The 10 Best Pool Cleaners of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

DOLPHIN Nautilus CC Plus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner

4.8

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Our Ratings

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

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is our best overall pick because it quickly cleans pools up to 50 feet long, and it’s surprisingly lightweight to place and remove from the pool. This model was previously our best robotic pick, and after an additional round of testing, it stood out even more among the competition. Our previous tester's sentiments still ring true to its performance: "Using it, I felt like one of 'The Jetsons' with an aquatic Rosie the Robot Maid, especially as this product requires just about nothing from its human companion. All I did was plug it in, carry it over to the pool, push the 'on' button, and drop it in the water." While this model is designed for in-ground pools, some users report it works well in above-ground pools, too. Our home tester was thrilled that this model cleans 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. 

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, and 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 our tester loved that you can put the machine on an automatic schedule, saving you the hassle of starting it manually. 

Our tester also noted that this cleaner easily climbed the walls of their older style pool, which are set at a 90-degree angle and have very little curvature between the floor and sides. They had also previously purchased a used Dolphin M400 model last year, and said the Nautilus was overall easier to use, faster at cleaning, and better at tracking with the floor. Our tester’s only concern with this product was the price point, which they said is justifiably daunting. However, they said if they had known just how effective the cleaner was, they would have splurged on it years ago. 

Price at time of publish: $899

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

Best Budget

POOLWHALE Portable Pool Vacuum Cleaner

4.6

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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. The cleaner comes with a brush head and 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, our tester noted that the included pole is rather short, so she opted to switch to a longer pole she 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. Our tester said the filter bag was more difficult to empty because it had to be hosed down to completely clear all of the debris. 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.

Price at time of publish: $17

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

Best Splurge

Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme WiFi Operated Robotic Pool Cleaner

4.7

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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. While this pool cleaner is a robotic option, we think it’s worth splurging on, especially 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. 

Our tester said they enjoyed using this robot’s corresponding app to keep up with its cleaning progress and to track its location in their pool. They tried this robot’s pre-programmed standard and enhanced cleaning times and noted that the cleaner was able to get their pool about 95 and 99 percent clean, respectively. For the remaining debris, they enjoyed using the remote steering to direct the robot to the small spots it missed throughout the pool. 

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, our tester did note that it cannot clean steps, which are too narrow for it. However, it did manage to clean their wider sun ledge.

Price at time of publish: $1,500

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

Best Manual

Pool Blaster Max Cordless Rechargeable Pool Cleaner

4.6

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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. The tool comes with 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. 

While our tester said they weren't initially impressed by this pool cleaner's design—noting that it was constructed of cheap feeling plastic—they 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. We recommend purchasing a standard telescoping pool pole because a pole is not included with this vacuum, although it does have a handle for hand-held use.

Price at time of publish: $218

_{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 Brush

Lalapool Swimming Pool Brush

4.8

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Our Ratings

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

This Swimming Pool Wall and Tile Brush from LALAPOOL may look like a non-essential pool cleaning tool, but after using it in his pool for several weeks, our tester argues every pool owner should have it on hand. This pool brush is 18 inches wide and has sturdy nylon bristles that help scrape algae and other build-up off the floors, walls, steps, and waterline of in-ground pools. It can also be used to gently remove buildup on the lining of above-ground pools. Our tester appreciated how easy this brush is to use; however, it does not come with an extension pole, so you will have to purchase one, if you don't already have one in your pool supply closet.

This brush head clips into any extension pole and is angled at 45 degrees to make it easy to scrape walls and steps alike. While this brush is very effective at removing excessive buildup on your pool's interior, keep in mind that it is not a vacuum. It will not remove any dirt or debris from the water, like a pool vacuum will. However, we still believe this brush is a great option for pool owners who are looking for an affordable tool that effectively removes stubborn algae.

Price at time of publish: $16

_{Dimensions: 5.3 x 18 x 1.7 inches | Weight: 0.65 pounds | Type: Brush | Pool Type: In-ground, above-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls, steps, waterline}

Best Suction

Hayward W3PVS20JST Poolvergnuegen Pool Cleaner

4.6

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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 the pool’s pump to suction up debris via a hose that connects to the skimmer. The Hayward Pool Cleaner impressed our tester 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. Our tester did note that this cleaner took about 7 hours to completely clean their 20- x 40-foot pool, which is slightly larger than the recommended 16- x 32-foot maximum size. 

We recognize that this pool cleaner is still more expensive than what some may prefer to pay. However, if you consider the amount of time this cleaner saves you compared to manual models, we think the price tag for this model is justified. It’s suitable to use on gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, pebble, and tile finishes. For best results, connect it at least to a half HP pump. Ridged wheels allow it to navigate over drains and up walls, and adjustable roller skirts help maintain suction on uneven surfaces. Self-adjusting turbine vanes collect large debris without clogging, and it comes with three interchangeable throats that allow you to adjust its suction performance for different debris sizes.

Price at time of publish: $449

_{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 Smart

Polaris VRXIQ+Robotic Pool Cleaner with iAquaLink Control

4.6

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Our Ratings

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

For an all-around smarter pool-cleaning experience, the Polaris VRXIQ+ is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to control it from the iAquaLink app. Using your smartphone, you can start or stop the cleaner, create customized schedules, and even see when the filter needs cleaning. Plus, this high-end robot cleans even the largest in-ground pool, thanks to its 70-foot tangle-reducing cable. The four-wheel-drive helps this cleaner to clean the walls, floor, waterline, and even steps. Thanks to its rear water-cleaning system, it easily blows debris off stairs and out of tight corners, so the machine can suck it up. Although this model is one of the most expensive in this roundup, we found its accessories and design, including the convenient storage caddy and the patented Easy Lift removal system, which drives the robot up the wall to be easily removed, make it worth the splurge. 

It’s important to note that our at-home tester was using this cleaner in an above-ground pool, so she could not test its wall, step, or waterline cleaning ability. All in all, though, she was impressed by this cleaner’s capacity, which easily handled her pool’s floor that was covered in algae and leaves. She noted that this cleaner will suggest an auto-run feature for its first cleaning in your pool, which allows it to “learn” your pool’s layout for future optimized cleanings. This model is quite heavy, weighing 21 pounds, but our tester noted that it was still relatively easy to lift out of the pool. Despite its weight, she didn’t think it would be difficult for older users to operate, thanks to the Easy Lift technology, which aids in most of the exertion of lifting from the bottom of the pool.

Price at time of publish: $1,600

_{Dimensions: 12 x 17 x 19 inches | Weight: 21 pounds | Type: Robotic | Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls, steps, waterline}

Best Above-Ground

XtremepowerUS Automatic Suction Vacuum Pool Cleaner

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This affordable automatic pool cleaner from XtremepowerUS is a top choice for above-around pools, as it comes with enough hose to clean up to 30 feet. Although we did not get a chance to test this cleaner in a real-world environment, it promises to clean walls and the floor. The cleaner hooks up to your existing filtration system, and it requires at least a 1HP pool pump to function properly. 

The hose for this cleaner comes in 10 segments, allowing you to adjust the length to fit your pool, and it navigates around your pool on its own, reducing your workload. The cleaner works well on dirt, algae, and other fine particles, but it’s not meant for large debris such as leaves and sticks. Additionally, it can be somewhat complex to set up, as you may need to adjust the diverter and suction power. But once you get everything on the right settings, you can simply sit back and watch it clean.

Price at time of publish: $96

_{Dimensions: 41 x 6 x 18 inches | Weight: 10 pounds | Type: Suction-side | Pool Type: In-ground, above-ground | Cleaning Coverage: Floors, walls}

Best for Leaves

Poolmaster 28300 Big Sucker Swimming Pool Leaf Vacuum

4.4

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Our Ratings

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

While many pool cleaners don’t perform well on large debris, the Poolmaster Big Sucker Leaf Vacuum easily handles debris from trees like twigs and leaves. 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 tester's 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. Our tester recommends 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 our tester was slightly disappointed that this vacuum couldn't handle larger leaves, it still performed well at picking up medium-sized debris that a robot vacuum or standard suction-side vacuum may struggle to pick up.  

Price at time of publish: $31

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