How to Choose a Robotic Pool Cleaner
A step-by-step framework for narrowing 30 models down to the handful that actually fit your pool.
With 30 real, currently-sold models to choose from, the fastest way to a good decision is narrowing by what's actually true about your pool — not by browsing every option. Here's the order we'd work through it.
1. Confirm your pool type and size
Above-ground or in-ground changes which models are even compatible — some are built specifically for above-ground pools' shallower, flatter floors. Your pool's approximate length also rules models in or out: a compact cleaner built for a 30 ft pool may not have the runtime or coverage for a 60 ft one. See our large-pool and small-pool guides if size is your main constraint.
2. Know your pool's surface
Vinyl and fiberglass pools need softer, liner-safe brushes; gunite and concrete can take a stiffer scrub. Not every manufacturer publishes a full surface compatibility list, so treat this as a confirm-when-you-can step rather than a hard filter.
3. Decide what you actually want cleaned
Floor-only is enough for a lot of pools. If you're dealing with a visible waterline ring or algae creeping up the walls, you need a model confirmed for wall and waterline coverage — see our picks for that.
4. Pick corded or cordless
Covered in full in cordless vs. corded — the short version is corded for large pools and unlimited runtime, cordless for quick, cable-free setup.
5. Decide how much you care about app control
Wi-Fi and app scheduling are genuinely convenient but not essential — see do you need Wi-Fi or app control if you're unsure how much that matters to you.
6. Check the warranty
Warranty length varies a lot across this catalog, from 1 to 3 years. See what a warranty actually covers before treating a longer number as automatically better.
Skip the manual process
All six of these map directly onto our Finder, which filters the full catalog live using only confirmed specs — a model with an unverified answer to any question is left out rather than assumed to match. Or read our specs glossary first if some of the terminology above wasn't familiar.