Best Overall
SwamCam Pool Alarm
AMAZON
- It comes with a camera that you can monitor through your phone.
It comes with a camera that you can monitor through your phone.
- It’s the most expensive alarm model we tested.
It’s the most expensive alarm model we tested.
After testing several options, we thought the SwamCam Pool Alarm is the best pool alarm. This was the first pool alarm we had ever used, and we were impressed by its easy navigation and seamless installation.
It took us about ten minutes to download and sign up for the corresponding app and another ten minutes to install the equipment, and connect the firmware on Wi-Fi. We placed this pick inside the window of our sun room, which faced the pool. If you plan to mount the pieces like us, note it may take up to thirty minutes.
Once installed, we noted that the interface was clear, and the buttons were simple to use. This alarm sends notifications, blares a loud alarm sound, and brings up the camera feature, with quick access to call 911. We found that with your phone on you, should an alert go off, it reacted instantaneously.
This alarm detects humans quickly, but it does not make the mistake of sounding off false alarms, which is ideal for climates that are windy with lots of falling leaves. We tested this pick in a house with an 8-year-old child that knows how to swim but overall, we felt even safer with this alarm installed.
You’ll get a a keypad with this pick but if you have your phone on Wi-Fi you’ll hardly need to use it. While this pick is more expensive than other options, we think the security it offers is worth the investment.
Product Details: Type: Surface | Power Source: Battery | Range: Not listed | Certifications: ASTM | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground and above-ground
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MEREDITH BUTCHER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MEREDITH BUTCHER
Best Floating
Lifebuoy BCone System
AMAZON
- It’s a floating model that’s fairly heavy, so it would be tough for a child to tamper with it.
It’s a floating model that’s fairly heavy, so it would be tough for a child to tamper with it.
- It took a while to connect the app to the Wi-Fi, and you may have to do some troubleshooting.
It took a while to connect the app to the Wi-Fi, and you may have to do some troubleshooting.
We think the BCone Smart Floating Pool Safety Alarm System is a great option if you prefer a floating pool alarm. We found that it was easy to install and liked that it has weight so it, so a small child wouldn’t be able to tamper with it.
This pick features a suction cup that you can stick to either a hard surface or vinyl liner, and that attaches to the main alarm function that floats atop the pool. We did find it takes a few tries to connect the app to the Wi-Fi, but there are instructions to guide you through troubleshooting. Otherwise, the overall setup took us less than ten minutes.
The alarm looks like a cone-shaped pool toy and we found that it sits well under a pool cover. When we triggered the alarm with a simulated fall, the alarm set off immediately. The factory setting was loud enough to blare throughout our house but you can adjust the volume accordingly. It’s simple to silence too, sending a push notification to the app.
We liked that this model gives you a “swim” option, so it won’t activate while the pool is in use, which is key to prevent accidental triggers.
Product Details: Type: Subsurface | Power Source: Battery | Range: Not listed | Certifications: NSF certified to ASTM F2208 | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground and above ground
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RIDDLEY SCHIRM
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RIDDLEY SCHIRM
Best In-Ground
Blue Wave Poolwatch Pool Alarm
AMAZON
- It works for both in-ground and above ground pools.
It works for both in-ground and above ground pools.
- You have to maintain the pool water level weekly to not set off any false alarms.
You have to maintain the pool water level weekly to not set off any false alarms.
If your pool is an in-ground model, then the Blue Wave Pool Alarm System is our go-to pick. This option, which can also work with an above-ground pool, comes with a poolside and in-home alarm.
During testing, we noted that this alarm was easy to set up but it did take us an hour, so we recommend consulting the manual beforehand. It requires six D batteries and one 9v battery, which is not included.
To disable the alarm, we had to manually turn it off at the unit mounted by the pool. You do have to maintain the water level weekly according to the manual, otherwise the alarm will set off.
Despite all that, when we simulated a fall, the alarm went off loudly with both the poolside and in-home units. The alarm goes off quickly, taking a few seconds if the fall happens farther away.
There are two settings: swimming or alarm. We did experience one false alarm, so you do have to be thoughtful with placement. The poolside unit is connected to a tube underwater that can set off false alarms too, so it should be placed in areas where people are least likely to come in contact with, and trip over.
Product Details: Type: Subsurface | Power Source: Battery | Range: 100 feet | Certifications: NSF Certified to ASTM F2208 | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground and above ground
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KYLE ROCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / KYLE ROCK
Best Gate Alarm
Techko Safe Pool Alarm
AMAZON
- It has a 110-decibel alert that can sound through a two-story house.
It has a 110-decibel alert that can sound through a two-story house.
- The bypass wires are thin and prone to fraying.
The bypass wires are thin and prone to fraying.
The Techko S187D Safe Pool Alarm is a great option for doors and gates. When activated, the alarm doesn’t let anything slip by, whether the gate swings open fully or cracked open slightly. When triggered, the response comes immediately, with a loud, high-pitched siren that thundered through our two-story house.
This alarm is less expensive than other options and didn’t take more than 15 minutes to set up during testing. We like that it can be deactivated easily by either closing the door or the press of a button. The alarm does not activate on its own, unless the door sensors are physically separated—and that helps to catch any unlocked doors.
We noted the loud siren and flashing red lights can be distressing for any pets in the house. We also noticed the bypass wire is thin, and prone to fraying, which may disrupt long-term usage. It does not connect to an app either. We didn’t think it was a dealbreaker, but something to consider depending on your needs.
Product Details: Type: Surface | Power Source: Battery | Range: Not listed | Certifications: UL | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground and above ground
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MATT HARPER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MATT HARPER