The 8 Best Automatic Pool Cleaners in 2024

Swimming pools are loads of fun! The less-fun news: you’re going to have to clean your pool on the regular. Sure, you could always do it the old-fashioned way. Scrubbing, skimming and vacuuming as the sun melts off your sunscreen… Or you could just spring for one of the best automatic pool cleaners.

Investing in a good pool cleaner will end up saving you time and money, and can even reduce the amount of chemicals you use in your pool. Dive in for a roundup of the best rated automatic pool cleaners.

Our Top Picks

A Closer Look: Best Automatic Pool Cleaners

If you’re asking the question, “what is the best automatic pool cleaner?” look no further for an answer. Yes, the Dolphin Premier is expensive, but this robo-Dolphin delivers everything you could possibly want from a state-of-the-art pool cleaner. 

Not only does the Dolphin Premier offer multiple filter options and incredible energy efficiency, but this little powerhouse also has features that help avoid the pitfalls of other cleaners. This includes an underwater robotic cable swivel to avoid tangling, and a HyperGrip track system that eliminates wheel slippage. 

This auto pool cleaner even has its own algorithm! The SmartNav technology “scans and calculates the optimal pattern for faster cleaning and improved efficiency and finds the fastest, most thorough path to clean with unparalleled precision.”

With its easy installation and quiet operation, the Hayward Poolvergnuegen (gesundheit!) is our choice for best budget automatic pool cleaner. For an affordable auto pool cleaner, the Poolvergnuegen has an advanced, internally programmed steering system, sturdy tires with advanced tread design, and an adjustable roller skirt to help maintain suction and maneuver past obstacles. 

It’s a solid budget pool cleaner that also works well for larger pools.

If you’re looking for the best automatic pool cleaner for a small to medium-sized in-ground pool, the Baracuda is a contender. (Plus, you get a cool song in your head every time you refer to it!) This suction-side pool cleaner is powered by your pool’s circulation system, removing dirt and debris while it maneuvers around drains and jets.

It’s also a good value, as it is significantly less expensive than its robotic counterparts. The Zodiac T5 was specifically designed to minimize moving parts, which cuts down on maintenance and replacements. 

Other bells and whistles include: 

• Cyclonic Leaf Catcher
• Large capacity canister
• Automatic drain valve
• Squeegee basket
• Ergonomic handle
• Long-life hoses

The Polaris 360 Vac-Sweep scrubs sweeps and vacuums your entire pool automatically, all in around 3 hours.  

One of the biggest upsides of this pressure-side pool cleaner is its self-contained, high-capacity debris collection bag. Being able to empty all the debris and dirt — large and small — from a centralized location is convenient and means minor wear and tear on your pool filter.

The disadvantage of pressure-side cleaners is that many require a booster pump to operate at full capacity. However, the 360 model of the Polaris Vac-Sweep connects to a dedicated pressure line and doesn’t need an additional pump. (Note that the similar 280 model of this pool cleaner does require a booster pump.)

It’s lightweight, quick, affordable, and easy to use. The Pool Rover Jr. is not only our pick for the best above-ground automatic pool cleaner — it’s also one of the best robotic pool cleaners for the money.

Like all robotic cleaners, this vacuum takes the strain off of your pool’s filter system, which can help save money on chemicals and other pool expenses over time. 

The Pool Rover Jr. features an auto-timer, a reusable filter bag, and extra large non-scuffing wheels. And once Junior gets going, it can filter up to 80 gallons per minute!

For our best in-ground automatic pool cleaner pick, we bring you the Pentair Kreepy Krauly Great White. (It also wins the category of “best pool cleaner that can’t decide whether to use an insect or shark metaphor.”)  

The Great White’s super-effective brushing, cleaning and powerful vacuum come at a more moderate price point. It’s developed a bit of a cult following. It’s all about the turning mechanism — which is well-suited not just for flat bottom pools, but also pools with a dish incline or a hopper bottom.

When deciding which was the best robotic pool cleaner for vinyl pools, we took into consideration lightweight automatic cleaners that prevent excessive wear and tear on the surface of a pool. (Vinyl is pretty sturdy, but not quite as tough as other pool surface materials.)

Enter the gentle but thorough brushes of the Dolphin Nautilus. This pool cleaner also has an auto timer feature, an extra large filter basket, and is easy to clean and carry. The catchphrase of the Dolphin Nautilus is “sucks debris, not energy,” because it uses a fraction of the energy of non-robotic automatic pool cleaners. 

Finally, you know it’s a good sign when owners give their pool cleaner a name, like one gentleman who refers to his Dolphin Nautilus as “Frank the Tank” or another who named hers “M-O” after the robot in Wall-E.

It’s compact and sporty; fully customizable and features a programmable timer. It’s the Polaris Sport, our pick for best robotic pool cleaner for fiberglass pools — and in particular, larger pools. 

With its four wheels and “ActivMotion Sensor Technology,” the Polaris F9550 is an excellent choice for bigger pools and curvy or custom shapes. And while it is our fiberglass pool pick, it works just as well on any other pool surface type, scrubbing floors, walls, and tiles with ease. 

Features include:

• Vortex Vacuum Technology
• Extra large capacity filter canister
• Rear water propulsion system
• Dirty canister indicator
• Lift system for easy removal from pool
• Waterline only cleaning cycle

Our Process

For this guide on best automatic pool cleaners, our team spent 7 hours researching the most popular options from over 30 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about two hundred user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each automatic pool cleaner. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 8 on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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