The 14 Best Pool Cleaners of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Polaris Vac-Sweep Pressure Inground Pool Cleaner

$599 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Out of the 40 pool cleaners we tested, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Pressure-Side Inground Pool Cleaner impressed during six months of testing with its overall easy set-up, low-maintenance design, and impressive cleaning capabilities. While this pressure-side pool cleaner certainly doesn't have all of the features that robotic models have, we found that it efficiently cleans everything from leaves to pollen off of the floor and walls of an in-ground pool within 3 hours (without having to do it manually).

We especially liked the unique TailSweep design, which helps brush debris out of corners and ensures that the cleaner stays consistent in its cleaning path. The TailSweep is also highly effective at propelling the pool cleaner as well as helping it climb walls and sun benches.

Despite its lack of true navigational control (as many robotic pool cleaners have), this pool cleaner never got stuck during six months of testing, meaning you can easily leave it to complete a cycle without watching its every move. The downside is that you won't know exactly when this pool cleaner is done, but it's easy to glance at the pool and see which parts it has cleaned and which it hasn't.

You will have to retrieve this cleaner by pulling on the hose, so we recommend being gentle during this process so you don't accidentally disconnect it. However, you could leave this model in your pool 24/7 if you wanted; we just can't speak to the effect this would have on your pool's pump system or your electric bill.

We had our pool maintenance service install the 280 and noted that it took mere minutes. The only tricky part was removing the pressure tester to attach the hose to the intake valve. Overall, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 is an effective pool cleaner that's more affordable than other options on the market. It can handle both large and small debris and has held up well during six months of weekly use.

_{Dimensions: 20 x 23 x 10 inches | Weight: 6.2 pounds | Type: Pressure-side | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls}

Best Overall, Cordless

Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner

$560 At Amazon View On Aiper.com

As a cordless robot pool cleaner, the Aiper Scuba S1 offers the convenience of no hoses or cables. Its battery-powered operation keeps it running for hours without relying on your pool’s filtration system, and smart route planning ensures efficient cleaning cycles. One of the newest models we tested, this cordless pool cleaner impressed us in every regard, including ease of use, cleaning prowess, and coverage.

We used the Scuba S1 in a long lap pool with a bump out in the deep end, and it made short work of silt, dirt, leaves, and other debris on the pool floor, walls, and even the deep end seat. Watching it climb the walls and pop up out of the water was a treat, but the Scuba S1 wasn’t just putting on a show, it was really doing work. The intelligent pathfinding also helps it cover every inch of the pool, even if your pool has an irregular shape.

We used the Scuba S1 to clean our pool three times over about a month, and the performance only got better each time. The first time we used it, it cleaned our 10 x 40-foot pool in about two hours when it had to deal with a lot of silt and dirt (the pool was new at the time). Subsequent cleanings took as little as 90 minutes despite leaves built up at both the top and bottom of the pool.

The only issue we encountered with this unit's cleaning capabilities was that it doesn’t skim, so we had to remove some free-floating leaves. However, it made short work of debris on the floor and walls, and it returned to its parking position after each cleaning without fail.

Note that this is a very heavy pool cleaner, so it takes effort to get out of the pool. It has a hook on the back that we were able to grab with a pool cleaning pole, but it was too heavy for us to get out of the pool while waterlogged. We had to let it drain for a little while, and then we were able to wrestle it out of the pool.

The good thing is that the filter capacity is large enough that we never had to clear it out in the middle of cleaning, so the weight of the unit only comes into play when the cleaning is done and it’s time to put it away. It charges very quickly, too, which will come in handy if you have a pool that’s too large to clean on a single charge.

_{Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 17 inches | Weight: 26 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, walls}

Best Smart

Polaris Freedom Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner

$1,399 At Amazon

Also, one of the newer models we tested, the Polaris Freedom, is one of the most impressive pool cleaners we’ve ever witnessed. Our pool was already visually clean when we first set the Polaris up, but we ran it anyway just to observe it in operation. After about three hours, we were blown away by how much debris this robot had managed to pull out of our supposedly clean pool. The filters were full of fine sand, bits of mulch, and other debris that we weren’t even aware was there.

This is a pool cleaning robot, so it connects to your home Wi-Fi and an app on your phone. The app works well, and we were about to control it remotely from our phone, but we found that it wasn’t really necessary because the unit has a power switch on the back and runs automatically after you turn it on. You may have trouble with dropped Wi-Fi connections if your network isn’t strong at your pool due to the interference of the water, but the robot keeps working (you just might miss the cycle completion alert.)

We like that the app lets you know how long the cleaning cycle is expected to take, but we found that it was easier to just turn it on and come back in about three hours since it never took longer than that. You may need to stick around to clean the filters if your pool is especially dirty, but we never had that problem, as we were able to get by just clearing the filters out after the cleaning cycle was done.

This cleaner takes care of walls just as well as floors, with grippy tracks that keep it solidly in place. We were even able to use that feature to simplify the process of getting it out of the pool. It comes with an extension handle to pull it out, but we were able to just run it up the wall, reach down, and haul it out.

We did note that the Polaris Freedom had trouble cleaning our pool stairs, but that’s probably because the top stair is in very shallow water. The robot didn’t have any trouble climbing the stairs, but it did stop running once it got to the top, likely because it thought it wasn’t in the water anymore.

_{Dimensions: 22 x 22 x 14 inches | Weight: 32 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls}

Best Robotic

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner

$849 At Amazon $799 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is our top pick for a robotic pool cleaner because it quickly cleans pools up to 50 feet long, and it's surprisingly lightweight to place and remove from the pool. We found that it's a powerful and efficient cleaning tool wrapped up in a durable design. Plus, after months of use, we found that this robot only gets better over time at mapping an efficient cleaning path across our pool floor.

We were thrilled to learn this model can clean most pools in just two hours. Plus, you don't have to lift a finger during operation—the robot automatically scrubs the floor and walls. This cleaner easily climbed the walls of an older-style pool, which were set at a 90-degree angle and had minimal curvature between the floor and sides.

During testing, we found that this pool cleaner was extremely easy to set up, just needing to be turned on and dropped into the pool. The robot scans and maps the entire pool for more efficient cleaning. While it is corded, its tangle-free swiveling cable ensures it doesn't get stuck while working its way around. We found that the cleaner picks up an impressive amount of grime and dirt, and we loved that it can be set to an automatic schedule, preventing the hassle of starting it manually. 

While this model is primarily designed for in-ground pools, some users report it works well in above-ground pools, too.

_{Dimensions: 16 x 10 x 16 inches | Weight: 19 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls}

Best Budget

Poolwhale Pool & Spa Vacuum

$25 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Design
  3/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

If you want to keep things simple, this manual pool cleaner is a budget-friendly option that’s incredibly easy to use. After using this vacuum for over a month, we found that it was better for spot cleaning rather than cleaning an entire pool. It doesn't quite have the same suction power as a standard pump pool vacuum, and we found the head too small to efficiently navigate a standard family pool. However, we think this model is a great choice if you only need to quickly refresh your pool between uses and don't feel like hooking up a vacuum to your pump system.

The cleaner comes with a brush head and a mesh debris collection bag, and all you have to do is hook the vacuum up to a garden hose. When you turn on the water, the pressure from the hose creates a suction that pulls leaves and other debris into the bag. You can then use the included aluminum pole to guide the vacuum around the floor of your above-ground pool; however, we will point out that the included pole is pretty short, so we opted to switch to a longer pole we already had.

This cleaner fits any standard garden hose, but we recommend waiting to turn the hose on until after you've submerged the vacuum. Otherwise, the vacuum sprays water everywhere, which we learned the hard way during testing. We also found the filter bag was more difficult to empty because it had to be hosed down to completely clear all the debris, compared to a basket that can be dumped and shaken clean.

Once you’re done cleaning, this vacuum, along with the pole, disassembles easily, making it compact to store. Despite a few design issues, we still recommend this pool cleaner as an affordable option that's effective at cleaning both large and small debris.

_{Dimensions: 4.72 x 10.43 x 47.24 inches | Weight: 1.32 pounds | Type: Manual | Pool Type: Above-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors}

Best Manual

Pool Blaster Max Cordless Pool Cleaner

$200 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  3/5

If you don’t mind pushing around a pool cleaner by hand, the Pool Blaster Max is a cordless, battery-powered option that comes at a reasonable price. This rechargeable pool cleaner requires no hoses or cords, and its battery delivers up to an hour of runtime per charge—enough to clean even the largest pools. It has a 10.5-inch vacuum head for large areas, which also makes it easier to maneuver than traditional wider rolling vacuum heads. It’s also a great option for cleaning pool stairs and other hard-to-reach features thanks to the head's arrow shape. 

To be frank, we weren't initially impressed by this pool cleaner's design—constructed of cheap feeling plastic—however, we were surprised by its ability to handle both small and large debris. It has a large debris capture chamber that can hold everything from dirt and sand to leaves, twigs, and acorns, but the filter does require some pressurized hosing down to completely clean it out.

But after several months of regular use, we can attest to this cleaner's consistent cleaning abilities. While it may not be ideal for deep cleaning an entire pool, we've enjoyed using it to quickly touch up our pool between uses. The plastic has surprisingly held up very well, and nothing has broken on the unit. While it may not have smart features or clean independently like some of the robot models in this list, we think this pool cleaner is a great cordless option available at a reasonable price.

A pole is not included with this vacuum, which is slightly frustrating given its higher price point, although it does have a handle for hand-held use. We recommend purchasing a standard telescoping pool pole if you decide this model is best for you.

_{Dimensions: 15.5 x 6.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Type: Battery-powered | Pool Type: In-ground, above-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, stairs}

Best Splurge

Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner

$1,499 At Amazon $1,499 At Target

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

If you want a pool cleaner with all the bells and whistles, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Wi-Fi Operated Robotic Pool Cleaner is a worthwhile investment. After several months of use, we're impressed with this robot cleaner's suction power and user-friendly settings. We think it's especially useful if you have a larger pool with different levels and tight corners.

It’s suitable for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long and needs about one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours to complete a cleaning cycle, depending on your selection. Unlike less-expensive models, this robot also cleans the pool’s walls and waterline, ensuring every inch is free from dirt and algae. Its two-filter system captures all manner of debris and keeps it out of the water. 

We found the app to be easy to navigate and understand and useful for keeping up with the robot's cleaning progress and tracking its location in the pool. We tried both of this robot’s cleaning cycles—a pre-programmed standard and enhanced cleaning time—and noted that the cleaner was able to get the pool about 95 and 99 percent clean, respectively. For the remaining debris, we used the remote steering to direct the robot to the small spots it missed throughout the pool. 

We have noticed a slight delay in the app's manual steering function, so you have to wait a few seconds for the cleaner to turn or head in the direction you input on the app.

This pool cleaner is equipped with three powerful scrubbing brushes that provide a deeper clean and smart navigation software that scans the pool to create an efficient cleaning route. The tangle-free cable prevents the unit from getting stuck, and the unit features an automatic weekly timer and an indicator light that tells you when the filter is full.

Although this model is effective at climbing walls and cleaning the waterline, it cannot clean steps, which are too narrow for it. However, it did manage to clean a wider sun ledge.

_{Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 24 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls, waterline}

Best for Leaves

Hayward Navigator Pro Suction Pool Cleaner

$349 At Amazon $319 At Walmart View On Hayward.com

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Value
  4/5

If you’re looking for the convenience of a robotic pool cleaner but don’t want to fuss with all of the technology involved, we recommend the Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner. It not only resembles the same shape as other robotic pool cleaners, but it also has a preprogrammed steering pattern for a more efficient cleaning cycle. While we did struggle to initially assemble and attach this pool cleaner to our pool’s filter bracket, it was not nearly as difficult as our best for sand pick. 

We really put this cleaner through its paces in a pool that was newly opened for the season, so it was full of leaves and other debris. This cleaner made its way around the pool, but we did find that it got caught on several piles of debris during our first testing day. On subsequent days, we did not experience the same issues with this model getting caught, so we suggest possibly skimming your pool to aid this cleaner.

This pool cleaner does not require frequent emptying like other similar models that we’ve tested, which is also a major win, so you don’t have to worry about it filling up before the end of a cycle.

_{Dimensions: 40.4 x 13.6 x 11.9 inches | Weight: 17.71 pounds | Type: Suction-side | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, sides}

Best for Floors

WYBOT Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner

$120 At Amazon

The Wybot Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is compact, easy to set up, and requires no user input to clean your pool, which is why we like it so much for lighter-duty jobs that only require floor cleaning. It’s super light and easy to handle at just 7.9 pounds, which is four times lighter than the Polaris Freedom (our best robot pick, also one of the newer models we tested). That makes it very easy to drop into the pool for cleaning and pull out with a hook attachment on any standard pool pole.  

This robotic pool cleaner works in all pool shapes and depths up to 6 feet. Wybot says it’s only for flat-bottomed pools (not pools with shallow and deep ends), but it tackled our 12 x 30 kidney-shaped pool that ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 feet deep without issue (just the floor, not the walls or stairs). It’s capable of handling pools up to 525 square feet, but keep in mind that if your floors are more slanted than ours it may struggle.

We were impressed with the cleaning capabilities of this robot, although it may struggle with heavy debris. The battery life was enough to handle our pool on one charge, but it’s short enough that large pools, and pools with a lot of debris, may require you to pull it out, clean the filters, and charge it for a second run.

_{Dimensions: 16.14 x 15.94 x 8.46 inches| Weight: 7.9 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: | Cleaning Coverage: Floors}

Best Suction-Side

Hayward The PoolCleaner Suction Cleaner

$429 At Amazon $429 At Target View On Poolsupplyunlimited.com

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Value
  4/5

Suction-side pool cleaners, like the Hayward Poolvergnuegen, rely on a pool’s pump to suction up debris via a hose that connects to the skimmer. The Hayward Pool Cleaner impressed us with its quick set-up time and easy operation. On top of not requiring any charging or additional power sources—aside from your pool’s filter— this cleaner also has a self-steering mechanism that turns it every 8 to 10 feet.

We used this cleaner in a pool for several weeks before everything had to be winterized, and we appreciated this cleaner's simple operation. All you have to do is drop it in the pool, and it will wind its way through the layout until everything has been cleaned.

For best results, connect it at least to a half HP pump. Its ridged wheels allow it to navigate over drains and up walls, and the adjustable roller skirts help maintain suction on uneven surfaces. The self-adjusting turbine vanes also collect large debris without clogging, and it comes with three interchangeable throats that allow you to adjust its suction performance for different debris sizes.

We will point out that the cleaning cycle is long, so it's best to use this cleaner on an off day when you don't want to use the pool. For example, it took about seven hours to completely clean a 20 x 40-foot pool, which is slightly larger than the recommended 16 x 32-foot maximum size. It also struggled to clean corners since its turning radius was limited in those spaces.

We recognize that this pool cleaner is still more expensive than what some may prefer to pay. However, considering the amount of time this cleaner saves compared to manual models, we think the price tag for this model is justified. It’s suitable for use on gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, pebble, and tile finishes.

_{Dimensions: 40.4 x 13.6 x 11.9 inches | Weight: 12 pounds | Type: Suction-side | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls}

Best for In-Ground Pools

Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner

$1,599 At Walmart $1,599 At Lowe's View On Poolwarehouse.com

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Declared to be the “Ferrari of pool cleaners” while testing, the Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner did not disappoint. It required no setup other than removing it from the box, and it was easy to pair to the corresponding smartphone app. We tested this cleaner in a 40- x 20-foot gunite in-ground pool and found the power cable to be more than sufficient, even for the 10-foot deep end. However, we do wish this robot pool vacuum came in a cordless version as that would better suit larger in-ground pools. 

This cleaner easily tackled any debris in its path, from pollen to leaves. It left nothing behind, and we appreciated being able to choose a standard cleaning mode (about 2.5 hours long) and a quick clean (1.5 hours long). The best feature was arguably the cycle complete notifications that were delivered once this pool cleaner finished its session. We could also send the robot a notification to float to the pool surface for seamless retrieval.

When it's time to empty the filter basket, a button on the unit pops the top-load basket out of the robot, and it also has a handle. You can easily dump the basket and rinse it off with a hose. This robot also has a light that blinks during its cleaning session, so you have a visual indicator that it's running properly. However, we’re big fans of tracking the cycle progress in the app.

_{Dimensions: 21.45 x 17.55 x 11.31 inches | Weight: 29 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls, waterline}

Best for Above-Ground

Poolmaster Big Sucker Swimming Pool Leaf Vacuum

$36 At Amazon $36 At Home Depot $36 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Design
  3/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

While many pool cleaners don’t perform well on large debris, based on our testing, the Poolmaster Big Sucker Leaf Vacuum easily handles debris from trees like twigs and leaves. Plus, it doesn't require a pre-existing filter system, making it a great choice for above-ground pools. This inexpensive cleaner is designed especially for leaves and other larger debris, and it’s a great option to use as a secondary cleaner.

While this vacuum did not perform well at picking up extremely large debris, such as branches, it easily picked up mid-size leaves and twigs in our testing pool.

It has a wide 15-inch diameter, with eight high-pressure jets underneath, which aid in cleaning large pools in less time. When hooked to a garden hose, the water pressure pushes leaves into the removable, all-purpose collection bag, which can be emptied into your grass. We recommend using a garden hose to fully clear out the debris bag. 

This unit mounts on four multi-directional wheels, making it easy to push around the bottom of your pool. However, it doesn’t come with a pole, so we recommend finding a pole appropriate for your pool's depth. Similar to our best manual pick, this vacuum must be fully submerged before you turn on the hose. Although we were slightly disappointed that this vacuum couldn't handle larger debris or small particles, it still performed well at picking up medium-sized debris that a robot vacuum or standard suction-side vacuum may struggle to pick up.

_{Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 2.64 inches | Weight: 1.82 pounds | Type: Manual | Pool Type: In- or above-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors}

Best for Sand

Zodiac Baracuda G3 Suction Pool Cleaner

$349 At Amazon $324 At Walmart $324 At lesliespool.com

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Although this pool cleaner didn’t initially impress us when we originally tested it, we decided to re-test it and see if we had a better experience. Initially, we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to use this pool cleaner at all because the setup was so difficult—a roadblock we had experienced originally as well. However, with a bit of persistence and patience, we managed to assemble this cleaner and get it into the pool. The most frustrating part was the lack of a proper instruction manual, which we had to find online. The initial setup did take about an hour and a half but once we got the hang of it throughout our testing period, we were able to hook up this pool cleaner in about 20 minutes. 

Despite a very rocky start with this model, we are thoroughly satisfied with its performance. It excels at picking up gritty debris from water treatments and random dirt that’s always a pain to capture from the bottom of a pool. While it doesn’t have a specific guided path while cleaning, it does manage to find its way to every crevice and corner around a pool. It even climbs the walls! We also love that the 36-fin disc prevents it from getting stuck on lights or filters around a pool. 

If you have a pool at a house near a beach or a lake, this pool cleaner would be a great option for keeping grit off the bottom of your pool. However, you have to be patient with its initial quirks. It’s also recommended that this pool cleaner’s hose remains flat and out of direct sunlight, so we had to build a rack on our pool fence to hang it up for proper drainage.

We also recommend backwashing your pump after a few uses of this pool cleaner to ensure the pump filter has a chance to properly rinse. With all of that said, we still think this pool cleaner is a reasonable purchase for any pool owner who doesn’t encounter large debris as often.  

_{Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 17.66 pounds | Type: Suction-side | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, sides}

Best Value

Pentair Kreepy Krauly Pool Cleaner

$520 At Amazon $398 At Walmart View On Lesliespool.com

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

While we’ve tested a variety of pool cleaners, we think the Pentair Kreepy Krauly Suction-Side Inground Pool Cleaner is one of the best designs at its price point. Many suction-side pool cleaners are available at under $500, but this model impressed us with its durability and powerful suction.

The hose is a bit challenging to maneuver because it comes in 12 separate pieces, and we were initially worried about its integrity. However, this pool cleaner proved us wrong with a strong suction that easily picked up small- and medium-sized debris across the pool floor.

We did wish we had the attachable leaf trap, which catches large debris (and must be purchased separately), and really would make this pool cleaner an all-in-one cleaning tool. Despite not having that attachment during testing, we were still able to successfully clear our pool of debris. 

Note that it can be time-consuming to assemble and take apart (even after we learned how to do it the right way). With a little bit of extra research, we were able to set up this pool cleaner in under an hour, and it only took about 15 minutes to set up in subsequent testing rounds.

We did love that this pool cleaner is very lightweight, which makes it easy to remove from the pool and store when not in use. All in all, we were pleasantly surprised by this cleaner’s ability to navigate a pool without getting caught or requiring any monitoring.

_{Dimensions: 42 x 16.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: Not listed | Type: Suction-side | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floor}