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For many of us, summer is all about hanging out poolside. And if you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard, you’ll likely be enjoying it more often than most. But you’ll also have a very good idea of how much work it is to maintain your own pool. If you’d prefer to spend more time enjoying your pool, instead of cleaning it, we have the perfect solution.
Pool cleaners are autonomous little robots that drive around on the bottom of your pool and pick up all the dirt and debris that falls down through the water. They can suit a variety of pool types and sizes and are incredibly easy to get started. Many of them are even battery-powered so you don’t have to deal with any unruly cords.
If you’re ready to elevate your pool experience with your very own pool cleaner, we’d love to help you find the best one. But to find the right fit, you’ll need to think about every feature. And that includes compatible pool type and size, power source, cord length or battery life, intelligent features, and more. Trust us, everything matters!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best pool cleaners in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Above-Ground Pick: Aiper Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner
Top In-Ground Pick: Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner
Upgrade In-Ground Pick: Polaris P955 Robotic Pool Cleaner
Connected Pick: Dolphin Explorer E30 Wi-Fi Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner
Budget Pick: Aiper Scuba SE Robotic Pool Cleaner
Once we tell you all about the things we like about the Aiper Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, you’ll totally get why it had to be our top pick this year for above-ground pools. And the best part is, it works for some in-ground pools too! The first thing you should know is that it’s a really effective cleaner—bugs, dirt, leaves, small stones…nothing gets left behind!
Since it charges in only 2.5 hours and cleans for 90 minutes straight, it can keep up with a heavy debris load pretty easily. And since there’s no power cord to worry about (or a ton of noise), it can still clean the pool while you’re floating around on the surface. Plus, it’ll park itself at the side of the pool when cleaning is done (or the battery runs low) so it’s easy to retrieve.
There are only a couple of pool types this robot won’t be suited for, and that’s large pools and in-ground ones with slopes. That is, of course, why it’s our top above-ground pick. As long as you’re aware of these limitations, you shouldn’t have any bad surprises pop up once you start using this thing. Happy (non) cleaning!
All in all, the Aiper Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is our favourite choice for above-ground pool cleaning. Since it's cordless, affordable, and highly effective at picking up every debris type, we bet you’ll love having this thing around.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Aiper Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner. It does a really great job cleaning all kinds of above-ground pools, and some people even use it for their flat-bottom in-ground pools without any issues. It’s a really quiet machine, which they love, and the self-parking at the pool edge makes retrieval really easy.
Buy If…
You need a quick recharge time
Your pool collects a lot of dirt and debris
Robot retrieval needs to be quick and easy
You don’t want the annoyance of a power cord or noisy machine
Don’t Buy If…
You have a fairly large pool
You want to use it in an in-ground pool with a slope
Dimensions: 14.3” x 15.1” x 7.5”
Weight: 7.4 lbs
Pool Type: Above-ground or flat in-ground
Corded or Cordless: Cordless
Battery Life: 90 mins
Charging Time: 2.5 hrs
Max Pool Size: 860 sq. ft
Warranty: 1 year
The Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner boasts a number of features that really caught our attention and screamed ‘top pick’ at us. First of all, this robot has four different cleaning modes. One each to target the walls, and floor, an automatic mode that does both, plus an eco mode that cleans periodically (three 45-minute sessions every 48 hours) to save the battery life.
This is also one of the few robots that will clean in an organized pattern rather than a random one—this is a lot more efficient, especially if it’s tackling a large pool. Oh yeah, this thing can clean pools as large as 1600 square feet, so you won’t have any issues with the battery quitting on you mid-clean.
There are only two things this robot doesn’t cope well with, and that’s stairs and steep inclines. If your pool has a big incline between the deep end and shallow end, the robot won’t be able to climb down very well. It can climb up okay, but it’ll get confused on the return trip. Not ideal. Also, it isn’t able to climb and clean stairs. But that’s a pretty rare feat anyway, so not very surprising. Just things to keep in mind!
Overall, the Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is a pretty great choice no matter what kind of in-ground pool you have. It doesn’t do great with steep inclines, but it can manage all types of sizes, shapes, and materials easily. Plus, it’ll clean the walls and waterline too. Nothing will be left for you!
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the quality of the Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner. It isn’t perfect for pools with slopes or stairs, but it does a great job otherwise. It has multiple cleaning modes to target only the areas that are dirty, and it’s highly efficient at picking up all the debris even in larger pools. It holds a charge well, too. The advertised battery life is legit.
Buy If…
You aren’t interested in micromanaging cleaning times
You don’t want to have to scrub the walls or waterline by hand
You have a large pool
An organized cleaning pattern is ideal
Don’t Buy If…
You need it to clean stairs too
Your pool has a steep incline
Dimensions: 17.5” x 15.3” x 8.7”
Weight: 26 lbs
Pool Type: In-ground
Corded or Cordless: Cordless
Battery Life: 150 mins
Charging Time: 3-4 hrs
Max Pool Size: 1600 sq. ft
Warranty: 2 years
We are big, big fans of the Polaris P955 Robotic Pool Cleaner. It’s one of the only machines out there that can truly, effectively clean your entire pool from top to bottom. That’s right, it does the floor, the walls, the waterline, and even the stairs! With an extra-long 70-foot power cord, it can suit pools as long as 60 feet. There aren’t many pools this thing won’t be able to tackle with ease.
It’s got a bunch of pretty smart features, too. It will automatically drive to the waterline when the filter/debris tank is full, or when the cleaning is complete. You can set a timer, too, to schedule cleaning up to seven days in advance. Plus, it dumps the water automatically when you’re ready to pull it out. The remote can steer the machine to dirty areas for targeted cleaning, too. How cool is that?
One of the only things that might not suit you is the filter type. It tends to let fine dust escape and drift back into the pool, so if that’s a hazard in your area, you’ll just need to buy a different filter type for it. Otherwise, your only concern might be the price. This thing is very expensive, and it just won’t be a reasonable option for everybody, unfortunately. It is worth the extra money, though.
All in all, the Polaris P955 Robotic Pool Cleaner is an amazing choice for all in-ground pools. It might not be the most affordable thing around, but we promise it’s worth it. It’ll clean your pool better than anything else, and it’s still super easy to use and maintain. The trifecta, right?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are blown away by the quality of the Polaris P955 Robotic Pool Cleaner. This is the first one they’ve ever found that can effectively clean their pool stairs, and it does all of the other areas perfectly as well. It’s really easy to get in and out of the pool, and although the remote steering takes some getting used to, it really is quite convenient. They love everything about this machine.
Buy If…
You don’t want to do any of the cleaning by hand
You have a fairly large pool
Targeted cleaning appeals to you
You’d appreciate the option to set schedules
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a pool cleaner
You have a lot of fine dust in your area
Weight: 43 lbs
Pool Type: In-ground
Corded or Cordless: Corded
Cord Length: 70 ft
Max Pool Size: 60 ft in length
Warranty: 2 years
There are so many things we admire about the Dolphin Explorer E30 Wi-Fi Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner. It’s one of the best cleaners, for starters. Not only does it scrub thoroughly to loosen up all of the dirt and debris, but it can also climb the walls and scrub the waterline—you don’t have to do any of the manual labour yourself!
It’s a corded option, which means you don’t need to worry about a drained battery life or downtime for charging, and it’s also super easy to maintain. The debris tank lifts out from the top, and since it’s pretty big, you won’t have to do it all the time. Since you can set schedules and control the robot from the companion app on your smartphone, you’ll really never have to get your hands dirty. Or wet, really.
There are only a couple of things that might sway you to a different option. The first thing is the price tag. It’s a bit higher than the average pool cleaner price, and if you only need basic cleaning, it just won’t be worth it. Also, it’s pretty bulky with the cart for transport and cord storage, so you’ll need some extra empty space to give it a winter home.
Overall, the Dolphin Explorer E30 Wi-Fi Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner is one of our favourite picks this year for Canadians. If you want a machine with a little more intelligence than the rest, this is an easy choice. It doesn’t sacrifice cleaning performance, either.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Dolphin Explorer E30 Wi-Fi Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner. They worry about the cord getting trapped under the machine occasionally, but otherwise they have no concerns. It cleans their entire pool flawlessly, and they love that they can set schedules to make sure it’s clean whenever they want to swim. The large debris tank is easy to access and dump, too.
Buy If…
Wall climbing is a must-have feature
You’d like to set schedules and/or control the cleaning pattern manually
You don’t want to worry about complex maintenance
You don’t want battery life to be a concern
Don’t Buy If…
You need something budget-friendly
You’re short on storage space
Weight: 28.3 lbs
Pool Type: In-ground
Corded or Cordless: Corded
Max Pool Size: 50 ft in length
Warranty: 2 years
The Aiper Scuba SE Robotic Pool Cleaner has a lot working in its favour. Considering its affordable price tag, it was a no-brainer choice for our budget pick. We love that it knows to head to the edge of the pool when the battery gets low or it’s finished its cleaning routine—you won’t have to wade out to the middle of the pool to retrieve it. Cool, right?
We’re also really happy with how energy-efficient it is. Its hydrodynamic design means it uses less power for movement and more for cleaning—that’s why it does such a good job. Since it’s cordless and alerts you when the battery is low or it gets stuck on something, you won’t have to watch it constantly to make sure it’s doing its job properly.
Although we love a lot of things about this one, there are a couple of things that could be improved. They likely won’t be dealbreakers though, thank goodness. First of all, this pool cleaner is only good for pools as large as 860 square feet, so if you have one bigger than that, this won’t be a very effective option. Also, it only cleans the floor, not the walls or the waterline. You’ll still have to do that yourself.
All in all, the Aiper Scuba SE Robotic Pool Cleaner is one of the best and most affordable pool cleaners you can find right now. It could not be easier to use, and although it’s not great for larger pools, it does a really great job at cleaning ones within its scope. You really can’t go wrong with this one.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the quality of the Aiper Scuba SE Robotic Pool Cleaner, especially for the price. Some of them even find it cleans better than more expensive machines they’ve used in the past. They love the cordless design and how easy it is to use, too.
Buy If…
You don’t want to get wet to retrieve your pool cleaner
You aren’t interested in cord management
You want something energy-efficient
You don’t want to micromanage the machine
Don’t Buy If…
You have a large pool
You want it to clean the entire pool, not just the floor
Dimensions: 3.5” x 11” x 6.7”
Weight: 12 lbs
Pool Type: Above-ground or flat in-ground
Corded or Cordless: Cordless
Battery Life: 90 mins
Charging Time: 3 hrs
Max Pool Size: 860 sq. ft
Warranty: 1 year
Some pool cleaners are as affordable as $250-300, others can cost more than $1,600. In general, more expensive machines will be corded, capable of cleaning walls and waterlines in in-ground pools, and might even have some smart features like schedules, remote steering, and more.
All robot vacuums are powered by electricity, but some will have internal rechargeable batteries and others will need to be plugged in constantly. Cordless models are more convenient since there’s no cord management, but you will have to pay attention to the battery life.
Some pool cleaners are capable of self-parking at the edge of the pool for easier retrieval, and some can operate on a timer/pre-programmed schedule to make your life even easier. These features aren’t guaranteed, but they certainly add a lot of value to the machine.
Different pool cleaners are suited to different pool types. Above-ground models are only capable of cleaning pool floors, and you’ll also be able to use them in flat in-ground pools. More advanced robots can be used in all types of in-ground pools and can usually clean the walls, waterline, and sometimes even the stairs in the pool in addition to the floor, even if it is sloped.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.