The 4 Best Suction Pool Cleaners of 2024 To Keep Your Pool Sparkling This Summer, According to Testing

Best Overall

Hayward The PoolCleaner Suction Cleaner

Design5/5
Ease of Use4/5
Effectiveness4.5/5
Value4/5
The effective cleaner took only nine minutes to set up.

The effective cleaner took only nine minutes to set up.

It does not seem to follow any particular logic in how it cleans the pool.

It does not seem to follow any particular logic in how it cleans the pool.

Its thoughtful design, lightweight nature, easy setup, and ability to clean make Hayward’s Poolvergnuegen Suction Pool Cleaner our pick for "best overall."

We appreciate the ease of setup, which took us only nine minutes. It uses a self-adjusting turbine that can get rid of clogs to make sure that it maintains its power. Additionally, it features tire treads that enable it to climb and maneuver around anything in the pool, especially drains, which makes it a good choice for any pool surface and shape. We also appreciated that the bright white hose is very easy to see under the water.

This option also has adjustable roller skirts that work to allow it to maintain its suction even on uneven surfaces, and we found it to very effectively clean the dirt and sand off of the bottom of the pool.

Do note that this choice is not as fast as other choices on our list. We used it in a larger pool that was 40 feet by 20 feet with 48,000 gallons of water and while it very effectively cleaned, it didn’t seem to follow any logic in how it went about cleaning.

How It Performed After One Month

After testing this option for one month, we didn't notice any issues in terms of performance. It cleaned our pool well and we thought it was a fair price point. Although we wished it worked a bit faster, we were able to leave it in our pool for the day and return home in the afternoon to a clean pool so we still thought it was a good value.

Best for Large Pools

Zodiac Baracuda G3 Suction Pool Cleaner

Setup2/5
Design4/5
Ease of Use4/5
Effectiveness5/5
Value5/5
The fin disc design can clean the sides, slopes, and corners of larger pools very well.

The fin disc design can clean the sides, slopes, and corners of larger pools very well.

Assembling this option is very involved, and there is a 20-minute setup each time you want to use it.

Assembling this option is very involved, and there is a 20-minute setup each time you want to use it.

The Zodiac Baracuda G3 did an excellent job of cleaning our larger 40 feet by 15 feet pool, getting the bulk of the work done in six hours thanks in part to its 39 feet of feed hose. Unlike other suction pool cleaners, this one doesn’t use wheels, gears, or flappers, instead opting for a 36-fin disc that adheres to the surface of the pool for better cleaning.

We found this option to do an impressive job of cleaning the sides and slopes of the pool very thoroughly. Additionally, it worked well in cleaning the steps and overall had more success in getting to the hard-to-reach areas than traditional robot cleaners. We also found that it can handle corners very well, a result of the wheel deflector which promotes agility.

Where this option leaves something to be desired is in the assembly. It took us one and a half hours to configure it, even with two sets of hands. It comes with a quick start guide but no manual, which added a layer of frustration. Beyond the initial setup, we also found that it requires about 20 minutes of setup each time that you decide to use it.

How It Performed After Six Months

Since this pick takes some time to put together and take apart, we noted that it's not as easy to use as some other styles. It also requires proper storage so the hose segments can stand up straight.

However, we were impressed with how well it cleaned our pool that the extra effort was worth it. We occasionally redirected the unit though it never got stuck in the pool. It can also be used in cold temperatures, so we planned to use it on a monthly basis during the winter.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / FRANCES CROUTER

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / FRANCES CROUTER

Easiest to Use

Hayward Navigator Pro Suction Pool Cleaner

Setup2/5
Design4/5
Ease of Use5/5
Effectiveness4.8/5
Value4/5
This choice has easy instructions, requires a simple setup before each use, and is very quiet during use.

This choice has easy instructions, requires a simple setup before each use, and is very quiet during use.

It can be cumbersome to remove after a thorough cleaning.

It can be cumbersome to remove after a thorough cleaning.

Due to its simple setup, Hayward’s Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner is the easiest suction pool cleaner to use.

We were able to set this option up between thirty minutes and an hour thanks to very informative instructions that helped to streamline the process. From there, it only takes about ten minutes to connect to the suction port of the pool and when you take it apart, the filter only takes approximately two minutes to remove the debris from.

During testing, we found this option to do a good job of cleaning debris, including larger pieces such as leaves, due to a winged design, a wide vacuum inlet, and constant suction. It also does a good job of cleaning the walls, thanks to a preprogrammed steering pattern that can cover the whole pool.

An added bonus that we appreciated is that this option isn’t noisy, which is the result of Hayward avoiding the use of pulsating hoses or other noisy parts. Do note that while we found it to be easy to drop into the pool, it can be a bit heavy and difficult to remove once it collected debris.

How It Performed After Six Months

We used this cleaner on a weekly basis and noticed that it had a stronger suction ability than the model we were previously using. The model did get stuck a few times at the beginning of testing and we had to intervene. However, it was easy to adjust the pool cleaner and after a few uses we barely had to adjust it.

If anything, we thought it cleaned better over time due to the programmed cleaning feature that made for better coverage.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MICHAEL NAVARRO

Best for Small Debris

Pentair Kreepy Krauly Pool Cleaner

Setup3/5
Design4/5
Ease of Use4.5/5
Effectiveness4.5/5
Value5/5
Cleaner wings and an automatic valve help to remove salt and chlorine stains.

Cleaner wings and an automatic valve help to remove salt and chlorine stains.

We noticed that it was a bit noisy when in use, especially in the shallow end of the pool.

We noticed that it was a bit noisy when in use, especially in the shallow end of the pool.

After testing, it became abundantly clear that the Pentair Kreepy Krauly works the best on small debris. We specifically found it to do a great job of cleaning the floor of the pool and removing salt and chlorine stains.

This cleaner includes a handful of features that make it so adept at thoroughly cleaning smaller debris, such as an automatic valve that regulates water flow and makes it able to travel at the ideal speed necessary for maximum debris accumulation. Additionally, cleaner wings enable it to channel the smaller particles right into the filtration system. Lastly, roller straps help to keep it moving around steps and ladders.

There was a 45-minute assembly time that we felt was tedious. Plus, while it’s light enough to be lifted by one hand, lugging the hose around can be a bit difficult. Plus, it can also be a bit noisy in the shallow end of the pool.

How It Performed After Six Months

This unit took us a bit of time to set up, so we didn't use it as often as we would have liked. However, it never got stuck when we used it and performed as well as expected.

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ROB ROSZKOWSKI

BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ROB ROSZKOWSKI