The 6 Best Robotic Pool Cleaners We Tested in Our Own Pools

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsOthers We TriedWhat to KnowBehind the ScenesFAQWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

In This Article

View All

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

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 cleanerscome is several varieties, withsuction and pressure-side pool cleanerstaking 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 actuallyenjoyyour 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 PicksBest Overall:Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner at Amazon$700Jump to ReviewBest Budget:Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$200Jump to ReviewBest Investment:Beatbot iSkim Ultra at Amazon$1,499Jump to ReviewBest Deep Clean:Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$1,549Jump to ReviewBest for Touchups:SALEHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon$160$100Jump to ReviewStill Great:SALEAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$750$600Jump to Review

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 cleanerscome is several varieties, withsuction and pressure-side pool cleanerstaking 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 actuallyenjoyyour 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 PicksBest Overall:Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner at Amazon$700Jump to ReviewBest Budget:Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$200Jump to ReviewBest Investment:Beatbot iSkim Ultra at Amazon$1,499Jump to ReviewBest Deep Clean:Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$1,549Jump to ReviewBest for Touchups:SALEHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon$160$100Jump to ReviewStill Great:SALEAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$750$600Jump to Review

Best Overall:Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner at Amazon$700Jump to ReviewBest Budget:Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$200Jump to ReviewBest Investment:Beatbot iSkim Ultra at Amazon$1,499Jump to ReviewBest Deep Clean:Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$1,549Jump to ReviewBest for Touchups:SALEHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon$160$100Jump to ReviewStill Great:SALEAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$750$600Jump to Review

Best Overall:Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner at Amazon$700Jump to Review

Best Overall:Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner at Amazon$700

Best Overall:

Best Budget:Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$200Jump to Review

Best Budget:Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$200

Best Budget:

Best Investment:Beatbot iSkim Ultra at Amazon$1,499Jump to Review

Best Investment:Beatbot iSkim Ultra at Amazon$1,499

Best Investment:

Best Deep Clean:Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$1,549Jump to Review

Best Deep Clean:Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$1,549

Best Deep Clean:

Best for Touchups:SALEHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon$160$100Jump to Review

Best for Touchups:SALEHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon$160$100

Best for Touchups:

SALE

Still Great:SALEAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$750$600Jump to Review

Still Great:SALEAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner at Amazon$750$600

Still Great:

Best OverallAiper Scuba S1 Pool CleanerPHOTO: Amazon$700$659 at Amazon$659 at WalmartStar QualitiesNavigates with easeTraps dirt in a convenient basketFour intelligent cleaning modesRed FlagsDoesn’t skim the water’s surfaceWe know it sounds ridiculous, but the Aiper Scuba S1 robot made the pool-cleaning processfun.Setup took five minutes (ours came pre-charged), thenwe 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 treadsPHOTO: People / Paden ReichPHOTO: People / Paden Reich

Best OverallAiper Scuba S1 Pool CleanerPHOTO: Amazon$700$659 at Amazon$659 at Walmart

Best OverallAiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner

Best Overall

Aiper Scuba S1 Pool Cleaner

PHOTO: Amazon

$700$659 at Amazon$659 at Walmart

Star QualitiesNavigates with easeTraps dirt in a convenient basketFour intelligent cleaning modesRed FlagsDoesn’t skim the water’s surface

Star QualitiesNavigates with easeTraps dirt in a convenient basketFour intelligent cleaning modes

Navigates with ease

Traps dirt in a convenient basket

Four intelligent cleaning modes

Red FlagsDoesn’t skim the water’s surface

Doesn’t skim the water’s surface

We know it sounds ridiculous, but the Aiper Scuba S1 robot made the pool-cleaning processfun.Setup took five minutes (ours came pre-charged), thenwe 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 ReichPHOTO: People / Paden Reich

Best BudgetAiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool CleanerPHOTO: Amazon$200 at AmazonView on Aiper.com

Best BudgetAiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner

Best Budget

Aiper Seagull SE Robotic Pool Cleaner

$200 at AmazonView on Aiper.com

Star QualitiesGreat valueSleek designSucked up 90 percent of visible debrisRed FlagsDoesn’t clean walls or waterlineHad to empty the filter three times during 90-minute cleaning session

Star QualitiesGreat valueSleek designSucked up 90 percent of visible debris

Great value

Sleek design

Sucked up 90 percent of visible debris

Red FlagsDoesn’t clean walls or waterlineHad to empty the filter three times during 90-minute cleaning session

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.

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 NavarroPHOTO: People / Michael Navarro

Best InvestmentBeatbot iSkim UltraPHOTO: Beatbot$1,499 at AmazonView on Beatbot.com

Best InvestmentBeatbot iSkim Ultra

Best Investment

Beatbot iSkim Ultra

PHOTO: Beatbot

$1,499 at AmazonView on Beatbot.com

Star QualitiesSolar-powered, so you don’t have to worry about charging itApp allows monitoring, scheduling, and manual controlCleans well, capturing leaves and debris and leaving the pool’s surface crystal clearRed FlagsDoes not indicate when it’s done cleaningOnly designed to clean the pool’s surface, rather than the walls and floor

Star QualitiesSolar-powered, so you don’t have to worry about charging itApp allows monitoring, scheduling, and manual controlCleans well, capturing leaves and debris and leaving the pool’s surface crystal clear

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 FlagsDoes not indicate when it’s done cleaningOnly designed to clean the pool’s surface, rather than the walls and floor

Does not indicate when it’s done cleaning

Only designed to clean the pool’s surface, rather than the walls and floor

The corresponding app offers smart features that make cleaning the poolthatmuch 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 CruzPHOTO: People / Clarissa CruzPHOTO: People / Clarissa Cruz

Best Deep CleanDolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool CleanerPHOTO: Pool Warehouse$1,549 at AmazonView on Poolwarehouse.com$1,599 at Lowe’sStar QualitiesMost thorough model we testedMultiple cleaning modesEasy-to-use appRed FlagsMost expensive model on our listNot cordlessWith 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,andstairs, 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 cleanPHOTO: People / Henry YungPHOTO: People / Henry Yung

Best Deep CleanDolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool CleanerPHOTO: Pool Warehouse$1,549 at AmazonView on Poolwarehouse.com$1,599 at Lowe’s

Best Deep CleanDolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner

Best Deep Clean

Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner

PHOTO: Pool Warehouse

$1,549 at AmazonView on Poolwarehouse.com$1,599 at Lowe’s

Star QualitiesMost thorough model we testedMultiple cleaning modesEasy-to-use appRed FlagsMost expensive model on our listNot cordless

Star QualitiesMost thorough model we testedMultiple cleaning modesEasy-to-use app

Most thorough model we tested

Multiple cleaning modes

Easy-to-use app

Red FlagsMost expensive model on our listNot cordless

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,andstairs, 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 YungPHOTO: People / Henry Yung

Best for TouchupsHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum CleanerPHOTO: Amazon$160$100 at AmazonStar QualitiesLightweight and simple to useSuper fine stainless steel filter grabbed both large and small debrisCordless designRed FlagsRandom navigation path missed a few spotsOnly cleans pool floorHad trouble working around the pool ladderThe 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 arobot vacuumas 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

Best for TouchupsHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum CleanerPHOTO: Amazon$160$100 at Amazon

Best for TouchupsHydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner

Best for Touchups

Hydrus Robotic Cordless Pool Vacuum Cleaner

$160$100 at Amazon

Star QualitiesLightweight and simple to useSuper fine stainless steel filter grabbed both large and small debrisCordless designRed FlagsRandom navigation path missed a few spotsOnly cleans pool floorHad trouble working around the pool ladder

Star QualitiesLightweight and simple to useSuper fine stainless steel filter grabbed both large and small debrisCordless design

Lightweight and simple to use

Super fine stainless steel filter grabbed both large and small debris

Cordless design

Red FlagsRandom navigation path missed a few spotsOnly cleans pool floorHad trouble working around the pool ladder

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 arobot vacuumas 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 GreatAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool CleanerPHOTO: Amazon$750$600 at Amazon$742 at WalmartView on Aiper.com

Still GreatAiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner

Still Great

Aiper Seagull Pro Robotic Pool Cleaner

$750$600 at Amazon$742 at WalmartView on Aiper.com

Star QualitiesEfficiently cleaned the entire poolCordless designRed FlagsHad trouble auto-navigating pool stairsExpensive

Star QualitiesEfficiently cleaned the entire poolCordless design

Efficiently cleaned the entire pool

Red FlagsHad trouble auto-navigating pool stairsExpensive

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 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 cleanerin 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

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. TheDolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleanerwas able to clean every surface in our pool.

Charge Time

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.

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:

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 QuestionsRobotic 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.According to Dr. Claudia Duncan, owner and CEO ofProfessional Pool Managementand member of thePool 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.After completing our in-depth testing process, we deemed theAiper Scuba S1as 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

According to Dr. Claudia Duncan, owner and CEO ofProfessional Pool Managementand member of thePool 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.

After completing our in-depth testing process, we deemed theAiper Scuba S1as 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.

Cai Crameris 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 PanelDr. Claudia Duncanis the owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management and a member of thePool and Hot Tub Alliance.

Our Expert Panel

Dr. Claudia Duncanis the owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management and a member of thePool and Hot Tub Alliance.

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In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

source: people.com