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Hands-on gear reviews, 200+ pool care guides, design inspiration, and free calculators, all in one place. We buy and test in real backyard pools, then tell you exactly what's worth your money.

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Whether you're buying your first robot, building a backyard oasis, or fixing cloudy water tonight, start with one of our six hubs.

Reviews Hands-on, scored reviews of robotic cleaners, pumps & water monitors from Dolphin, Aiper, Aquabot & more. Browse reviews → Design Ideas Inspiration galleries for pool shapes, water features, decking, lighting, materials & luxury builds. Get inspired → Buying Guides Best-of roundups and head-to-head comparisons so you pick the right cleaner or pump the first time. Read the guides → Pool School 200+ how-to articles on water chemistry, maintenance, equipment, pool types & common problems. Start learning → Free Tools Calculators for chemicals, volume, salt, shock & pump run time, plus a local pool builder finder. Open the tools → Deals & Compare Today's best prices on top-rated gear, plus a tool to match any two cleaners side by side. See today's deals →
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Reviews by Category

Every major brand and cleaner type, scored and ranked from our own testing.

Robotic pool cleaners Robotic Cleaners Dolphin pool cleaners Dolphin Aiper pool cleaners Aiper Pressure-side cleaners Pressure‑Side Suction-side cleaners Suction‑Side Pool pumps Pool Pumps Pool water monitors Water Monitors
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Pool Design Ideas & Inspiration

Planning a new build or a backyard refresh? Explore hundreds of curated ideas, from pool shapes to outdoor kitchens.

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Backyard pool shapes and designs Shapes & Types Find Your Perfect Pool Shape Infinity, plunge, lap, freeform and more, with the pros and cons of each. Pool water features Features Water Features Pool decking and patio ideas Outdoor Living Decking & Patios Pool lighting ideas Ambiance Pool Lighting Inground pool cost Budget What a Pool Really Costs
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Free Pool Calculators & Tools

Skip the guesswork. Get the exact dose, run time, or gallons in seconds.

Chemical Calculator Balance chlorine, pH & alkalinity Volume Calculator Find your pool's gallons Salt Calculator Dial in your salt system Shock Calculator How much shock to add Pump Run-Time Optimize filtration hours Loan Calculator Estimate build financing
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Our Promise

Why Pool Owners Trust PoolPad

We're pool owners and industry pros, not a faceless affiliate site. Every recommendation is earned in the water.

Tested in Real Pools

Every cleaner runs through real debris, walls, and waterlines, not just spec sheets, so scores reflect actual performance.

We Buy It Ourselves

No free units, no sponsorships, no manufacturer influence. Our verdicts are independent and impossible to buy.

Scored on What Matters

Coverage, filtration, features, and value, each rated and explained so you know exactly why a product earned its score.

Experience • Expertise • Authority • Trust

The Team Behind Every Verdict

PoolPad started the way most pool journeys do, with a backyard pool and a lot of questions. To answer them properly, our founders earned professional pool operator training and now spend every season maintaining, testing, and troubleshooting real pools. That hands-on experience is behind every guide, score, and how-to on this site.

We combine that field experience with published industry standards for water chemistry and equipment, then pressure-test our advice against what actually happens in the pool, not just what the label claims.

Certified pool operators — trained on real water-chemistry & equipment standards
Years of hands-on testing across dozens of cleaners, pumps & chemicals
Reader-first & independent — we never accept payment for a review or ranking
Meet the Team
Fresh from the Lab

Latest Reviews

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Aiper Scuba SE Review 5.9
Robotic Pool Cleaners

Aiper Scuba SE Review

Discover why the Aiper Scuba SE might not be your ideal pool cleaning. From battery...

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Aiper Scuba S1 Review 6.3
Robotic Pool Cleaners

Aiper Scuba S1 Review

Testing the new Aiper Scuba S1 cordless robotic pool cleaner was disappointing. With...

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Sutro Pool Water Monitoring System Review 6.8
Pool Water Monitors

Sutro Pool Water Monitoring System Review

For $500 plus a $29/month membership, is the Sutro Pool Water Monitor worth it? Let's dive...

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Pentair Kreepy Krawly Platinum Review 5.1
Pressure-Side Cleaners

Pentair Kreepy Krawly Platinum Review

Larger than the rest of the Kreepy Krawly line, does the Pentair Platinum produce a hit or...

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Pentair Kreepy Krawly Racer Review 5.3
Pressure-Side Cleaners

Pentair Kreepy Krawly Racer Review

Faster doesn't always mean a better clean. With the Pentair Kreepy Krawly Racer being 30%...

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Pentair Kreepy Krawly Legend Review 5.5
Pressure-Side Cleaners

Pentair Kreepy Krawly Legend Review

The once legendary is no more. The Pentair Kreepy Krawly Legend was outdated and...

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Polaris Turtle Turbo Review 4.2
Pressure-Side Cleaners

Polaris Turtle Turbo Review

Can the Polaris Turbo Turtle be more than just cute? We find out in our in-depth review...

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Polaris P39 Review 6.9
Pressure-Side Cleaners

Polaris P39 Review

With AWD and a SuperBag, the Polaris P39 pressure-side pool cleaner looks promising. But...

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Pool School

Learn to Care for Your Pool

All articles
Water Chemistry Equipment & Systems Maintenance & Cleaning Pool Types Hot Tub Care Common Problems
How To Lower pH Level In Your Swimming Pool

How To Lower pH Level In Your Swimming Pool

Step-by-step guide by pool professionals on how to lower the pH level of your...

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Pool Maintenance Essentials

Pool Maintenance Essentials

The essentials of keeping your pool clean and healthy in just a few quick and...

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How To Raise pH Level In Your Swimming Pool

How To Raise pH Level In Your Swimming Pool

Step-by-step guide by pool professionals on how to raise the pH level of your...

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Robotic vs Pressure‑Side Pool Cleaners

Robotic vs Pressure‑Side Pool Cleaners

The choice is easy. A robotic pool cleaner is over 87% more efficient than...

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