Which pool cleaner is right for you?

So Much Choice, Which One’s Best for Your Pool, Your Wallet, and Your Sanity?

If you’ve ever stood in a pool shop staring at suction hoses, robotic gadgets, and pressure-powered machines wondering what’s actually best — you’re not alone.

The 3 options presented are widely different in how they work and each of them has pros and cons, but the truth in 2025 is simple:

It’s no longer suction vs pressure vs robot - it’s suction vs robot

Thanks to modern technology, robotic cleaners now handle everything pressure cleaners used to, with none of the drawbacks. So let’s focus on the two real options: suction and robotic.

Suction Cleaners

How they work: They connect to your skimmer or dedicated suction port. Your pool pump's water flow effectively powers the cleaner, pulling debris directly into the filter.

They include the diaphragm type (it all started with the Kreepy Krauly in the 70s) and mechanical types with tracks or wheels.

Best for:

• Fine dust and sediment (goes straight to filter)

• Low-maintenance pools with minimal leaf litter

• Budget-conscious owners with low upfront and no running cost

• Time poor owners who want a “set and forget” option

Things to consider:

• Don't always cover the whole pool and can get stuck

• Some leaves, especially long ones, may get stuck

⚠️ Note on Variable Speed Pumps: Suction cleaners can struggle on low-speed settings on variable speed pumps, which are increasingly common for energy savings. Some cleaners will still work (slowly) at low speed — but many require higher speeds to function. So if your cleaner stalls, you may need to schedule a medium-speed cycle every now and then.

Also note that if your suction cleaner is connected to the skimmer plate for days, you'll forgo the surface skimming.

Upfront cost: $200–$800 Running Cost: $0 extra (pump is already running) Maintenance: Occasional part swaps (diaphragm, footpad) Convenience: Can stay in the pool for days — if the pump supports it

Robotic Cleaners

How they work: An electric motor (corded or cordless) drives the robot and a small pump around the pool, scrub surfaces, and collect debris in an internal basket — no need for the pool pump or filter. Some are smart enough to map the pool to follow an efficient pattern and to connect to apps.

You will need to manually place and remove the robot from the pool, and clean the internal basket each time. Some of them are quite bulky and heavy.

Maytronics M600

Best for:

• Pools with mixed or heavy debris, including large leaves

• Complex pool shapes or uneven floors

• Users who love the latest tech, automated scheduling and smart features

Things to consider:

• Must be manually placed and removed each time - not set and forget

• Much more expensive upfront

• May need filter upgrades to catch ultra-fine dust

• The more parts, the more things to break

Cost: $1,000–$3,000

Running Cost: ~200–250W (more than suction, but less than a polaris booster pump) so at 6hrs/wk = $100/yr

Maintenance: Empty basket after each use, occasional cable care - things do go wrong and cheaper brands are often disappointing

Convenience: Not ideal for everyday “leave it in” use

What About Pressure Cleaners like Polaris?

Short answer: They’ve been replaced.

Pressure cleaners like the Polaris were once a solid choice for large debris — but:

• They require a booster pump (adds energy use and cost)

• They require dedicated plumbing

• They’re less effective at fine dust

• They involve more moving parts and maintenance

• And most importantly — modern robotic cleaners now do everything they can, better

Unless you already own one and love it, there’s no compelling reason to install or replace a pressure-side cleaner today.

The Real Choice: Suction vs Robot

Need	Go With
Fine dust, low leaf load	✅ Suction Cleaner
Budget-friendly, minimal hassle	✅ Suction Cleaner
Complex pool, mixed debris	✅ Robotic Cleaner
Low-speed pump doesn’t support suction	✅ Robotic Cleaner
Want full automation + wall scrubbing	✅ Robotic Cleaner

TED’s Take

At TED, we believe in simple, efficient, automated pool care. Whether you rely on a suction cleaner or invest in a robotic one, TED helps your system run smarter — syncing your pump schedule to your electricity tariffs, solar availability, and water quality needs.

Our view? As always, it all depends:

• If suction works for your pool — stick with it. It’s cheap, easy, removes fine dust and is energy-smart.

• If it doesn’t, don’t waste time with workarounds — go robot and let it do the job right.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Ditch the Manual Vacuum Just Yet

No matter what cleaner you use, there will always be times when manual vacuuming is the quickest and most thorough solution — after storms, algae treatments, or when targeting tricky dead spots. Keep one handy.

Looking for smarter pool care?Join thousands of homeowners using TED to save energy, money, and time — one clean pool at a time.