Every review
135 products compared, ordered by what they are for rather than by who made them or what they cost.
Ø 366 × 100 cm, 9 150 l at 90 %, 2 006 l/h pump
A round pool in bog-oak wood-effect, sold with a 2 006 l/h pump, a cartridge, a 107 cm ladder and a repair patch. Bestway is the only maker here to print the fill fraction its volume is measured at.
Best for: A buyer who wants the whole thing in one delivery and wants each part of it named
Ø 366 × 91 cm, 8 300 l, about 30 minutes
A grey herringbone-pattern round pool on a stainless steel frame, with a polyester inner film and PVC outer skin. HAF is the only maker here to print an age restriction in the listing itself.
Best for: A family pool where the assembly time and the drain valve matter more than the depth
300 × 200 × 75 cm, 3 800 l stated, about 30 minutes
The rectangular 3 800-litre Metal Frame, on galvanised powder-coated tube. Intex publishes an assembly time and a fill figure but no pump: the ports are there and the filter is bought separately.
Best for: A rectangular plot where the filter is going to be chosen on its own terms rather than taken from a box
Two diameters, one published volume of 4 383 l
A round steel-frame pool sold in two diameters — 360 and 300 cm — under a single listing that publishes one volume for both. The fabric-reinforced PVC and the twin 32 mm ports are stated; which pool the 4 383 litres describes is not.
Best for: A buyer who wants the frame and the fabric and intends to size the filter against the pool themselves
Ø 366 × 122 cm, 10 756 l, about 110 cm of water
A grey round frame pool 122 cm high, sold explicitly without accessories. Avenli is one of only two makers here to publish a water depth alongside the wall height — which is the freeboard, stated rather than calculated.
Best for: Someone who wants real swimming depth and has already decided which sand filter is going on it
Ø 488 × 122 cm, 19 156 l, panoramic window, 4 164 l/h
A 19 156-litre round pool with a viewing window running right around the wall, sold with a 4 164 l/h cartridge system, a ladder with removable steps, a cover and a ground sheet. Assembly is published at about 45 minutes with two people.
Best for: A garden with room for a five-metre circle where the pool is meant to be looked at as much as swum in
Ø 300 × 76 cm, pump, cover and dispenser in the box
A round 300 cm frame pool sold as a complete set — pump, cover and chemical dispenser included. The stainless-steel frame is stated; the volume is not published at all.
Best for: A first pool where having everything arrive together matters more than knowing what any of it is rated at
Rectangular, 3 960 l in the title and 380 l in the bullet
A rectangular frame pool in three-layer PVC over reinforced steel, listed for four to five people. The title publishes 3 960 litres and the description publishes 380 — a tenfold contradiction inside one listing.
Best for: A rectangular garden where the ports and the drain matter more than the paperwork
Ø 549 × 132 cm, up to 8 people, no volume published
The largest pool in this family by a wide margin — 549 cm across and 132 cm deep, stated for up to eight people, shipped with filter, ground cloth, cover, cleaning set and ladder. It publishes neither a volume nor a manufacturer reference.
Best for: A large flat garden where the diameter is the whole point and the paperwork will be sorted out afterwards
3 790 l, galvanised steel, stays up all year
A stock-tank-shaped steel wall pool 61 cm deep, sold as a set with a 1 249 l/h pump and a cover. The maker states it can stay up 365 days a year — the only one in this family to put that in writing.
Best for: A small garden where the pool is meant to stay put and the depth is not the point
0.6 mm wall, 0.8 mm sand liner, sunk installation only
The largest pool in this family and the only one stated for sunk installation alone: an oval 525 × 320 cm with a 0.6 mm white wall, a 0.8 mm sand-coloured bead liner, and the skimmer and inlet included.
Best for: A sunk oval installation planned as groundwork rather than as a purchase
0.4 mm steel, 0.3 mm liner, overlap, earthing kit included
An anthracite shell with the most itemised contents in this family: skimmer, coping, steel support structure and an earthing kit, alongside the wall and liner. The thinnest liner on the shelf at 0.3 mm.
Best for: A sunk or part-sunk installation where the supporting structure and the earthing matter
0.6 mm double hot-dip, 0.8 mm liner, screwless profile
An oval pool made in Germany with the most fully described wall on the shelf: 0.6 mm steel, hot-dip galvanised on both sides, polyester-coated outside and lacquered inside, joined by an aluminium profile with no screws.
Best for: A permanent oval installation where the wall specification is the reason for buying
0.45 mm wall, 0.4 mm liner, 15 cm handrail, 4 m³/h filter
A Spanish-built white steel wall pool sold as a complete set — skimmer, inlet, steel ladder, ground cloth and a 4 m³/h filter unit — with an unusually wide 15 cm handrail.
Best for: A 460 cm pool bought in one order, where chasing the skimmer and the ladder separately is not appealing
26 000 l, 0.4 mm hot-dip galvanised, EN 16562-1 cited
The largest round pool in this family at 550 cm across, and the only product on the shelf whose maker names a European swimming pool standard. Overlap liner, hot-dip galvanised and lacquered wall.
Best for: A large pool going onto a prepared base, where the standard cited is worth something to you
Ø 350 × 90 cm, 7 800 l, ladder with removable steps
A white steel wall pool with a blue liner, sold with a hang-on cartridge filter and a ladder whose steps come out. The maker states a recommended fill height of 80 cm against a 90 cm wall — the freeboard, published outright.
Best for: A household that wants the pool complete and the access to it controlled
0.6 mm wall, 0.8 mm bead liner, skimmer supplied
A 400 cm round pool with the thickest published pairing in this family at 0.6 mm of steel and 0.8 mm of liner, sold with a skimmer, both rails and the liner — and nothing else.
Best for: Somebody buying on the two gauges and sourcing everything else themselves
0.4 mm steel, 0.4 mm liner, bead attachment
An anthracite steel wall pool sold as a shell rather than a set: wall, liner, fittings and a rail pack, with the skimmer and inlet cut-outs already punched. Made in Europe, delivered by freight.
Best for: A pool that is going to stay, where the filtration is being chosen separately
2 000 and 3 000 mm coatings, UPF 50+, 16 pegs
A double-skin pavilion for Bestway pools up to Ø 488 cm, with 190T polyester outside at 2 000 mm PU and inside at 3 000 mm PA. It is the only product here to publish two fabrics, two hydrostatic ratings and a peg count.
Best for: A large Bestway round pool where the fabric specification is what the decision turns on
For rectangular pools 9 ft and under — nothing else published
A canopy for rectangular pools of nine feet and smaller. That sentence is the title, and it is also the entire bullet list: no height, no material, no thickness, no packed size.
Best for: A small rectangular Intex pool where shade is wanted and the specification is not the deciding factor
390 × 390 × 255 cm, 15 minutes, removable sides and mosquito nets
A Bestway protective dome for all Lay-Z-Spa models and pools up to Ø 366 cm, 255 cm high, up in a stated fifteen minutes with two people. The tallest crown here, and the only one with removable side panels and mosquito nets.
Best for: A Lay-Z-Spa used through the evening, where insects and privacy matter more than a specification
500 × 433 × 250 cm, 3 lockable zipped doors
A pavilion measuring 500 × 433 × 250 cm with three lockable zipped doors, for above-ground pools and garden furniture. Those are the same three dimensions and the same door count as the Steinbach pavilion on this shelf.
Best for: A buyer who wants the tall pavilion format and will take the construction details from elsewhere
Pools to Ø 400 cm, 250 cm high, 1 000 mm water column
A pool pavilion for pools up to Ø 400 cm, 250 cm high, on Ø 11 mm fibreglass and Ø 16 mm steel. It publishes a water column, a rod diameter and three zipped doors — the most completely specified frame in this family.
Best for: A pool up to four metres across where the structure is meant to stay up and be walked into
500 × 500 × 236 cm, fibreglass poles, carry bag included
A green five-metre dome 236 cm high on flexible fibreglass poles, supplied with a carry bag and guy lines. The listing publishes no pool range, no thickness and no manufacturer reference.
Best for: A large garden or a campsite where the dome goes up for fine weather and comes down again
Ø 315 × 158 cm, UPF 30, folding mechanism
A round PVC dome 315 cm across and 158 cm high on a fibreglass frame, rated UPF 30. It publishes a sun-protection factor — which only two products here do — and no pool size at all.
Best for: A small round pool where the dome is closed between swims rather than lived under
Pump 2 006 l/h, SYSTEM 1 817 l/h, 40 W, GS by DEKRA
The listing that publishes both numbers: a 2 006 l/h pump delivering 1 817 l/h through the system, at 40 W, GS-certified by DEKRA with a residual-current switch fitted.
Best for: A frame pool between 1 100 and 14 300 litres, chosen on the flow that actually reaches the water
Pump 3 407 l/h, SYSTEM 2 650 l/h, pools to 21.1 m³, clean every 2 weeks
The largest system here: 3 407 l/h from the pump and 2 650 l/h through the system, for above-ground pools up to 21.1 m³, with a published cleaning interval of every two weeks.
Best for: A large above-ground pool up to 21.1 m³, cleaned on a fortnightly routine
Hang-on, skimmer AND inlet, 1 700 l/h, 20 W, IPX8
A hang-on unit with an integrated skimmer and inlet nozzle, height-adjustable to the water level, at 1 700 l/h and 20 W, rated IPX8 and publishing its replacement cartridge part number.
Best for: A pool with a handrail up to 30 mm, where the water level moves through the season
2 006 l/h, pools to 13 000 l, cartridge Ø 106 × 136 mm, 2 hoses
A 2 006 l/h cartridge pump for pools up to 13 000 litres, supplied with two hoses and a filter, and publishing its cartridge dimensions — 106 mm across by 136 mm high.
Best for: A pool up to 13 000 litres where the cartridge has to be matched by measurement
Hang-on with skimmer, 1.7 m³/h, 12 V, plug-ready
A hang-on cartridge unit combining filter and skimmer in one body at 1.7 m³/h, supplied plug-ready with its 12 V power supply and a cartridge.
Best for: A steel-wall pool with no skimmer cut into the wall
10 200 l/h, 400 W, 20 l tank, 60–65 dB(A)/m
The only filter system on this shelf that publishes a noise level with a distance — 60 to 65 dB(A) at one metre — alongside 10 200 l/h from a 400 W pump and 800 g of filter balls.
Best for: A system sited near a terrace, where the decibel figure is the deciding one
6 056 l/h pump, 4 920 l/h through-flow, 38.5 cm tank, 36 kg sand
The listing that states its media requirement in full — 36 kg of #20 quartz sand or 1 000 g of filter balls, neither included — alongside two flow figures, a 38.5 cm tank and both hoses in the box.
Best for: A first sand system, where knowing exactly what else to order is worth more than a headline flow
9 000 l/h, 7.5 m head, 250 W, 7-way, 32/38 adapter
A 250 W system publishing both ends of its curve — 9 000 l/h and a maximum head of 7.5 m — with a seven-position valve, a pressure gauge, IPX5 and adapters for both hose sizes.
Best for: A mid-sized pool where knowing the head before ordering matters
2 700 l/h flow, 16 l tank, balls supplied, TÜV certified
The smallest and cheapest system here, with a transparent lid so the bed can be watched, a set of filter balls in the box, and a TÜV Rheinland certificate quoted with its ID number.
Best for: A small pool or a spa where the bed being visible matters more than the flow
10 200 l/h, 8.5 m head, 400 W, 25 l tank, IPX5
A 400 W system publishing both flow and head, with a 25-litre tank, IPX5 protection, a 1.9 m mains lead, and an operating note telling you to fill the whole circuit before switching on.
Best for: A 35 000-litre pool where the head figure decides whether the siting works
3 500 l/h water flow, 2 000 l/h system flow, 4-way valve, RCD
The listing that names the distinction this whole site is built around: water flow 3 500 l/h, system flow 2 000 l/h — what the pump moves and what actually passes the filter, published side by side.
Best for: An Intex pool from the published compatibility list, where the fittings are already to hand
3 900 l/h circulation, 4 500 l/h pump, 200 W, not self-priming
A filter-ball system publishing two flow figures and two limits nobody else states: a maximum water temperature of 35 °C, a salt tolerance of 5 g/l — and that the pump is not self-priming.
Best for: A salt pool up to 19 000 litres where the system can sit below the water line
13 200 l/h, 12 m head, 30 kg tank, 1–24 h timer
The largest system here: 13 200 l/h against 12 m of head, a tank taking up to 30 kg of sand, a timer adjustable from one to twenty-four hours, and self-priming operation.
Best for: A 40 000-litre pool where the system is expected to run on a schedule and be left alone
450 mm tank, 151.4 l/min (40 GPM), 7-way, drain plug
The only system here that publishes its tank diameter — 450 mm — with flow given in litres per minute and in US gallons per minute, and a drain plug for winter.
Best for: Somebody sizing a bed by area rather than by headline flow
15 m³/h, 550 W, 8 m head, 0.8 bar, tool-free filter
The highest flow in this family at 15 m³/h from 550 W, with an 8 m head and 0.8 bar. The maker states every unit is water-tested for function and electrical parameters before shipping.
Best for: A large private pool where turnover time is the constraint and the plant space is already plumbed
9 500 l/h, 350 W, pools to 40 m³, 5 kg, IPX5
Nine and a half thousand litres an hour at 350 W for pools up to 40 m³, rated IPX5 with thermal protection. It publishes its own dimensions and weight — 37.4 × 18 × 18.9 cm at 5 kg — which no other pump here does.
Best for: A salt-chlorinated pool up to 40 m³ where the pump has to fit a tight plant space
2 006 l/h, the smallest pump here
The smallest pump in this family at 2 006 l/h. The listing publishes that figure and then five bullets of generic template text, one of which says the product stays sharp under intensive use.
Best for: A small above-ground pool already built around Bestway fittings
133 l/min for pools to 30 m³, clear screw lid
A circulation pump publishing 133 l/min — about 8 m³/h — for pools up to 30 m³, with a coarse prefilter behind a transparent screw lid. No wattage, no head and no part number are published.
Best for: A leafy garden pool where the basket is emptied often and seeing into it is worth more than a spec sheet
Two flows published — 8 m³/h in the title, 11 in the bullets
A self-priming German-made pump that publishes two different flows and two different pool ceilings in the same listing: 8 m³/h for 40 m³ in the title, 11 m³/h for 65 000 litres in the bullets.
Best for: A permanently plumbed pool in 50 mm PVC where the pump sits well above or below the water
9 480 l/h, 550 W, 10 m head, self-priming, 40 000 l
A self-priming pump publishing flow in two units — 158 l/min and 9 480 l/h — with a 10 m head, 32/38 mm connections and a stated maximum pool of 40 000 litres. Named for a specific filter unit.
Best for: A 40 m³ pool on a sand filter, where head matters more than the electricity bill
13 000 l/h, 12 m head, 1.2 bar, built-in timer
Thirteen thousand litres an hour against the highest head in this family — 12 metres at 1.2 bar — with a water-protected timer and an outdoor socket built into the pump.
Best for: A large pool run on a daily schedule, on a sand filter that needs the pressure
6 000 l/h at 40 W — 150 l/h per watt, the best here
Six thousand litres an hour from forty watts: 150 litres per hour per watt, the highest efficiency in this family by a factor of two. Maximum head 4.2 m, maximum pressure 0.42 bar.
Best for: A pool where running cost matters more than head, on a filter that does not demand pressure
7 000 l/h, 250 W, 7.5 m head, under 70 dB, IPX5
Seven thousand litres an hour at 250 W with a 7.5 m head, and the only pump in this family to publish a noise level and a particle size: under 70 dB, 5 mm maximum through the strainer.
Best for: A pool near a terrace, where the pump runs within earshot of where people sit
8 000 l/h, flat to 1 mm, starts at 8 mm, non-return valve
Flat suction to one millimetre with a stated start level of eight millimetres, a mechanical seal, a stepless float switch and an integrated non-return valve.
Best for: Taking a pool down to a film rather than to a puddle
8 000 l/h, 5 m head, 30 mm solids, 7 m cable, IPX8
A 400 W dirty-water pump with 30 mm solids handling, a published seven-metre cable, IPX8, and a submersion depth of seven metres.
Best for: A cellar, a pond and a pool in rotation, where 30 mm and a long cable matter more than the last centimetre
9 000 l/h, 6 m head, flat to 2 mm, 300 W, quick coupling
A 300 W clear-water pump publishing flow, head and pressure together, with flat suction to two millimetres, a stainless steel cover, a triple ceramic seal and a one-handed quick coupling.
Best for: Repeated seasonal draining where the seal and the coupling are worth the price over a generic pump
7 500 l/h, 5 m head, Noryl impeller, 10 m cable
A 400 W dirty-water pump with a Noryl impeller, a mechanical seal, thermal protection and the longest cable in this family at ten metres.
Best for: Repeated use away from a socket, where the ten-metre cable and the thermal cut-out earn their place
9 000 l/h, flat to 1 mm, folding feet, 5 mm particles
A flat-suction pump with folding feet that trade flow against depth: feet out for more delivery, feet in to draw down to seven millimetres and empty to one.
Best for: A small pool or a spill, where taking the last millimetre matters more than lifting it far
17 000 l/h, 10 m head, 1 000 W, 10 m cable, IPX8
The most powerful pump on this shelf: a 1 000 W copper motor moving 17 000 l/h against ten metres of head, with a telescopic handle, a ten-metre cable and IPX8.
Best for: Emptying a large pool quickly, uphill, with something else finishing the last fifteen centimetres
9 000 l/h, 6 m head, 30 mm solids, G1″ and G1½″
A dirty-water pump handling particles to 30 mm, with 9 000 l/h against 6 m of head, two thread sizes, a quick coupling and a float switch that can be defeated for continuous running.
Best for: Emptying a pool that has been under trees, where leaves would block a flat-suction pump
7 300 l/h, flat to 5 mm, 7 m submersion, backflow stop
A clear-water pump with flat suction to five millimetres, a seven-metre submersion depth and a backflow stop that keeps water from running back down the hose when it shuts off.
Best for: Draining a clean pool or a rainwater butt where a hose run downhill would otherwise back-siphon
18 000 l/h, flat to 1 mm, stainless housing, SnapLock
The only pump here that is both flat-suction to one millimetre and rated for dirty water, in a stainless steel housing, with a float-switch control system the maker calls SnapLock.
Best for: Somebody who wants one pump for both the bulk of a pool and the last millimetre of it
6 g/h for 26 498 l, 3 g/l salt, GS-certified
Six grams an hour for pools up to 26 498 litres, with a published starting salinity of 3 g/l and a minimum filter flow of 1 249 l/h. One of only three units here to state how much salt it needs.
Best for: A mid-sized above-ground pool with a filter already moving more than 1 249 litres an hour
8 g/h for 55 m³, 4 g/l salt, above-ground or in-ground
Eight grams an hour for pools up to 55 cubic metres, with a published recommendation of 4 grams of salt per litre. It is stated for both above-ground and in-ground pools and described as maintenance-free.
Best for: A large pool, above ground or in, where the unit is sized generously and run long hours
2–10 g/h range, 4 g/h supplied, titanium cell, app control
Sold as a 4 g/h unit from a 2 to 10 g/h range, for pools of 2 600 to 13 000 US gallons. Titanium plates reverse polarity every one to eight hours, and output is adjustable from 25 to 100 per cent.
Best for: A pool well under the stated ceiling, where app control and a settable output matter more than headline grams
2 g/h for 8 327 l — 0.24 g/h per cubic metre
The smallest chlorinator here and, per cubic metre, the strongest: 2 g/h against a stated maximum of 8 327 litres. It needs a pump flow between 1 136 and 3 785 l/h to work at all.
Best for: A round pool up to 366 cm already running an Intex cartridge pump in the stated flow range
Up to 30 m³, four operating modes, all filter types
A compact electrolysis unit rated to 30 cubic metres with four operating modes, stated to suit all filter types. It is the only unit in this family that never publishes an hourly chlorine output.
Best for: A pool near 30 cubic metres where the filter is unusual and compatibility matters more than figures
20 g/h for 90 000 l, ruthenium-coated titanium, IPX5
The largest unit in this family: 20 g/h for pools up to 90 000 litres, on a ruthenium-coated titanium cell with a flow sensor and an IPX5 housing. It publishes the union sizes it ships with — the only listing here that does.
Best for: A large pool with a plant room, where the unit will be set once and watched remotely
8 g/h for 10 000–49 000 l, titanium cell, 25–100 % control
Eight grams an hour for pools of 10 000 to 49 000 litres, with titanium electrolysis plates reversing every one to eight hours and app control from 25 to 100 per cent. The only unit here to publish a lower capacity limit as well as an upper one.
Best for: A pool between ten and forty-nine cubic metres where the salt system is expected to be watched from a phone
24 parameters, 140 tablets, 4 wavelengths, WiFi
The PoolLab 2.0 with 140 tablets — 70 starter and 70 refill — published at 24 parameters across four wavelengths. AlphFa states outright that it is a reseller brand and not the manufacturer.
Best for: A buyer who wants the 2.0 with a refill already in the box and reads the reseller disclosure as a point in its favour
27 parameters, case and level adjuster, WiFi and app
The PoolLab 2.0 sold with a storage case and a water-level adjuster, published at 27 parameters. Two other sellers of the same instrument in this family publish 24.
Best for: An owner who already knows the 2.0 and wants the case and the sample-volume tool with it
2 parameters, 60 tablets, shake-and-read
A shake tester for pH and chlorine supplied with 60 tablets — 30 DPD1 and 30 phenol red. Thirty tests of each, which is a full season at the weekly interval this shelf recommends.
Best for: A small pool or hot tub where a season of weekly pH and chlorine readings is the whole requirement
2 parameters, 2×20 tablets, target ranges published
A two-chamber comparator for pH and free chlorine with 20 tablets of each. Alone in this family, it publishes the target ranges the reading is meant to land in: pH 7.0–7.4 and chlorine 0.5–2 mg/l.
Best for: A pool owner who wants the reading and the number it should be, in the same box
24 parameters, 170 tablets, full accessory list published
The PoolLab 2.0 with 170 tablets and the only fully itemised accessory list in this family: three cuvettes, a sun cap, stirrers, a 10 ml syringe, batteries, manual and the LabCOM software, app and cloud.
Best for: Someone buying the 2.0 who wants to know exactly what will be in the box before it arrives
3 parameters, 50 tests, phenol red and DPD 1
A tablet comparator for free chlorine, free bromine and pH, supplied with 50 phenol red and 50 DPD No. 1 tablets. It is the only kit here to state its reagents should be replaced every season.
Best for: A pool or spa run on either chlorine or bromine, tested weekly through the season
15 parameters, photometer, IP68, Bluetooth 4.0
The photometer that started this shelf’s upper half: 15 water parameters, IP68, Bluetooth 4.0 and a free app, with a 90-tablet starter set. Three sellers here offer its successor, and they do not agree on what the successor measures.
Best for: An owner who wants alkalinity and cyanuric acid measured rather than guessed at
2 parameters, 200 tablets — the largest supply here
A chlorine and pH tester supplied with 200 tablets: 100 DPD 1 and 100 phenol red. That is a hundred tests of each parameter, five times what most comparators on this shelf include.
Best for: A pool tested often, or two pools tested weekly, where reagent quantity is the deciding factor
3 parameters, 60 blistered tablets, 10-year shelf life
A shake tester for chlorine, bromine and pH with 60 rapid tablets, each sealed individually in aluminium blister. It is the only listing here to publish a reagent shelf life: up to ten years from production.
Best for: A pool tested irregularly, where reagents sit unused between seasons
Floor, wall, waterline; 270 min eco; 11 sensors; 3 µm included
A three-zone robot with eleven sensors and a published path algorithm, a dual-layer filter whose 3 µm element is included rather than optional, and five cleaning modes with over-the-air updates.
Best for: A shaped pool where systematic coverage is worth more than raw suction
Floor, wall, waterline; 5 h floor; 25 700 LPH; 5 l
A three-zone robot that brushes the waterline for eight seconds at a time, publishes 25 700 LPH of suction and a 5-litre basket, and parks itself at the waterline for ten minutes so it can be lifted out without fishing.
Best for: A pool with a visible waterline mark and enough surface to justify the runtime
Floor, wall, waterline; 2 h; 18 927 LPH; IP68 to 3 m
A three-zone tracked robot that publishes what it climbs in degrees and centimetres — 30° slopes and 3 cm obstacles — with IP68 to a stated three metres and a 4-litre basket.
Best for: A pool with steps, a drain cover or a change of level that defeats a simpler machine
Floor, 90 min, 180 µm + 40 PPI foam, 3 kg
A floor robot with a two-stage filter — a 180 µm mesh backed by a 40 PPI foam — a transparent housing so the basket can be read without opening it, and a published weight of 3 kg.
Best for: A pool under trees, where the second filter stage and the visible basket both earn their place
Floor and wall, top-access basket, flat-floor pools to 10 m
A Maytronics floor-and-wall robot built around servicing: the filter basket lifts out from the top, the body drains quickly for lifting, and the handles are where a wet machine is actually held.
Best for: Somebody replacing a robot and choosing on servicing rather than on specification
Floor, 75 min, IPX8 to 3 m, 4–35 °C stated
A floor robot that publishes what almost nothing else here does: an operating temperature range, a maximum depth, an IP rating and the suction in litres per minute — alongside a runtime that is the shortest on the shelf.
Best for: A smaller pool where the depth rating and the surface list answer a specific question
Floor only, 120 min, 180 µm, 2.2 l basket
The cheapest robot on this shelf and the most explicit about its limits: floors only, flat floors only, and the maker states in writing that it is not for curved floor-to-wall transitions.
Best for: A flat-floored above-ground pool where the walls are brushed by hand
7-in-1, 6 h, laser mapping, 5 l with 180 µm and 3 µm
The most heavily equipped robot on this shelf: a laser distance sensor building a 3D map underwater, four turbine motors, six hours of runtime from a 15 000 mAh battery, and a two-layer 5-litre filter.
Best for: A large or complicated pool where mapped coverage genuinely saves passes
Floor, 90 min, 180 µm, app and remote, 2.5 l
A floor robot with three motors and both app and remote control at the cheap end of the shelf, with a 2.5-litre basket and automatic docking at the pool edge.
Best for: A floor-only pool where being able to send the robot to a particular corner is worth something
8 AA batteries, 3-part pole, Ø 30 mm fitting, pools to 305 cm
A cordless vacuum running on eight AA batteries with a transparent debris chamber and a three-part pole. It is the only cleaner here to publish its accessory thread — Ø 30 mm — and the only one running on disposables.
Best for: A round pool up to 305 cm where rechargeable batteries are already in the drawer
30 min, 0.42 l chamber, 0.85 kg, 43.5 cm, 2-year warranty
The most completely specified powered cleaner here: 30 minutes of runtime, a 0.42-litre debris chamber, 0.85 kg, 43.5 cm long, with a two-year warranty stated in the listing.
Best for: A small pool or a spa cleaned in short sessions, where light weight matters more than endurance
Purely mechanical, aluminium telescopic pole, no motor
A telescopic-pole floor vacuum that the listing states works purely mechanically underwater, with no battery and no motor. The pole is aluminium; nothing else is published.
Best for: A buyer who wants a pole and a head from a known pool brand and will judge it on arrival
35 cm head, 2 kg weighted, 8 wheels, 180° handle
A weighted manual vacuum head 35 cm wide on eight low-friction wheels, at a published 2 kg. It is the only cleaner here to publish head width, weight and hose sizes together.
Best for: A pool with a working filter and a skimmer port, cleaned properly rather than skimmed
Garden-hose Venturi, 128 cm pole, mesh bag
A hose-powered vacuum with no motor and no battery: a garden hose creates the suction and the debris collects in a mesh bag. Five splice sections make up a 128 cm pole.
Best for: A small pool, spa or pond where a hose reaches and a battery is one thing too many
1 600 mAh, up to 2 hours, IPX8, three heads
A cordless vacuum with a 1 600 mAh lithium battery stated at up to two hours, rated IPX8, with three interchangeable heads and a pole adjustable from 3.44 to 5.38 feet.
Best for: A pool cleaned in one long session rather than several short ones
13.5 cm head, >1 h, 205 cm pole, 17 cm minimum water
An Austrian-made cordless cleaner with a 13.5 cm suction width, over an hour of runtime and a 205 cm pole. Alone in this family, it publishes a minimum water depth — 17 cm — and states what it will not pick up.
Best for: A pool up to about three metres across, including the steps and the shallow end a deeper tool cannot reach
Garden-hose Venturi, collection bag, dismantles for storage
A hose-driven hand vacuum with a standard hose fitting and a collection bag, sold as portable and dismantling for storage. Despite the battery wording in its title, the listing describes a venturi cleaner with no power source.
Best for: A small or inflatable pool with a hose nearby, where the cleaner is stored away between uses
7.5 kW inverter, COP to 16, 40–52 dB(A), 10–20 m³
An inverter with a published noise range in decibels — 40 to 52 dB(A) — a COP claimed up to 16, three heating modes and Wi-Fi with voice control.
Best for: A 10–20 m³ pool close to a house, where the decibel range is the deciding figure
To 28 °C, no bypass needed, to 20 m³, R32
The only machine here stated to work without a bypass, and the only one that publishes a maximum water temperature of 28 °C rather than 40 — with a maker who recommends a summer cover at night in the same breath.
Best for: A 20 m³ pool where avoiding a bypass and its plumbing is worth more than a headline figure
3.5 kW, COP 5.5, to 15 m³, titanium exchanger, 24 kg
A 3.5 kW plug-in heat pump with a titanium heat exchanger stated resistant to chlorine and salt water, R32 refrigerant and a published weight of 24 kg.
Best for: A salt pool up to 15 m³, where the exchanger material is the reason for choosing
3.5 kW, COP 5.5, up to 12 m³, plug-in
The cheapest heat pump on this shelf and a plug-in one: a Schuko lead, 3.5 kW for pools to 12 m³, and a COP of 5.5 published without the temperatures it was measured at.
Best for: A small above-ground pool where a socket is nearby and the budget is the constraint
7 kW inverter, 30–45 m³, multi-frequency compressor, WiFi
A 7 kW inverter for 30–45 m³ whose entire feature list on this marketplace reads “bulletpoint1” and “bulletpoint2” — the template was published unfilled, and everything known about it comes from the title.
Best for: A 30–45 m³ pool where the maker is the reason and the documentation will be sought elsewhere
7.6 kW full inverter, COP to 12.8, 20–29 dB, 50 mm unions
A full-inverter machine for 30–45 m³ publishing the lowest noise figures on this shelf — 20 to 29 dB — and the only one that states its hydraulic connection size, at 50 mm.
Best for: A 30–45 m³ pool with rigid pipework, close enough to a house that noise decides it
7 kW inverter, COP to 16.2, 27 dB(A), R290, salt to 5 g/l
A 7 kW inverter using R290 refrigerant, rated to 27 dB(A), with the widest temperature windows on this shelf and a stated salt tolerance of 5 g/l — the only machine here to put a salinity figure in writing.
Best for: A salt pool up to 30 m³ where the salinity figure and the solar input both matter
6 kW inverter, COP to 9.38, to 20 m³, IPX4
A 6 kW inverter with a four-way valve for heating and cooling, an IPX4 rating, and a maker who states in the listing that reaching the target temperature can take several days.
Best for: A 20 m³ pool where the honesty about heat-up time is worth reading before buying
4.92 kW, COP 5.29, 10–18 m³, 32/38 mm, heats and cools
The best-specified mid-priced machine here: an output to two decimals, an ambient range from −5 °C, both hose diameters published with adapters, and a heating and a cooling range each given in full.
Best for: A 10–18 m³ pool where knowing what it plumbs into before ordering matters
15 kW for 10 m³, 20–50 °C, two cut-outs, not for salt water
The largest electric heater here at 15 kW, sized to 10 m³, with a touchscreen, two published protection mechanisms and an explicit statement that it must not be used in salt, acidic or alkaline water.
Best for: A freshwater spa or small pool up to 10 m³ where 15 kW of output is genuinely wanted
2 800 W, 1 520–17 035 l, 0.5–1.5 °C, GS by TÜV Rheinland
The best-specified electric heater here: 2 800 W for pools of 1 520 to 17 035 litres, a published heat-up rate of 0.5 to 1.5 °C, a 40 °C ceiling, a flow sensor, an RCD and GS certification from a named body.
Best for: A frame pool under 17 000 litres on a filter moving less than 3 785 l/h
3 000 W for inflatable pools — nothing else published
A 3 000 W electric heater for inflatable pools with a thermometer and stated water-electricity separation. Five bullets say fast, effective, durable, safe and easy, and publish no figure of any kind.
Best for: An inflatable pool where the alternative is no heating at all
60 kW exchanger, 304 stainless, no electrical connection
A 60 kW heat exchanger with no electrical connection: 55 GPM of pool water against 6.6 GPM of hot water, 200 000 Btu/h at a 60 °C difference. It transfers heat from a boiler or solar circuit and generates none.
Best for: A pool beside a house with spare boiler capacity or a solar thermal array already installed
9 kW of four grades, 20–55 °C, max 10 m³, self-wiring
An electric flow heater sold at 9 kW from a range of 5.5, 9, 11 and 15 kW, with a 20 to 55 °C thermostat and a maximum pool of 10 m³. The listing states the buyer must wire it themselves.
Best for: A hot tub or small pool where 55 °C is wanted and an electrician is already on site
60 kW, V4A / 316L, 10 bar tested, PED 2014/68/EU
A 60 kW heat exchanger in V4A / AISI 316L with no electrical connection, pressure-tested at 10 bar on the pool circuit and 5 bar on the heating circuit, and stated to meet the Pressure Equipment Directive.
Best for: A properly plumbed plant room where an installer is fitting it to an existing heat source
105.5 kW, 30 tubes, 0.69 m², 1.0 MPa, 316 stainless
The largest exchanger here at 105.5 kW — 360 000 BTU/h — with 30 capillary tubes, 0.69 m² of transfer area, a 1.0 MPa pressure rating and a stated −28 to 110 °C operating range.
Best for: A large pool or a commercial installation with a heat source already sized to match
60 kW, 250 L/min pool, 30 L/min hot, bellows, no power
A 60 kW heat exchanger published at 250 L/min pool flow and 30 L/min hot water — the same figures as another exchanger on this shelf. It states stainless steel without naming the grade.
Best for: A pool or sauna already served by a boiler, where the installer will specify the plumbing
3 000 W, to about 35 °C, pools to Ø 457 cm
A 3 000 W in-line electric heater for round Easy Set and plastic frame pools up to Ø 457 cm, heating to about 35 °C, with an integrated flow sensor.
Best for: A round Intex pool up to 457 cm already running an Intex filter line
60 l, heat-absorbing PVC, snap-in assembly, steel plugs
A sixty-litre shower in a PVC body stated to absorb heat to the maximum, assembled by a snap-in system in seconds, with steel plugs and screws supplied for fixing.
Best for: A fixed installation where sixty litres and a bolted base are the requirements
60 l, 216 cm tall, 5 mm wall, heats in 1–2 h, Oxford 420D cover
The best-dimensioned shower here: 216 cm tall on a 23 × 23 cm foot with a 5 mm wall, warming sixty litres in one to two hours, with a stainless shelf and an Oxford 420D cover.
Best for: A permanent terrace installation where the dimensions have to be checked before ordering
40 l, UV-resistant PVC, clip-on floor plate, 15 cm head
A 40-litre shower in UV-resistant PVC with chromed fittings and a heat-resistant plastic floor plate that clips on and off, plus a hand spray and a 15 cm head.
Best for: A terrace where standing on a plate matters more than a foot shower does
Height 1.40–2.10 m, to 60 °C, 10 hoses supplied
The only height-adjustable shower here — 1.40 to 2.10 metres — with a removable, adjustable head and a complete set of ten connecting hoses and fittings.
Best for: A shower used by people of very different heights, or one that travels
60 l, 225 cm tall, 62-nozzle head, 3.5 bar, snap-in
The tallest shower here at 225 cm, with a 15 cm head counting sixty-two nozzles at a stated 3.5 bar, chromed fittings, snap-in assembly and fixings supplied.
Best for: A tall household wanting a proper rain head rather than a rinse
20 l, to 60 °C, curved column, metal-cored base
The smallest tank on this shelf at twenty litres, on a curved column with a metal-cored base that bolts down, a 360° rain head, a foot shower and a protective hood.
Best for: A small terrace where the shower has to be bolted down and stay put
35 l, fills in 4–6 min, drains in 8–10 min, 3.5 bar
The only shower here that publishes both a filling time and a draining time — four to six minutes to fill, eight to ten to empty — with a recommended pressure of 3.5 bar and a mounting plate supplied.
Best for: A garden where the shower is drained and stored each autumn
35 l, ball-joint rain head, shelf, non-slip floor element
A 35-litre shower with a ball-jointed rain head, a shelf for soap, a non-slip floor element and a protective hood — mixing tank water with cold hose water through a single-lever tap.
Best for: A garden or a campsite where the shower is set up in a spot and moved occasionally
40 l, 360° ball joint head, foot tap, UV plastic and aluminium
A 40-litre shower in UV-resistant plastic and aluminium, with a 360° ball-jointed rain head, a single-lever mixer and a tap at the base that doubles as a foot shower and a drain.
Best for: A poolside shower where feet get rinsed far more often than bodies do
185 × 185 cm, 910 l, 2 400 W total, 130 jets, 20–40 °C
The most completely specified spa here: 1 800 W of heating plus 600 W of blower, 910 litres in a 185 cm square, 130 air jets, and a temperature range published from 20 to 40 °C.
Best for: A six-person spa where the electrical draw needs to be known before it is plugged in
4–8 people, UVC-PLUS, Rhino-Tech, MDC pump 1 800 l/h
An MSpa-built spa with ultraviolet disinfection stated to remove 95 % of bacteria, a Rhino-Tech shell claimed UV- and frost-resistant, and an MDC pump publishing a flow of 1 800 l/h.
Best for: A spa chosen on water treatment rather than on bubbles
Ø 200 cm, 6 seats, 140 AirJets, 1–2 °C/h to 42 °C
The only spa on this shelf that publishes a heat-up rate — one to two degrees an hour to a maximum of 42 °C — with 140 air jets, three-layer PVC, two cartridges and a chlorine dispenser in the box.
Best for: A first spa where knowing how long it takes to warm up decides whether it gets used
Ø 216 × 71 cm, 6 people, bubble massage
The largest footprint in this family at 216 cm across, from a listing that publishes one line: the size, the seat count and the fact that it bubbles.
Best for: Somebody who already knows the PureSpa range and is buying on size
130 jets, 2 400 W, frost protection below 5 °C, carry bag
A 2 400 W spa with 130 jets, a reinforced base and a frost protection that switches the heating on when the temperature falls below five degrees — published as a threshold rather than as a claim.
Best for: A spa that will be packed away between seasons and carried
Ø 180 × 66 cm, 669 l, FreezeShield from 6 °C, size VI cartridges
The spa that publishes its winter behaviour as two temperatures: FreezeShield starts the heater at 6 °C and stops it at 10 °C. Two size VI cartridges and a chemical dispenser are supplied.
Best for: A four-person spa expected to stay outdoors through a winter
Replacement tub only — delivered without pump or control panel
Not a working spa. Mendler states in its own feature list that this is delivered without a pump or control panel — it is a replacement tub for an existing unit, and the title does not say so.
Best for: Replacing the tub of a spa whose pump unit still works
160 × 160 × 65 cm, 6 people, 120 jets, UVC+, app control
The dearest spa here: a six-layer Rhino-Tech shell in a wood finish, 120 air jets with neck and seat padding, UVC+ water treatment and control from the MSpa Link app.
Best for: A spa chosen on finish and on app control, where the shell construction is the argument
4 people, foam-insulated, 70 AquaJets, WiFi, 104 °F
A foam-insulated spa rather than a purely inflatable one, with 70 water jets, WiFi control, and a stated 50 % greater thermal efficiency from its insulation.
Best for: A spa used through cooler months, where holding heat matters more than bubble count
IP68 double ring, 10 LEDs, 3 × AAA, 10–12 h
The cheapest lights on this shelf and the only ones that publish a runtime in hours: ten LEDs on three AAA cells for a stated ten to twelve hours, in a double-sealed ring housing.
Best for: An evening in the garden rather than a permanent installation
IP68 double silicone seal, three mountings, RGB+W
Three mounting methods in one light — magnet, suction cup, or simply sinking — with a double silicone seal, RGB plus a true white channel, and a 360° RF remote.
Best for: A pool where the right fixing is not yet known — a magnet, a cup and a sinker in one product
IP68, 1 200 mAh rechargeable, USB, 2–3 h charge
The only rechargeable light on this shelf that publishes its capacity and charge time: a 1 200 mAh cell charged over USB in two to three hours, with a mounting plate and magnets.
Best for: Regular use, where buying AAA cells every few evenings is the thing to avoid
35 W, 3 500 lm, 140°, Ø 275 × 33 mm, IPX8, surface mount
The only light on this shelf that publishes a lumen figure, a beam angle and its exact dimensions: 3 500 lumens at 35 W over 140°, in a resin-filled panel 33 mm deep that needs no niche.
Best for: A pool without a niche where the light has to be bright and properly documented
20 W PAR56, 12 V AC/DC, IP68, replaces 300–600 W halogen
A PAR56 LED lamp at 20 W and 12 V, stated to replace a 300 to 600 W halogen in an existing niche, with twelve light modes and a hard polycarbonate frame.
Best for: Replacing a halogen lamp in an existing PAR56 niche
IP68 ABS, 13 LEDs, magnet and suction cup, 4-pack
Four lights with both magnets and suction cups supplied, thirteen LEDs each, four dynamic modes and five brightness levels — and batteries that are explicitly not included.
Best for: A steel-walled or framed pool where the magnets have something to hold onto
300 W PAR56, 12 V, brass bushings, lamp change with pool full
A built-in PAR56 halogen floodlight for steel-wall and concrete pools with liner, with brass bushings, 2.5 m of cable, and a lamp that can be changed with the pool still full.
Best for: A steel-wall or concrete pool being fitted with a proper niche from the start
IP68 silicone seal, RF remote 50 m air / 5 m water
The only light on this shelf that publishes its remote range twice — fifty metres in air and five metres underwater — along with a mounting plate, adhesive and magnets.
Best for: A pool where the lights are set once and operated from a terrace
36 W, 12 V, IP68 sealed plug and interface, ABS/PC
The first mains-fed light on this shelf: 36 W at 12 V through a waterproof plug and interface, with a silicone gasket and an ABS and polycarbonate housing.
Best for: A pool with a 12 V supply already in place, where batteries are the thing being escaped
