The 9 Best Robotic Pool Cleaners of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Cleaner

4.6

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Our top pick, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus offers all the functionality and convenience you’d expect from a robotic pool cleaner at a mid-tier price point. This robotic cleaner is designed for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long, and it cleans your pool end-to-end in around two hours. It requires no pumps or hoses, and it features dual scrubbing brushes to help remove dirt, algae, and other debris.

This robot uses smart navigation to clean the floors and walls of your swimming pool, and its tangle-free cable ensures that it won't get stuck as it works. It’s easy to empty the two cartridge filters from the top of the machine, and it captures large and small debris. Our tester found that this pool cleaner is extremely easy to set up and start, and it picked up a noticeable amount of silt, as well as small leaves, petals, and bugs. "This cleaner-bot really gets the pool sparkling clean, even after a big crowd of swimmers, and I don’t need to run it as often as I did with my previous one to maintain that level of freshness," our tester said. "I was also impressed by how quiet the machine is and how well it navigates the pool walls, tracking all the way up and down the sides and even breaking the waterline."

Plus, its built-in scheduler automatically starts a cleaning cycle every day, every other day, or every third day. 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 that the Nautilus was overall easier to use, faster at cleaning, and better at tracking with the floor.

Keep in mind that you should remove the robot after each use to empty it and rinse the filters, and rinse off any excess chemicals. While the power supply to this robot vacuum isn't waterproof, its quick cleaning capabilities make up for a minor design error. Overall, this robot pool cleaner is a great choice for just about any pool style and is reasonably priced compared to other models with similar technology.

Price at time of publish: $899

_{Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: 2 hours | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, walls | Brush Type: Dual scrubbing | Filter Type: Twin cartridge | Smart Capabilities: No}

Best Budget

Aiper Seagull 1000 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner

4.6

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Our Ratings

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

Many robotic pool cleaners are quite expensive—some even cost over $1,000—but if you don’t want to spend that much, consider the AIPER Seagull 1000 Pool Cleaner. Unlike most robotic cleaners, which get power via a cord, this compact robotic cleaner runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to 90 minutes of runtime per charge. All you have to do is drop the robot into your above- or in-ground pool, and it navigates from wall to wall, sucking up dirt, sand, debris, and more. The cleaning angle is also adjustable, so you can find a path that works best for your pool shape. Our tester noted that this cleaner did an exceptional job of cleaning silt and other debris off the bottom of their pool, but she noticed that it had a hard time navigating corners and curves in their kidney-shaped pool. She said finding the correct cleaning angle was slightly tricky, but figured it out after some trial and error.

When the AIPER robot is done cleaning or running low on battery, it self-parks near a pool wall, allowing you to pull it out using the included hook. Our tester said that some debris did fall out of this pool cleaner's filter while she removed it. She also said that it struggled to navigate the deep end of their pool and seemed to get stuck down there, which meant that it didn't always clean their entire pool. However, she noted that it likely would perform better in a pool with a shallower deep end, as the product is designed to climb inclines up to 15 degrees. The unit recharges in just four to six hours, and it can clean an in-ground pool up to 17 x 50 feet on a single charge. It might not do as thorough a job as some more expensive models, but it’s a great budget-friendly model for light everyday pool maintenance.

Price at time of publish: $270

_{Pool Type: In-ground or above-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: 90 minutes | Cleaning Coverage: Floor | Brush Type: Independent brush | Filter Type: Tray | Smart Capabilities: No}

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 have a large pool or just want a pool cleaner with all the bells and whistles, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Wi-Fi Operated Pool Cleaner is a worthwhile investment. This high-end pool cleaner is suitable for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long, and it 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 see its location in their pool. Our tester tried this robot’s pre-programmed standard and enhanced cleaning times and noted that the cleaner was able to get her pool about 95 and 99 percent clean, respectively. For the remaining debris, she enjoyed using the remote steering to direct the robot to the small spots it missed throughout the pool. 

This pool cleaner is equipped with powerful scrubbing brushes—three to be exact—that provide a deeper clean, and smart navigation software 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 LED 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 that are too narrow for it. However, it did manage to clean their wider sun ledge.

Price at time of publish: $1,500

_{Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: 1.5 - 3.5 hours | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, walls, waterline | Brush Type: Triple scrubbing | Filter Type: Extra large twin cartridges | Smart Capabilities: Yes}

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 the ultimate pool-cleaning convenience, the Polaris VRXIQ+ is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to control it right 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. This high-end robot cleans even the largest in-ground pool, thanks to its 70-foot tangle-reducing cable. 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, which was covered in algae and leaves. It also learns your pool's size and dimensions during the first automatic cleaning cycle, so that it can further enhance and expedite cleaning during subsequent cycles.

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 more expensive, innovative features like a convenient storage caddy and the patented Easy Lift removal system, which drives the robot up the wall to be easily removed, make this cleaner worth the splurge. This cleaner is quite heavy, weighing 21 pounds, but our tester noted that it was still relatively easy to lift out of the pool. However, she didn’t think it would be very difficult for older users, since it has 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

_{Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: Not listed | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, walls, steps, waterline | Brush Type: Dual blade | Filter Type: Extra large filter canister | Smart Capabilities: Yes}

Best for In-Ground Pools

Polaris P825 Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner

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The Polaris P825 Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner has unique triangular treads that enable it to clean just about every surface in your in-ground pool. This cleaning robot tackles stairs, coves, and even benches with ease—it even scrubs down the waterline. Designed for in-ground pools up to 40 feet, it uses Polaris' cyclonic vacuum technology to capture debris without losing suction power. 

Through the transparent lid on the Polaris P825, you can see into the debris canister, so you know when it needs emptying, and the Push’N’Go emptying system saves you from having to touch the filter contents. The oversized intake area easily sucks up large leaves and their remnants, and the robot comes with its own caddy for convenient storage. The only major downside of this model is that the power cable easily gets twisted, inhibiting the unit’s cleaning abilities.

Price at time of publish: $900

_{Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: 1.5 hours | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, walls, stairs, coves, waterline | Brush Type: Dual pleated | Filter Type: Not listed | Smart Capabilities: No}

Best for Above-Ground Pools

Dolphin Escape Robotic Above Ground Pool Cleaner

4.7

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Our Ratings

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

The Dolphin Escape Robotic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner is designed for use in vinyl above-ground pools up to 30 feet wide. It easily navigates the floor of any above-ground pool, while even smoothing out the liner, our tester noted. The vacuum head sucks up dirt and dust, and the large-capacity basket can accommodate larger debris like leaves. 

Our tester appreciated how easy it was to dump debris from the top-load filter after a cleaning run, which they said took about three hours. You can also clean out the filter basket with a garden hose. This cleaner’s plug-and-play operation is easy to set up and use immediately. Our tester loved how much time this cleaner saved them from having to manually clean the pool, especially since their pool is covered by a tree, which frequently drops leaves. Overall, this unit may be simple in performance, but it’s compact and effective, making it a top choice for an above-ground pool.

Price at time of publish: $729

_{Pool Type: Above-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: Not listed | Cleaning Coverage: Floors | Brush Type: Active scrubbing brush | Filter Type: Top-load filter | Smart Capabilities: No}

Best for Leaves

DOLPHIN Triton PS Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner

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Not all robotic pool cleaners suck up leaves well, but the Dolphin Triton PS’s top-loading filter basket is spacious enough to capture even the largest debris without clogging. It manages to trap fine dirt and sand particles, preventing them from escaping back into the water. This robotic cleaner is designed for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long, and it can have your pool sparkly clean in as little as two hours. 

Thanks to its powerful treads and high-speed pleated brush, this robot can scrub the floor, walls, and even the waterline, removing algae and grime. Its weekly scheduler includes three frequency options, and the tangle-free cable prevents the power cord from getting twisted while it works. It’s easy to remove and empty the large filter basket, and the unit automatically dumps out any water when you remove it from the pool, leaving debris trapped in the filter.

Price at time of publish: $999

_{Pool Type: In-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: 2 hours | Cleaning Coverage: Floor, walls, waterline | Brush Type: High-speed pleated | Filter Type: Extra-large fine filter basket | Smart Capabilities: No}

Best Skimmer

Instapark Betta Robotic Pool Cleaner

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Most robotic pool cleaners are designed to scrub a pool’s walls and floor, but the Instapark Betta is a robotic skimmer, floating on top of the water to capture leaves, dust, pollen, and other debris from the surface. This cool unit is solar-powered, so it doesn’t require any cord or battery, and its quiet underwater motor helps it make its way around the pool. Basically, you just put it in your pool and let it go to work—the only maintenance it requires is occasional emptying. 

This robotic skimmer’s UV-resistant exterior isn’t damaged by the sun, and its large-capacity debris basket can hold lots of leaves and twigs. When it needs emptying, you simply pull the basket out via the top handle; you don’t even have to remove the robot. The included remote control allows you to direct the robot to a certain area for spot cleaning. However, it sometimes can get stuck in corners or other tight spots.

Price at time of publish: $490

_{Pool Type: In-ground or above-ground | Cleaning Cycle Time: Not applicable | Cleaning Coverage: Surface only | Brush Type: Not applicable | Filter Type: Large-capacity debris basket | Smart Capabilities: No}