Pool cleaner buying guide
Five questions decide which cleaner suits your pool. For each, here's what the feature does and what it costs, using today's prices for the 87 cleaners we track.
Corded or cordless?
A corded robot plugs into a power supply on the deck and trails a floating cable. It never runs flat, so it finishes every cycle, and corded models are still the norm for big in-ground pools. The cable can twist over time; a swivel helps, and untwisting it now and then is part of owning one.
A cordless robot runs on a battery, so there is nothing to tangle and nothing to plug in by the pool. The trade-off is runtime: look for at least 120 minutes for a typical in-ground pool, and a unit that parks at the wall when it runs low so you can lift it out without a hook.
41 of 65 robots we track cordless. Median best price $799 with it, $1,005.92 without. Cheapest today: WYBOT A1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner (2026 Upgrade) at $169.97. See the ranked list.
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi?
Many newer robots have a phone app for choosing a cleaning mode, scheduling, and checking battery and filter status. Bluetooth apps only work within range of the robot, which in practice means at the poolside, and Bluetooth range through water is short. Wi-Fi apps work from anywhere once the robot (or its power supply) is on your network.
If you just want to drop it in and press a button, an app adds little. If you want it to run on a schedule while you are away, get Wi-Fi.
32 of 65 robots we track with Wi-Fi. Median best price $1,199 with it, $684 without. Cheapest today: Dreame Z1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner at $349.99. See the ranked list.
Wall and waterline cleaning
Algae starts on walls and steps, and the scum line forms at the waterline. Entry-level robots clean the floor only; most mid-range ones climb walls; better ones also scrub the waterline tile. If you have a vinyl or plaster pool that greens up on the walls, treat this as a must.
49 of 65 robots we track that clean walls and waterline. Median best price $1,005.92 with it, $799 without. Cheapest today: Water Tech Pool Blaster CX-300 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner at $309.99. See the ranked list.
Surface skimming
Leaves, pollen and bugs float for hours before they sink. A robotic skimmer cruises the surface (often solar-assisted) and catches them first, which means less for the bottom cleaner and the pool filter to deal with. A few robots also have a surface-skimming mode. Pools under trees benefit most.
13 of 87 cleaners we track that skim the surface. Median best price $429.90 with it, $759.99 without. Cheapest today: WYBOT F1 Solar Powered Robotic Pool Skimmer at $299.98. See the ranked list.
Robotic, suction or pressure?
Robotic cleaners have their own motor and filter: they clean best, use little power, and keep the load off your pool filter, but they cost the most. Suction-side cleaners plug into the skimmer or a suction port and use your pool pump; they are cheap and simple, but send everything to the pool filter and only run while the pump does. Pressure-side cleaners run off a return line and collect debris in their own bag; some need a separate booster pump.
65 of 87 cleaners we track that are robotic. Median best price $899 with it, $414.90 without. Cheapest today: WYBOT A1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner (2026 Upgrade) at $169.97. See the ranked list.
Also worth checking
Filter fineness. Measured in microns; smaller catches finer dirt and pollen. Many robots ship with a coarse basket for leaves and a fine one (50–100 microns) for spring pollen.
Pool size rating. Makers state a maximum pool area or length. Buy for the pool you have plus some margin, especially for cordless models.
Warranty. Robots are motors and seals living underwater. Two years is common; three or more is a good sign.
Weight and retrieval. A wet robot full of water can weigh far more than its spec. Light units, top-loading baskets, a caddy, and parking at the waterline all make the weekly routine easier.