The Pool Nerd
We buy pool gear, put it through our test pool, and tell you which products earn a recommendation. 53+ products tested, every verdict earned.
Popular Buying Guides
Our most popular guides — based on years of hands-on testing.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners 2026
Our top picks after testing 44+ robots.
Read Guide →
Best Pool Pumps 2026
Variable speed and single speed pumps for every pool.
Read Guide →
Best Above Ground Pools 2026
Top picks for every budget and backyard.
Read Guide →
Best Pool Skimmers 2026
Automatic skimmers to keep surfaces clean.
Read Guide →Watch Before You Buy
Start with our brand-new 2026 rankings, then dive into the questions pool owners ask most.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners 2026
38K viewsJustin ranks the best robotic pool cleaners of 2026 after testing 40+ models head-to-head — from budget picks to the flagship, everything you need to choose the right robot.
Pool Maintenance, Made Simple
Step-by-step guides for common pool problems—from cloudy water to green-pool rescues—based on our own maintenance work.
Most Popular Guides
How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water
Diagnose the cause and get your water sparkling again — fast.
Read Guide →
How to Clean a Green Pool
The step-by-step rescue plan for algae-filled water.
Read Guide →
Pool Shock: The Complete Guide
What pool shock is, when to use it, and how much to add.
Read Guide →
How Long to Run Your Pool Pump
The right daily runtime for clean water without wasting power.
Read Guide →Browse by Topic
Water Chemistry & Balancing
Dial in pH, alkalinity, chlorine, and CYA the right way.
17 guides →Shocking & Algae
When to shock, how to SLAM, and how to beat algae for good.
7 guides →Cleaning & Water Clarity
Clear cloudy water and keep debris out of your pool.
4 guides →Routine & Seasonal Care
Weekly upkeep and opening your pool for the season.
5 guides →Pool Types & Conversions
Saltwater, chlorine, and gunite — plus how to switch between them.
5 guides →Equipment & Robots
Get the most out of your pool robot, pump, and cleaners.
7 guides →Cost & Buying
What a pool really costs and how to spend smarter.
6 guides →All Maintenance Guides
Browse everything — guides, common questions, and every calculator in one place.
Explore the hub →
Latest Reviews
Fresh off the test pool — our most recent hands-on reviews.
Clear UV
The first pool robot with built-in UV-C sanitation.
Read Review →
Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra
The ultimate cordless pool robot with surface skimming.
Read Review →
Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro
Premium cordless cleaning with wall-climbing ability.
Read Review →
Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max
Aiper's flagship cordless pool robot.
Read Review →A Healthier Pool With Fewer Chemicals
Everything we recommend follows one philosophy: remove debris mechanically, sanitize efficiently, and dose from reliable water-test results. Those three steps support clear water without unnecessary chemicals.
Remove Debris Before It Decays
A robot on the floor and a skimmer on the surface pull out leaves and dirt before they consume your chlorine and feed algae.
Sanitize With UV Light
UV systems neutralize algae, viruses, and chloramines — so your pool stays sanitary at chlorine levels closer to tap water than a typical pool.
Measure, Then Dose
A water monitor plus our free calculators tell you exactly what to add and how much — instead of shocking on a guess every week.
The Gear That Makes It Work
Dolphin Premier
The robot we recommend to most inground pool owners — and the only Dolphin with a leaf bag.
Read Review → Clear UV
The first pool robot with a built-in UV-C lamp — it disinfects surfaces while it cleans.
Read Review →
SpectraLight UV
The inline UV system that slashed our chlorine use — the best upgrade we've ever made to our pool.
Read Review →
ICO Pool Monitor
Tracks your water chemistry throughout the day so dosing decisions follow current readings.
Read Review →
Betta SE
A solar-powered skimmer that grabs surface debris before it sinks, decays, and feeds algae.
Read Review →
Dolphin Escape
Strong scrubbing at a fair price—our favorite cleaner for above-ground pools.
Read Review →Dose Exactly What Your Water Needs
Our free calculators tell you precisely how much of each chemical to add for your pool's size and readings — the fastest way to stop over-treating your water.
Shop by Brand
We've tested every major brand — browse our independent, hands-on reviews.
More Robot Buying Guides
We've tested robots for every pool type — find the right fit for yours.
Best Cordless Pool Robots
Battery-powered convenience without the tangled cord.
Read Guide →
Best Corded Pool Robots
Reliable power and longer run times for thorough cleaning.
Read Guide →
Best for Above Ground Pools
Top robots designed specifically for above ground pools.
Read Guide →
Best for Large Pools
Heavy-duty robots for pools 50ft+ in length.
Read Guide →Recent Articles
The latest from across The Pool Nerd — reviews, buying guides, and how-tos.
Best Fixed Speed Pool Pumps of 2026
Compare fixed speed pool pumps for inground and above-ground pools, plus single speed vs two speed vs variable speed costs and local code…
Read Now →
What RPM Should I Run My Pool Pump?
Learn what RPM to run a variable-speed pool pump, when to use high and low speeds, and how to set schedules for variable-, two-, and…
Read Now →
Black Friday Pool Deals (2026)
Shop Black Friday pool deals on speakers, floats, lights, cleaners, and more. Compare my top picks at Poolbots and Amazon for 2026.
Read Now →
Cyber Monday Pool Deals (2026)
Explore Cyber Monday pool deals on speakers, floats, smart monitors, cleaners, and more. Shop my top picks at Poolbots and Amazon for 2026.
Read Now →
Prime Day Pool Deals (2026)
Explore Prime Day pool deals on floats, speakers, skimmers, and more.
Read Now →
Christmas Pool Deals (2026)
Shop Christmas pool deals on floats, speakers, skimmers, and more.
Read Now →
Holiday Pool Deals (2026)
My favorite holiday pool deals and gift ideas for 2026: waterproof speakers, floats, floating lights, towel racks, coolers, the Betta SE…
Read Now →
Best Birthday Gifts for Pool Owners (2026)
Find the best birthday gifts for pool owners, from floats and speakers under $50 to the Betta SE Plus solar skimmer, the ICO water monitor…
Read Now →
Best Gifts for Pool Owners (2026)
Find the best gifts for pool owners in 2026, from Dolphin robotic cleaners and the ICO water monitor to affordable floats, speakers, and…
Read Now →
Best Two-Speed Pool Pumps
Compare the best two-speed pool pumps for inground and above-ground pools, including Hayward, Pentair, energy savings, sizing, and…
Read Now →
Best Variable Speed Pool Pumps of 2026
Compare the best variable speed pool pumps for inground and above-ground pools, plus sizing, schedules, rebates, and real energy savings.
Read Now →
Variable Speed Pool Pump Schedule: How to Set Your RPM, Run Time, and Turnover
Build a variable speed pool pump schedule using measured GPM, RPM, run time, turnover, equipment minimums, and energy use.
Read Now →
Pools & Hot Tubs
Explore our buying guides for pools, hot tubs, and more.
Independent, Hands-On Reviews
Why Pool Owners Trust The Pool Nerd
We're not a big media company. We're a small, independent team that gets in the water and tests the products we cover.
Tested in Our Pool
Every robot, pump, and skimmer runs through repeated cycles in our test pool with dirt, leaves, algae, and other everyday debris—not a lab or demo tank.
Side-by-Side Comparisons
We don't review products in isolation. We test them head-to-head so you can see exactly how they stack up against the competition.
5+ Years of Experience
We've been testing pool products since 2020 — through every season, firmware update, and product launch. That depth of experience means we know what holds up and what doesn't.
Our Testing Process
We run each product through multiple cleaning cycles in our test pool — floors, walls, waterlines, and filtration all get evaluated.
Products go up against their direct competitors so you can see the performance differences, not just marketing specs.
We publish what we find — good and bad. If a $500 robot beats a $2,000 one, we'll tell you.