Tired of the constant upkeep required to keep your pool in good condition? While there are some aspects that are hard to automate (such as chemical treatments or maintaining pumps and skimmers), you can delegate vacuuming to a reliable robot assistant. Pool robot vacuums have seen big improvements over the past few years, and they make it easier than ever to keep your pool looking brand new.
Built to run autonomously after a brief setup, pool robot vacuums will suck up all the dirt and debris lingering in the water. Most can run for over an hour before needing to be recharged or come with a wired connection for constant use. All of them are equipped with a variety of filters and scrubbers, ensuring your pool looks pristine the next time you go for a swim.
If you're sick of skimming and scrubbing, here's a list of the best pool robot vacuums you can buy right now.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus
The best pool vacuum overall
- Can be used for in-ground pools up to 50 feet deep
- Powerful motor
- Great filtration
- 60-foot, tangle-free cord
- On the expensive side
From walls to floors, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is your go-to pool vac for every cleaning job. Designed to be used for in-ground pools up to 50 feet deep, the Nautilus gets the job done by way of its powerful suction motor, dual filtration system, and twin side brushes.
Whether your pool uses gunite, tile, or another finish altogether, the Nautilus should get everything in only two hours. That's walls, floors, and stairs. In terms of power, there's no battery to speak of, but the 60-foot, tangle-free cord ensures your Nautilus won't get tangled in the wiring during its cycle — you'll just want to make sure there's a power outlet outside.
Need to keep to a calendar? The Nautilus can be programmed to clean your pool on a weekly schedule, with options for daily, every other day, or cleanings every third day. Do note that the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus doesn't have a companion app, so all of your adjustments are made on the vac itself.
Polaris 9650IQ Sport
The pool vacuum with the best app
- Amazing Vortex Vacuum technology
- Rated for submergence up to 60 feet
- Includes 70-foot anti-tangle cord
- iAqua Link app adds remote features
- Expensive
The Polaris 9650IQ Sport may rock a steeper price point than the other entries on this list, but for good reason. For starters, the vac is equipped with Polaris' all-powerful Vortex Vacuum tech. This feature keeps the dirt and debris suspended as the vac makes its passes, allowing for easier and more efficient suction.
Whether your pool is only 5 feet or 10, the Sport is rated for submergence up to 60 feet. Equipped with four-wheel drive, this means the Sport can handle any kind of pitch and surface, including vinyl, fiberglass, gunite, tile, and pebble, and the 70-foot anti-tangle cord ensures a smooth cleaning without getting tripped up in wires. Keep in mind that a power wire means no battery operation, so be sure there's an outlet available.
Our favorite feature with the Sport has to be the iAquaLink app for iOS and Android devices. iAquaLink allows you to start/stop the vac, pilot it in a certain direction, and create weekly cleaning schedules. There's even built-in Alexa integration for start/stop voice commands. While a first glance may elicit some sticker shock, rest assured, the Polaris 9650IQ Sport is packed with enough features to be well worth your investment.
Aiper Seagull SE Cordless
The best budget pool vacuum
- Affordable price
- Covers up to 860 sq. ft.
- Cordless design
- Runs for over 90 minutes
- Only cleans floors
- Not suitable for in-ground pools
At less than $200, the Aiper Seagull SE Cordless is shockingly affordable. But despite its price tag, it's packed with premium features, including a cordless design and the ability to clean pools up to 860 square feet.
Using dual-drive motors, a filter tray that's easy to wipe down between cleanings, and a built-in chemical dispenser, the Seagull can easily motor around your pool to vacuum its surfaces and improve water quality. It's quiet during operation, so it shouldn't disturb nearby sunbathers or anyone relaxing by the pool.
The Seagull SE doesn't need to be tethered to an outlet, so it won't get tangled or need to be rescued in the middle of a cleaning cycle. It's easy to retrieve when the job is done, as it'll dock near the edge of your pool and comes with an included retrieval hook. You won't want to use it with in-ground pools featuring sloped floors, but if you have an above ground pool and need an affordable way to keep it clean, the Aiper Seagull SE Cordless is the perfect option.
Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner
The best pool vacuum for features
- Powerful 24-volt motor and twin scrub brushes
- Smart Nav software automatically maps your pool
- Capable of cleaning pools up to 50 feet deep
- Can schedule automated cleanings
- Expensive
- No companion app
The almighty Dolphin Premier is the king of all pool robot vacs, with a price point that matches its performance and versatility. Capable of cleaning pools up to 50 deep and sporting a 60-foot tangle-free cord (outlet required), the vac uses two 24-volt DC motors and twin scrub brushes for chipping away at every square inch of your pool.
While there's no companion app to speak of, the onboard Smart Nav software automatically maps your pool by way of algorithmic sensors, ensuring no corner goes untouched. If you're worried that the Premier won't be able to handle certain messes, think again. Whether your pool needs a simple touch-up or a full-bodied cleaning, three different cartridge types allow for quick and interchangeable filtration.
While the nearly $1,800 price point would suggest you're getting a companion app, the Dolphin Premier has no mobile interface. It's a bit of a disappointment, but you are able to schedule weekly cleanings directly from the vac's power/control interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely — if you can spare the upfront expense. A solid pool robot vacuum takes all the pain and toil out of manual pool-cleaning in the hot summer months, keeping your above- and in-ground pools spotless with relatively little maintenance involved.
No, this isn't a good idea. While technically you can leave a pool robot vacuum submerged, the powerful chemicals, minerals, and other water-based detritus will start to wear out your pool vac's vital components overtime, making for a shortened life for whatever unit you decide to purchase.
Yes, in most cases. A number of pool robot vacuums are equipped to handle algae as small as two microns, in addition to leaves, dirt, insects, and more. If algae removal is of the utmost concern though, we recommend shopping for a pool vac that touts "algae removal" as a leading cleaning feature.
Ideally, you want to run your pool robot vacuum at least twice a week during the summer months, in order to keep up with all of the dirt, debris, and other gunk that can settle on the liner and around different parts of the pool.
If you can manage to run the vacuum an additional one or two times per week, especially if you have a lot of people using it, then your pool's hygiene will be even better.
