When it comes to choosing a robotic pool cleaner, it is a significant investment, so you want to be sure you are getting great value. That is why we have decided to take a look at the best robotic pool cleaner for the money.
If you are thinking about buying a robotic pool cleaner, but are unsure if it will be worth it, let me assure you, it will be. Aside from the fact you won’t be cleaning your pool as much as you used to, they do a great job and are surprisingly cost-effective. Aside from the large initial investment, most pool cleaners will complete a cleaning cycle for less than 20 cents. They also do a great job of redistributing pool chemicals so reducing the amount you will need.
When deciding on which pool robot is best for the money, it is not a simple or straightforward question, quite a lot of factors need to be considered. What may not be regarded as vital for you may be the key feature for your neighbor. Take, for example, scheduling. If you work from home, this may not be important, but if you spend a lot of time out of the house and want your pool clean and ready for when you return, it may be essential.
Here are a few features we’ll be highlighting in this post:
- Best above ground pool cleaning robot for the money
- Best value pool robot that scrubs walls and waterline
- Best value pool cleaner with a remote
- Best value pool cleaner with scheduling
- Best pool cleaning robot for the money for vinyl pools
So, let’s take a closer look.
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Best value robotic pool cleaner for above ground pools
Generally above ground pool cleaners aren’t as thorough as their in-ground siblings, although there are many models of inground cleaner that will work for above ground pools. The issue is, they are costly for the job they are doing, and in this post, we are looking at the best value robotic pool cleaners.
For above-ground pools, when looking purely at budget, I would look to the Aquabot Pool Rover Hybrid Robotic Pool Cleaner as the model that offers the best value.
The Pool Rover Hybrid is a drop in and go pool cleaner that can simply be turned on and left to clean on its own. The jet-propelled system is self-contained, meaning no hoses to connect or external booster pumps, just a power cable and go. The cleaner can handle slopes up to 24 degrees and cleans up everything from large leaves to microscopic algae.
I should point out that a few users complain that the cord tangles, but if you keep a sly eye on it, it should be OK.
Finally, the Aquabot Pool Rover Hybrid Robotic Pool Cleaner also comes with a 2-year warranty so you can clean in confidence.
Be sure also to check out our comparison of the Dolphin e10 vs the Dolphin Escape if you are looking for the best above ground pool cleaners.
Best value robotic pool cleaner that also cleans walls and waterline
Many robotic pool cleaners will clean your walls, but the waterline is something they often seem to struggle with. That is why we are recommending the Kreepy Krauly 820 as the best robotic pool cleaner for the money that includes waterline cleaning.
Pentair is known for its quality products, both for the domestic market and commercially, and the Kreepy Krauly 820 is a great value model from the company. It can clean pools up to 50 feet and does a great job of recycling pool chemicals to keep your expenses down.
If you would like to know more, check out our full review of the Pentair Kreepy Krauly Prowler 820.
Best value pool cleaners with scheduling
The Dolphin Nautilus CC (for pools up to 35 feet) or the CC Plus (up to 50 feet) are a great choice if having the ability to schedule your pool cleaning is essential to you.
The Nautilus CC range is one of Dolphin’s most popular and for a good reason. The features and performance it offers for the price point are undeniably great.
As all the best robotic pools cleaners are, it is simple and easy to use, just plug it in and turn it on and just let it go.
The Clever Clean technology will map out your pool and work out the most efficient route to clean quickly and thoroughly.
One of the great features many of the Dolphin robotic pool cleaners offer is the top-loading cartridges. While it may seem a small aspect, cleaning the filters is one of the few things you will be doing regularly and manually. Something as simple as not having to flip your robot over every time to access them is a nice benefit.
Finally, scheduling. You can program your robot Dolphin’s weekly scheduler to automatically clean for every day, every other day, or every 3rd day. This is a perfect feature if you want your pool to be cleaned ready for when you finish work so you can grab that drink and have a dip.
You may also want to consider the Dolphin Proteus DX4 as a great value choice.
Best value robotic pool cleaner with a remote
Sometimes you will wish you had a remote to control your pool cleaner. This will usually be the case for owners of strangely shaped pools or those that may have spots that are prone to getting very dirty. For this, I would recommend the Pentair 360032 Kreepy Krauly Prowler 830.
What a remote gives you is the ability to override the programming and perform spot cleans of specific areas of the pool.
Aside from the remote, the actual nuts and bolts of the pool cleaner are the same as the above mentioned Krauly Prowler 820. If you would like to know more, you can read the review above. The increase in price covers the connectivity of the remote as well as weekly scheduling options.
Best value pool cleaner for vinyl pools
All of the robots mentioned above work on vinyl lined pools, so you can safely choose from any of those. If you would like to see some more options, be sure to check out our other post, best robotic pool cleaners for vinyl pools.
Honorable mentions
Aside from the robotic pool cleaners mentioned above, I just wanted to mention a couple of others that would certainly be worth considering.
Aquafirst Blue Wave
This little orange beast is the middle product in a series of three pool cleaners from Aquafirst. It does an excellent job of cleaning your pool with minimal fuss. If you would like to know more about the robot some have nicknamed BB8, check out our full review of the Blue Wave by Aqua First.
PAXCESS robotic pool cleaner
This one is still new to us. PAXCESS is a company that specializes in domestic products, and have moved into robotic pool cleaners.
While still new to the market, the Paxcess pool cleaner is already disrupting the sales of the traditional manufacturers by offering great features at a fraction of the price. You can read our first impressions of the Paxcess automatic cleaner in our model review.
Final thoughts on finding the best robotic pool cleaners for the money
As I hope you can appreciate, there is no one size fits all when it comes to choosing the best of anything. Everyone has different needs and requirements.
I hope you have found our rundown of the best robotic pool cleaners for the money helpful. If you have any other recommendations, we’d love to hear them and possibly include them in this list of best robotic pool cleaners for the money in the future.
About the author
Matt is the founder of the Little Robot Shop, who has spent much of the last decade hacking home cleaning with various robots and devices to make keeping his home clean as easy as possible. Not an easy task with two young children.
When not working on the Little Robot Shop website or YouTube channel, he works as technical support and product specialist for a fast-growing digital company. He does his best to get his younglings to code, which will be an essential skill in the future.