My first AeroGarden sat on the kitchen counter for about three weeks before my partner noticed the glow at 11pm and made me move it to the shelf. That unit was a Harvest. It grew decent basil and mint, I liked it, and then I started reading about what the Bounty could do with tomatoes. One impulsive purchase later, I had both on the same shelf and a much clearer sense of what actually separates them. If you’re weighing the AeroGarden Bounty vs Harvest right now, this is the comparison I wish I’d found before I bought.
- The Harvest (6 pods, 20W) is the right call for herbs and compact greens, especially if counter space is tight
- The Bounty (9 pods, 30W) makes a real difference for fruiting plants, bigger harvests, or anyone who wants Wi-Fi/Alexa control
- The Bounty Basic is the sweet spot: same 9-pod, 30W setup as the full Bounty, without the Wi-Fi premium, at $179.95
- The Harvest Lite (~$69) is worth considering if you’re just starting out and not sure you’ll stick with it
Pod Count: 6 vs 9
Three pods sounds like a small difference until you’re trying to grow a full herb rotation. With six pods on a Harvest, I had basil, mint, dill, parsley, chives, and one that I kept rotating through experiments. There’s no slack. If one pod fails, which happens, you’re down to five plants. With the Bounty’s nine pods, you’ve got room to grow a few herbs, add some lettuce or arugula, and still have a couple of pods for trying something new. That breathing room changes how you use the unit.
It also matters for fruiting plants. Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers will outgrow a Harvest. Not immediately, but they will. You’ll want more light and more horizontal space, and the Bounty’s larger grow deck handles that better. Six pods is plenty for a tidy herb garden; nine is where you start building something more serious.
Light: 20W vs 30W
The wattage gap isn’t just a spec-sheet number. Herbs and leafy greens will do fine under 20W. I grew two full rounds of basil in my Harvest without any complaints. But when I tried a cherry tomato in it, the plant got leggy fast, reaching toward whatever extra light it could find. The Bounty’s 30W covers a wider footprint and produces more intensity, which matters when you’re pushing taller or more light-hungry plants. Both units grow plants up to 5x faster than soil, according to AeroGarden, but that comparison holds more consistently on the Bounty when you’re growing anything beyond basic herbs.
Arm Height
This is the one that Reddit keeps getting wrong. People compare pod counts and skip the arm extension, which is actually the limiting factor for fruiting crops. The Harvest Elite confirms a 12-inch max plant height in its specs. The Bounty’s adjustable arm goes considerably higher than that, which is what lets you actually bring a cherry tomato to fruit without the plant pressing into the light panel. If you’re only ever growing basil and mint, the height difference is irrelevant. If you’re even thinking about peppers or strawberries, it’s the main reason to choose the Bounty.
Wi-Fi and Alexa: Does It Matter?
The Bounty (full version, not the Basic) adds Wi-Fi and Alexa compatibility. You can control the light schedule from your phone, get push notifications when it’s time to add water or nutrients, and check on things remotely. I’ll be honest: I used the app a lot for the first month and then mostly stopped. For everyday herb growing, the onboard display and reminder system on any AeroGarden model is enough.
Where Wi-Fi actually earns its place is vacation mode. All the AeroGarden units have vacation mode, but with the full Bounty you can adjust it mid-trip if plans change. You can check whether the water level is low, push the light schedule back by a day, and make a call without asking a neighbor to come over. I left town for ten days over the summer and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t check the app twice a day. Whether that’s worth the price premium over the Bounty Basic is up to you.
The Harvest Elite and Harvest Lite: Where They Fit
The AeroGarden Harvest Elite buy on Amazon runs about $179.95, which puts it in the same price range as the Bounty Basic. It has a touch-sensitive illuminated digital display, a stainless steel finish, and the same 20W light and 6-pod setup as the standard Harvest. At that price, it’s hard to recommend over the Bounty Basic. You’re paying Bounty money for Harvest capacity, and the stainless finish, while genuinely nice looking, doesn’t grow plants better.
The AeroGarden Harvest Lite buy on Amazon is the opposite case. Around $69, 6 pods, a simple indicator light rather than a full display, and a clean cream finish that actually looks good on a kitchen counter. It doesn’t have a digital screen or vacation mode. It’s the most stripped-back unit in the lineup, and I think that’s fine. If you’re not sure you’ll stick with hydroponics, or you want a low-commitment first grow, the Lite is an honest starting point. Just know that the simpler indicator light means you’re doing more of the tracking yourself, rather than relying on a screen to prompt you.
Verdict Table
| Harvest (Black) | Harvest Elite | Bounty Basic | Full Bounty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pods | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| Light | 20W | 20W | 30W | 30W |
| Max plant height | 12 in | 12 in | Higher arm | Higher arm |
| Display | Basic panel | Touch display | Digital screen | Digital screen |
| Wi-Fi / Alexa | No | No | No | Yes |
| Vacation mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Approx. price | ~$109 | ~$179.95 | ~$179.95 | ~$239+ |
The Harvest comes in a standard Black version (the AeroGarden Harvest buy on Amazon ) and is the entry point for most first-time growers. The Bounty Basic buy on Amazon is the unit I’d steer most people toward if they’re past that beginner stage: 9 pods, 30W, digital display, vacation mode, and no app subscription required.
Who Should Buy Which
Herbs only, limited counter space, first grow: start with the Harvest or the Harvest Lite. You’ll get real results and you won’t feel like you wasted money if the hobby doesn’t stick.
Serious herb rotation, want to try tomatoes or peppers, or you’re buying a second unit to replace one you already wore out: the Bounty Basic at $179.95 is the one. Same light and pod setup as the full Bounty, no Wi-Fi markup.
You travel a lot, you want remote control, or you’re just the kind of person who will actually use a smart home app: the full Bounty is worth it. The app isn’t gimmicky. It’s genuinely useful when you’re not home.
One thing that doesn’t get enough attention in most comparisons: nutrient costs and pod replacement apply equally across all models. Whether you’re running a 6-pod or 9-pod setup, you’re refilling nutrients on the same schedule and paying the same pod prices. A bigger unit costs more to stock. If you want to stretch your costs a bit, there are some solid AeroGarden nutrient alternatives that work just as well as the branded bottles. And if you run into tip burn on the Harvest while growing lettuce, there’s a straightforward fix explained in this lettuce guide .
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow tomatoes in an AeroGarden Harvest? Technically yes, but it gets frustrating quickly. The 12-inch height limit means the plant will hit the light panel before it gets near flowering. Cherry tomato varieties can work in a pinch, but you’ll spend more time pruning than harvesting. The Bounty’s taller arm makes a real difference here.
Is the Bounty Basic the same as the full Bounty? Same pod count (9), same light wattage (30W), same grow deck. The main thing you’re giving up is Wi-Fi and Alexa compatibility. If you don’t care about controlling it from your phone, the Bounty Basic is the better value.
How often do you change water in an AeroGarden? You’re topping off water every few days rather than doing full changes. AeroGarden recommends a full water change roughly every 4 weeks, though I find that every 3 weeks keeps things cleaner. The display or indicator light will remind you when levels are low.
Can I use my own seeds in an AeroGarden instead of the pod kits? Yes. Grow sponges are sold separately and you can plant almost any seed you’d grow outdoors. I’ve had good results with basil, cilantro, and arugula from my own seed packets. Pod kits are convenient but not required after your first grow.
Does the AeroGarden Harvest Lite have vacation mode? No. The Lite is stripped down to an indicator light rather than a full display, and it doesn’t include vacation mode. If you travel or forget to check on it regularly, step up to the standard Harvest or higher, which all include that feature.
The Bounty Basic is where I’d put my money if I were starting over. Not because it’s the fanciest unit, but because the jump from 20W to 30W and from 6 pods to 9 is where you actually start growing more than you can eat, which is the whole point.