If you’re trying to decide between the AeroGarden Harvest and the Bounty, the honest answer is that most people asking this question should probably just get the Bounty. But “most people” isn’t everyone, and the price difference is real, so let me actually walk through what each one does and doesn’t do well.
TL;DR
- AeroGarden Harvest family (6 pods, 12" max height): Good for herbs, lettuce, and compact greens. Affordable. Not for tomatoes or peppers. No Wi-Fi on most models.
- AeroGarden Bounty (9 pods, 24" max height): The one you want if you care about fruiting plants. Wi-Fi and app control standard. Costs more upfront but gives you a lot more flexibility.
- My pick for beginners: Harvest if you only want herbs and your budget is tight. Bounty if you want to grow anything bigger, or if you’ll actually use the app.
The Specs Side by Side
| Feature | Harvest family | Bounty |
|---|---|---|
| Pod capacity | 6 | 9 |
| Max grow height | 12 inches | 24 inches |
| Light wattage | 20W | 45W |
| Wi-Fi / app | No (most models) | Yes |
| Approx. price | $80–$180 | $150–$200+ |
The Harvest family has four versions worth knowing about: the standard Harvest (Black) buy on Amazon , the updated Harvest 2.0 buy on Amazon in charcoal, the Harvest Elite buy on Amazon in stainless steel, and the Harvest 360 buy on Amazon which has the same 6-pod capacity but a 360-degree design meant for a more open light spread. All four cap out at 6 pods and 12 inches of grow height. The Bounty gives you 9 pods and doubles the height clearance to 24 inches.
That 12-inch ceiling on the Harvest is the thing that matters most in this comparison, and I’ll come back to it.
Design
The Harvest is a compact unit. It sits on my shelf without hogging space, and the stainless steel Elite version genuinely looks like it belongs in a modern kitchen rather than a science project. The 2.0 update added a touch display that’s easier to read than the older button layout, and that’s a real improvement for day-to-day use.
The 360 version has a different physical shape — it’s meant to grow outward in all directions rather than in a row, which is fine if you’re growing herbs that sprawl. I haven’t grown with the 360 personally, but the Reddit consensus in r/hydro is that it’s basically the same performance as the standard Harvest, just a different form factor.
The Bounty is bigger. That’s not a criticism, just a fact. It takes up more counter space and the arm extends much higher. My partner already complains about the glow from my grow lights at night, and the Bounty’s 45W puts out noticeably more light. Worth knowing before you put it in a bedroom or open-plan living space.
Light Power
The Harvest runs a 20W full-spectrum LED. For herbs and lettuce, that’s genuinely enough. I’ve grown basil, cilantro, mint, and parsley in similar setups without any complaints about leggy growth or poor germination.
The Bounty’s 45W is a different category. If you want peppers or tomatoes to actually fruit (not just survive), you need that extra light intensity. This isn’t a situation where the Harvest “can kind of do it” — a 12-inch arm with 20W will not get you a tomato worth eating. The plant will grow toward the light, hit the ceiling, and either stall or become a tangled mess.
One customer review for the Harvest Elite put it plainly: “I don’t recommend tomatoes or peppers in this garden — they will quickly overtake it. If that’s your thing then definitely look into a Bounty that can accommodate the height and the spread.” That’s someone with multiple AeroGardens across several years speaking from experience, and I’d trust that over any spec sheet.
Pod Capacity and What You Can Actually Grow
Six pods sounds limiting, but for herbs it’s actually fine. You’re not going to run out of basil room. Where it starts to pinch is if you want variety — six pods means six plants max, and once you put a bushy basil in one slot and a mint in another, things get crowded quickly. Mint especially will try to colonize its neighbors.
Nine pods on the Bounty gives you more breathing room, and the extra height means you can grow things that actually need vertical space: cherry tomatoes, small peppers, cucumbers if you’re ambitious. I’ve only grown herbs and lettuce in my own setups so far, but I’ve seen enough grow journals from r/hydro to know the Bounty is genuinely better for fruiting plants — not marginally better, significantly different in what’s achievable.
App and Smart Features
The standard Harvest, Harvest Elite, and Harvest 360 don’t have Wi-Fi. You control them through the touch panel, and that’s it. The Harvest 2.0 is the newer version, and I’d want to verify whether that’s changed before buying specifically for app connectivity — the product listing doesn’t specify Wi-Fi, so I wouldn’t assume.
The Bounty has Wi-Fi and connects to the AeroGarden app, which lets you control the light schedule, get reminders, and check in remotely. Honestly, I find app control more useful than I expected. When I go away for a few days, being able to check whether the water alert has triggered is genuinely reassuring. If you’re someone who travels or just forgets to check the unit, the app makes a real difference.
The Harvest models do have vacation mode built into the panel, which keeps the light cycle running while you’re away. That’s not nothing. But it’s not app control.
Ongoing Costs: The Pod Trap
This is where I’d want any new buyer to pause for a second.
AeroGarden’s first-party seed pods aren’t cheap. Depending on what you’re growing, a pod kit can run $15–$30 for six pods, and they’re designed to be single-use. If you’re buying those every few months, the “affordable” Harvest starts looking less affordable pretty quickly.
The good news is that third-party options exist. Generic pod baskets on Amazon (sometimes called “grow sponges” or “net cup kits”) let you use your own seeds, and they work fine in both the Harvest and Bounty. You do need to figure out the nutrient solution side of things — I’ve had good results with General Hydroponics Flora Series, though I’d start at 1/4 strength for herbs like basil, not full dose, or you’ll get yellowing leaves pretty fast. I’ll link to my nutrient breakdown if you want more detail on that.
The point is: don’t factor the hardware price in isolation. Think about what you’ll spend on pods or seed stock over a year. Both the Harvest and Bounty get expensive if you’re buying first-party pods continuously. Both become much more economical if you buy generic baskets and your own seeds.
Who Should Buy the Harvest
You want to grow herbs or lettuce. You have limited counter space. Your budget is under $130. You don’t care about app control. You’re new to hydroponics and want something low-commitment before deciding if this hobby is for you.
The Harvest Elite is worth the slight premium over the standard Harvest if you want the stainless look and the improved display. The 2.0 is the newest iteration, so if you want the most current version of the 6-pod lineup, that’s the one to look at.
Who Should Buy the Bounty
You want to grow tomatoes, peppers, or anything else that gets tall. You want nine pods instead of six. You want Wi-Fi and app control. You’re willing to pay more upfront for a unit you can actually grow with long-term without hitting height limits every season.
At $150–$200+, it’s not cheap. But if you’re going to grow fruiting plants and you buy the Harvest instead to save money, you will end up wanting the Bounty anyway. I’ve seen that story play out in forum threads more times than I can count.
The 12-inch ceiling on the Harvest isn’t a design flaw — it’s just what it is. For herbs, it’s plenty. For everything else, it’s the wall you’ll keep running into. Know what you want to grow before you buy, and this decision basically makes itself.