 9X3=27. Very straightforward.).

Click & Grow's Smart Garden 9 is shipped with 3 basil pods, 3 tomato pods, and 3 lettuce pods, but you can choose from the selection of more than 60 pre-seeded plant pods if you have something else in mind.

We are big fans of the Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 Series, including the full Smart Garden 27, because of its adaptability. If you purchase the three-level stand, you could plant the lowest level as a little garden for kids, the middle level as a smart herb garden, and the highest level with salad greens or your favorite vegetables. There are lots of options and seemingly endless combinations.

Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 PRO

The Upgraded Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 PRO has an innovative, app-controlled grow-light, and that is the main difference from the non-PRO model. This enables you to fine-tune the perfect light cycle and allows you to control it from anywhere, even while on vacation.

Based on experience, I can say that the grow lights are very bright, especially at night, so when you have guests over, you can turn off the light via the app.

Aside from the app-controlled features, you can expect all of the same features available on the other products. The water reservoir allows for automatic watering, so you can nearly set it and forget it. Despite the low maintenance style, you still get to reap the benefits of a pesticide-free, GMO-free, organic indoor garden.

The companion app also has plenty of tips and tricks, so you can still use the app to become a plant expert regardless of whether you utilize the app-controlled features.

Click and Grow Vertical Wall Farm

While the Smart Garden 27 is probably big enough for most families, the most ardent sustainable gardeners will want to consider the Click & Grow Farm wall, which has space for as many as 51 pods. This is the most expensive option for sure and might be a good option for farm-to-table restaurants.

Still, if you have a big family or have a highly plant-based diet, the Wall Farm Vertical Indoor Garden makes sense to consider. You could potentially save loads of money on produce over the long term, and you can't beat the freshness.

The Wall Farm Vertical Indoor Garden is designed to work in any environment. It would look great in a sunroom (not that you need the sunroom’s light) or in a kitchen at home, but it is also built to work in more commercial settings. The Wall Farm would work well in a restaurant or even in a school.

Sidenote: It is also worth noting that Click & Grow recommends that Wall Farm owners set up a subscription for regular plant deliveries to replenish your source as you make use of it.

Is Click and Grow Worth The Money?

We're big fans of Click & Grow products because the options are streamlined, and the Smart Garden 9 is scalable as the basis for the Smart Garden 27 package. Our only gripe is that the stand isn't sold separately.

It would be nice to buy the stand first and add Smart Garden 9s over time. That said, the entire Smart Garden 27 package is pretty affordable, and we still appreciate the streamlined approach to product options.

Where AeroGarden has nearly 20 product options, Click & Grow gets by with 5 product options that mostly serve all of the same purposes. The limited options should make your buying decision much more straightforward.

Aside from that, the automatic watering, pro-grow lighting, and refined nutrients mix result in rapid growth compared to what you would see from the same plants in an outdoor garden. A Click & Grow is an excellent purchase as a new herb garden hobby or as a primary source of veggies, including leafy greens and more.

Best Alternative Indoor Garden Systems

If you're not convinced AeroGarden or Click & Grow will work for you, we recommend you learn about the Lettuce Grow Farmstand or the Gardyn system. Both brands offer solutions that make growing a full-size garden in a small footprint is much easier.

Grow Indoor Plants with Gardyn

We like Gardyn because it grows vertically along with columns in a way that produces as much harvest in two square feet as you could produce in a 1,300 square foot outside garden. The Gardyn system also has environmental sensors that read temperature and humidity, as well as discrete cameras that save images of the plants every 30 minutes.

This data is then analyzed by the smart assistant, named Kelby, to provide feedback when your indoor garden needs a little help. This space-saving indoor smart garden is truly smart and was named on the TIME Best Inventions list.

Consider The Lettuce Grow Smart Garden Solution

The Lettuce Grow system is a vertical system designed for maximum space-saving. The vertical design is similarly intentioned to the Gardyn system, but Lettuce Grow is designed with a clean, modern aesthetic that none of the smart indoor garden systems can match.

The self-watering and self-fertilizing Lettuce Grow Farmstand is available in 5 different sizes. One of the main reasons we like Lettuce Grow is that you can choose from 200+ greens, veggies, fruits, and herbs. AeroGarden plants work well in the Aerogarden system, but countertop-focused brands like AeroGarden don't offer nearly as many options as Lettuce Grow.

You don't need a ton of gardening tips to use Lettuce Grow. They give you instructions on how to take care of your plant pods in as little as 5 minutes per week. Lettuce Grow sends pre-sprouted plants, which greatly increases your chances of success compared to what it is like to grow un-sprouted seed pods.

What Plants Can You Grow With An Indoor Garden?

Nearly any herbs or vegetables can be grown utilizing an indoor garden, and salad greens work exceptionally well with the AeroGarden and Click & Grow indoor gardens. Also, keep in mind that while many people think of peppers and tomatoes as vegetables, they are fruits.

And you can try growing some wild strawberries, so you can really grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits, even though fruits aren't as commonly considered for indoor hydroponic gardens.

You can grow nearly any type of plant, as the most significant limitation is size. AeroGarden and Click & Grow don't have the same pod options (keep in mind the pods aren't interchangeable between the two companies).

If there is a specific plant you are interested in, we recommend reviewing the current plant options on the respective sites. Keep in mind that you can also plant flowers if you are mostly interested in bringing a little of the outdoors to your indoor space.

Indoor Herb Garden Kit vs. Full-Size Vegetables

Don't let the LED lighting system and water pump fool you; these hydroponic systems are easy to use. They provide the plant food and instructions to ensure your plants get all the nutrients they need.

If you are just getting started, we recommend that you take time to consider whether you want to start with herbs or full-size vegetables. You can grow plants like green peppers and tomatoes on these systems, but you may deplete your plants after a few meals. Herbs are used more sparingly, so they can harvest the herb plants much longer.

If you plan to start with a 3-pod system, we recommend you start with herbs and maybe pair those herbs with your own microgreens kit. Otherwise, if you want to produce vegetables and leafy greens to supplement your family dinners, we recommend you buy a larger unit.

Can You Move Seedlings To An Outdoor Garden?

Some of you may have more of a green thumb than I do. If so, you may want to use your smart garden to cultivate seedlings before moving them to an outdoor garden and starting over with new seed pods. AeroGarden features seed starting systems to accommodate this. They recommend transplanting the seedlings before they reach maturity. The company also suggests you consider a hardening period before making the switch old turkey.

The hardening process can be done in the AeroGarden basin and requires a transition of the plants to having less water and more outdoor sunlight over a week or so. This increases the chances that your plants will survive transplanting. If you are interested in growing many different types of plants, this is an excellent strategy to get the most out of your indoor garden.

Of course, if this seems like too much work, you could collect a few indoor garden units over time. Many users have one unit set aside for an indoor herb garden and a separate unit for vegetables and salad greens.

Do Click And Grow Pods Work In AeroGarden?

You shouldn't use Click and Grow pods in an AeroGarden. The plants aren't all that different, and the system works similarly, but the pods aren't designed to same specifications (size). Use the plant pods associated with the hydroponic garden you purchased for the best results.

If you aren't happy with the selection of AeroGarden plants, perhaps just choose the Click and Grow system instead. That, or use your own seeds inside the AeroGarden sponge kits.

What Is The Best Indoor Garden?

Our overall favorite indoor garden is the Lettuce Grow Farmstand, but that is more garden than some people need. One of the reasons Click and Grow and AeroGarden are so popular is that they allow for an accessible entry-point for anyone interested in trying out hydroponic gardens.

We get that, and both Click and Grow and AeroGarden offer great options. Plus, it is super easy to order refill seed pods to keep your garden going all year round.

Indoor gardening is a fantastic way to add some greenery to your living space, create cleaner air, and grow delicious herbs and vegetables. AeroGarden and Click & Grow offer excellent choices for beginners and serious gardeners alike.

Perhaps the best part is that both companies have fine-tuned their systems to provide optimal growth, with plants growing as much as five times faster than they would in traditional soil settings.

Great Plant Pods For Anyone

And while relying on fish tanks and fish waste is a very resourceful approach, it might be a little much for most people. If you are still deciding whether to venture into indoor gardening, you should take the plunge with AeroGarden or Click & Grow. Their systems manage everything, including the nutrient levels, the lighting, and the watering. So which should you choose?

If you are really interested in growing tomatoes up a trellis, then we recommend AeroGarden, but for any other needs, we recommend Click & Grow.

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