The Best Pool Vacuums of 2023

Our top pick among robotic pool vacuums is the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus. When it comes to ease of use, robotic pool vacuums are the absolute best, and the Nautilus is top-tier. People love this pool vacuum because they’re able to “set it and forget it,” and can do yard work or lounge while the Nautilus scrubs their pool clean and collects dirt and debris in its easy empty built-in filter bag. Pool owners love the Nautilus for its strong suction and great traction on both floors and walls; unfortunately, this pool vacuum can’t handle steps.

This pool vacuum does have a weekly timer, but it has to be in the pool when it’s scheduled to run or else it won’t work. This can be a little inconvenient on occasion, as this shouldn’t be used while you or other swimmers are in the pool. The Dolphin Nautilus is at its best in in-ground pools, and can clean up to 50 feet within hours with its two brushes and anti-tangle swivel. The 60-foot cord seems sufficient for most and there are no complaints.

Included in the unit are nylon filter cartridges but it also comes with cloth filters, which some people actually like better. Cartridges are easily accessed from the top of this pool vacuum but there isn’t an indicator to let you know when the unit is full. Another qualm users have with the Nautilus is that it’s pretty heavy and doesn’t come with any sort of cart so it’s tough to store.

Fans of the Polaris Vac-Sweep aren’t hard to come by, and many pool owners choose to buy the Vac-Sweep again once their first one is laid to rest after 15 or so years. It’s one of the best suction pool cleaners out there.

Many call this little vacuum “bulletproof” and love that it can be kept in the pool when not in use, making more room for storing all your favorite pool toys. Water pressure coming from the pool's return line powers this pressure-side pool cleaner, and it’s suitable for all pool types, making it an easy favorite.

This thing climbs walls easily, and its large inlet allows it to pick up debris both large and small. Unlike some other pool vacuums, the Vac-Sweep doesn’t require an additional booster pump to clean pools in under three hours. While it has a powerful suction, the mesh screen may need to be wiped frequently to ensure optimal pressure and the collection bag is quite small.

The Polaris Vac-Sweep attaches to a 31-foot hose that can be adjusted to fit the size of your pool.

Said to be best for large pools, the Poolvergnuegen comes with three interchangeable throats that let you adjust its suction power to get the cleanest pool possible. This is also great for use with variable-speed pool pumps.

Featuring four wheels with patented tire treads that enable it to climb walls and tackle large debris, this choice is best for use in 20- by 40-foot in-ground swimming pools. Due to the treaded tires, this pool vacuum doesn’t have any trouble on uneven surfaces, but it is a little bulky, so it won’t clean corners very well.

To ensure an even cleaning, there are multiple pre-programmed internal steering sequences. These cause the left wheel to periodically reverse, allowing this pool vacuum to turn and then move into another direction.

When needed, customer service is said to be lacking, but users are generally quite pleased with the cleaning job the Poolvergnuegen delivers.

If you like the satisfaction of cleaning your pool by hand, then look no further than the Water Tech Pool Blaster. Said to be the best manual pool vacuum there is, the Pool Blaster offers a cordless, battery powered option without the hassle of running a hose. An hour or so of runtime lends plenty of time to clean pools of any size and you won’t have to worry about a robot vacuum missing your pool stairs.

A 10.5-inch vacuum head for large areas and a crevice nozzle for tight areas make this a nice pick in versatility, but one downside is that it doesn’t come with a pole attachment, so you’ll have to get one separately. The Pool Blaster has the ability to pick up both large and small debris and has an easy to empty filter.

The Water Tech Pool Blaster is wonderful for a more hands-on approach to pool care.

The Zodiac G3 does it all, from floors to stairs, without any issues.

Its 36-inch rubber disc gives the Zodiac G3 the ability to make it over lights and filters without any hiccups, and even allows it to tuck into tight spaces that other vacuums are unable to reach. With just one moving part, this is a super low-maintenance pool vacuum, and its 40-foot hose has no issue covering most medium-sized pools.

What’s nice about the G3 is that it’s compatible with any single, two-speed, or variable-speed pump, and it automatically regulates water flow, allowing it to work well with low-speed pumps and letting you use any pump you might already have.

The only downside to the G3 is that it’s best used for small and medium debris; larger sticks or leaves will probably get stuck.