Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum Reviews

Nothing beats cooling off in your ground swimming pool on a hot summer day, especially with friends and family around. But to fully enjoy your above-ground pool, you’ll need to keep it— and the area around it— clean. That’s where an automatic pool vacuum cleaner comes in! 

Not only will a pool vacuum keep your swimming pool free from dirt and debris, but it will also make it easier to maintain hygienic pool water all summer long. To help you find the perfect cleaner for your backyard pool, we’ve rounded up the best above-ground pool vacuum cleaners, along with some helpful information you’ll want to know before making a purchase. 

Types of Above-Ground Pool Cleaners Vacuum

When it comes to automatic above-ground pool vacuums, there are three main types to look for: suction-side, pressure-side, and robotic. 

Suction-side Pool Cleaner Vacuum

Suction-side pool vacuums are the most affordable and easy-to-use automatic pool cleaners. Simply attach the vacuum to your pool’s filtration system and let it go to work. The suction pool vacuum sucks in water as it moves around the ground pool, removing bugs, leaves, hair, and other floating debris through your pool’s filtration system. 

Though affordable and straightforward, suction pool vacuums don’t always provide consistent results. They’re best suited for ground swimming pools with light to medium levels of debris. Because suction-side cleaners are attached directly to your pool’s pump system, it may struggle to adequately clean with a weak pump. You’ll also need to double-check that the particular model is compatible with your pool’s floor and wall material. 

Pressure-side Pool Cleaner Vacuum

Pressure-side pool vacuums use water pressure from a booster pump to power the cleaning tool around your pool. They connect to either a return outlet in your pool or directly to a dedicated pressure line. On top of collecting debris in an attached filter bag, pressure-side pool vacuums also loosen up any debris they don’t capture. Your pool’s filtration system can then filter out these particles. 

Pressure-side cleaners work well for above-ground pools with larger-sized debris. Most models have a large filter bag that can collect larger debris such as leaves, twigs, pebbles, and acorns. 

Robotic Pool Cleaner Vacuum

Unlike suction-side and pressure-side pool vacuums, robotic pool vacuums are fully autonomic. They function independently of your pool’s pump system and plug into a simple household power outlet. Robotic pool cleaners use an electric motor to propel themselves around your ground pool and create suction. Just like the vacuum cleaner in your home, the device sucks debris up and traps it inside. 

Robotic cleaners are great for households looking for a no-fuss solution for their above-ground pools that doesn’t require much work. Though they’re often more expensive, the additional features are well worth the added price. Most are equipped with rotating brushes to dislodge stubborn dirt and algae, and they feature electronic sensors to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. 

The Best Above-Ground Pool Vacuums and Ground Pool Cleaners 

Pentair Kreepy Krauly Lil Shark Above-Ground Pool Cleaner

Best Value Ground Pool Vacuum Cleaner

Not only is Pentair’s Kreepy Krauly Lil Shark Pool Cleaner adorable, but it’s also highly effective at keeping your pool sparkling clean. Right from the box, the ten-inch-wide shark-shaped pool vacuum comes fully equipped to clean the pool. Just remove it from the box, attach the hose to your pool’s pump system, drop it in the pool, and voila! 

The compact device’s dual layer of bristles scrubs off stubborn algae and debris before they’re suctioned away by the powerful vacuum hose. It’s programmed to provide complete coverage, ensuring it doesn’t miss hard-to-reach spaces that other pool cleaners often skip. Despite its affordable price point, the Pentair Kreepy Krauly Lil Shark is sure to provide high-performance cleaning for many summers to come. Plus, your kids will love it's shark design as fun pool decor.

US Pool Supply Deluxe Portable Handheld Pool Cleaner

Best Handheld Ground Pool Cleaner

If you only have a small pool, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a fancy robotic cleaner. Instead, use this affordable handheld device from US Pool Supply to remove leaves and debris from your pool. It attaches to any standard garden hose, making it the perfect choice for inflatable pools, ponds, fountains, and jacuzzis. 

While US Pool Supply’s Deluxe Portable Handheld Pool Cleaner does require a bit of manual labor, it’s relatively easy to operate. The simple device uses the water pressure from your hose to create a venturi effect that draws debris into the collection bag attached. Use the three scrubbing brushes to dislodge algae and loosen dirt while you hold onto the 4-foot long pole as you clean. A few minutes of use each day, and you can enjoy a spotless pool all summer long.

Dolphin E10 Automatic Above-Ground Pool Vacuum Cleaner

Best Robotic Ground Pool Vacuum Cleaner

If you’re looking for the best robotic above-ground pool vacuum, look no further than Dolphin’s E10 Automatic Cleaner. It was specifically designed for above-ground pools and can clean up to a 30-foot pool in only an hour and a half. No installation, additional hoses, or booster pump needed! Simply plug the device’s 40-foot cable into the power supply provided, slip it into the pool, and let it go to work! 

Dolphin’s E10 Robotic Pool Vacuum offers a lightweight, ergonomic design that’s straightforward enough for anyone to operate. The quick water release feature makes it easy to lift the device from the pool. Plus, the top-loading filter basket is easy to remove and clean. With a powerful filtration system and efficient pool floor scrubbing capabilities, you can enjoy a sparkling clean pool every time. 

XtremepowerUS Climb Wall Automatic Pool Cleaner

Best Above-Ground Pool Vacuum Suction-Side 

XtremepowerUs’ Climb Wall Automatic Pool Cleaner is an affordable option that really packs a punch! It requires no tools or electricity. Just attach it to your swimming pool pump and let it go to work cleaning the bottom surface and walls of your above-ground pool. It cleans pools up to 30-foot at a rate of 8 to 12 feet per minute. The kit includes ten hoses of different lengths to accommodate different pool sizes. 

Despite its compact size, the powerful vacuum cleaner efficiently powers away grime thanks to its super-strong suction. Like all suction-side pool vacuums, this device is best suited for cleaning algae, dust, bugs, hair, and other small pool dirt, not larger waste. Users can purchase an additional Big Sucker attachment to help remove large leaves, dirt, and debris. 

 Zodiac Polaris Turbo Turtle Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner

Best Pressure-Side Above-Ground Pool Cleaner 

With Zodiac’s adorable Turbo Turtle Pool Cleaner, you can spend less of your summer cleaning your backyard pool and more time relaxing in it. In just three hours or less, the turtle-shaped device vacuums your pool bottom and sweeps the sides. Zodiac’s patented jet sweep assembly helps to blow loose dirt and algae in hard-to-reach places, ensuring your pool is perfectly clean every time. 

The Turbo Turtle Pool Cleaner operates using your above-ground pool’s pumps and filtration system. Using water pressure from the return-side of your pool’s pump system, it automatically pressure cleans your entire pool and circulates clean, heated water throughout it. Plus, the attached debris bag eases the strain on your pool’s filtration system, prolonging its life for many summers to come. The small-sized cleaner— which doubles as cute pool decor— is suitable for pools up to 5-feet deep. 

OT QOMOTOP Rechargeable Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner

Best Cordless Above Ground Pool Cleaner

With OT QOMOTOP’s Rechargeable Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, you can say goodbye to annoying power cords and hoses. It’s equipped with a scrubbing brush, two large suction doors, and a high-powered lithium battery that cleans for 90 continuous minutes after a full 5-8 hour-long charge. Both the robot itself and the charging port are waterproof, so you can charge the device at the poolside while you enjoy a swim. 

When the device’s battery is low, it automatically leans itself against the pool wall. It's off-water auto-shutoff stops the cleaner automatically when you remove it from the pool. Best of all, the device features a floating handle that makes removing it after cleaning incredibly easy. This compact, rechargeable pool vacuum has a maximum cleaning area of 860 sq. ft. and can operate in water depths of up to 6.6 ft. 

Dolphin Premier Robotic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner

Best Above Ground Robotic Pool Cleaner

If you’re looking to invest in a high-end pool vacuum, you can’t get much better than Dolphin’s Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner. Equipped with powerful dual scrubbing brushes and three filter options, it automatically cleans above-ground swimming pools up to 50 ft in less than three hours. All you have to do is plug in the cord, drop it into the swimming pool, and let it go to town! 

The convenient device features Dolphin’s CleverClean technology, which uses advanced algorithms to ensure complete pool coverage every time. With three filters to choose from— bottom-load fine cartridge filters, ultra-fine cartridge filters, and an oversized leaf bag— you can adjust the cleaner to fit your pool’s unique cleaning needs. The best part is, users can take advantage of the device’s weekly scheduler to schedule an automatic cleaning every day, every other day, or every third day.