Best Pool Cleaners

The performance of my Dolphin S100 was fine up until a few weeks ago when it stopped covering the whole pool and started going to one corner and… Read more

"getting stuck" going backwards and forwards for short distances. I took it to my pool shop and was told it was one month out of its 2 year warranty. However, Maytronics covered the repairs under warranty which was a pleasant surprise. I give the product 4 stars because when it's working it does a good job, and I appreciate that the repairs were covered by warranty even though technically they could have refused this. But it's not great that there were issues after only 2 years and 1 month.

Where to start? Bulk and heavy compared to other products. Filters are very fiddly to replace. The foam rollers get hyper-dried out, turning them… Read more

into flotation devices. Before the machine will sink and do its job, you need to spend quite a while first "massaging" the rollers to get them to start soaking up water. Both drive belts snapped. The cord twists around itself in normal operation *very* quickly, and is very difficult to straighten out (hint - for goodness sake, buy a cordless model of whatever brand you get). The constantly twisted cord reduces the robot's operational range and at times threatens to pull the controller into the water. The connector housing where the cord goes into the body of the controller became loose very quickly, and with all the cord twisting, it eventually severed the electric wires completely, thus rendering the machine unusable. The carrier supplied by Robotek began rusting almost immediately. The climb function can't deal with curved steps, and would often get hung up at an awkward angle. The mapping function is poor, with the machine focussing on one half of the pool and largely ignoring the other half. The device can't handle leaves from palm trees and struggled with slightly larger leaves such as those from some magnolia trees nearby. At the end of the day, any labour time the device saves you is cancelled out by the the effort of managing this device and the fact I had to finish the job properly with the traditional pool vacuum/brush. Positives: the filter bags, though painful to install, picked up fine dirt and sand well, and are machine washable.

I've maintained 2 chlorine pools, 2 salt water pools and an Enviroswim. The Enviroswim isn't zero maintenance but it has been the easiest to… Read more

maintain. I've spent insignificant amount of chemicals compared to salt and chlorine pools. Even if it were the HARDEST and most expensive to maintain, I'd still buy it, because it's fresh water. I've drunk it. I'm about to install Enviroswim in another pool.

My favourite thing about it is the reactions from friends. To them it's like magic.

Absolute Rubbish, don't believe the reviews I have bought 2 of these and within 24 months they have broken down and the customer service is absolutely not there. DONT BUY ONE

It's a good pool cleaner – We recently bought an Onga Bullshark, which is basically a Pool and Spa Warehouse proprietary version of the Hammerhead. We have used it in our pool… Read more

for two months and have had a great experience with it.

We previously had a Kreepy Krauly Marathon, and the Onga is cheaper, much quieter, more efficient and doesn't get tangled as easily. The Kreepy Krauly had problems with the skirt stretching and falling off, the hammer wearing out and the parts such as the swivel connection were generally not long-lasting. It was also very noisy. The adjustment for suction strength for the Onga is also easier, just a simple knob.

I like that the Onga hose is in 1-metre sections, because you can add more sections if the hose is not long enough, or replace a worn or damaged section with just a single section. With the Kreepy Krauly we had to replace the full hose, and it needed a lot of treatment initially to stop it constantly curling. The Onga hose is straight because it's not wound up into a tight circle in the box.

The only slight negative with the Onga is that the attachment to the skimmer box is a bit high in the pool level, and you need to keep the pool well and truly topped up to stop suction issues when the pump turns off.

Worst company to deal with spend $2000 on 2 products and both no good in 6 mths overseas reply throw your money down drain you will be more happy Show details

This is my first robotic pool cleaner and I purchased it on the recommendation of someone who already had one and loved it. Not sure if it is an old… Read more

model but couldn't find a new one in stock so brought an ex demo that still came with the 2 year warranty. Have used it 4 times now and I am impressed, a great little machine. My pool doesn't get overly dirty but it can get a lot of small leaves in there, due to surrounding hedges if it is windy, which is what happened this weekend. There were small leaves all over the pool so was keen to see whether the robot would get them all and am pleased to say it did. I do have a ledge along one side of the pool and although the robot does climb up it, it is not sophisticated enough to move along in a straight line and clean the whole ledge so I just sweep this first. It does climb the walls and does the first two steps of the pool but not the top one as the water is too shallow. Was a bit concerned as the model I purchased was not designed for tiles and although most of the pool is pebblecrete, I do have a few rows of tiles at the water line but it still gets up that high and cleans them. I would definitely recommend it and it sure beats cleaning the pool manually which is what I have been doing for the last 3 years.

My beloved next door neighbours planted bamboo along our adjoining fence. My pool was always getting leaves in it as well as seeds from palm trees.… Read more

Three things sold me on the cx50 model, the two filters, the trolley for storage, and the ease of removing it from the pool by simply pressing a button to make it come to the surface. It’s very easy to operate. Lower it into the pool by the handle, (otherwise it can take a couple of minutes to sink), and press the “play” button. There is a choice of modes, one does the floor only, the other, walls and floor. It makes no noise whatsoever when running. When you want to get it from the pool, press the “lift” button and hold it down. The robot will turn on its axis. When it points to your favourite wall, let your finger off and it will drive up the wall. Then grab the handle and pull it out. The filters are easy to remove, just open the cover, lift them out and hose them. Then place it back on the trolley. I’m very happy with my purchase.

Purchased one of these through Pool and Spa warehouse Georges Hall recommended by the technician. He said it would suit my Pool when I first… Read more

installed it gave them a call ,told hi it will not climb up the side of the walls. He told me to take a couple of hoses pieces off. Took 2 m off then it started working properly, what a great pool cleaner best one I’ve had over 20 years life of the Pool.

So far, this is the best pool cleaner I've found for my pool. (See my reviews of others). It does not get stuck, and uses the least amount of… Read more

consumables.

It's now 2 1/2 years old, and is going to need some TLC to keep going much longer - the feet are starting to wear out (pebble crete) and the drive axle will occasionally need to be pushed back into the correct position.

All in all. I am pleased with this one.

Cleaner does a reasonable job but continually misses the same areas of the pool. The app is a PITA to use. Everytime you log in you are sent an email… Read more

code and need to enter that into the app just to login to get the cleaner out of the pool or anything else that’s required. Most annoying and frustrating. The filter basket is good and easy to clean, the robot always turns the same way so tangles the power cord quickly, the amount of suction is a little poor and generates a cloud of fine dirt as it goes. For the cost of this cleaner I expected more.

RX-Tank Tracks failed within 3 years....not great!! I ordered new tracks from the www.kreepykrauly.com.au website for $88 for 2 pieces of rubber… Read more

(seems way over the top, but anyway.....), plus $17.50 postage (again seems expensive for 2 pieces of rubber - maybe Express Post??..............then heard nothing!? Called their number on their website 1800 777255 and they have no idea about my order?? They kept asking me for my company name - I said no, not a company, a private individual who has placed an order on your website and received a confirmation email, and have since heard nothing? Order number #18802. This is not a great customer experience, what am I supposed to do?? Very frustrating experience.

Cheap Quality Garbage – Not worth the money. After 2-3 year the stainless steel spring rusted and broke off. Real stainless steel should not rust, a so they must be using… Read more

low quality Chinese fake stainless steel.The skirt keeps coming off the head as well. I cant see myself spending money on Kreepy Krauly again. I can't find a replacement spring but the whole part of the hose it $65! Stainless steel should last for ever not a few years.

Only 2.5 years old and realised I was better off buying a cheap Aldi cleaner. After the first three months I had to call the retailer to get a rep to… Read more

come and see why it keeps getting stuck in the same spot leaving the rest of the pool untouched. Fortunately we got it going, but only for a few weeks. Since then I’ve contacted the retailer who passed on my details to Waterco ( who apparently service the product ) who only want to come out and charge a fee for labour! Pretty low considering it cost over $700. You would think it would have a better warranty than that. Like I said earlier, buy a cheap brand and throw it out after a couple of years. You will do the same with this over priced piece of trash.

Average at best. It feels the same as very early vacuuming robots—it works, but not very well. There's nothing smart or sophisticated about it, aside… Read more

from the very high price tag for what this robot is. The app is just for viewing, really, as its functions are limited to setting the cleaning time and choosing whether to clean the walls or not. You can do all of that from robot panel as well. When the robot is underwater, it doesn’t connect, making it useless. I would only recommend it if you have a large pool (ideally square for the robot convenience is not the smartest robot) with lots of debris sinking to the bottom, so you need constant vacuuming. You still have to take it out for charging quite often, which isn't the most convenient thing to do—it really defeats the purpose for me, at least. Update: The robot is dead after a year. I'm currently waiting for Medimac's warranty will see what happens.

Update: The warranty process was very smooth, which was a huge relief after the frustration of dealing with a faulty product. I’ve been upgraded to a current model, and it is much better—many of the previous issues have been addressed and rectified. It’s great to see a company not only standing behind its product but also making an effort to improve it. In a nutshell, the replacement is smaller, lighter, and more powerful. The improved cleaning patterns are making a real difference. My only criticism is that the warranty does not reset; it remains tied to the original purchase date. I believe every product should last for at least a full warranty period, and if a replacement is required, the warranty should start over from the date of replacement.

Purchased a skimmer Pool Bot S100 in November 2025. Within 6 weeks the debris basket failed, holes in the mesh. I tried to repair / replace the mesh.… Read more

Then 3 to 4 months later the unit itself failed - stopped working, I recharged it with the type C cable but no luck. Have also rang and emailed the company over and over again but NO REPLY. I'm going to bin the S100 skimmer PoolBot. My recommendation DO NOT BUY a PoolBot and AVOID Robot My Life. Trash product and company. SCAM. NOT HAPPY

Power Force Pool Vacuum Cleaner – I'm giving this a 5 star based on performance, value and maintenance. I have waited for 6 months to write the review to see if it holds up. So far… Read more

so good. I have read a number of bad reviews and I am surprised however I must say there is a fair bit of tinkering to do in terms of suction balance and hose management to get it to peak performance. For example if it is not doing your walls then your suction is too low, won't come off the walls too high. Sticks in a corner twist the hose until you get it flowing. All sounds obvious and trivial but it makes a difference. The system is simple, solid and the diaphragm lasts which is more than I can say for the zodiac T5 where I (at least) went through a diaphragm ever 3 - 4 months. For half the price, half the maintenance and superior performance I definitely recommend the power force over the T5 or the MX6 for that matter which I find cleans beautifully but was costing me about $75 every 6 months on parts not to mention the price tag...

Easy to install. Came with hose adapters. Handy that you can remove canister without disconnecting the hose. Show details

Owned this piece of s$f@ for several years. Will not purchase an otherZodiak product. It does not stay upright climbs out of water. Set it up every conceivable way, put new costly parts in stiil need to babysit to keep it working. Show details

I had a little trouble figuring out how to get the cleaner attached but I emailed the shop and they sent very good instructions and photos. All sorted now Show details

This is my second zodiac G2. The first one was okay but eventually the collar became so worn replacing it Proved futile so I bought a new one. The… Read more

hoses are very stiff and I hate the locking mechanism I’m not sure why just yet but it seems to focus on one area and rarely will travel to the far end of the pool, It constantly flips onto its back so I have to intervene, I don’t think the swivel on the head works very well and for some reason they changed where you put the bumper thing… probably all part of the reason why this is proving to be a very bad purchase

The Dragonfly super skimmer is best product I have bought for my pool so far. It Exceeds all my expectations on how it performs. My Dragonfly pool… Read more

skimmer has been running non stop for 8 to 10 hours a day over 16 years and I only just recently had to replace the only moving part ,( flapper ) because I accidently broke it. Yes!! it was fine until I touched it. To my astonishment it is still available and my Dragonfly is up and running again doing want it was born to do. A special thanks to Kay, Max and Robert for your outstanding advice and products. Do yourself a favour and chuck one in you pool. You can thank me later. Tom T. Sydney Australia.

Have had this machine 2 years and it didn't skip a beat until last few days when it wasn't moving so I installed the tune up kit (super easy -… Read more

instructions included) and it is working like a gem again. Picks up debris really well - pool is sparkling again. Had a Pentair Rebel 2 before that gave me nothing but problems so super happy now.

My Robo Plus has lasted a good five or six years. The caddy is a shocker - zero for ergonomics. I reckon a cheap removal trolley would be better.… Read more

Inside the control unit the wires between the power supply and the socket are incredibly light duty. At a guess they must be rated for five amps tops. As a result the joints between the wire and the lugs on the socket appear to have deteriorated, causing the socket and plug to become so hot that the plastic melted. You can easily check for this problem by feeling the socket where the robot plugs into the control unit. If its hot get an electronics repairer to replace the flimsy wites before the unit dies, or worse. The video shows the old plug and socket, and the more robust Narva plug and socket

I have been using the RX-1 since 2018. It is pretty hardy and works well on our quartz surface pool. The rubber on the edges has worn off and Im not… Read more

sure if you can get spares - but I glue some bicycle tire tube pieces there bcos if I dont it seems to get stuck in one place.

Recently the yellow Impeller broke- I have ordered a replacement and hopefully can get it working again.

Very easy to use and I dont have any issues with this product.

I am 2.5yrs into owning this cleaner... and it has been a solid improvement over my previous favourite pool cleaner (The Pentair Rebel Mk2). You… Read more

need to understand that every pool cleaner is awful.. robots, suction with diaphragms, suction with gears (like this one).. they all have different pros and a long list of cons.. I've had them all over a decade in a pool that has trees raining on it on a daily basis. The Aquanaut 250 is the least worst of the cleaners out there.. this is why we are seeing it in almost every pool shop under a number of different brand names.. but its the same cleaner.

The main difference between this and the Rebel (both gear based suction cleaners) is the AquaNaut has flaps that bend out of the way to allow larger leaf matter to pass through.. and I believe it also heavily reduces the wear on the gears. Gear wear was the #1 issue with the Rebel.. every 1-2yrs they would strip and it would stop running and need replacement parts... Dont get me wrong, the AquaNaut still gets caught on larger sticks or a pile of leaves that clump up... but for me its maybe once a week compared to twice daily with the Rebel.. its a huge improvement... if you want no blockages you can use a robot, but robots don't actually pump water through the pool filter.. so they create different water quality problems.

I recently had an issue after re-lining my vinyl pool which was now very slippery... and the cleaner would get stuck in certain spots.. I solved it the same way I solved issues with my Rebel.. you can either buy tyres with a bump on them (but they are very expensive), or add some pieces of eraser or plastic yourself in 1 random spot on each tyre., its enough to kick it out of a stuck spot.. and has instantly fixed my issues.

I was nervous that you can't open it up without a screwdriver.. as I had to open the Rebel up daily.. but honestly once in 2.5yrs is the amount of times I've had to open it due to a really specific stick jammed in there.. its been fine..

If you have issues with it climbing walls and sucking air.. just reduce the suction with a skimmer plate.. I don't have any issues but it is a thing with suction cleaners.

I read the negative reviews in here, and honestly you need to lower expectations.. there is no magical cleaner out there.. some people may not have much leaf matter and can get away with whatever.. but this has been the best cleaner by far, corners or round pool.. will report back in a few more years, but so far so good.

If you own a swim spa and you’re tired of dealing with tangled cords, bulky pool robots, or manual vacuuming, the Zodiac Spabot promises something… Read more

refreshingly simple:

Drop it in. Walk away. Come back to a clean spa in 60 minutes.

After running it in our standard swim spa — and comparing it to our previous Dolphin robotic cleaner — here’s what I found.

What It Is

The Zodiac Spabot is a cordless, battery-powered robotic cleaner designed specifically for spas and swim spas — not swimming pools.

Key characteristics:

• Fully cordless • 60-minute autonomous cleaning cycle • Designed for floors, seats, and lower walls • Self-contained filtration canister • No hoses, no external pump required

It’s positioned as a convenience cleaner for spa owners who want automated maintenance without the complexity of traditional pool robots.

Build Quality & Design

This feels engineered — not adapted from pool equipment.

The casing is solid and well sealed, with a sturdy integrated carry handle. The wheels are stable and the brushes feel durable and purpose-built for textured spa surfaces.

The most important design advantage?

No cord.

Our previous Dolphin robotic cleaner performed well, but the cord frequently tangled and, over time, began to perish from exposure to the elements — meaning an expensive replacement cable was inevitable. Managing the cord every clean became frustrating.

The Spabot removes that entire problem.

Design highlights:

• Compact footprint ideal for swim spas • Integrated lift handle • Easy-access filter lid • Balanced underwater movement

It feels purpose-built for spa environments rather than a scaled-down pool robot.

Performance – Real World Testing

On Paper:

• 60-minute cycle • Autonomous navigation • Floor and lower wall cleaning • Water detection sensor (activates when submerged)

In Reality (Standard Swim Spa)

Submerge it, release the trapped air bubbles as instructed, and it activates confidently.

In our swim spa:

• It navigated methodically and consistently • It made clearly visible cleaning passes • It handled fine debris and sediment well • It climbed lower wall sections effectively • It floated to the surface at cycle completion

Unlike our previous corded cleaner, there was no cable drag influencing movement. It moved freely and predictably.

The 60-minute cycle felt perfectly matched to the spa size — not rushed and not excessive.

Noise is minimal and operation is unobtrusive.

Battery & Charging

Charging is straightforward:

• Standard 100–240V charger • One full cycle per charge • Must dry fully before reconnecting to power

Battery life aligns closely with the advertised 60-minute run time. In a standard swim spa, that duration feels appropriate and effective.

This is a cycle-based maintenance tool — not a continuous-duty cleaner.

Ease of Use

This is where the Spabot genuinely excels.

Start process: 1. Turn on. 2. Submerge. 3. Release bubbles. 4. Let go.

That’s it.

No hose setup. No external power supply. No cord management.

When finished, it floats to the surface for easy retrieval.

Filter cleaning is simple: • Release latch • Remove canister • Rinse • Reattach

Maintenance is intuitive and low-effort.

Cleaning Effectiveness in a Standard Swim Spa

This is where I was most impressed.

In our swim spa:

• It removed settled sediment effectively • It reduced manual brushing • It noticeably improved clarity • It maintained a clean appearance between deeper cleans

It won’t replace proper filtration or water chemistry management, but as part of a regular maintenance routine, it delivers real, visible results.

For a standard swim spa, the coverage and cycle time feel well balanced.

What could be improved.

(To stay balanced)

• No app control or cycle customization • No spot-clean mode • Not designed for large leaf debris • Must dry before charging

That said, these are trade-offs that keep the system simple and cordless.

Value Assessment

You’re paying for:

• Cordless simplicity • Zero hose or cable management • Drop-and-walk-away cleaning • Reduced manual vacuuming • Freedom from expensive replacement cables

After dealing with a perishing Dolphin cord and ongoing tangles, the convenience factor alone adds significant value.

For swim spa owners, this feels intelligently priced for the problem it solves.

Verdict

Buy it if:

• You own a swim spa or spa • You’re tired of corded robotic cleaners • You want simple, repeatable maintenance • You value compact, purpose-built design • Great price

Skip it if:

• You want pool-level robotic power • Your spa regularly accumulates large debris • You want smart app integration

Final Rating (Standard Swim Spa Context)

Build Quality: 8.5/10 Ease of Use: 9.5/10 Cleaning Effectiveness: 8.5/10 Convenience Factor: 9.5/10 Value: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.5/10 — A Smart, Cordless Upgrade for Swim Spa Owners

We sourced our Zodiac Spabot through LJ and Kirrily at Heater & Spa Parts, and the experience made the purchase even better. They’re knowledgeable, attentive and genuinely invested in helping customers choose the right equipment for their specific spa setup. Having a supplier who understands not just the product, but the broader spa system and maintenance requirements, adds real confidence to ownership. Even their resident dachshund, Chip, contributes to the welcoming experience.

On to my second machine in a month – Purchased the GT560 in Nov 24. It worked well first time I used it, and I was really pleased with the power and wall cleaning. However I tried to use… Read more

it 3 days later, and it wouldn’t work -lots of error messages, basically the machine wasn’t getting power to it from the control box. It turned out the swivel was faulty, you could see a burn mark on the swivel when I tried to run the GT560 again for a warranty video. Madimack after sales service team were good to deal with and I got a new GT560 sent out to me around 10 days later. Next one has worked twice, so fingers crossed it keeps working. Interestingly this one came with a warning attached to the swivel about avoiding knocks to it etc. I really love the power of this robot, does an excellent job on the walls. I think Madimack no longer make this model or any corded robots, they only seem to now do cordless. I’m not sure if this is their strategy or they’ve had a lot of problems with the GT560 and needed to phase it out. "

Don’t even think about buying Aiper products or dealing with their for service and support area — it’s an absolute scam and total rip-off. Less than… Read more

15 months ago, I bought the Aiper Surfer S1 directly from Aiper for $610.00, and their after-sales support is beyond terrible — it’s downright negligent. My Surfer S1 will no longer charge as the battery has died (as diagnosed by Aiper) just 3 months outside the 12 mth warranty after light use. All that Aiper offered me was an insulting $30 discount on their overhyped new Surfer S2 (which they’re now pushing with a two-year warranty). This is just an admission by Aiper that their original S1 is unreliable junk that they knew would not last a reasonable period. Save your money and stay far away from this company and their products.

Life changing for any pool owner! – This product is genius! I have a massive pool with seven equally massive gum trees and countless shrubs around my pool. The poolskim works so much… Read more

better than I expected sucking in everything from leaves to small debris. I empty it daily. My pool sparkles with very little effort. Unheard of. I bought a second one just because I love it so much.