Keep Your Pool Clean This Summer With the Best Pool Vacuums (2024)

Zodiac is a well-known and respected brand in the pool world, and this automatic pool vacuum is ideal for in-ground pools, as it can clean the floor, walls, and steps of concrete, tile, and vinyl pools without any assistance.

It’s compatible with any single-, two-speed, or variable-speed pump, and does a solid job picking up small- and medium-sized debris.

This pool vacuum has a large disc with 36 small “fins” that help it adhere to any surface in your pool, but it won’t get stuck on lights, drain covers, and other obstacles. It comes with scuff-resistant hoses that won’t mar the walls of your pool.

One of the best parts of this pool vac is that the design only has one moving part, reducing the chances of costly maintenance.

Key Specs

This automatic suction vacuum is recommended for in-ground pools up to 30 feet long, and it will clean both the walls and floor of the pool without any effort on your part. It’s designed to hook up to your existing filtration system, and it requires at least a 3/4-horsepower pool pump for optimal performance.

The XtremepowerUS pool vacuum has a silicone ripple cleaner that can be used on any type of finish, and it comes with several detachable sections of hose, allowing you to adjust the overall length to best suit your pool. However, it’s designed primarily to remove small debris, dirt, and algae from your pool—not large objects like leaves or sticks, which can cause clogs.

Key Specs

Many pool vacuums require suction from a pump for operation, but this handheld model saves you the hassle of dragging a hose around, thanks to its battery-powered design. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 1 hour of vacuuming per charge, allowing you to easily clean your whole pool or just quickly tidy up a few spots.

This pool vacuum sucks up both large and small debris, all of which gets trapped in its “capture chamber” and filter bag. Simply empty when you’re finished cleaning.

The vacuum head is equipped with several brushes to help stir up sand, dirt, and other fine particles, and the unit is compatible with any standard pool pole. For an above-ground pool that needs spot cleaning and a full cleaning every few days, this is the ideal choice.

Key Specs

Similar to a robot vacuum that you might use in your living room, this automatic pool vacuum operates on its own, cleaning the floors and walls of any in-ground pool up to 50 feet long.

It has an active scrubbing brush and two built-in filters to catch every size of debris, and it doesn’t need to be hooked up to a vacuum hose—just plug it into the power supply via its tangle-free cable and let it get to work.

This robotic pool vacuum can typically clean your pool in under 2 hours, and it even offers an automatic scheduling feature so you can have it clean every day, every other day, or every third day. Just keep in mind that its filters do need to be emptied regularly, since it’s not hooked up to your pool’s filtration system.

Key Specs

Many automatic pool vacuums have a suction-side design, meaning they use your pool’s skimmer to filter out debris. However, if you tend to have a lot of large debris, a pressure-side vacuum like the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 might be a better option.

This automatic vacuum traps debris in a bag, keeping the dirt and leaves out of your pool’s filter to reduce maintenance needs. It is designed to work with any in-ground pool shape and surface, including vinyl, fiberglass, gunite, pebble, and tile.

The Vac-Sweep 360 comes with 31 feet of hose, and it doesn’t require a booster pump for operation. Plus, the vacuum has a handy sweep hose that cleans tight corners and other areas that many automatic vacuums might potentially miss.

Key Specs

Suction-side pool cleaners attach to your pool’s existing pump and filter and can be particularly adept at handling large debris.

Hayward’s two-wheeled (or four-wheeled) suction-side pool cleaner is self-propelled with pre-programmed internal steering sequences. It has also robust tire treads so it is able to change direction easily and provide full cleaning coverage. Adjustable roller skirts mean this cleaner is less likely to lose suction when it encounters a rough patch or an obstacle like a main drain or steps.

Key Specs

This pool vacuum is designed to remove large leaves from pools, and that’s about it. It hooks up to a standard garden hose, which powers eight water jets on the bottom of the vacuum head, pushing large pieces of debris into the all-purpose leaf bag. The head sits on four multidirectional wheels, and it can be pushed using any standard extending pole.

Its makes quick work of even the biggest areas, but you’ll probably need a different vacuum to capture dirt and small particles which will simply pass through this unit’s bag.

Key Specs

For a convenient and thorough cleaning, this Polaris robotic pool vacuum is a worthwhile investment. It can handle in-ground pools up to 60 feet long, and it’s equipped with four-wheel drive that allows it to power up walls and clean along your pool’s waterline—an area many other vacuums can’t reach.

This handy vacuum also boasts built-in Wi-Fi, allowing you to operate it from your smartphone. Through the app, you can create a schedule for the vacuum, monitor its cleaning progress, and even direct it to a spot it may have missed. This vacuum can even be synced with Amazon Alexa if you want to control the robot using voice commands.

Key Specs

AIPER’s quad-motor robotic pool vacuum can scale walls and clean the waterline effortlessly, which comes in handy for the slopes and occasional roughness of a concrete pool.

Three cleaning modes help this vacuum target either the floor or the walls of your pool, and the vacuum boasts up to 80 gallons of water filtration per minute. The Seagull comes with Aiper’s WavePath Navigation so you can program a fixed pattern for better cleaning coverage.

The built-in battery provides up to 150 minutes of cleaning before it needs a recharge, and when the vacuum completes a cleaning cycle, it parks itself near your pool’s wall.

Although AIPER claims you can toss this pool vacuum into the deep end and let it get to work, tossing the Seagull anywhere might be quite a feat as it weighs a hefty 32 pounds.

Key Specs

The Dolphin sets itself apart as one of the smart robotic cleaners that can actually navigate and clean above-ground pools. Gentle scrubbing action means it’s considered safe for all types of pool materials and liners. It is capable of making a clean sweep of even a lengthy above-ground pool in an hour and a half or less.

Although this plug-and-play robotic cleaner climbs just fine, the Dolphin is not suited for cleaning pool stairs or the waterline. And unlike some other robotic cleaners, you can’t set it on a timer or control it remotely with your smartphone.

Key Specs

What type of pool cleaner do I need?

There are three types of automatic pool cleaners. The first is your traditional suction cleaner, which is the best option if your pool was built with a dedicated vacuum line in the pool wall. The second and most common type is a pressure-side cleaner. The latter tends to be the most popular choice as you are able to set the booster pump to come on for as many or few hours each day to run the cleaner based on your individual needs.

The third category involves robotic pool cleaners. These tend to be the most expensive option and offer the "latest and greatest" features, such as elevating to the pool surface for easy removal at the touch of a button, remote control via handheld remote or a phone app, and some even notify you when the cleaner canister is full and in need of emptying.

The major downside to robotic cleaners is that the control unit is plugged into an electrical outlet, therefore requiring a power cord running to the cleaner which tends to be unsightly and inconvenient.

Is robotic the way to go?

There are robotic cleaners that have entered the market recently which do not require a power cord, and therefore, are considered wireless. However, these models are faced with unique challenges that manufacturers appear to be in competition to overcome such as battery life, convenient charging, and automatic waste disposal.

How should I store my pool vacuum?

When not in use, it is best to store the vacuum out of the elements and away from potential hazards such as pets, rodents, or children. Most people opt for a safe and convenient place in the garage or pool equipment room.

How long will one of these last?

Most units carry a warranty ranging from one to three years with the typical lifespan being five or more years depending on the amount of wear and how well the cleaner is maintained. The combination of direct sun light and exposure to pool chemicals tends to increase the rate at which cleaners wear down, so the best thing to do is remove the unit before adding chemicals such as shock or muriatic acid to the pool.