The 10 Best Robotic Pool Cleaners of 2024 for Your Backyard Oasis, According to Testing (2024)

Overall, the Dolphin Explorer E50 Robotic Pool Cleaner is the best pool cleaner to consider. After using the pool cleaner three times, we found that it was highly effective and easy to use. Overall, we gave this model a perfect score during testing.

Although the pool cleaner is more expensive than other options, our testing proved to us why it was worth the investment. To start, setting up the unit was easy. All we had to do was plug it in and download the pool cleaner’s app, which we found to be very user-friendly.

There are a few cleaning cycles to choose from, but for our first round of testing, we gave one of the more advanced modes a try. It took 2½ hours to clean our pool, and we found that easily picked up debris of all sizes. We also had similar results when trying other cleaning cycles that were shorter.

The deep clean was due in part to the pool cleaner’s double-filtered waste basket, which helped pick up even the finest debris. Once the basket is full, it’s easy to remove and empty with the press of a button.

One of our favorite features of this pool cleaner is the ability to customize the interface to suit your needs via the corresponding app, which we found was easy to set up and use. Whether you need to clean the whole pool or just the floors, you’ll be able to set the model to suit your needs.

How It Performed After Six Months

After using this robotic pool cleaner twice a week for six months, we felt that it was the easiest and most efficient pool cleaner we had ever used. It worked just as well as when we first got it, and we appreciated that it could handle any debris that came its way.

During testing, it became our go-to for cleaning small debris at the bottom of our pool quickly. Although this model worked well for our 40x20-foot pool, we didn’t think the power cord was long enough to handle a larger pool.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours | Cable Length: 60 feet | Weight: 20 pounds | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground | Pool Length: Up to 50 feet

Aiper’s Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is a great choice if you’re in the market for a less-expensive option. The 7.6-pound cordless cleaner isn’t as heavy as other models, and we found it was easy to place into the water.

Setup was fairly simple, as all we had to do was attach the brushes. It’s recommended you fully charge the pool cleaner before using it.

During our first round of testing, we used whatever charge the unit already had when it arrived and it seemed weak and slow. We fully charged the Seagull for the other two uses, however, and found that it picked up a majority of the debris in our pool.

The pool cleaner is ideal for pools that have flat floors and no slopes. It’s only designed to clean floors (not pool walls), and it did a good job cleaning pollen and other debris. While the Seagull picked up a good amount of leaves, it’s not the best pool cleaner for cleaning larger piles.

We liked that the model has a handle that makes it easier to place it in the pool, and it comes with a retrieval hook to help take it out of the water when it’s done. Unlike some other pool cleaners on this list, there’s no corresponding app to control it, but we felt snagging this effective pool cleaner for a more budget-friendly price was worth the tradeoff of not having an app.

Some advanced pool cleaners have multiple cleaning cycles to choose from but with this pick, there’s only one cleaning mode. Still, it’ll clean your pool in 1½ hours and then will need to charge for 2½ hours, which is considerably less than some other options.

How It Performed After Six Months

We used this model twice a week throughout testing and found that the battery life was still the same as when we first got it. When we first started using it, the cleaner accumulated a lot of leaves and pollen that caused jams.

However, as the seasons changed and the debris became smaller, the machine was able to accumulate more residue and keep the pool cleaner.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 1.5 hours | Cable Length: Not listed | Weight: 7.6 pounds | Suggested Pool Type: Above-ground (round) and in-ground | Pool Length: Up to 40 feet

Above-ground pools are either made of steel, aluminum, or resin, so you'll need a robotic pool cleaner, like the Dolphin Escape, that is made to tackle these surfaces. This pick’s design is compact and lightweight. Plus, it even flattened the lining in our pool.

One thing to love about this robot is the ultra-durable pair of scrubbing brushes that can scour away algae and other stubborn contaminants that can build up on the pool's floor.

During testing, the pool cleaner was very effective, and it cleaned up all of the debris and leaves in the area–the tested pool is located near a tree, so there was quite a bit of build-up.

The brush and tracks work seamlessly with this robot's smart navigation feature, which acts much like a GPS and helps the cleaner navigate your pool quickly. In fact, an entire clean cycle can be completed in just 1½ hours. Just keep in mind that while the box was neatly organized and the instructions were accessible, they weren’t very clear. In fact, the manufacturer recommends videos to watch for assembly, which we found helpful.

How It Performed After Three Months

We tested this robotic pool cleaner for three months at home and didn’t report any issues while using it. We felt that it kept our pool clean, and we liked how practical and efficient the unit was. Our only critique was that we wished that the unit could be folded for easier storage.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 1.5 hours | Cable Length: 40 feet | Weight: 14 pounds | Suggested Pool Type: Above-ground | Pool Length: Up to 30 feet

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is the best robotic pool vacuum for in-ground pools. Easy to use and ideal for in-ground pools up to 50 feet, this machine will clean your pool in just two hours. Plus, we found that it was lightweight and user friendly.

Dual scrubbing brushes effortlessly wipe down algae and grime, while a filter picks up even the finest particles of dirt and sand. Built-in sensors can detect obstacles at the bottom of your pool and avoid them with little interruption. The Nautilus is also designed to scale up pool walls and clean around stairs—just keep in mind it won't scrub your waterline. Overall, we felt that it was a highly effective model to consider.

It's also worth noting the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus has an easy-to-use, three-setting function, which allows you to schedule your robot to clean every day, every other day, or every third day. Thanks to the timer, you'll never have to worry if your pool is clean when you want to use it.

How It Performed After Four Months

Overall, we thought this option was easy to use, and we liked that it mapped out our pool so well that it barely missed any spots. Although it’s an investment, we felt that it was worth it, as it saved us hours of cleaning the pool ourselves.

Product Details: Cycle Time: Two hours | Cable Length: 60 feet | Weight: 19 pounds | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground or above-ground | Pool Length: Up to 50 feet

With built-in Wi-Fi and the option to connect to its own iAquaLink app, the Polaris Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner is the best pool cleaner if you prefer smart features.

Whether home or away, you'll be able to control your robot right from your phone, including scheduling cleans and checking how dirty the filter is. You can also manually drive your robot around the pool and customize its cleaning pattern.

Overall, we felt that the pool cleaner was effective at suctioning the pool walls and floor. It was able to easily climb up the waterline, unlike some other models. Plus, it runs quietly and can be programmed to different cleaning modes based on what your pool needs.

The cleaner is 44 pounds, which is heavier than some other options out there. However, with this model, you can activate the cleaner's lift system through the app, which will tell your robot to scale the wall so you can easily lift it out of the water.

How It Performed After Three Months

We tested this pool cleaner for three months and used it about four times a week. We didn't experience any issues with it. In fact, we noted that this was the first pool cleaner that we used in our free-form pool that covered all of the pool's edges without getting stuck.

The filter pump also doesn't need to run at full speed, so it's quiet, making it more enjoyable to relax near the pool while the robot is cleaning.

Product Details: Cycle Time: Variable programming | Cable Length: 70 feet | Weight: 44 pounds | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground | Pool Length: Not listed

The Aiper Seagull 1000 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is the best pool cleaner if your pool is on the smaller side. We appreciated that it was simple to assemble, and the cordless style made it easy to store between cleanings.

The model is ideal for pools that are up to 50 feet long. Since it’s cordless, you won’t have to worry about any tangled cords while it navigates your pool. We found that it was effective and were impressed with how much the small model cleaned. However, you’ll want to be careful when you lift it out of the water, as some debris may fall back into the pool.

It took us a few tries to find the best angle setting for the cleaner to work effectively. We also noted that the model spent a lot of time in the deeper end of the pool, so you should start it in the shallow end and return it there to ensure your whole pool gets cleaned.

How It Performed After Two Months

Throughout testing we found that this pool cleaner was quite easy to use. We did notice that the unit had some difficulties climbing out of the deep end of the pool, however, so we thought this pick may be better suited for a more shallow pool. That being said, we did think it worked well overall.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 90 minutes | Cable Length: Cordless | Weight: Not listed | Suggested Pool Type: Above-ground | Pool Length: Up to 50 feet

The Polaris VRXIQ+ Robotic Pool Cleaner with iAquaLink Control is the best pool cleaner if you prefer a unit that has multiple settings and is easy to transport. The pool cleaner comes with a steel caddy that makes it easy to move the unit from the pool to its storage spot.

The robot cleaner features a 70-foot cable that comes in handy with each of the unit's cleaning settings: SMART cycle, quick clean, deep clean, waterline only, and custom. It can be controlled via an app, which allows you to also do targeted spot cleanings.

Once you're done using the pool cleaner, you'll appreciate the included powder-coated alloy caddy. The design, which doesn't require any tools to assemble, has a handle that'll make it easy to move the robotic pool cleaner to a storage space in your backyard, so you won't have to worry about doing any heavy lifting.

The wheeled caddy was easy for us to set up as it snaps in place and doesn’t require any hardware. Plus, the caddy allows the unit to sit upright, which may end up saving you space, depending on where you store it.

How It Performed After Two Months

We tested this pool cleaner for a little over two months and didn’t experience any issues with it. We especially liked that this option can be controlled by an app, making it easy to start the cleaner and know when the cycle is finished. Overall, we’d recommend this option to anyone who has a large pool and has difficulties cleaning the bottom and/or the walls.

Product Details: Cycle Time: Not listed | Cable Length: 70 feet | Weight: Not listed | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground | Pool Length: Up to 60 feet

Aiper's Super Scuba S1 is geared specifically toward cleaning the walls of your pool, so it’s a great option to clean those hard-to-reach places. The pool cleaner can go up walls that are up to 105 degrees and was able to clean our pool walls, as well as exit the water to clean the tiles.

The pool cleaner arrived charged—all we had to do was unbox it—so setup was very simple during testing. When it came time to charge this model, the manufacturers noted it would take three to four hours, though we found it to charge in just two hours.

We could see the brushes and wheels moving during cleaning and it was so thorough that when we removed the basket, it had successfully cleaned debris from the pool that we hadn't noticed. Just note that while the Super Scuba can clean anything in the pool, it won’t skim the top of the pool as other pool cleaners do.

When it comes time to remove this cleaner from the pool, it comes with a hook that you can attach to your pool cleaner to pull it out of the pool. However, we did note that it’s definitely heavy and substantial and can be difficult to get out of the water. It is intelligent, though, and will finish where it started to help make getting it out easier.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 150 minutes | Cable Length: Cordless | Weight: 26 pounds |Suggested Pool Type: In-ground or above-ground | Pool Length: Up to 1,600 square feet

For an efficient cleaning experience, our favorite pool cleaner is the WYBOT Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner. The model was easy to use and quiet. Plus, it weighs just 8.8 pounds andfeatures a hook and a handle to be able to easily get it out of the pool.

Overall, we found that this pool cleaner was easy to operate. All we had to do was put it into the pool and turn it on. It also automatically reverses when it nears a wall, so it never got stuck during cleaning.

Cleaning this cordless model is as simple as taking it out of the pool, removing the top, removing the filter, and spraying water through it. This pool cleaner can only handle a slope of less than 15 degrees, so those seeking a cleaner for their stairs and walls may want to consider a different model.

Finally, we tested this pick on a pool inside of a screened lanai, so it had less debris exposure than other pools. As a result, people who are in high-debris zones may find that this isn’t as effective as other models for cleaning the entire pool.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 100 minutes | Cable Length: Cordless| Weight: 8.8 pounds | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground and above-ground pools | Pool Length: Up to 861 square feet

For people facing pesky debris that their pool cleaner can’t seem to get, the Polaris Freedom Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is the answer. In our experience, it was able to clean things that we couldn’t even see in the pool.

When we cleaned the Polaris Freedom, we saw tiny grains of sand in the dual filters, letting us know that it picked up the finer particles. A rubber paddle system scrubbed the floors and walls, including the waterline, working to effectively remove pollen from the tile.

Between unboxing and setup, this was a bit more involved than other models. However, it still only took about 10 minutes and arrived nearly fully charged. It’s easy to remove from the pool as well. Since it can climb a wall, we were able to just grab the cleaner by the handle when the cleaning cycle was over.

We couldn’t hear the pool cleaner while it was under the water, and a compatible app let us know how long the cycle would be running. And while it excels at smaller particles, the filter also works well for larger debris like leaves.

We tested this model on shorter stairs and when it sensed that it was coming out of the water, it stopped moving—which means that people who are concerned with clean stairs may not find this suitable for their needs.

Product Details: Cycle Time: 2.5 hours | Cable Length: Cordless | Weight: Not listed | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground | Pool Length: Up to 50 feet