You know what happens if you don’t regularly clean your outdoor pool?
It’s not pretty! You get waterbugs, leaves, hair, and other debris, but if you’ve already been looking into it, you may have seen that pressure side pool cleaners can be very expensive indeed.
The solution, of course, is to get yourself one of the best suction pool cleaners.
And, lucky for you, we’ve been checking out some of the best suction side pool cleaners out on the market at the moment.
And, after much deliberation, research and testing, , the team at All About Pools was able to put together a shortlist of our top 5 favorites, and we’ll be reviewing them for you very shortly.
We totally get that picking one can be tricky, which is why we’ve also put together a buying guide for you, highlighting all the key things to think about before you buy. You can use it as a quick checklist.
Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we tackle some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
So, without further ado, let’s get straight to it…
Our Top 5 Suction Swimming Pool Cleaner Reviews
Check out our team rankings and reviews of our favorite tried and tested suction pool cleaners that are currently on the market below!
1. Zodiac Baracuda G3 W03000 Advanced Suction Side Automatic Pool Cleaner
This best-selling suction pool cleaner comes from one of the top brands in the business, Zodiac, as we also mention in our buying guide a little later on.
It has been met with impressive customer feedback, having earned an average Amazon customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5, even after well over 3,000 individual customer ratings.
And we would argue that this praise is very well deserved. The manufacturer is not wrong in stating that it offers superior performance…
Not only does it suck up all that small debris you often find in outdoor pools, but it also sucks up medium size debris too.
It will clean pool floors, walls and steps, regardless of whether it’s made from concrete, tiles or vinyl, eliminating all scuffs. And it offers pool surface skimming too.
The 36-finned disc has a very wide cleaning area and maximum surface area for more efficient cleaning.
It’s an agile little thing too, it has a special wheel deflector which stops the cleaning disc from getting stuck.
What’s handy about this pool cleaner is that it will work with just about any kind of pump, including single low-speed, two-speed or variable speed pumps.
The beast also has a special flow keeper valve, which automatically regulates the water flow, which is how the cleaner is able to offer such excellent cleaning performance.
The machine’s diaphragm is really built to last, and it features a patented quick release cassette, which makes it super easy to access the diaphragm as and when needed.
It’s super easy to install. You simply attach the disc, hose and wheel deflector, and connect it to the dedicated suction line.
There’s no need to call in a plumber, and there’s no special tools required.
Also, Amazon occasionally offers significant deals on this particular pool cleaner, simply click on “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros
- Bestseller from a top brand
- Excellent customer ratings
- Excellent suction power
- Works with variety of pumps
- Super easy to put together
Cons
- It’s designed for in-ground pools and may not be suitable for above ground pools
2. Zodiac Mx6 Automatic Suction Side Pool Cleaner Vacuum with Zodiac Cyclonic Leaf Canister
Here’s another great suction pool cleaner from top brand Zodiac. And again it’s one that has become a bestseller with the leading online retailers.
It has also been met with very positive customer feedback, having earned an average Amazon customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
The suction power on it is simply best-in-class. And not only is it great for the pool floor, but it can also climb the walls and clean them too.
And it works super efficiently too, owing its optimal performance to an automatic control for excess water flow.
It works with all kinds of pumps, including 2-speed ones, variable speed ones and solar pumps.
It’s super efficient, too, thanks to the articulating turbine blades.
But where this pool cleaner really stands out is with its cyclonic leaf canister, which in effect multiples all the debris the machine can suck up, including bulky tree leaves.
It features a dynamic water flow, and this serves to keep any debris from clogging the canister, which can restrict the machine’s suction power.
Sure it’s an expensive piece of kit, but if you happen to have your pool near trees, then you will need the cyclonic leaf canister which significantly ramps up the cost of the machine.
This can cost about $70 or so if you were to buy it separately.
Amazon occasionally offers significant deals on this particular pool cleaner, simply click on “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros
- A bestseller from a top brand
- Excellent customer ratings
- Excellent suction power
- Works with variety of pumps
- Comes with cyclonic leaf canister
Cons
- Premium product at a premium price
3. Zodiac MX6 In-Ground Suction Side Pool Cleaner
Here we have another bestselling suction pool cleaner, and again it comes from top brand Zodiac.
However, this also happens to be the most affordable solution pool cleaner in our shortlist so far, and is available at a fraction of the price of the other two we’ve already shown you.
It’s basically the pool cleaner we just showed you, but without the cyclonic leaf canister. It’s a powerful and efficient little cleaner that you can easily program.
What we love about it is how it consumes less energy than any other pool cleaner in its class.
And this means that you can also use it with 2-speed or variable speed pumps.
But where it really stands out is how it can climb the walls and clean those as well as the pool floor. Impressive hey? That’s thanks to the articulating turbine blade.
It features a flow regulator to control water flow, and comes with a very long hose, coming in at 8.4 meters.
Customer reviews are a little more mixed with this pool cleaner compared to the other two Zodiac pool cleaners that made our shortlist.
But customer feedback is still very good overall, with two thirds of customers giving it a full 5 stars out of 5.
And it comes backed by a 1-year warranty to boot. Very reassuring!
Pros
- A bestseller from a top brand
- Excellent suction power
- Machine also cleans walls
- Works with variety of pumps
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- It’s designed for in-ground pools and may not be suitable for above ground pools
4. Pentair 360040 Kreepy Krauly Suction-Side Inground Pool Cleaner
This suction pool cleaner from Pentair is powerful enough to rival our favorite brand Zodiac. It’s also a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers, and has been met with very positive customer feedback.
After well over 200 individual customer ratings on Amazon, the average customer rating comes out at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5. But that’s just a drop in the ocean – the Pentair Kreepy Krauly line has more than 3 million satisfied customers worldwide. Pentair even go so far as to say that it’s the most popular suction side pool cleaner in history.
The Kreepy Krauly’s powerful suction relentlessly removes all the dirt and debris from the water line to the pool bottom. It can remove both small and large debris in a cinch.
And better yet, it can work without a booster pump, which means less items for you to buy, AND a saving on your utility bills.
It features a dive float directional system to help guide it around the entire pool and get excellent cleaning coverage. There’s also an automatic valve to regulate the water flow, and is easily maneuvered around any steps or ladders you may have in the pool.
The cleaner wings on the cleaning surface help to channel any leaves or other debris straight into the inground pool filtration system for removal.
Customers are particularly impressed with just how dependable it is.
It’s easy to install, you won’t need to call in a plumber, and you won’t need any special tools. Moreover, you can get it up and running in just minutes. And because it just has the one moving part, you don’t have to worry about replacing any wheels or gears. The Kreepy Krauly was also featured on our list of the best vacuums for Intex pools as well!
It has a great product lifespan and will last for years to come.
Pros
- An incredibly popular pool cleaner
- Durable, and will last for many years
- Removes both small and large debris
- Easily maneuvered around any steps
- No wheels or gears to be replaced
Cons
- It’s designed for in-ground pools and may not be suitable for above ground pools
5. XtremepowerUS Premium Automatic Suction Pool Cleaner
Talk about flying off the shelves! This suction pool cleaner has managed to earn over 12,500 individual customer ratings just through Amazon alone.
Better yet, more than half of these customers rated it at a full 5 stars out of 5, resulting in an average customer rating of 4 stars.
At first, we thought its huge popularity with the leading online retailers was pretty much because of it’s bargain, affordable price point.
But when we started to look into it, it actually has quite a lot going for it.
It has a really powerful suction – not only will it suck up bugs and leaves, but it can also suck up twigs and pebbles! Impressive hey?
And with the included set of hoses, you can attach it to your existing filtration system. And these hose sections can be added or removed to get the perfect hose length.
It will navigate itself through the pool completely unaided, and no electricity is required.
And not only will it clean the floor of the pool, but it can also climb the walls and clean them too.
The flat smooth surface seal can be used to clean concrete, tile, vinyl, or fiberglass pool floors and walls. And it even gets rid of stains too.
It is suitable for both in-ground and above-ground pools. And there’s a removable flapper to prevent debris from getting lodged inside.
It works fast too, it can clean your pool at a rate of 8 to 12 feet per minute.
There are no wheels or gears to worry about, which means no jamming or breaking down.
And if you ever did need to replace one of the parts, that’s covered by the 1-year parts warranty.
There are extensive troubleshooting and maintenance tips available for you to peruse right on the product page on Amazon.
So if you were to run into any issues with it, you won’t have to look very far to find a solution.
Pros
- Bargain affordable price point
- Huge bestseller with online retailers
- Powerful suction, will pick up pebbles
- Comes with a complete set of hoses
- The machine also cleans pool walls
- Also suitable for above ground pools
Cons
- There have been a lot of mixed customer reviews, to be fair
Our Buying Guide: What To Consider
As promised, here’s your buying guide. You can use it as a quick checklist to ensure that you’ve thought of everything before you buy.
Suction Power
Unfortunately, pool cleaner manufacturers don’t always use figures to express how powerful the pool cleaner’s suction is.
So you usually have to go by customer reviews to properly gauge how powerful the suction is.
Is It Suited To Your Pump?
Some suction pool cleaners are only designed to work with single speed pumps, so if you have a two speed pump or a variable speed one, you will have to ensure that your chosen pool cleaner will work with it.
Quiet Running
Pool floors can take quite some time to do their job, so ideally you’d want to go for one that doesn’t emit a loud, annoying sound the whole time.
Does It Climb Walls?
Any suction pool cleaner can suck up dirt and debris from the bottom of the pool, but if you also want it to suck up dirt and debris from the pool walls, then you will have to ensure that your pool cleaner is up to the job.
They don’t all do this.
Hose Length
The length of the hose is very important when using a quality swimming pool cleaner.
With a hose that is too long you can get it tangled while moving around, and with one that is not long enough you may get some spots that are not clean.
Please note that you can buy your hose/s separately.
Brand
There’s one suction pool cleaner that outperforms the other brands, both in terms of number of sales, and when it comes to customer satisfaction, and that’s Zodiac.
We were so impressed with the Zodiac line of suction pool cleaners, that we ended up including 3 of their models in our shortlist of top 5 picks. We’re also big fans of the famous Kreepy Krauly.
Customer Reviews
When you’re shopping for anything online, you have the opportunity to check out customer ratings and reviews, so why not take advantage?
We recommend that you look for products that have at least a 4 star rating with the online retailers.
And if you wanted to read some of the customer reviews, you might find some handy tips on using and taking care of the products.
Value for Money
Although, as we said in our introduction, suction pool cleaners are typically more affordable than pressure side pool cleaners, this is not always the case.
So please be sure to check the prices of the pool cleaners as you go along.
If you are particularly budget conscious, the most easily affordable suction pool cleaner that made our shortlist was our number 5 pick, the XtremepowerUS Premium Automatic Suction Pool Cleaner.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check out our answers to the most common FAQs we encounter related to buying or understanding suction pool cleaners below!
What Is The Best Suction Pool Cleaner On The Market?
We would argue that the best suction pool cleaner on the market at the moment is hands down our number one pick, the Zodiac Baracuda G3 W03000 Advanced Suction Side Automatic Pool Cleaner, and there are several reasons for this…
It offers superior performance, and is able to suck up all kinds of debris from all kinds of surfaces, including the pool walls.
It’s also a very agile mover, and will work with any kind of pump. But better yet, it’s available at a very fair and reasonable price.
Or a bargain price if you manage to catch one of Amazon’s occasional deals.
What Is The Best Kreepy Krauly Pool Cleaner?
We would argue that the best creepy crawly pool cleaner is our number 4 pick, the Pentair 360040 Kreepy Krauly Suction-Side Inground Pool Cleaner.
It has a powerful suction that relentlessly removes all the dirt and debris from the water line to the pool bottom, and it will remove both small and large debris in a cinch.
What Pool Cleaners Will Climb Walls?
We’re pleased to report that ALL of the suction pool cleaners that made our shortlist of the top 5 picks are capable of cleaning the walls of the pool as well as the swimming pool floor.
Which Automatic Pool Cleaners Are The Best?
We think that all of the automatic pool cleaners that made our shortlist of 5 are really great, but if we had to pick just one favorite, it would have to be our number one pick, the Zodiac Baracuda G3 W03000 Advanced Suction Side Automatic Pool Cleaner, and there are several reasons for this…
It offers superior performance and is able to suck up all kinds of debris from all kinds of surfaces, including the pool walls. It’s also a very agile mover and will work with any kind of pump.
Better yet, it’s available at a very fair and reasonable price. Or a bargain price if you manage to catch one of Amazon’s occasional deals.
“Creepy crawly” style automatic pool cleaners are also super popular, and if that’s what you’re looking for we can recommend our number 4 pick, the Pentair 360040 Kreepy Krauly Suction-Side Inground Pool Cleaner.
It has a powerful suction that relentlessly removes all the dirt and debris from the water line to the pool bottom, and it will remove both small and large debris in a cinch.
Interested in a robot pool cleaner? Check out our review of the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus.
What Is The Best Manual Pool Vacuum?
To be honest, we don’t recommend manual pool vacuums. Especially if you have a particularly large pool to take care of. It’s a lot of work that could be totally eliminated by purchasing an automatic suction pool cleaner instead.
What Is The Difference Between A Suction and A Pressure Pool Cleaner?
A suction pool cleaner works by using your main filtration pump to suck up all the dirt and debris from your pool, which is then returned to your pump basket. In contrast, a pressure pool cleaner on the other hand utilizes the return water from a dedicated booster pump to propel the pressure pool cleaner around the pool.
So, the clear advantage of a suction pool cleaner over a pressure pool cleaner is that you won’t have to also purchase a separate dedicated booster pump, and the suction pool cleaner will work with your existing filtration system.
How Often Should You Backwash Your Pool?
For those who don’t already know, backwashing involves reversing the flow of water through your filtration system, to dislodge any dirt and debris that may have become trapped. We would recommend that you backwash your pool on a frequent basis of once a week if possible.
Which is Better, Kreepy Krauly vs Barracuda?
You know what? These are both really great pool cleaners, and that’s why they both made our shortlist of top 5 picks. However, you may have already noticed that we made the Barracuda our number one pick, whereas the Kreepy Krauly only made position number 4 in our list.
This is because the Baracuda G3 is much easier to use, easier to maneuver around, offers a better flow rate, and is easier to repair thanks to the quick-release cassette should the need ever arise.
Our Conclusion On The Best Suction Pool Cleaners We Reviewed
We hope you enjoyed our guide and reviews on the best suction pool cleaners. With so many swimming pool cleaning solutions on the market, a quality suction pool cleaner, aka side suction pool cleaner, can be a great option for many pool owners.
Hello, I am a writer and marketing specialist in Kansas City, MO. My love for swimming pools started as a child when I would visit my aunt & uncle’s inground swimming pool on a frequent basis over the summer. Since then I have taught swimming lessons at a Boy Scout Camp, participated in the full setup, installation and maintenance of my father’s inground swimming pool, as well as enjoyed constantly researching everything there is to know about swimming pools for 5+ years. I enjoy all water related sports, being part of the online swimming pool community and always learning new things!
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