We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Patio Furniture & Outdoors The 6 Best Robotic Pool Cleaners We Tested in Our Own Pools Let a robot scrub your pool floor, walls, and waterline while you sit back and relax By Cai Cramer Cai Cramer Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE.com with 2 years’ experience in journalism and digital media. She regularly tests the best and buzziest products in the beauty and lifestyle spaces and has researched and written about moisturizers, blow dryers, clothing, and luggage, among many other popular products. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 20, 2024 09:53AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Others We Tried What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Paden Reich Having a pool in your backyard can sometimes feel like more work than pleasure. Manual pool cleaning is a grueling task, and as soon as your pool is sparkling, a gust of wind can deliver another load of leaves, pollen, and grime. Pool cleaners come is several varieties, with suction and pressure-side pool cleaners taking some of hassle away. But there's nothing more convenient than a robotic pool cleaner. These gadgets can skim, scrub, and scour your pool to its full potential while you just kick back and actually enjoy your pool. There are a lot of questions about these high-tech cleaning tools, so we tested the most popular robotic pool cleaners on the market to determine which are actually worth the investment. We used 24 different robots to work in our own pools, rating them on their ease of use, cleaning ability, and value. These are the best robotic pool cleaners we tested. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner at Amazon $700 Jump to Review Best Budget: Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon $200 Jump to Review Best Investment: Beatbot iSkim Ultra at Amazon $1,499 Jump to Review Best Deep Clean: Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon $1,549 Jump to Review Best for Touchups: SALE Hydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon $160 $94 Jump to Review Still Great: Aiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon $700 Jump to Review Best Overall Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner PHOTO: Amazon $700 at Amazon Star Qualities Navigates with ease Traps dirt in a convenient basket Four intelligent cleaning modes Red Flags Doesn’t skim the water's surface We know it sounds ridiculous, but the Aiper Scuba S1 robot made the pool-cleaning process fun. Setup took five minutes (ours came pre-charged), then we plopped the robot into the pool and watched as it whizzed over the floors, around the walls, and even up onto the steps. The brushes expertly scrubbed tiles on the edge of the pool, and the filter kept dirt, leaves, and debris neatly inside. It has four cleaning modes: auto, eco, floor-only, and wall-only. The auto mode cleans every surface in the pool, while the eco mode runs every 48 hours for 45 minutes at a time. The Aiper Scuba S1 robot vacuum is completely cordless, which means you won't have to worry about tripping over cables. It’s designed to clean every pool shape and work on any flooring material, and it has a two-year warranty. We only wish that it also skimmed the water's surface. Dimensions: 20 x 17 x 10 inches | Weight: 20.9 lbs. | Pool Size: Up to 1,600 feet | Filter: Basket | Cleaning Time: 150 minutes | Charge Time: 3–4 hours | Features: Intelligent navigation, four cleaning modes, anti-slip treads PHOTO: People / Paden Reich PHOTO: People / Paden Reich Best Budget Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner PHOTO: Amazon $200 $180 at Amazon View on Aiper.com Star Qualities Great value Sleek design Sucked up 90 percent of visible debris Red Flags Doesn’t clean walls or waterline Had to empty the filter three times during 90-minute cleaning session For its modest price, we got much more than expected with this robot vacuum. We dropped the robot over the edge of the pool and watched it suck up and scrub off 90 percent of the dirt, debris, and dead leaves. We didn’t have to guide the robot pool cleaner and could relax while it did its work. One of the most impressive things about the SE Cordless pool cleaner is that it’s, well, cordless. For under $300, the sleek design feels luxurious. That said, we had to fish the robot out of the pool three times during the 90-minute session to empty the filter because it slowed down once full. (Note: Our test pool was 40 by 18 feet, which is fairly large). Regardless, we still think that it’s a good value. Dimensions: 17.13 x 13.74 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 10.67 lbs. | Pool Size: Up to 850 square feet | Filter: Tray | Cleaning Time: 90 minutes | Charge Time: 2.5 hours | Features: Auto parking, LED indicator lights, one-switch activation, dual-drive motors PHOTO: People / Michael Navarro PHOTO: People / Michael Navarro Best Investment Beatbot iSkim Ultra PHOTO: Beatbot $1,499 at Amazon View on Beatbot.com Star Qualities Solar-powered, so you don't have to worry about charging it App allows monitoring, scheduling, and manual control Cleans well, capturing leaves and debris and leaving the pool's surface crystal clear Red Flags Does not indicate when it's done cleaning Only designed to clean the pool's surface, rather than the walls and floor This little robot sucked up all the leaves, bugs, grass, and debris from our pool, leaving a crystal clear surface. Our tester said it made the pool look better than it ever had. Since this little robot only cleans the pool's surface, rather than its walls and floor, it works quickly: It only took 20 minutes to clean our 34-by-17-foot pool, which was filled with pine needles, leaves, and other outdoor debris. The corresponding app offers smart features that make cleaning the pool that much easier: remote control, scheduling, one-click parking, and temperature monitoring. We also appreciated that this pool cleaner is solar-powered, so we never had to plug it in to charge. Should you need to charge it on a sufficiently overcast day, there's also a wireless magnetic charger that will restore the battery in about five hours. While this pool skimmer is certainly pricier than others on our list, it made up for it in its efficiency and features. Dimensions: 23 x 22 x 12 inches | Weight: 17 lbs. | Pool Size: Not specified | Filter: Basket | Cleaning Time: 20 minutes | Charge Time: 5 hours or solar-powered | Features: Self-parking, app connection, scheduled cleaning, solar charging PHOTO: People / Clarissa Cruz PHOTO: People / Clarissa Cruz PHOTO: People / Clarissa Cruz Best Deep Clean Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner PHOTO: Pool Warehouse $1,549 at Amazon View on Poolwarehouse.com $1,599 at Lowe's Star Qualities Most thorough model we tested Multiple cleaning modes Easy-to-use app Red Flags Most expensive model on our list Not cordless With three powerful cleaning modes, the Dolphin Explorer E50 cleaned our pool better than any other robotic pool cleaners we tested. The double-filtered collection basket handled large piles of leaves on the pool's floor and the built-in rolling brush scrubbed all visible dirt and grime off the floor, walls, waterline, and stairs, which no other robot we tested was able to do. Its navigation system was smart enough to maneuver the entire pool and it connects to a user-friendly app that lets you customize each cleaning session. The fact that it isn’t a cordless cleaner would have docked it a few points in our rating if not for the superior deep clean that this robot delivered. Dimensions: 21.45 x 17.55 x 11.31 inches | Weight: 29 lbs. | Pool Size: Up to 50 feet | Filter: Basket | Cleaning Time: 90-minute quick clean, 150-minute standard clean | Features: Scheduled cleaning, connected app, smart navigation, large canister, quick clean, standard clean PHOTO: People / Henry Yung PHOTO: People / Henry Yung Best for Touchups Hydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner PHOTO: Amazon $160 $94 at Amazon Star Qualities Lightweight and simple to use Super fine stainless steel filter grabbed both large and small debris Cordless design Red Flags Random navigation path missed a few spots Only cleans pool floor Had trouble working around the pool ladder The Hydrus Robotic Pool Vacuum is a great cleaner if you want something lightweight and simple to use. The cordless robot is a breeze to set up; just plug it in to charge, then throw it into the pool and let it do its thing. The Hydrus reminded us of a robot vacuum as it pinged around the pool's floor with what appears to be little rhyme or reason. Each time we used the small gadget, we were impressed with how quickly it navigated the pool floor and how much dirt and debris it eliminated. The device comes fitted with a stainless steel filter that sucked up both large and small messes during our tests. The seemingly random navigation pattern it follows can backfire a bit: The Hydrus vacuum missed a few spots on our pool floor and got stuck around the ladder. But given its light frame and user-friendly design, it feels like a great option for quick pool touchups alongside a regular deeper cleaning routine. Dimensions: 14.3 x 14.3 x 8.3 inches | Weight: 7 lbs. | Pool Size: Up to 50 feet | Filter: Durable stainless-steel screen | Cleaning Time: 90 minutes | Charge Time: 2.5 hours | Features: Self-parking, two suction inlets Still Great Aiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner PHOTO: Amazon $700 $600 at Amazon $611 at Aiper.com $500 at Home Depot Star Qualities Efficiently cleaned the entire pool Cordless design Red Flags Had trouble auto-navigating pool stairs Expensive The Aiper pool cleaner got to work after a 90-minute charging session, moving in snake-like curves across each surface to ensure a full deep clean. A rotating rubber brush on the front of the robot scrubbed built-up grime and algae off the floor, walls, and waterline of the pool. The design and performance impressed us: It has a quick charge time, is cordless, and only took about three hours to fully clean a 30-by-15-foot pool. It removed leaves and surface dirt and, at the end of the cycle, our pool looked as clean as it does after the use of more tiring manual cleaners. The Aiper Seagull Pro used to hold our “best overall” title but we’ve found newer models have achieved the same levels of cleanliness without some of the hiccups we noticed with this robot (such as its difficulty navigating pool stairs). That said, it’s still a great robotic pool cleaner in our book. Dimensions: 19.6 x 18.43 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 20.9 lbs. | Pool Size: Up to 3,200 feet | Filter: Basket | Cleaning Time: 180 minutes | Charge Time: 90 minutes | Features: Auto parking, quick water release, one-switch activation, three cleaning modes Other Robotic Pool Cleaners We Tried Beatbot AquaSense Pro Pool Cleaner: It powerfully cleaned the pool, sucking up so much dirt, dust, and debris that we had to empty the filter mid-cleaning. In the end, that was our biggest qualm with the robot: The filter wasn’t large enough to hold all of the dirt from one cleaning when our pool was particularly dirty. It’s also really heavy at 54 pounds. Dolphin Explorer E70 Robotic Pool Cleaner: This app-controlled Dolphin Explorer expertly climbed our pool walls and floors. The robot’s scrubbing brushes effectively removed stuck-on grime, and our pool looked cleaner after every use. However, the robot did miss spots, and we found the manual mode to be pretty tricky to use. For the high price, we wish it did a more thorough job. People / Meredith Butcher What to Know About Robotic Pool Cleaners Surface Abilities While all of the pool cleaners on our list are capable of cleaning pool floors, some are also able to clean the walls, waterline, and stairs. This is an important thing to keep in mind when choosing a robotic pool cleaner because if your chosen device isn’t able to scrub the entire surface area of your pool, you may have to do manual cleaning after the device is finished. The Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner was able to clean every surface in our pool. Charge Time The battery life and charge time are important factors to consider if you’re opting for a cordless robotic pool cleaner. The Aiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner charges for just 90 minutes and offers 180 minutes of cleaning time, but our testing showed many cordless pool cleaners need to charge for longer than they’re able to clean. If you don’t want to worry about charging your pool cleaner in between uses, then a corded model might serve you better, though that also comes with unsightly wires, the risk of tripping, and the need for a nearby outlet, depending on the power cord's length. The Beatbot iSkim Ultra Robotic Pool Skimmer charges using solar power, meaning you never have to think about its power level unless you have a string of cloudy days. Price Range Robotic pool cleaners are available in a wide price range, with the models we tested starting at around $230 and going up to $1,600. While we found a more expensive robotic pool cleaner typically offers a more efficient cleaning and a few extra perks, like apps and long battery life, you can find a perfectly capable pool cleaner in the middle of the price range. Lower-end pool cleaners can still do a great job of clearing debris from the pool floor but probably won’t provide a deep enough clean that you could skip manual cleaning altogether. Behind the Scenes To find the best robotic pool cleaners, we tried out 24 of the most popular pool cleaning devices on the market in our own outdoor swimming pools, challenging them to scrub the dirt and grime that built up over the winter. While testing, we evaluated them for the following qualities: Ease of Use: We started by unboxing the pool cleaners and gauging setup difficulty. We read the included instructions and downloaded the connected phone apps for the robots that came with them. We noted their weights and how difficult the robots were to put into the pool. Performance: Once the pool cleaners were charged or plugged in, we placed the robots in our pools and timed them with stopwatches to see how quickly they worked. Over the course of testing, we used each pool cleaner three times to ensure accurate results and consistency. We evaluated the cleanliness of our pools after use, noting any visible debris left behind, as well as spots the robot might have missed. Smart Features: Some of the pool robots we tested came with smart features, like automatic obstacle navigation or auto parking. We took notes on the navigation pattern of each robotic pool cleaner and whether they were able to maneuver around obstacles like ladders and drains. In the end, we were able to create a list of the best robotic pool cleaners that make scrubbing, skimming, and scouring your pool as easy as pressing a button. People / Lindsay Buss Frequently Asked Questions Do robotic pool cleaners work? Robotic pool cleaners can absolutely get your pool sparkling, with their efficiency depending on a few factors, including the model you choose, your pool’s surface area, and how much dirt and grime typically build up in your pool. Make sure to read the device’s pool-size specifications and compare it with your own pool's measurements before buying a model. Depending on which robotic pool cleaner you choose, you may need to follow it up with some manual cleaning on areas that it isn’t able to reach. How often should you clean your pool? According to Dr. Claudia Duncan, owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management and member of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance, the frequency with which you should clean your pool is dependent on factors such as the weather and conditions of the pool area. Duncan says a general rule is to clean the pool once a week if it doesn’t get visibly dirty in between cleanings. What is the best robotic pool cleaner? After completing our in-depth testing process, we deemed the Aiper Scuba S1 as the best overall pool cleaner because of its ability to thoroughly clean the pool’s floor, walls, and waterline — all for a mid-range price when compared to other pool cleaners that we tried. But the best pool cleaner for you depends on your needs. Why Trust PEOPLE? Cai Cramer is a staff shopping writer at PEOPLE who covers the best and buzziest products across beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle. Cai wrote this story based on the insights from our real-world testers, who put multiple robotic pool cleaners to the test in their own outdoor pools to see which was the best. The testing process was also based on insights from our expert, Dr. Claudia Duncan. Our Expert Panel Dr. Claudia Duncan is the owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management and a member of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.