Pool robots & pool vacuums compared

Pool robots move across the pool floor on their own, suck dirt into a filter basket and – depending on the model – also travel along the walls and waterline. Cordless battery robots are now the most popular choice for above-ground pools because there's no cable in the way. Battery handheld vacuums on a telescopic pole are cheaper but have to be guided by hand. Simple floor vacuums connect to the filter pump and use its suction.

What matters most is run time, cleaning area, filter fineness and handling. The run time should be enough to cover the whole floor in one go. Fine filtration (stated in micrometres) also holds back fine sand. Also check how easy the filter basket is to empty and how the robot is lifted out of the water – some park themselves at the waterline automatically.

Important for above-ground pools: not every robot copes with soft liner walls, wrinkles in the floor or a low water level. Check whether the manufacturer explicitly approves the robot for above-ground pools and what minimum water depth it needs.

Rinse the filter basket and brushes with clean water after every use and let the robot dry in the shade. Don't charge the battery in blazing sun, and store the robot dry and frost-free over winter with a partly charged battery. Replacement filters and brushes are wear parts that you can buy again as needed.

No. The robot removes dirt from the floor; the filter system cleans all the water and distributes the treatment products. The two complement each other: with a robot, the filter has less dirt to deal with and you save time on pool maintenance.

We hide replacement filters, brushes and refurbished devices on this page so that you only compare complete new devices.