Owning a pool can be fun, until it comes time to skim the surface and scrub the lining, but with an automatic pool cleaner, you’ll hardly have to do any manual labor. In this guide, we’re going tell you about our picks of the best pool cleaners of all types—robotic, pressure-side, and suction-side—to help you decide which of them would work best for your inground pool.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners in 2023
Best Value
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus
When it comes to robotic pool cleaners, Maytronics’ Dolphins are the brand to go with. The best-value robotic pool cleaner today is the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, a lightweight robot with front and rear scrubbers that moves freely in inground pools of up to 50 feet in length.
The CC Plus uses two swappable filter sets for large and small debris to remove any and all pool contaminants. It comes programmed with CleverClean Navigation software that helps it navigate through the underwater wilderness without getting trapped in obstacles or stuck in corners.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Video
- The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus robotic pool vacuum cleaner features powerful wall climbing...
Best of the Best
Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme
The Dolphin Nautilus Supreme has 3 active brushrolls—2 in the front, 1 in the rear—powered by twin motors to deliver produce a clean you’ve never seen before. It can also connect to your smartphone through Wi-Fi and receive commands from afar for added convenience.
The CC Supreme also offers 3 different cleaning modes between express 1.5-hour cleaning and deep 3.5-hour cleaning based on how polluted your pools are. There’s also a drastic boost in navigation.
It utilizes the same CleverClean software as the CC Plus, but it has zero-radius turning which allows it to navigate its way out of corners and tight spots.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme
- With the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme robotic pool vacuum cleaner, schedule your pool...
Best Pressure Pool Cleaners
Best Value
Polaris Vac-Sweep 280
The pressure-side pool cleaner that offers the best bang for your buck is the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280.
This simplistic pool cleaner sits atop 3 wheels to maneuver itself around corners and edges surprisingly well, although there is a 280 with tracks that is more capable of climbing walls several feet high.
It has a large throat that chomps leaves, flower pedals, and acorns easily, assuming your booster pump delivers enough pressurized water, which is then stored into a large-capacity, easy-to-clean filter bag.
The 280 drags along a Tail Sweep PRO that blows water in corners and edges to loosen any debris.
- CLEANS IN 3 HOURS: Powered by a separate Polaris booster pump, dual venturi jets create...
- FOR IN-GROUND POOLS: Safe for all pool shapes and surfaces including vinyl, fiberglass,...
Best of the Best
Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900 Sport
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900 Sport is the bigger, badder version of the 280.
They both navigate randomly in pools, but the difference is the 3900’s oversized set of 3 wheels that it uses to climb over steep underwater obstacles. It also uses the same Tail Sweep PRO feature to remove debris hiding in sharp edges and corners for maximum cleaning performance.
You’ll also find a humungous filter bag situated on top of the pool cleaner that’s several liters larger than the 280’s.
This means fewer interruptions during cleaning cycles, thereby making it the more convenient option.
- ELITE CLEANING POWER: More powerful than any other pressure cleaner in its class, the 3900...
- FOR IN-GROUND POOLS: Safe for all pool shapes and surfaces including vinyl, fiberglass,...
Best Suction Pool Cleaners
Best Value
Zodiac MX8
If you’re in the market for the most affordable type of pool cleaner, then a suction-side pool cleaner is for you.
The model that offers the most value for your dollar is the Zodiac MX8, a compact, nearly completely noiseless device made for pools of up to 20 feet in length.
The MX8 uses cyclonic suction to thoroughly suction-clean your pool’s floors and walls clean, although a lack of active brushes or fin points means it won’t loosen debris very well.
The great thing about the MX8, is that it works with booster pumps of nearly all speeds, low and high.
- Suction side pool cleaner
- Dual Cyclonic Vacuum provides maximum suction power
Best of the Best
Zodiac Baracuda G3
The Zodiac Baracuda G3 is a more traditional suction-side pool cleaner, but it outclasses many of its competitors by a wide margin.
It sports a massive 17-inch with 36 pin points that leave the entire surface of your pool, edges and corners included, absolutely glistening.
Because there are hardly any moving parts, this pressure-side pool cleaner is virtually noiseless when working underwater. It comes with a set of 10 4-foot twist-lock hoses (more hoses sold separately) to clean pools of almost any size.
The Baracuda G3 works exceptionally well in rectangular pools made of vinyl or fiberglass.
- Quiet, powerful suction cleaner; works with low-speed pumps for maximum efficiency.
- Devours small and medium-sized debris and cleans floor, walls and steps of your entire...
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• Pressure vs. Suction vs. Robotic Pool Cleaners
• Wheels vs. Tracks: What to Choose?
Pool Cleaner Buying Guide: How to Find the Best Pool Cleaner
Since we have 3 different types of pool cleaners to choose from, it’s crucial that you know how to shop for the right model. In this section, we’ll try and explain in detail how to select the correct type of pool cleaner for your situation.
Budget
There’s no denying that automatic pool cleaners can be quite costly, especially the robotic models. Pressure-side pool cleaners are generally in the middle of the price spectrum, not including the investment cost of a booster pump needed to deliver pressurized water to the unit. Suction-side pool cleaners are the most inexpensive of the 3 types, and they draw power from your pool’s filter pump.
Convenience
When it comes to robotic pool cleaners, you get what you pay for. They are pretty much self-sufficient machines that only require a human’s touch to empty out their filter baskets. And with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, you will never have to touch the controller module ever. As for pressure- and suction-side pool cleaners, the only time you may have trouble using them is when setting them up (adjusting to the correct waterflow rate).
Pool Surface Type
All automatic pool cleaners work well on vinyl and fiberglass pool liners, but if you have a concrete pool, then you may need to do some additional thinking. Robotic pool cleaners use rubber brushes which can wear down quickly when scrubbing concrete surfaces, and suction-side pool cleaners may prove ineffective at loosening debris in tiny crevices.
Pool Shape and Size
Robotic pool cleaners work well in pools of all shapes and sizes (up to 50 feet for the Nautilus CC Plus and CC Supreme). Pressure-side models may have trouble navigating up sloped walls, whereas suction-side pool cleaners have difficulty scaling steep 90° walls. As for the size of your pool, you’ll want to consider the length of hosing (pressure- and suction-side) or the power cord (robotic). Hose extensions sold separately.
FAQ
Take a look at our guide on how to find the most appropriate type of cleaner for your pool. In our opinion, the overall best type is a robotic pool cleaner for their convenience, intelligent navigation, and unparalleled cleaning performance. Pressure- and suction-side pool cleaners depend heavily on the type of pump (booster for pressure, filter for suction) you have.
Suction-side pool cleaners are arguably the most difficult to set up without experience, although video tutorials online can be of much help. The main issue people have is their filter pump isn’t delivering enough suction power to the unit. A flowkeeper valve will help in fine-tuning waterflow to optimize suction performance.
Robotic pool cleaners typically have a lifespan of between 3 and 5 years with proper care, whereas pressure-side and suction-side models can live beyond the 8-year mark. Their hoses and tracks/wheels are the weakest points and need to be replaced regularly.
For all 3 types, it’s possible, although we wouldn’t recommend it, not just for the safety of the pool users but also the safety of the pool cleaner. The last thing anyone wants is to step on a pool cleaner and render it completely useless or damage the hose set in any way. They’re all fairly compact so lifting them out of the water and finding a place to store them in a dry place shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
Conclusion
To ensure your pools are as spotless as can be without the help of costly pool-cleaning services, you should definitely consider picking up an automatic pool cleaner. In this guide, we went over the best pool cleaners of all types in terms of value and performance. To help you decide which type to get, please refer to our brief buying guide above.
Related Robotic Pool Cleaner Articles
• How to Use a Robotic Pool Cleaner
• What Features to Look For in a Robotic Pool Cleaner?
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• Robotic Pool Cleaner Troubleshooting Tips
• What is a Swivel Cord?
• Pressure vs. Suction vs. Robotic Pool Cleaners
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
Last Update: 2023-06-08 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
